more cosmetics on shearling...

 

...I didn't realize I already bought that Real Techniques brush, but no matter, it's perfect for some eye shadow application in a hurry so I can't have too many.  

The China Glaze polish in the color "flying dragon" is actually a matte finish, which I used for my current manicure with the base and top coat. I'm going to go ahead and say this nail system is nothing special considering I applied the polish according to directions and it's already badly chipped in less than four days...tragic, but still a very pretty color (I'll try again with a gloss finish polish).

I have yet to give the Maybelline falsies pushup drama a try, but I can say that name is doing the most so it better work.

  

Some Reading | 2015 MTV Video Music Awards

I’m not sure how prepared I was for the inevitable ridiculousness…

Nicki opens with an amazing Carnival style performance—brilliant perfection all around…and then some skinny white girl hijacked her stage…

Nicki with a fan.

...I just want to know how much money changed hands for that to go down.

Macklemore is back in action after giving us a break…that song was just so dumb and the performance was so extra and so unnecessary. I’m trying to forget it ever happened really.

Miley’s first look was actually amazing…from the neck down (white dreds stay irking me).

The Weeknd…I’m not feelin’ “I Can’t Feel my Face” at all. At least he was high energy as opposed to just high.

Rebel Wilson comes out dressed like a demon. I was disturbed.

Nicki wins for Anaconda and then takes a moment to show white people what an actual angry black woman looks like. I’m guessing it was staged because it’s nothing but coons and buffoons on MTV, but I could tell by Miley’s reaction she wasn’t fully prepared or possibly not even fully aware of the joke—that made it more delightful.

Then Miley went on to use her white privilege to make yet another a joke about police brutality in one of her filler skits; she was joined by a few coons, one of them happens to be fucking Kylie Jenner.

Taylor wins something over Nicki AND BEYONCE…and then some Asian dude declares that she is the highest of the high most talented most beautiful thing on earth……….I wish Beyoncé was there for the cutaway. Actually, I just wish Beyoncé was there period.

One of my favorite performance looks of the night.

Demi Lovato… “Cool for the Summer” was released a little late considering fall is basically here, but it’s a jam and she LOOKED GOOD…

 ....however, didn’t Britney warn her about associating with Miss Itchy Areola? Nobody asked for it. 

Justin Bieber…I didn’t even know who it was at first because his brand of white mediocrity has always been so indistinguishable to me…he literally sings all the songs Chris Brown doesn’t feel like singing….he clearly neglected his fuckboy black friends and went to all his rehearsals because the dancing was on point...but then he cried at the end…for no apparent reason.

Big Sean, Kanye and John Legend won an award for a song with a social message; Big Sean, who I still think is only famous for fucking a couple of white women, gave a very moving speech about a black woman in his family. It was lovely.

Miley reappears as a rainbow square, I thought it was adorable, actually.

Tori Kelly…she is only slightly less than mediocre because of the one drop rule I guess (she’s part Jamaican). Only live vocal aside from Demi and she rocked it. Performance of the night so far.

Then there was a commercial about some weird agency called White Squad offering services where people of color can actually be regarded as human beings using the privilege of white people…it was a much too vulgar for my taste…like, people are being murdered in cold blood, not just unable to hail cabs or live in nice apartments.

...best performance of the night

Taylor Swift gave Kanye the Vanguard award, which was fitting because he made her. He got up there, didn’t seem to know what to do with himself…and then he appeared to apologize to Taylor for the umpteenth time and THEN STARTED RANTING YESSSSS KANYEEEEEEEEEE YESSS…and then it turned out to be his speech for--HIS RUN FOR PRESIDENT THIS AWARD SHOW JUST GOT SO GOOD I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF OMGGGGG.

Miley comes back looking like a well-tailored disco ball. Here for it. 

Pharrell Williams…sings a song called “Freedom”…I wanted it to be so much more than what he was serving, but he’s a Miley apologist so…

Asap Rocky and 21 pilots…I saw another white person rapping and I turned it down.

