Spring is the perfect season to let your skin breathe a bit. It's going to be so beautiful out, I'm going to try my best unless it's for a special occasion, not to layer on excessive makeup.
(Variant cover by Sandy Jarrell with Kelly Fitzpatrick)
Just when you thought Archie Comics couldn't get more interesting with Vampires, Witches, and all sorts of crazy, cool... Batman and Robin decide to swing through Riverdale! I hear things are going to get crazy town super fast! Archie Comics and DC Entertainment is proud to present their crossover adventure 50 years in the making: ARCHIE MEETS BATMAN 66!
(Photo under natural light)
A Pop Of Color Can Make Your Day!
My Spring, Summer makeup is usually pretty simple. Bold lip, mascara and done! This year, I think I'm going to get groovy with a lot of bold eyeshadow colors. Realistically, I haven't played with eyeshadows in years... probably because I overdid it when I was 16-18 years old. I also love to experiment with brands and how good their quality and pigmentation is.
Hey Nubians,
"Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder"
The older I get the less makeup I wear. I think this happens to a lot of women. Perhaps when I'm in my 40's I'll start wearing more foundation and concealer or things to cover up small lines and wrinkles that will form with age. For now, I mainly enjoy a bold lip, bold brows, and a bit of mascara. The fact I don't wear a lot of makeup on the daily doesn't mean I don't enjoy playing with it. I often look forward to nights where I can glam up more than usual and play around with a nice, bright eyeshadow color (which I often do in during the Summer anyway). I was browsing around a few Vogue Japan editorials and loved the color used in the February editorial and the simplicity for March.
Royalty in Color - Vogue Japan, Feb 2018.
I was born in February and my favorite color for most of my life has been purple. It's the color of my birthstone, Amethyst. Amethyst always transmitted feelings of peace, harmony, and balance when I stare at it long enough and appreciate it's beauty. Purple is also known as the color or royalty, hence this editorial. Enjoy!
Art Was the Mood - Vogue Japan, March 2018.
Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”. Steve Jobs always spoke about the beauty of simplicity and being a minimalist as well. It's often true that less is more, but being a minimalist in life is often harder than it looks. When it comes to makeup, however, it's quite easy. A nice cat-eye and dash of blush go a long way. Simplicity also compliments a feeling of freedom and fewer things weighing you down both physically and emotionally in your life.
Jingna Zhang - Photographer
Rena Semba - Fashion Editor/Stylist
Shuco Sumida - Hair Stylist
Nicolas Degennes - Makeup Artist
Chiharu Okunugi - Model
Rina Fukushi - Model
Cheers!
Xo Nubia Xo
Hey Nubians,
"I don't know the future, but the past keeps getting clearer every day." -I Fight Dragons
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of 'The Goldbergs'. I live for all of the nostalgia and trips back in time the show helps me take. I also happen to be a BIG fan of their wardrobe! Head of Wardrobe & Costume Designer, Keri Smith, does an amazing job! The colors, patterns, texture, & DENIM, DENIM, DENIM! It's awesome. They also have a great hair & makeup crew too.
Hey Nubians,
Happy New Year! I know it's probably all in our head, but there's something so refreshing about a New Year. It seems everyone is totally over and making fun of the whole "New Year, New Me!" cliche but who cares! Don't let anyone discourage you. If today is the day you decide to improve any tiny part of your life... well, cheers to you.
I always try to take a minute and brainstorm on what I could improve that will get me closer to my long-term goals. I look at the New Year as a reminder to check myself and make sure I'm on track. I also use it as an excuse to update certain products :) Below you'll find a mighty nifty recommendation list on a few items that I truly believe will help kick-start your new year.
1) A GOOD PLANNER
In a world that has been overwhelmed by technology, I LOVE to write stuff down. I'm still a bit unorganized sometimes and I don't know where I would be without my list and some planning. I've been looking for planners and bumped into these 2 on Amazon I thought were pretty cool.
Deluxe Law of Attraction Life Planner - 2018 planner to Increase Productivity & Happiness.
