Wild Shoe Wednesday: Haute Holiday Heel Edition
December 26th, 2012 by Fashion Staff
What better way to end our Wild Shoe Wednesday posts of 2012 with a haute pair of Louboutins., divas allow me to introduce you to the Christian Louboutin Dandita Boots. Made from napa leather, the pointed toe six inch boots have cutouts going up the twenty inch shaft with a fourteen inch circumference. The shoes have a leather lining and insole and the signature red leather outsole.
These $1995.00 boots, which can be purchased at Neiman Marcus could easily be rocked with a A-line dress or a pair of leather shorts an a blazer, a perfect look to bring in the New Years in rather your hitting the town with your girlfriends or on a date with that special someone.
If you need more style inspiration check out Melanie Fiona working the stage at VH1 Divas in the platform Louboutins, which she paired with a leather cut out frock and a mustard top, doesn’t she look amazing.
Ladies how would you work these shoes into your wardrobe or are you on to the next pair? Are you loving Melanie Fiona look with these boots or would you have styled her differently, let us know your thoughts below!
Merry Christmas: Mama’s Christmas Miracle
December 25th, 2012 by Christen
Mama’s Christmas Miracle
© Kathy J Parenteau
Mama told me a story a long long time ago not like any that I’d ever heard,
all about a little girl mama used to know, how I remember every word.
Seems like a lifetime ago, though I remember it so well,
it was a Christmas eve I’ll never forget as far as I can tell.
We were sitting at the kitchen table, it was only my mother and me,
I was dreaming of Christmas morning and all the presents under the tree.
Dad wasn’t doing that well and money was scarce that year,
Mama found a way of telling me without me shedding one tear.
all about a little girl mama used to know, how I remember every word.
Seems like a lifetime ago, though I remember it so well,
it was a Christmas eve I’ll never forget as far as I can tell.
We were sitting at the kitchen table, it was only my mother and me,
I was dreaming of Christmas morning and all the presents under the tree.
Dad wasn’t doing that well and money was scarce that year,
Mama found a way of telling me without me shedding one tear.
She told me a story of a little girl and a Christmas long ago,
who came from far away, a place where it rarely snowed.
Santa was just a dream to her, but she believed so much inside,
that Christmas was going to be special, so she knelt by her bed and she cried.
“Lord let Santa remember me if not just this one time, I promise I won’t ask for much, maybe a dolly I can call all mine.”
She closed her prayer and thanked the Lord for all that she received,
she knew that Santa would really come if only she believed.
who came from far away, a place where it rarely snowed.
Santa was just a dream to her, but she believed so much inside,
that Christmas was going to be special, so she knelt by her bed and she cried.
“Lord let Santa remember me if not just this one time, I promise I won’t ask for much, maybe a dolly I can call all mine.”
She closed her prayer and thanked the Lord for all that she received,
she knew that Santa would really come if only she believed.
She wrote a letter to Santa unfamiliar to most girls and boys,
Though her list was long and full, on it there were no toys.
Only things we take for granted, like new shoes or underpants,
hair bows for her sisters and gloves to warm her brother’s hands.
At the bottom of her list she asked if it not be to much, for a brand new baby doll she could hold and love and touch.
Then Christmas morning came and she looked beneath her tree,
Not a present to be found as far as she could see.
She didn’t give up hope as she heard a knocking sound,
When she opened up her door a great big box she found.
Though her list was long and full, on it there were no toys.
Only things we take for granted, like new shoes or underpants,
hair bows for her sisters and gloves to warm her brother’s hands.
At the bottom of her list she asked if it not be to much, for a brand new baby doll she could hold and love and touch.
Then Christmas morning came and she looked beneath her tree,
Not a present to be found as far as she could see.
She didn’t give up hope as she heard a knocking sound,
When she opened up her door a great big box she found.
She called out to her mother and dad, brothers and sisters too,
She said “my prayers were answered, there’s something in here for all of you.”
Her daddy got brand new boots, her mother new underpants, her sisters got beautiful hair bows, her brothers warm gloves for their hands.
