My summer bucket list ideation started with my invite from Smirnoff to try out their latest genius delish fruity flavored vodka. This was certainly a much needed after work libations situation.

As soon as I stepped in the room I was greeted with a cocktail and “Myra” went to work on my feet. (Shame on you if you don’t know where that quote is from). You got already know that painting my nails is by far the best pastime ever! So I happily plopped my booty on those way-too-comfy chair at TenOverTen and let them pamper. It’s my God-given right as a girl! RIGHT ♥

A cocktail to match my mani.. why yes I will.

I tried the Mango drink since it’s my absolute favorite, besides banana.. cherry… and grape, LOL. After sipping down two of these saint worthy concoction, I went back for more.

Of course I used this time to catch up with some of your faves. And obviously fun was had by all so the photos are a little scarce. I did manage to snap a flick with my boo Jessica from Glamazons Blog. We were the last beauty girls to leave the building, smh.

Check out more pics from the night.

The deliciously light taste of sorbet now comes in a bottle. Introducing Smirnoff Sorbet Light. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Made With Smirnoff Vodka Infused With Natural Flavors. 30% Alc/Vol. ©2013 The Smirnoff” Co., Norwalk, CT. Per 1.5oz serving: Calories 78, Carbohydrates 1.3g, Fat 0g, Protein 0g.* 25% FEWER CALORIES THAN THE LEADING DESSERT-INSPIRED VODKA.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Smirnoff via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Smirnoff.

The post Summer Bucket List Check-Off: #SmirnoffSorbet Summer Soiree appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

IDK about you all but I am so ready for summer! I want to walk outside and say, “Gosh darn it’s hot outside!”

Hopefully mother nature will hear my prayers. In the meantime, I’ve started a Summer Bucket List. WHY? Because I plan to have a freaking blast this summer. I mean the kinda of blast that I may not remember! You get my drift. This past year felt a little like hell at times so I plan to get my revenge through this mega-list of “To-Do” things!

Hope you can join in on my fun, meet me there, email when you check something off–let’s just promise to have fun these next three months, K!

1. Stir Up Your Summer Event

We all like drinks right?! Well, next Tuesday I plan to get my nails did, meet up with my fellow bloggers, AND try out some new very tasty-sounding cocktails from Smirnoff.

2. Girlfriend Game Night

Bring a chair and a bottle of liquor and come over to my brand new Brooklyn apartment (which does not have furniture yet hence why you need to BYOC!). I’ve got Jenga, Monopoly, and we can even play Scrabble for all you smarty pants.

3. Find A Summer Romance

I already have a romance with my boo, so I plan to revive that this summer! You know fall in love again. Do the nasty all over the house! Play footsies under the dining room table (when we get one!)

 4. Go on a shopping spree

 I’m on a budget so my spree will only be worth $100, and I’ll be shopping at Forever21 so I can get the most out of my dough! Here I come accessories wall. 

5. Camping In My Backyard (with campfire)

Well actually my parents backyard because I live in the Big Apple. I went camping one time and I feel like I need a take two. But on my terms. I want access to the kitchen and the bathroom. Call it fake it you like. My list, my rules–LOL!

6. A Tour Of NYC

You see them all the over New York City. They are usually powered by some really hype foreigner who will tell you that you’re going to have the time of your life on that obnoxiously red double decker bus. Which I feel like with the right folks tagging along, could be true!

 7. Photoshoot Fresh With My Girls

Since my boo is a super-photographer, I plan to put him to work. I’m thinking #SATC style with my girls. Bells and whistles included… aka photoshop!

8. Have A Water Balloon Fight

I was a teenager the last time I had a water balloon fight and I vividly remember that punishment. Oh how it was worth it.

9. Make Ice Cream

My love for ice cream goes why back to when the cool spot in our town was still open. When the ice cream scoopers were made of real metal and soaked in hot water. I’m thinking this might be a task, but hey… we’ve got all summer right!

As a bonus, I am also thinking of some simple tasks to place in my Boredom jar. Here’s how it will work. Whenever I am bored I will pull something out and do the first thing I select. My boredom jar might have read a book, write a poem, or reorganize my nail collection.. get it!

Anyways, now you know what I am doing this summer, whatcho doing?

The deliciously light taste of sorbet now comes in a bottle.  Introducing Smirnoff Sorbet Light. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Made With Smirnoff Vodka Infused With Natural Flavors. 30% Alc/Vol. ©2013 The Smirnoff” Co., Norwalk, CT. Per 1.5oz serving: Calories 78, Carbohydrates 1.3g, Fat 0g, Protein 0g. * 25% FEWER CALORIES THAN THE LEADING DESSERT-INSPIRED VODKA.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Smirnoff via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Smirnoff.