Taylor gets video of the year…whatever. She brings up all her prop friends and made a little white feminist speech and then I saw Miley’s nipple and I knew the end was near…

…then a bunch of random people came out…I feel like they were some sort of trendy sexuality thing…Gigi Gorgeous was in there, I kind of live for her.

Finally, Miley sang about being trash...I felt like I was high and I’ve never done drugs. Remember when she sang about “the climb” and hanging out with her friends…? Shit, remember when Beyoncé was there?

Fashion Stuff...nobody failed, but this is sort of a fashion blog so I'll be as critical as possible...

Faves; there were lots this year

Goddess Nicki in one of my favorite looks of all time from her; she's putting La Bourjoisie on the map.

Another La Bourjoisie number on Godney; she always knows how to rock a glitter mini and it was perfectly styled.

I loved how Chrissy's messy updo accentuated the details in this dress; this was my favorite black sheer number.

Gigi slayed; the simple, sleek styling really helped set this off.

At this point, it's Ciara's job to just show up and look amazing; I'm not even into this level of fringe application, but the gold accents made it look so opulent and striking. By Alexandre Vauthier.

I sort of hate her these days but she is still the standard when it comes to event dressing...I love the hair pulled back and the shoes.

An ethereal princess look from one of my style icons, Vanessa Hudgens.

I secretly stan for Kat Graham; she's so gorgeous and her style is always so fun and edgy. Everything from the print, to the lantern bag, to the stunning hair and make up was on point--the more I look, the more I love it.

I'm still trying to get into her music, but I have no trouble accepting her style; FKA Twigs is in her own lane. I can't really hate especially with the nicely juxtaposed styling of this edgy look. From the neck up, it's neat and tidy and from the neck down, undone and sexy--here for it.

I'm always here for fashion with a message and this was brilliant.

I don't even know who this white girl is (apparently she's fucking Miley), but this dress was just so bold yet perfectly structured I just had to include it just because it's rare to see something that is both garish and elegant. It's by Moschino a label that is quickly becoming one of my faves.

Fashion Shortfalls...I mean, they tried but like...

Rita Ora was simply too short for this number. The more bold her choices are on the carpets she shows up at, the more people are going to wonder why she's there...

Cute dress, but unfortunately the color washed her out. At least she was smart enough not to pair it with that try-to-hard over-dyed hair we saw from her previously.

Her pose says it all, Selena is a "cool mom". Did she have to pair this heavy unflattering look with such ugly, clunky shoes?

Tinashe is so adorable, but here she just looks a little unfinished with the styling and this look would have been great on stage, but on the carpet she just looks like a Fanta girl who thinks she's too big for her britches.

Kylie is usually on the other side of my critique, but this Balmain dress took so much away from her allegedly enhanced figure. It's just a very expensive wicker basket.

I know this is an obvious critique, but I'm mad because this Versace look could have been glorious, but the styling ruined it...I guess it's fitting that she's the one wearing it.

sources: tumblr (my edits) and me.

Welp, that was wild from start to finish and definitely entertaining…not exactly for the right reasons though. Yes there were more than enough problematic moments that I’m too tired to review in depth, but I feel as though the show itself lived up to the VMA standard of controversy that keeps people talking. Overall, I thought it leaned more on the provocative rather than offensive side despite all the blatant whitewashing…but maybe I’m just numb to all the fuckery at this point.

Some Reading | 2015 Billboard Music Awards

This was the most anticipated Billboard Awards since Britney back flipped her way into our hearts in 1999…

It opened with Taylor’s "Bad Blood" video… I was totally digging the 5th Element, Minority Report dystopian whatever vibe and that was the most beautiful set of cameo appearances I’ve ever seen minus Lena Dunham.
 
Van Halen…I guess they figured since it worked with the Grammys….?

Ludacris and Chrissy Teigen as the hosts...at least it wasn’t LL Cool J. Chrissy actually didn't annoy me as much as I thought she would and she rocked Kim K's Balmain dress from the VMAs last year way better.

One Direction wins something and reminds people that the group is 20 percent less attractive now that Zayn has left.

Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa…Wiz was so random for me, but I loved the dancers even though they were kind of doing the most.

Nick Jonas…it’s nice to see him successfully breaking away from his 2nd rate boy band. He did a wonderful job.