Buried deep beneath the box was a brand new baby doll and a note that said Merry Christmas I love you one and all.
I’ll never forget that story because much to my surprise,
I saw the true meaning of Christmas shining in my mother’s eyes.
For those of you who are wondering, as if you didn’t know,
The little girl in Mama’s story was my mother long ago.This poem is about a childhood memory I will never forget.
She said “my prayers were answered, there’s something in here for all of you.”
Her daddy got brand new boots, her mother new underpants, her sisters got beautiful hair bows, her brothers warm gloves for their hands.
Buried deep beneath the box was a brand new baby doll and a note that said Merry Christmas I love you one and all.
I’ll never forget that story because much to my surprise,
I saw the true meaning of Christmas shining in my mother’s eyes.
For those of you who are wondering, as if you didn’t know,
The little girl in Mama’s story was my mother long ago.This poem is about a childhood memory I will never forget.
God bless all the mothers in this world and may all your Christmases be ones to remember.
Source: www.FamilyFriendPoems.com
Tia & Tamera Makes Haute Motherhood And Wife-Life Look Easy With New Website
December 20th, 2012 by Christen
If you’re like me, you’ve grown up watching the infectiously funny twins Tia & Tamera on the prime time sitcom ‘Sister, Sister’ countless television specials, movies and more! With time, these young ladies grew up in front of the camera and in front of our eyes as actresses, newlywed wives and now mothers (In. That. Order.)
In addition to starring in their own STYLE Network series “Tia & Tamera” currently airing Season 2 on Tuesday nights at 9/8 pm – they’ve managed to share their experiences online with a new website community dedicated to fashion, beauty, healthy living, motherhood and more. Actresses Tia Mowry Hardrict and Tamera Mowry Housley have launched a new website to share their tips on living a better life to their fans – the site, TiaandTameraOfficial.com, will serve as an online hub for all things Tia & Tamera featuring exclusive information, photos and videos directly from Tia and Tamera. Content topics will include tips for hosting a holiday party, recipes for homemade baby food, winter fashion picks and much more.
According to YBF.com, Tia spoke about the site saying, “We are so thrilled about this opportunity to interact directly with our fans. With TiaAndTameraOfficial.com, our audience will be able to find out tips and tricks on balancing it all while still raising a healthy and happy family.”
Tamera added, “We’ll also be giving advice on the latest fashion and beauty trends as well as a behind-the-scenes glimpse into our lives as actresses, wives, sisters and most importantly, working moms.”
Personally, I love these gals! They remind me so much of the crazy fun relationship that I have with my sisters. This site is a great addition for women of all ages no matter if you’re married, single, mothers or not. If you’re looking forward to tips, tricks & advice for a variety of areas in life – you’ll find it all from your favorite hollywood twins, Tia and Tamera.
The Twelve Diva Days Of Christmas Holiday Giveaway WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
December 17th, 2012 by ChristenAs we come to the end of one of our most successful year’s yet, we’re so happy to share in the giving spirit of this holiday season by announcing the winners of one of our biggest promotional giveaways ever!
Over $2,000 in cash and prizes in this year’s Diva Days Of Christmas giveaway and with fabulous prizes from our sponsors: Case-Mate, Plantronics, Boy Meets Girl USA, XBox, Windows, HTC, Windows 8, Lane Bryant, Sears, Fabulous Furs, Sprayground and General Motors.
Thank you to all our loyal readers that entered, shared and supported Divas And Dorks in 2012! We can’t wait to bring you exciting promotions, giveaways and more in 2013!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Celebrate Your School! The Boy Meets Girl® University Collection Is Here!
December 3rd, 2012 by Christen
Every girl needs a comfortable hoodie in her closet! Boy Meets Girl Coco Hoodie is mine!
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the collegiate or alumni in your life? Featured right off the runway of New York Fashion Week, Stacy Igel, Founder and Creative Director of Boy Meets Girl® brings you a new apparel collection called Boy Meets Girl® University. Boy Meets Girl® is an edgy yet wearable, stylish yet casually classic young contemporary brand perfect for casual, everyday style. The line combines the look and feel of Boy Meets Girl® clothing with licensed school logos and colors. Defining your style while showing your school spirit has never been easier until now.
