In The City: Spot Dessert Bar

My sister-in-law and I went out one night a couple of weeks ago and after dining at a nice Portuguese restaurant in East Mid-town, we were on the hunt for some delicious dessert. I had planned to take her to this cafe in the West Village, but by the time we got there it was closed! Determined to get our desert-fix we ventured over to the East Village in hopes that we'd find something. Luckily we walked down St. Mark's Place (8th Street between 3rd and 2nd Avenues) and stumbled upon Spot Dessert Bar. As many times as I've hung around this area I never heard of this place so it was new for both of us.

Apparently this place is really popular (being Zagat rated and everything) and I immediately saw why. At 10pm it was bustling and bright inside, with patrons enjoying coffees and teas with pretty looking desserts. My SIL and I were seated by a friendly server and given a menu with choices of cakes, ice-creams, and other pastries and since we were completely new to this place, we decided to share their most popular dessert, the Chocolate Green Tea Lava.

I'm actually not a huge fan of green tea ice-cream and my SIL didn't like the taste of it plain, but eaten with the chocolate lava cake it was actually a delicious combination of flavors. I also had a cup of Jasmine tea and the SIL had coffee. We stayed there for a bit enjoying the dessert, the ambiance and best of all at 11pm cupcakes were half-off, so I decided to bring one home for Mr. Smooth (which means I had some too #nomnom). This place boasts of fresh ingredients with Asian inspired desserts and I have to say, worth checking out. It's not a cheapie spot but I also don't think it's expensive given the type of food it is. We enjoyed our night here for sure and it looks like we have plans to be back here this coming weekend.

Have you been to Spot Dessert Bar? Let us know!

In The City: Dining at La Mar NY

It's occurred to SP and I that we live in an amazing city. Even though we leave it sometimes, we know that this is home. I've personally lived in 4 of the 5 boroughs, having spent my teenage years gallivanting through lower Manhattan and Harlem, my childhood between Brooklyn and the Upper West Side, my college years in Staten Island (don't ask!) and "adulthood" in Queens. We've decided to share more of our outings with YAIS readers!

Appetizer: Cebiche Limeno (sweet potato, octopus, calamari, scallops and shrimp)

During NYC's restaurant week, the hubby and I went to La Mar NYC located in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, a couple of streets from where I work. We never tried Peruvian food before (both of us growing up on Caribbean Spanish/West Indian cooking) and thought to add it to our pallet. I tried Octopus for the first time in my appetizer, a delicious salmon entree and an ice-cream desert, chased with one of their beers. The place itself is really pretty and right across the street from Madison Square Park. There's outdoor seating or you can sit inside (like we did) where there's a chandelier hanging and a bar on the first floor. 

Entree: Chorrillana (Salmon dish)

Queso Helado (ice-cream with rice cookie)

I have to admit I wasn't a fan of the server we got; knowing nothing about Peruvian food I asked him about what were the best choices and he grunted in response *shrug* but the hostesses were nice. Since this was restaurant week an appetizer, entree and desert was $35, and from the look of the menu it's definitely not a budget place. But if you're into trying something new and want to treat yourself a bit, try this place out! I know there's another location in the US in California, but the rest are in Central and South America.

International Beauty Show NY

Every year, the IBS comes to NY at the Javits center for 3 days... Since I was in LA I only bought my ticket for the last day...  I love the beauty show though, it's sooo fun!

A very sleepy me @ the International Beauty Show NY after coming in off my flight from LA earlier yesterday morning... I wore a turban for the first time! (I wish I took a better pic for you all but by the time I got home I passed out!)

Loved both the purple and the red hair, also the awesome crimps and curls!

Look at Nick Arrojo from "What Not To Wear!" He's a super cool dude (left)


You know she's getting lip liner tattooed right?
(right)

Check out the hair flippin' Fabios! lol

Loved her updo! (left)


Cool Cuts (right)

One of the most beautiful heads of hair at Ms. Jessie's was actually on a Mr. lol.

Look at this adorable Asian Dreddy man! Damn right I got him to shake those locs for me!

Some of the cool, wild and crazy hair!

Look @ this hairshow cutie Tiara!! Her style is sick and I've never seen orange hair look so good, not to mention she was super cool!

And last but not least ladies (sorry whoever this is for using your head as an example, lol), This is exactly why we can not bleach and relax our hair... See that hole in her hair? And the fact that its all over her shirt? Her hair was breaking in front of my very eyes... I wonder how long before all of that hair is on her shirt?

Great Day @ the MOMA

An old friend of mine randomly hit me up this morning and invited me out to the MOMA! I was so psyched when I got there because it had totally slipped my mind that the Diego Rivera display was on now! His work is so real and truthful, he's definitely one of my favorite artists. You're not supposed to take pictures... but I managed to sneak one..

Circa 1932

I had a great day walking around the museum, taking pics and staring at whatever I so pleased, but one of the most awesome things was my hair! My friend kept touching it and making the comment that my afro looked so "Juicy." Lol I think it's time for a nick name change. My mane is now Her Majesty aka Juicy..... I think my hair has a stripper name now, lol ... Anyhoo, I have been getting many compliments or people staring and smiling, while wearing my fro'. Some white guy even thought I was a black supremecist last week as he whispered a political statement to me while getting on the train (I'm automatically Angela Davis now). Funny thing is, for the most part, I like wearing my hair curly more but I get way more compliments and attention when I wear my fro. #grassisalwaysgreener 

All in all I had a great day and even in all of this NYC wind right now, a great fro'.