This planner would make an AMAZING gift. First off, just looking at it makes me happy. It's very visually appealing. Secondly, I'm all for affirmation. I love all the different ways it inspires you and helps you get organized. Its purpose is to increase your productivity while helping you become a better person along the way. It contains an out foldable vision board & morning and evening powers questions along with so much more. Check it out HERE.
2018 Colorist Day Planner
For anyone who wants to get their creative juices flowing, I thought this was a pretty nice coloring book planner. My brother picked one of these out for me last year and it's a lot of fun. It has a nice amount of room for writing as well and doodling. I recommend it.
2) An Inspirational Coffee or Tea Mug.
Coffee and Tea is something a large percentage of the world has every morning. Why not look at something positive while we're drinking it?! I always use cute mugs when I'm at home or when I used to work in an office. Etsy and Amazon are great places to look. Here are 2 that I found which I thought were adorable.
Find it at TheGiftedMug.
3) Aromatherapy With A Candle.
Ok, so you guys may think I'm being biased with this ha, ha, BUT at the end of 2017 I started a candle company with my best friend called YES YOU CAN . DLE. YES YOU CAN.DLE is an Aromatherapy with the power of positive thinking candle company that wants you to remember you can do anything you put your mind to. We fell in love with making them. Our aromatherapy collection is made of 100% soy wax, therapeutic grade essential oils and an Eco-Cotton wick. Essential oils are a gift from plants and the earth that are known to have many healing properties & the power to uplift your mood. Every candle you purchase comes with an affirmation on the label to deliver a positive affirmation in every household it sits in. If you purchase online, it also comes with a complimentary #YYCPayItForward bracelet for you to gift to a friend or stranger who you think may need a little extra light in their life.
Lastly, all of the candles are skin safe and double as MASSAGE OIL AND MOISTURIZERS. It's true! They smell Delish. I would recommend REVIVE to kick off your new year. It's our best seller and is meant to up uplift and give you energy with notes of Lemongrass, Rosemary & Eucalyptus.
REVIVE label reads :
"Everyday is a chance to start anew. No problem is too big. YES YOU CAN revive. This invigorating candle with notes of lemongrass & eucalyptus is exactly what you need to boost your energy.
Life is full of surprises. Believe in yourself. Be Kind. Spread peace and love to others. And remember, YES YOU CAN do anything you put your mind to."
Visit the YES YOU CAN . DLE website to shop and learn more about our mission.
4) A Portable Battery.
I can't count the times I've been out with my friends and all of our phones are dying! Seriously, it's annoying and terrible and sometimes we actually need our phones for important things like travel and not just to check our Instagram.
The annoying thing about Power Banks is you always wonder which ones REALLY work. 2 of my friends have a Cheero Power bank and I like them very much. They're very cute and affordable and could charge your phone fully over 3 times. They're so worth it! I can't get over their adorable designs too. Cute tech has always been a weakness of mine. I love their face! These are life savers during conventions & travel. You can also use it to charge your tablets & more.
Find the Cheero Power Bank HERE.
5) A Thermos.
Ok, I know I said inspirational cup BUT you can use a thermos for stuff like soup as well and it's freezing in New York! I love this particular thermos by TAKEYA. Did you know I spent $7.00 on a medium coffee this morning? It's kind of ridiculous. If you guys get used to carrying coffee or tea in a big thermos to pour throughout the day, you would save SO MUCH MONEY! It's insane. They do their job at keeping something cold or hot for quite a few hours too. I used to spend so much money on coffee. I still spend more than I should till this day. One of my goals is to use a Thermos a lot more this year. It's Eco-Friendly and they even make a cute accessory. My brother Dean gifted me this exact one for Christmas because I always complemented his. He carries soup in it from time to time because he works in the cold a lot and the soup is always so warm. They work very well. He got mine in purple because it's my favorite color.
I hope you found this list helpful. There are a lot of other items that almost made it on. Things to help you prepare breakfast in the morning, a new yoga mat, a gym membership, etc. There's really a lot of things you can purchase or get into to kick-start your year. The ones on this list are just some of my favorites.