Perfect for gym runs or just lounging with friends, the Boy Meets Girl® University of Virginia hoodie is as versatile as it is comfortable!
In addition to an already fabulous line of comfortable hoodies, tees, outerwear and accessories, Boy Meets Girl® currently delivers the most comfortable peices of everyday wear imaginable. (My absolute favorite apparel piece has to be the Boy Meets Girl® Coco hoodie! Perfect for everyday wear including running to the gym or running errands.) The line now expands with Boy Meets Girl® University featuring Clemson University, University of Virginia and Igel’s Alma Mater, University of Wisconsin- Madison. With plans to include more schools in the Boy Meets Girl® University line in the future, be on the lookout for the signature boy and girl silhouette in your school’s colors and logos very soon. For more information visit http://www.boymeetsgirluniversity.com
Available at several college campuses across the U.S. – you can find your favorite Boy Meets Girl University gear at Clemson University (Tigertown Graphics), University of Virginia (UVA Bookstores), University of Wisconsin-Madison (The University Book Store (on campus).
Have you entered Diva Days Of Christmas Holiday Giveaway yet? What are you waiting for? You could win a Boy Meets Girl® Holiday Prize pack valued at over $100!)
How to Make Your Holiday Photography Fabulous This Season!
November 29th, 2012 by Lifestyle StaffDo you love photography or just enjoy taking pictures, but feel like pricey cameras are keeping professional-looking photos out of reach? Here are 3 key tips sure to make your holiday photos look top-notch without investing in expensive equipment.
1. Forget the Flash
Ever wonder why throwaway camera pictures have off-kilter coloring? Flash is your culprit!
Unless you’re shooting in the dark, forget it even exists. Keep your camera steady and try to shoot in early morning or early evening light to get the best natural shadows and highlights from your environment. Additionally, if your camera allows it, adjust shutter speed (a.k.a. ISO) to control the amount of light you’re letting in (higher ISO = more light = best for darker environments).
2. Learn The Rule of Thirds
NEVER put your subject in the center of the frame. Instead, picture your camera view as being divided into three sections, and keep your subject in either the left-hand or right-hand third. Also, remember the “halo” rule: make sure to leave space above and around the subject’s head so that they don’t look crammed into the shot.
3. Know Your Angles
America’s Next Top Model contestants aren’t the only ones who need to understand angles. An otherwise-boring shot can be instantly spruced up by changing your perspective.
Want to make your subject look more important and/or taller? Shoot from below. On the flipside, shooting from above can also make a subject look smaller, but slimmer, so a higher perspective might be the answer to soothing subjects with any worries, while also being fabulously spontaneous.
Do you have a unique photo tip to share? Let us know what you do to spruce up your special holiday photos.
To Delete or Not to Delete: The Plight Of Social Network Deserters
November 29th, 2012 by Lifestyle StaffEveryone has THAT friend who lives on the Internet. They post every detail of their life on Facebook and on Twitter. They post tons of pictures daily on Instagram of outfits and meals consumed. (if you don’t have that friend, you need to take a look in the mirror, because that friend could be you…) The digital world is their oyster until one day… it’s not. One person disagrees with one of their statuses, someone makes a joke about a picture they’ve posted, or their mentions on Twitter are bombarded with combative comments replying to something they tweeted. Then their love for social media has turned to hatred and they’re faced with the dilemma to delete or not delete – possibly deserting the social media network altogether.
The Internet is no longer a friendly place. Users find themselves in the middle of a war they can’t contain because of that pesky share button and retweet option that makes one post viral in seconds. As a result they begin the process of packing their digital baggage filled with over used hashtags and untagged photos and wave farewell to their online profiles.
People delete their accounts everyday for various reasons. The ones who leave because of drama they most likely created, I like to call them “social network deserters”. There are two types of social network deserters, the one who takes immediate action after an embarrassing or angering exchange or the one who drags it out hoping someone acknowledges their decision to leave it all behind.