The post 9 Ideas for Your Summer Bucket List (& Mine!) appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

So somehow I forgot to announce that I am one of the 11 bloggers on this year’s Fashion Front for FFFWeek®. After receiving over 100+ applications from across the nation, FFFWeek® choose Gorgeous In Grey (woot woot!).

The Fashion Front serves as the full figured fashion force at the front-lines of Full Figured Fashion Week (FFFWeek®) in New York – bringing the latest news, perspective, and exclusive access to FFFWeek®.

For 2013, The Fashion Front includes an international eclectic mix of the plus size fashion community’s bloggers whose unique voice and position within the community is both recognized and respected. Co-founded by Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista, the Fashion Front was created to lead the social media charge for FFFWeek®.

Check out what fun stuff I did last year!

What I am most excited about this go around is the diversity of the group chosen. From France, down under in Australia, up North in Canada, and back to the US we all come with a different voice and perspective that is dominant throughout the our communities.

For a full list of the Fashion Front 2013 click here!

But wait… I’m not finished! In addition to all of that fabulousness I will also be speaking on a social media panel during FFFWeek®.

“BUILDING YOUR BRAND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA” A BLOGGING 101 WORKSHOP will explore the purpose of blogging, using social media for your brand, how to leverage the tools to give your brand a voice, how to take your brand to the next level and more. Have you registered for the FFFWeek® Social Media workshop yet? You so should!

I’m hoping that you are as excited as I am! See you there…

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Hey girl hey!

I’m officially back in New York city (does happy church dance) and kinda sorta back in the groove. I’ve got tons of product reviews, funny a$$ vlogs, and.. wait for it… I’m bringing back my style diary! In case you were somewhere living your own life and not stalking mine (please believe I love stalkers), you might not have known that I moderated a panel on social media at The Makeup Show last week. 

I’m still waiting on the footage from the actual panel, but here I am in the video below being interviewed by my good friend Monae chatting about having a successful blog. I’m at the 2:36 mark if you want to skip.

Enjoy, press like and all that jazz! 

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The post Who Are You & Why Should I Trust You? My Post TMS Panel Interview appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

You guys know I had a pretty difficult week! So when I learned that my date with Rihanna had been rescheduled, hunty, I was more than excited. My friend joked and said that my Mom got to heaven and told God he had to move the concert to Tuesday. I suppose it’s all in how the universe works, or we can blame it all on basketball.

Must Read: Rihanna Attends Ursula Stephen’s Birthday Party Sponsored by Motions Hair (& I was there!)

After a long day at work (and I do mean more than 8 hours), Danielle and I hit the streets of NYC and met up with the Motions Hair crew for a little fun. A party bus took us from 34th Street to Brooklyn.

We spent that 30 minutes chatting with each other about our hair journeys and there may have been some stripper pole action going on to. It was a really quick stop to Ursula’s new salon so I think I’ll be asking for a personal tour (with a cut and style, LOL). If you happen to be in town, stop by her new salon located at 66 Lafayette, Brooklyn, NY 11216 (Between S. Elliot Place & S. Portland Avenue). 

From there we took the party bus over to the Barclays Center to see Rihanna perform. Check out a few images from the night (click on any image to start the slideshow). 

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The post WHAT I DID THE OTHER NIGHT: Ursula Stephen’s Salon Grand Opening + Rihanna Concert appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

Is there really a need for me to describe how much I love Olivia Pope Kerry Washington?!

In my mind, we’ve been friends for such a long time. I’ve been with her for all the great moments and even some of the bad. Like her role in “Ray”. I told her that her hoodrat role in “Save The Last Dance” might have been a bad idea, but I was wrong.

And here she is now, all fabulous and sh*t! Covering all of our favorite fashion magazines decked out in the best designers her money can buy, LOL.

Kerry sat down with ELLE Magazine for an intimate conversation about wanting to be a model as a young girl, getting red-carpet ready, and what she’d be doing if she wasn’t acting.

You can read her interview in it’s entirety on ELLE.

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Since moving to New York, I’ve become quite the frugalista. One could say that I was inspired by my somewhat over-priced monthly rent payment, or perhaps it’s that astronomically priced metro card I have to get on the regular?!

Whatever my motivation is, I think it’s time that I bring my old school habits back to life and start saving some coins. I mean, I want a pair of Prada pumps too.

Here’s 3 tips to quickly save money!

TIP # 1: Let’s Make A Change

When I was younger my Dad had a huge bottle that he kept his “extra coins” in. As a kid, I remember the bottle being just as tall as I was. Can you imagine the amount of money that was in that bottle? And when I reached my pre-teen years, I would tip it over and steal the quarters and dimes for my corner store candy runs. I always got caught! It wasn’t until I had to get out on my own and pay rent that I realized how all of those pennies, nickels, and dimes added up.  

TIP # 2: Cut The Cable

Our generation is officially hooked on #RatchetTV! But I bet you didn’t realize how much money you could save if you cut the cable and subscribed to Netflix or Hulu?!