Wishing you all a beautiful start to your year! Happy 2018.
Xo Nubia Xo
Hey Nubians,
Put on your red shoes, and dance the blues.
-David Bowie
Red is an interesting color because I relate it to both very happy and very upsetting feelings. I'd like to say I associate it with mainly positive emotions except when I feel like "I'm seeing red." then that's a whole other story. When I googled meaning of the color red it says...
"Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure."
It's a great color, period. Model Agnes Akerlund looks very cute in her red outfits selected by stylist Sissy Vian. The bow on the top of her head takes me back to my illustrated Dr. Seuss books and the lovely Cindy Lou Who.
I hope this editorial inspires you if not for fashion purposes, at least for artistic ones. Cheers!
Camilla Akrans - Photographer
Sissy Vian - Fashion Editor/Stylist
Franco Gobbi - Hair Stylist
Fredrik Stambro - Makeup Artist
Agnes Akerlund - Model
What does red mean to you?
Xo Nubia Xo
I had this outfit post in my drafts section for about a month and then I took another hiatus from my blog. I know, I've done this often within the last year or so... perhaps too often, but I can't continue to write when I'm not inspired anymore. It's wasteful and disrespectful to my craft, myself, and my readers. I must conserve my inspiration for projects I can fully immerse myself in. A burnt out person is not a happy person at all. The internet finally took a toll on me sometime last year and I felt my brain was FRIED. I've been working in Social Media Marketing for 10 years now, way back when everything was starting and now the internet has become overwhelming and full of so much nothing. I see too much garbage out there and distasteful clutter that doesn't help or encourage anyone. I've taken a break from my Social Media & Copy Writing career with companies for now ... and maybe forever. I'm going to pursue other projects and refresh my mind. I will still be online and on my blog sharing things I love such as fashion, reviews, geek culture, creative story telling, etc. I'm hope to spread inspiration & positivity to others and I will do that by respecting myself first.
On a happier note, isn't this outfit cute? My friend took these photos about a month ago, and when I was looking at them today I thought, these colors are perfect for Fall! Green, orange, mustard yellow, burgundy, ugh! I can not wait to start wearing sweaters. This outfit has very much a hippy girl vibe to it. The shoes are from Donald J Pliner and the dress was a gift from my mother, I believe she picked it up a a random boutique (not sure the name). The awesome sunglasses are from ALDO.
Lastly...
-I'll be making a post on Fall Fashion Tips soon. Stay Tuned!
-Life is too short to not do what you love. You have more support than you know most times.
-Pumpkin Spice Everything... Apple Picking... Haunted House... Halloween Decorations... Go Nuts.
Xo Nubia Xo
Hey My Beautiful Nubians,
Every time I go to a convention I try to visit the vendors and support either by buying items I like, taking photos of them tables, or sometimes both! At Liberty City Anime Con there was a lot of nice & nerdy trinkets for you to admire. Your geek girl or geek boy desires would have been very pleased. There was tons of anime art, cool pocket watches with characters on them such as Batman, Superman, Harry Potter of even Tim Burton characters. You'll also see a bunch of super kawaii clothing, silverware, accessories, & more. Unfortunately I couldn't get everyones information and not everyone had business cards, but if you like something and the information isn't listed, shoot me a message and I will try to find out where it's from.
Keeping It Cool and Casual.
I feel like I am, and really we all are kissing the Summer of 2017 adios and farewell quite quickly. I don't know about you, but this Summer flashed right by me. I decided to go back from the west coast to the east for a while and that took a lot of my time and energy. Moving is a pain in the ass. I've also gone through a lot of growing pains this year so far which has been both great and terrible at the same time if that makes any sense. As we get older, we realize we don't love the same things we used to and we start realizing what really matters. But like most things in life, the loss of love in a hobby just like in a person is hard. I've lost and gained a lot so far this year and for that I am grateful but left battling a bittersweet sensation.