The ones who drag it out spend the next few hours and sometimes days, posting that they are “done” with social networks, some even urge all of their “real friends” to request their number to stay in touch. Celebrities tend to fall into the swift action category. Most likely their PR person pulled the plug. Case in point, the most recent celebrity deserter who had a less than stellar night of communicating on a public forum: Chris Brown.
Regardless of which type of deserter they are, one thing they both have in common is that they always come back. When they do it’s not without fan fare. The average Joe posts an “I’m back” statement and waits for the likes or retweets to roll in. The media outlets unofficially handle the announcements for the celebrities.
History, however, never fails to repeat itself and you know what they say about idle hands, especially hands that have access to smart phones. When they do return it’s only a matter of time before another incident reminds them of why they hate allowing friends and strangers into their personal lives.
Until then there are enough social network super users who are willing to fight the good fight and provide just as much drama for those who like to watch to stay entertained.
Are you one of these social network deserters or super users? Do you think celebrities should fend for themselves via social media or just quit the game entirely? Sound off below…
{Holiday Review} @Plantronics Voyager Legend Headset
November 28th, 2012 by Christen
When choosing to use bluetooth headsets versus headphones for daily mobile calling, everyone has their own preference. Many consumers opt to use their standard factory headphones for handsfree calls, however many of these headphones don’t provide optimum calling & clear noise-free communication. This is where the Plantronics Voyager Legend comes into play. As an intelligent accessory that seamlessly works into a busy diva’s lifestyle, it’s brings superior smart call routing, precision audio and voice commands all together in one simply intuitive device.
The Set Up
Setting up the bluetooth device is fairly simple. Customized earbuds and strategically shifting of the microphone makes it easy to pair the device to your left or right ear listening preference. A standard gel ear tip comes attached to the Voyager Legend but Plantronics also bundles two larger and smaller size gel tips and foam earbud covers. Plantronics took the time to make these tips easy to swap in and out of the device too. Just press inward and twist left or right to lock or unlock tips for insertion and removal. Pairing the device to your iPhone or Android device is equally simple and allow connection in a matter of seconds. Upon using the device for the first time, it had enough power to pair the device with my iPhone and make a few calls, however when fully charged it boasts up to 7 hours of talk time or 11 days of power while on standby. To charge the Voyager Legend, Plantronics includes a small adapter to rest the headset’s metal contacts on, making it easy to keep the device charged anywhere when not in use.
Call Audio & Clarity
Voyager line gives you three microphones to improve audio quality and clarity. Testing out these microphones on one of the busiest streets in NYC – Broadway was a breeze! Loud trucks, crowded restaurants, and loud passerby’s were no match for the clarity of the Voyager Legend. Did it completely reduce all the background noise, no – but that’s not what it’s intended to do. It does provide clear enough calling that people on the other end of the phone couldn’t tell if I was on a bluetooth device at all. The Voyager Legend also intuitively directs calls to your phone or headset, pauses music for incoming calls, and allows you to automatically answer by simply placing the headset on your ear.
Voice Commands
With most voice command options, based on your dialect – it can be a pleasant or just plain frustrating experience. (I truly believe Siri hates me) but to my surprise, using the voice command option on the Voyager Legend wasn’t complicated at all. Just say “Answer” to take a call. Tap the Voice button to check battery level or ask “What can I say?” to hear a list of commands.
Design
The Voyager Legend is a streamlined bluetooth accessory that’ll take a moment to gain total comfort with. Weighing only 18 grams, it’s a lightweight device that makes it easy to forget that it’s on your ear. While the headset’s ear loop is sturdy and provide a comfortable anchor for ear placement, it provides controls that you have to familiarize yourself with for easy finger reach. The ear loop’s base is home to the power switch and volume toggle button while the two key buttons you’ll make most use of reside on the microphone arm. It took me a while to effortlessly press the mute call button (located closer to the edge of the microphone) without mistakenly pressing the call button (located closer to the base of the microphone) simultaneously. However, once I got the hang of the exact position of each button, using the accessory became that much more enjoyable.