They seriously have a wide variety of shows for your viewing pleasure. And as long as you’re ok with watching it one day later (a small price to pay to save money) this might be your best decision yet! If giving up cable is just too much for you, switch back to basic. It’s the gen-pop (general population) of TV watching, but hey, it’s still cheaper!

TIP # 3: The First 48

48 hours seems so long, huh?! Well it’s just two days and plenty of time for you to think whether or not you REALLY need those new sneakers, or that bedazzled iPhone case. And in 48 hours if you still really want it… and it’s still there, it’s certainly a purchase meant to be, LOL.

Q. So do tell… how do you save your loot?

There to help you. That’s getting to a better State.

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by State Farm via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of State Farm”

The post 5 Ways To Save Money & Still Buy Those Prada Pumps appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

When I was 6, you helped me find my own style. You’d make sure my hair was always neatly twisted with matching bow ties and barrettes. Every look I wore had a theme. Sometimes, I was a sailor girl. Sometimes I was dressed like Jane Fonda with a bright headband, a colorful track jacket, and fluffy leg warmers.

For special occasions, I was dressed like a glazed porcelain doll with lace gloves and white stockings. Gosh, I hated it. Even my play clothes were frilly and froufrou.

When I was 13, you taught me not to steal. By then I had loved being a girl and wanted desperately to be a woman like you. I had found the perfect fiery red lip–problem was, it was in YOUR makeup bag. I built up the nerve to steal it, and I wore it for picture day. Of course you never told to me that red lipstick would stain your lips. Needless to say, I got caught and was on punishment for a few weeks. But I just wanted to look like you.

When I was 18, you taught me how to be a mother. We changed messy diapers together, and took turns getting up at 4 in the morning to warm up bottles. But when I wasn’t paying attention one morning, my son took his diaper off and smeared poop all over his crib. We laughed about that later in life. But back then, you taught me that he was my responsibility and that was my mess to clean up.

When I was 25, you taught me that I was great. Every idea I had was fabulous in your eyes. First, I wanted to be a nail technician, you said, “Go for it!” Then, I wanted to be a cartoonist, you said, “Well… you can draw really good, maybe you should try that!” Then I said I want to be a runway model like Naomi Campbell, you said, “You can be anything, all you have to do is DECIDE!” I finally became a writer. And when I found my newspaper clippings in your scrapbook bag, I knew that you were proud.

When I was 35, you taught me how to tackle problems with grace and elegance. I watched Cancer take over your body and steal your gorgeous grey tresses–but still… you smiled through every moment of that journey. Even when you were in pain, you held my hand and said that you would be ok.

Early Monday morning, you taught me that angels were real. The moon shined so bright that evening. I couldn’t sleep so I just stared at it for hours. When my head got heavy I finally closed my eyes and to my surprise you were right there. In dreams, you sat with me and we talked for a while. No one will be surprised to know that we even went shopping in my dreams. I woke up in tears because it felt so real. I walked out into the living room, only to find an empty bed.

It’s true, your body will forever be gone, but you’re always here with us. In our dreams, through our voices, and even in how I look. When people ask me am I ok, I promise to think about all the things I’ve learned and say, “I will be.” Because the most important thing you ever taught me was how to be a good person!

The post Things My Mother Taught Me Before She Died appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

I’ve been not so secretly swooning over Mynt 1792 since I was first introduced to them at Full Figured Fashion Week last year. My love affair with this brand begins at their classic denim pieces and ends somewhere with their obsession with creating transitional lifestyle pieces.

I had the opportunity to visit their showroom in Manhattan where all the magic happens. Check out a few pics from my trip (click on any image to start the gallery)! Of course I left with a few pieces. I think I will finally bring back my #OOTD posts. 

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The post I LOVE FATSHION: My Trip To The Mynt 1792 Showroom (PHOTOS) appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.

You guys know how I am about my polish!

So trust (insert typical black girl pause) I was beyond intrigued when I found this new YSL La Laque Couture Tie & Dye Nail Lacquer on my homies blog.

Problem is, I am not willing to commit my hard earned $25.00 to a nail polish (especially since most polishes manage to find their way to my office desk). But I figured I would share and maybe one of you fancier beautinistas might have this in your collection or be inspired to try.

The YSL nail lacquer colors plays in gradation effect to create this tie dye situation that should be an amazing accessory for this spring. There’s a colored base “pop coat” with a sugary glossy result or a top coat that can be used alone for a “sheer” glittery effect.

If you happen to have this post a pic on my Facebook page! I’m curious, just not $25 curious #kanyeshrug. Maybe someone will send me a bottle to try!?

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The post FYI, You Might Need This: YSL La Laque Couture Tie & Dye Nail Lacquer appeared first on GorgeousInGrey.com.