Meghan Trainor and John Legend….snooze fest. She still looks like a fat drag queen. Next.

Mariah Carey…I’m cringing at how bad that mic feed is going to sound...

Those white people put Iggy in the rap category twice. Then she had the nerve to say she wrote Fancy.

Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth and Lindsey Stirling…It was supposed to be a tribute to one of the most unremarkable actors people can't stop talking about...all I remember was some mediocre looking white kid was reaching for some falsetto notes and being scared Wiz Khalifa’s boney ass was gonna break a hip while dancing.

Empire Cast ft. Estelle…I don’t see it for Yazz’s rap career because I’m unsure if he’s acting like he sucks or not, but Jussie is so adorable and I’m into his Michael Jackson-esque vocals.

Hozier…does this guy wanna go anywhere else aside from church tho? I’m getting played out vibes with that song.

Little Big Town…they sang the theme song to Single White Female. It was creepy.

Pitbull and Chris Brown…I can feel this song getting annoying by the second. Chris looked like a jolly rancher.

GO. AWF.

Ed Sheeran…well at least I didn’t go to sleep this time. The song was really good and the performance was actually a true highlight of the night.

Even her gay dancers are checking her out.

Britney and Igloo Australia…First of all, Britney looked absolutely incredible and she also looked like she was having so much fun during the performance. It was very kind of her to share her air space with that other girl.

Queen Nicki welcoming everyone to her listening party.

Nicki Minaj and David Guetta… I hadn’t heard "Hey Mama" yet, but it goes off. That whole performance was just a listening party for her two new singles…she basically did some cute choreo and threw in a few “hhhyeah, c’mons” in there and kept it moving. So deliciously diva.

Tori Kelly…bitch can sing. We’ll see what happens with this slightly above mediocre white girl.

The Simple Minds…a filler performance…I was singing along though.

Kelly Clarkson…the second most successful American Idol got her pregnant ass up there and slayed. I love how she’s real woman pregnant not Hollywood skinny with a belly pregnant.

Imagine Dragons...I know it was a tribute to BB. King, but I was sleeping…they should have brought their drums.

Kanye West…I don’t even know why ABC would have him perform if they were just going to bleep out literally the entire performance. It was so obnoxious. Like, more obnoxious than Kanye himself. I could barely see him and now I can’t even hear him??? I really think censorship goes way too far when it comes to these award shows sometimes.

Fashion Notes (Highlights and WTFs)

Balmain is coming to H&M! I'm dyinnnnng. Jourdan and Kendall looked amazing making the announcement.

Kylie just looks so boss here; that statement belt is everything.

I'm sort of living for Zendaya's variety of looks and risks; this was so summery and well-tailored.

This worked for Charli because it was such a stark contrast from her usual. I loved the soft details in this vintage dress.

Yazz looked like a prom date at some historically black private school, but I was loving it.

I heard she got her boobies done, but I'm not sure...either way the neckline on this jumpsuit was working for her.

Speaking of plastic surgery...I mean Iggy's face was really the only thing she possessed as a natural talent...and now that's questionable too...I love all the pastel though.

I still can't figure out Rita Ora's lane (singer, actress, host? or WHAT?), but I bet this look made her a ton of tip money on stage...

I don't even care what her name is...she's a troll.

**photos Tumblr and me.

Overall, it was actually fun show. I found it youthful and fresh from Chrissy Teigen being absolutely delightful as the main host and several of the new artists actually putting on professional stage shows. Memorable? Nope, possibly a little too long as well, but there were little moments here and there that made the show a lot less boring than I expected it to be.

Some Reading | 2015 Grammy Awards

The line up was better than last year’s, but would it be a snooze fest or nah?

LL Cool J was employed again. He’s kind of a coon, but at least he knows how to pretend a show is poppin’ even when it’s not (like last year).

Angus not so Young look at those knee wrinkles and Father Time on the drums.

AC/DC was the opener…I appreciate their legend, I really do, but starting off with such a geriatric representation of the music landscape was setting the bar a little low as far as excitement goes. I’ve said this several times before and I’ll say it again, award shows need to showcase what’s new and fresh instead of constantly recycling the same old acts. Nevertheless, Brian Johnson’s pipes haven’t aged a day, they did an amazing job.