Extras
You can rely on the Voyager Legend to work as hard as you do, through rain, sweat and the inevitable coffee spill. Voyager Legend headsets are protected against sweat and moisture damage by P2i technology. The nano-coating is applied during the manufacturing process, resulting in invisible liquid repellent properties that also makes the headset more reliable, wherever your busy life takes you. Plantronics also provides a variety of apps such as the InstantMeeting call-confrencing app, headset locating apps and more!
No matter if you’re hanging out with the kids or running errands on the go – the suburb audio quality, lightweight and well-crafted Plantronics Voyager Legend makes it a great choice if you’re looking for handsfree bluetooth technology this season. At only $99 it makes a great holiday gift and easily available online at Plantronics.com, Amazon.com and at your local Best Buy location.
Disclosure: This review has been compensated as part of a promotional program. All opinions are entirely my own.
Wild Shoe Wednesday: Nicki Minaj Goes Nude In a Monster Shoe
November 28th, 2012 by Fashion Staff
We all can agree that Nicki Minaj had to be referring to the Napa Exaggerated-Platform Pump when she called Giuseppe heel as “the monster shoe”. The five foot two rapper reached new heights literally when she went nude on Good Morning America in these pair of Giuseppe Zanotti heels.
The Italian made patent leather pumps are six inches tall with a 2 ½” platform and have a snipped peep toe. Though the heel is unfussy style the wild factor kicks in when you hit a growth spurt in the matter of seconds just by putting the shoe on. The simple platforms can be found at Neiman Marcus for $750 dollars in a great nude color, perfect for the ladies how are looking to invest in a staple designer shoe and happen to be vertically challenge. We also found the exaggerated heels at Bergdorf Goodman in black and blue that is a sling-back style shoe.
Divas are you willing to see the world differently in these Giuseppe’s? Which style do you prefer, or are you not feeling these at all? Let us know below.
Beyoncé Documentary to Premiere Exclusively on HBO
November 27th, 2012 by Lifestyle Staff
February 2013 seems to be the month Beyoncé will be coming back into the performance realm. She is the headlining performer during the Super Bowl halftime show on February 3rd, and now will be the focus of an intimate feature-length HBO documentary film later that month. Michael Lombardo, HBO President of Programming, announced it in a statement. Directed by the Beyoncé herself, the film is “a fusion of video that provides raw, unprecedented access to the private entertainment icon and high-voltage performances.” Beyoncé is world-renowned for her music but as a person, not many know her. The film will change this. “Along with electrifying footage of Beyoncé onstage, this unique special looks beyond the glamour to reveal a vibrant, vulnerable, unforgettable woman,” said Lombardo.
From a November 26th press release from HBO:
The film is a multi-faceted portrait of the 16-time Grammy Award-winning singer, businesswoman, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, wife and mother, showing off the extraordinary gifts that have made her a global phenomenon, and stripping away the veneer of stardom. It includes extensive first-person footage, some of it shot by Beyoncé on her laptop, in which she reflects on the realities of celebrity, the refuge she finds onstage and the transcendent joy of becoming a mother last year.
The film sheds light on her childhood in Houston, with home movies revealing the close bond she built with her family and charts the challenges Beyoncé felt when she decided to manage her career and build her own company, Parkwood Entertainment. It also captures the intense physical and emotional demands she goes through in the studio, preparing for live performances, running a business and her family life, including her return to the spotlight after the birth of her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, in January 2012. Beyoncé also serves as the film’s executive producer.
“HBO has a history of pushing every boundary with class and authenticity,” said Beyoncé in a statement. “Some of my favorite shows are on HBO, so I am excited that my film will be part of its bold programming. This film was so personal to me, it had to have the right home.”
With her pervious documentary releases, including her “I Am World Tour” in 2010 and “Year of 4” in 2011, following the release of her album 4, we’ve gotten pieces of Beyoncé as a person but who doesn’t want more? No trailers have been released but I am looking forward to seeing another look into Beyoncé’s life. The film is scheduled to debut on February 16th, 2013.