This past weekend I attended the Liberty City Anime Con with my brother and had a nice & interesting time. I walked the halls full of colorful wigs and DIY costumes with all sorts of props and contraptions and stopped every-so-often to take some cosplay photos of some of my favorite looks from the convention. They weren't all anime, I spotted some comicbook and video game characters as well. To be honest, I only dabble in Anime and I'm way more of a comicbook and comic con person because it's what I grew up with. However, I was intrigued when I heard about this con and I figured why not attend and open up to something new? I was impressed with the dedication these anime buffs have and understand why they have such a love for the genre. I've watched a few anime films before such as Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service and other Hayao Miyazaki titles. I also recommend the super trippy Cat Soup anime film directed by Tatsuo Satō and inspired by the work of manga artist Nekojiru for anyone who wants to feel confused and be amazed at the same time . I've read a few manga titles. I think my first ever may have been Socrates in Love by Kyoichi Katayama in the early 2000's.
Hey Nubians,
Ever Thought Of Getting Into Voice Acting?
This weekend in New York City many Anime lovers will find themselves in the Liberty City Anime Con, not only is it a great place to cosplay and geek out, but it's a great place to meet people!
Voice acting has also been something that interested me but I've never really pursued. I don't plan to do it right now, but maybe someday in the future. With that being said, The Liberty City Anime Con has a ton of Voice Actors doing panels and dishing out great advice. I myself have witnessed that if you can't make it to the panel, most of these voice actors are nice enough to talk to you one on one for a few minutes.
There are many talented Voice Actors present such as Jessi Nowack, Aaron Roberts, Heather Walker, Kate Bristol, Matt Shipman, Brittany Lauda, Michael Zekas, Sam Halt & more. If you like the character voices in shows such as Shangri-La, Fairy Tail, Dance With Devils, My Hero Academia, Hina Logic, Pokemon XY, Yu-Gi-Oh, Dragonball Z & much more, you better make it to the Liberty City Anime Con ASAP before it ends tomorrow.
There are still plenty of panels you can catch today (Saturday) past 6pm including Voice Actor Radio Show, Internet Voice Acting, and Voice Actors After Dark. There are also still a few panels you can attend Sunday as well. For more about the schedule and who will be present, click HERE.
Don't miss your chance to hear these amazing voice actors talk about their careers and give you great tips and advice.
Check back in to see a few of my post on the Liberty City Anime Con soon!
Cheers!
Xo Nubia Xo
Hey Nubians,
Change is fun!
Recently I decided I needed to do something different with my hair color, hair cut, and hair style. I let it grow out for quite some time in an effort to let it get a bit healthier since it's been bleached often and was starting to get too dry. I'm going to start using hair masque more often for that issue. But anyway, I definitely needed something new... a nice change. I'm sure you get that feeling, right? When it starts to feel imperative. Even though my hair kept growing and I kept changing colors, it still felt the same for some reason.
Sometimes small changes can go a long way. Not only did I decide to get it cut, I decided to get bangs! I haven't had bangs in over 10 years! It took about 3 days for them to grow on my but now I love them!
Before
My hair was pretty faded already. I had Aveda color and Ion color on it before... the other half was just a dark brown. Even since I did my Wonder Woman Two-Face cosplay at New York Comic Con, I've kept the each half different colors look. This time I had a different muse for inspiration too.
What Was Used
My good friend Kaori did my hair. If you want something fun and you're in NY, you should reach out to her! She used Pravana, Adore, and Sparks Products. You can see the names of the hair dye below.
And then...
TAH-DAH! I love it. It's exactly what I needed right now. The photo below is unfiltered and under natural light.
It still has a bit of Batman's Harvey Dent/Two-Face inspiration, but we can all agree the color scheme is kind of based on The Joker right? Hooray!
The photo below has a bit of a filter on it but the colors are almost exactly how they look. You can also totally tell I'm starting to feel my new look.
I also really enjoy how the bangs look with a messy top know. It's perfect.
If you guys have any questions feel free to reach out!
Cheers,
Xo Nubia Xo