Everyone’s favorite chubby choir boy, Sam Smith gets best new artist…okay this is the only white person getting rewarded for doing black things that I will just BARELY tolerate.

Ariana Grande…she went with the full pony tonight and the make up was on point. I thought the production was effortless and matched the song perfectly. However, there was something unexpectedly strained about her vocal, maybe she’s so used taking soaring notes the whole time and that mid-range isn’t her thing? I don’t know, but I was less than satisfied with her vocal performance, which is shocking to me. Lukewarm overall.

I thought that dress was trying way too hard, but it was the most exciting part of the performance.

Jessie J and Tom Jones…It was whatever…and also an indicator that there would be a lot of throwaway moments in this year’s show like there were last year.

Pharrell wins best pop solo performance. Well deserved, that song was everywhere and I actually thought it missed out on some awards last season.

Miranda Lambert…first off, the diet she’s been on has been working for her; she looked like a rockstar. I don’t know the song she was singing (nor do I care), but her performance was cute and lively and I really appreciated that.

Then Sam Smith wins another award and says he owes his career to being fat.

Kanye West…I hate rappers trying to sing…but he used autotune and it’s kind of a trademark thing for him…and the production was as minimalist as possible…it was all very Kanye.

This photo from Dailymail.com is from a totally different event, but I believe that is the background singer they cut away to at one point during the performance, she basically deserves a Grammy.

Madonna…I’m convinced she’s senile, but there’s a reason why her concerts are forever sold out. She didn’t sing much live, but that one back up singer killed it.

Beck wins something…can’t name one song by him off the top of my head, but like, I’m sure he’s somewhere in my iPod for some reason…he’s been on the scene for damn near 30 years so even though I might not have listened to his latest offering, I’m not going to pretend I don’t know his voice or who he is.

Credit, MrsBey on Tumblr

Beyoncé wins something. All hail the King.

Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Questlove...Why does this ugly ginger always look so greasy? Was Questlove really necessary? I felt like it was another token black people in the background moment...another snooze set, but John Mayer looked fine as hell with all that ‘50s styling.

Can anyone identify this man? I feel like I should know, but I kind of don't care. He looked like a hippie unibomber, which I found draw-worthy.

Then yet another old artist performed…I didn’t even catch the name because I can’t understand that ginger’s accent. He gave all those white people in the audience their lives though (King Bey was standing and clapping, but I think she was just being nice because she looked a little confused).

She should have worn this on the red carpet.

Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani…whoever Gwen's surgeon is deserves an award for keeping her face snatched up and looking exactly the same since I was in middle school. She was definitely giving more face than vocals. The performance was kinda boring, but the song itself was the type of tune that plays in the background of a climatic scene on a popular tv drama so I guess it was okay.

Annie seen here, taking us all to church.

Hozier and Annie Lennox…this Hozier dude seems pretty cool and his voice is good enough where I don’t want him to be a one hit wonder. Even though she made the unforgivable mistake of coming for Beyonce, Lennox did get it done and was the only old white person who blew me away; her performance woke me up and was definitely a highlight of the night.

"The next.....performer.....is........." (credit house-of-xo on Tumblr)

Then the Weeknd comes out and reads like he’s been smoking reefer all night. Adorable.

...I wasn't clapping.

Pharrell, Long Long and way too many other people…I was so confused by that cacophonous remix of that overplayed song it was like he was trying to have a moment, but he just tried too hard or something. Usually Pharrell is charming, but tonight I was kind of annoyed...it’s like he was blatantly trying to kill the song. It was all just so loud and stressful.

Then Obama came on reminded us that he’s a feminist and some girl named Brooke basically explained the real story behind 50 Shades of Grey.

credit: CoverGirl on Tumblr

Katy Perry…you know, it’s really kind of rude that she’s been the game for as long as she has and has created so many super cute pop songs and whatnot, but has gotten zero Grammys. The production was very striking (loved the shadow dancing) and I really appreciated her vocal delivery.