Some gratuitous shots of today's fro':

Would you call that Juicy? lol 

Get-Away Hair Decisions

This weekend I'm heading to DC for a tourist-y visit. Of course I'm thinking about  my hair. I'm not sure what to do with it. Part of me wants to straighten it, another part of me wants to wear twists or braids, or even a wash-n-go. I'm hearing that DC weather is slightly warmer than NYC weather so I feel like I have a lot of possibilities which is now making me completely indecisive. Right now my hair is just in a lazy and loose bun.

I washed my hair Friday night in box braids I was wearing then took them out Saturday and just brushed it out. I plan to wash again Wednesday or Thursday night, depending on my ultimate plans for my hair.

Any suggestions?

How did Philly go?

Like this! 

Remember I was wondering how banding my hair would go over for the trip? Not too bad apparrently! Since it was only a short, 2-day trip, banding wasn't a problem because i kept my hair moisturized with jojoba oil and just separated into 4 sections (no parting or combs involved) and made little afro puffs to sleep. I didnt even go through the whole process of banding really... moreso mini puffs, kinda like mini pineappling i guess... lol The curl pattern i had showing moreso at the ends of my hair seemed to hold up but  i did notice that my hair was starting to get a little tangly. So would i do this again? Oh yeah! Just definitely not for any time longer than 2 days because i wouldnt want to have any issues with tangles or dryness. I put my hair up in a puff to go home..... Bye Philly! You were so cute and i can't wait to visit again!

I know it's been 2 weeks since then and you guys have probably been wondering where in the world has SPstyles been?! Im ready to catch you all up :)

My "Loose" Hair Adventures

Hey everyone! I haven't posted any hair pics in a while. Basically I've been wearing my hair loose in braid-outs and twist-outs with bunning and ponytails involved. My best braid out was last week when I went out with Mr. Smooth for his birthday...

Braid out

Mr. Smooth and I

I did this on dry hair, set it with my homemade leave-in spritz and some Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Conditioning Cream. I definitely noticed which parts of my hair can hold a set and what can't. My hair has different curl patterns and "textures" I guess, with the front being wavier and the hardest to keep a curl so adding more product is important for me. I washed and DC my hair with a mixture of Renpure Organics My Hair Is Parched, honey and coconut oil and then just added some gel and did a twist out that in the end, I didn't really like so much. I still need to learn how to apply sufficient amounts of product to sections of my hair that react differently. From that twist-out set this week, I've pretty much done ponytails and today I did a low side bun.

I have an event this weekend to attend, and am probably going to do another braid out because I want big noticeable hair for the occasion.

Hair Lately

So I've realized that there hasn't been any hair pics from me in a while. The truth is I've been so busy that hair has been the last thing on my mind. Ever since I got back from the mountains I've barely had time for myself and for that week after I washed, I really just kept it in ponytails or buns....

And then I managed to find time to do my usual flat-twists in the front and then leaving out the back. But because it was hot and I didn't want hair on my neck, I had it bunned up to. And then I got a call about a job interview and it was scheduled the next day. I didn't know what to do with my hair because I wanted to look cute and professional. And hence came this....

(I took a better pic of the back when I got home)

So, I did this on stretched hair and using bobbypins. I basically just twisted my hair back and up if that makes sense. I may do a video tutorial if anyone is interested. I thought it looked very professional! And the good news is I got the job so I'm happy.

Also, I wanted to point out that SP and I know the stress of looking presentable and professional at outings and important occassions. This is yet another example of how you don't have to straighten your hair to look well put-together, especially for something as important as an interview. Anyway this hairstyle is very versitale and I find it a great way to protect those ends (my own personal challenge.) I will post another way I styled my hair using this style as well.

Where's SP? @ Dorney park! lol

Sorry i have been gone for soooo long! I guess i kinda took an unexpected hiatus... even Curly Film Chick was looking for me, lol  Let me catch you up on where i've been :)

Last weekend while out with my friends at Dorney Park, I realized something very important. Our natural hair really does look good on us! Our hair really frames and accentuates our  bold features that make us beautiful black women.

So while @ Dorney Park, my 4 girlfriends and I decided to get on a few water rides before heading over to the big rides and I couldn't help but realize how beautiful we were all looking.

There i go, with my little puff! Lol 
My friend Z is transitioning from tex-laxed to natural, SB is tex-laxed, D is fully relaxed but wore the natural look with a natural phony pony, and Kia is transitioning from bone straight relaxed to tex-laxed. (From left to right)

My friend Kia has never worn a natural hairstyle as long as I've known her but seeing her face with her hair being big and puffy after coming out of the water, I loved the way she looked. The big hair complemented her face so well. 

My friend SB i've known since 3rd grade so we go back to the naturaL "beedy beeze" in the back school days,lol.
She has been relaxing her hair about 2 to 3 times a year since the 6th grade. She has always tex-laxed moreso than perming because her hair is really soft, but has always worn her hair straight. This year she started to wear her hair in more curly styles and let the texlaxed texture show and it is looking gorgeous.


Z also has the most beautiful silky 3B curls which is why i am sort of forcing her to transition back to natural. I can't wait to chop those permed ends off!


Look @ how beautiful everyone's faces stand out with the look of natural hair <3

Goodnight from PA!