Tony Bennet and Lady Gaga…first of all, I’m totally here for earthling Gaga; she looks fantastic and she proved she isn’t just a crazy costume gimmick and she gave one of the most charismatic vocals of the night (some even comparing it to the late, great Amy Winehouse). The performance was yet another highlight for me.

Usher (doing a Stevie wonder tribute)…another snooze--I mean, a very well performed, beautifully sang snooze, but a snooze nonetheless regardless of Stevie wandering in playing the harmonica.

Eric Church and some other bitch that I wasn’t paying enough attention to get the name of… I’m hittin' the REM cycle now.

So sexy and pissed off and just EVERYTHING. This was one of my favorite fashion looks of the night. Credit

Rihanna, Kanye and Paul McCartney…I don’t like that OneTwoThreeSeconds or whatever song at all, but Rihanna looked AMAZING. She actually sang the crap out of that song; I was impressed with the amount of energy they put into a performance that was basically a chant and some old guy on a guitar.

Mary J. Blige and Sam Smith…another overplayed song; at least Mary elevated its performance.

Juanes…he’s sexy as hell, but another who cares performance.

THEN PRINCE COMES OUT TO FUCK IT UP--LOOKIN LIKE A PINT SIZED GLASS OF TROPICANA OMG I WAS DYING AND THEN HE SAID BLACK LIVES STILL MATTER AND THAT PEOPLE NEED TO READ BOOKS. I’M STILL DYING. OMG.

He really didn't even need to say it; she stopped the world so we already knew. credit: Beyonce4world on Tumblr.

…oh and Kanye attempted to remind people that Beyoncé should be winning every category she’s in. It was another highlight.

Sia…It's maddening that she didn't win any awards last night considering her contributions to the industry, but her performance was so superb. I don't think Kristen Wiig can add dancer to her resume, but Maddie was delightful and the whole production was one of the more memorable highlights.

Beck and Chris Martin…bathroom break.

FINALLY, KING BEYONCE.

The costuming and production visuals were reminiscent of Solonge’s iconic wedding photo. It was so epic and just like sort of changed my life. I love the part where she looked like she caught the spirit and then when she waved her hand and the music stopped. I felt so blessed.

...she was literally handing out blessings.

John Legend and Common…proving the Grammys is not as white as the Oscars (oh and can you imagine the scandal if they had cut them off like they did last year?).

Fashion Faves...I selected only images I thought represented epic fashion moments not just glam looks:

Nicki Minaj continues to ascend to new heights of slayage.

Ciara was breathtaking actually.

So glam and gorgeous that I'm not even mad about her cootchie slit.

...just head to toe; so unreal.

Now, her dress was kinda ugly to me, but I have never noticed how stunning she is until she snipped that hair off. Zendaya was reborn.

I was going to show her red carpet shot instead, but this is so bossed up I can't even express my feelings. Kim just looks like an empress sitting amongst peasants and I'm living for it.

Finally, the belle of the ball in the gowniest of gowns, Rihanna never fails to amaze me...

...even the sweet, lightly tousled styling was so epic...

...such a historical fashion moment.

...and now, the not so wonderful...going from least offensive to WTF:

...I'm pretty sure this dress wasn't done.

It's like she went back to her "Can't be Tamed" wardrobe...

She straight up has man face and this looks like a horrendous prom gown.

BYE.

I love her so so much and this just made me a little sad.

  It's interesting because if this hair had been on a black woman with natural hair, it would have been beautiful...interesting and disgustingly ironic. Photo credit.       

WHO ASKED FOR IT?

**all unlinked photos from Tumblr


Although there were some wonderful highlights, I would have loved to see more new artists that I have never seen before or heard of, instead artists I haven’t heard from or didn’t care to see. However, if we focus on the positive: Beck, who has been around since Beyoncé was singing “no no no no no”, provided Kanye with the opportunity to pull his first Kanye of 2015; Obama got people talking about violence against women despite the presence of NFL players presenting and Chris Brown being nominated; and finally, Iggy did not win anything so that’s a victory for us all. Overall, leaps and bounds better than last year and definitely exciting enough to build anticipation for the next one.