Pixics/Fluer Luxe MAC Cosmetics Giveaway

We're bringing you another giveaway!  A BronzeSparkles commenter put us onto a giveaway that we're sure you'll love.  If you're a fan of MAC then you will definitely want to enter this contest.

Grand Prize: Summer Breeze Tote & 2 MAC Cosmetics Eye Shadows and Lipsticks/Lip Glasses of your choice (permanent collection only)
2nd Prize: 1 MAC Eye Shadow & 1 MAC Lipstick/Lip Glass of your choice (permanent collection)
3rd Prize: 1 MAC Eye Shadow & 1 MAC Lipstick/Lip Glass of your choice (permanent collection)

Click the link for more info. It's so easy! May the best reader win!

Chu-La Couture Contest Giveaway!

I was almost late on this hot new giveaway but thankfully not too late! "What giveaway?", you ask?

Watermoolen and Chu-La Couture have teamed up to sponsor an awesome giveaway that gives her blog readers this adorable sequined clutch.  I checked out the online boutique and fell in love with the selection and you will too. A couple things in particular to look out for are the City Hobo bag and Aim High Revolver ring.

Aim High ring

City Hobo handbag in blue

 













All I can say is - LOVE IT!

The Gap Between Girls and Junior Sizes

Clothing manufacturers should really think about making clothing sizes in between Girls and Juniors. I was taking my sister school shopping today and realized there is quite a jump from children's girl sizes and juniors clothes. The cut of the clothing and styles are pretty different.  There are taller girls who are too big for girl sizes but maybe too small and not mature enough for junior sizes.  If I could make clothing I would totally capitalize on this!  Some of the clothes sold for young girls are too provocative in my opinion, and companies really need to consider that many girls are taller and a bit more developed than the average height.  They aren't plus sized girls but they aren't teenagers either.  What would you do if a child is obviously too old for Garanimals but you won't be having her wear some of the form fitting flirtier styles in the junior's section?

No Justice, No Peace: Stafford County Legal Lynching of Autistic Man

A young autistic man was sentenced 10 years in prison for not having a gun and being at the wrong place at the wrong time.  LITERALLY!  This is not 1954 Selma, Alabama, this is modern times in Stafford County, Virginia.  The police department and "justice" system of Stafford County, Virginia needs to be called out and I'm the one to do it.  How do these ignorant hateful people live with themselves after treating a fellow human being this way?

I hope my blog post inspires change throughout the Universe.  The right person will read this, become aware (if they weren't already), and that person will be the one to really help Reginald "Neli" Latson and his family get the justice they deserve.  Please click the links posted below to learn more about Neli's case and how to help him.  I'm begging you to take a few moments out of your day to learn about his plight. He could have been anyone's brother, uncle, father, or friend; that's frightening. 
-bronzesparkles 










Huffington Post article - Racial Harassment During Arrest of Autistic Teen

A Voice for Neli

If You Don't Like Tyler Perry, You Have No Soul!

All this talk about Tyler Perry's movies being buffoonish and ignorant is starting to piss me off. Yes I said it!! 

This blog may cost BronzeSparkles a few fans but we're willing to risk that to speak on how we feel.  The dialog is going nuts with harsh criticism about our boy and we don't like it!  TP haters may be missing a chip inside them that blocks them from appreciating

People need to stop hating on greatness.  He is one of the few African American major players in the entertainment industry.  People forget that he produces many positive images and uplifting lessons in his storylines and gives work to underrated working actors. 

I believe much of the criticism comes from shame. Yes, I said it.  People are afraid of what society will think of African Americans.  But afraid of what?  Everybody is not the Cosbys and TP films tackle real issues and emphasize the importance of a family structure as well as religion and spirituality. 

There is so much more to TP Productions than Madea.  Madea is not Norbit or Big Mama.  Should all the positive aspects of TP's work be overshadowed by Madea?  If she was thinner would that make some of you happy? If she was played by a real woman would that make some of you happy?  If there was no rambunctious matriarch present at all would that make some of you happy?  Why do some of you expect Tyler Perry to be an accurate representation of all black people? Why put that weight on someone's shoulders when it is impossible?  His films deal with real issues. I know some of you are afraid of the world seeing thugs, crackheads, and overweight black people *gasp* but there are always lessons learned in the end and the family comes together!  Since when is that bad?  People deal with hardships everyday but through the Grace of God they get through it.  Perseverance and togetherness are strong themes in Perry's movies, how can you be mad at that?

And if you don't like Tyler Perry then get your own shit together so you can produce your own plays and movies and spread the message that you want to spread.  You can't fault the man for bringing jobs and employment into the community and paving the way for many more to come after him.

now let that marinate on yo ass!

Ya feel me?

Hoss Intropia

The wonderful world of looklet has introduced me to a great label called Hoss Intropia.  That Jill Scott playing in the background just sealed the deal for me.  The cult Spanish label was created by Paloma Vázquez de Castro, ex-National Ballet of Spain designer in 1994.  All prints and details are produced, designed and handcrafted by the label.  If Hoss Intropia were its own setting, it would be a relaxed yet invigorating day at the beach.  Their clothes are so beautiful and soft.  Silk, chiffon, pleating, eyelets, and other intricate details combine to give their line an elegant feel

from Hoss Intropia Collection for Spring/Summer 2011

also from Hoss Intropia Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

STANDOUT PIECE on website: lemon chiffon floral off the shoulder dress


click here to view SPRING/SUMMER 2011 LOOKBOOK

How to Go From "Plain Jane" to *Pretty Girl Rock*

Don't you get sick of seeing all the pretty girly girls getting attention?  Do you get frustrated with your boring average look but don't know how to break out of that mold?  Thank us here at BronzeSparkles because we are about to take you from Plain Jane to Pretty Girl Rock.  We're gonna show the tomboys a few easy ways to upgrade your laid back look into something pretty and feminine.  You won't feel fake because this isn't about trying to be something you're not.  And don't worry about looking hoochie either.  A lot of people have this misconception that to be pretty and girlie you have to look like an extra in a Gucci Mane video.  You don't have to show a lot of skin for this.  Instead you're gonna be bringing out your inner pretty girl that you didn't even know you had!

Don't give em the shocker.  Start out by making little changes every week or so, and building on them. You don't have to go on a huge overhaul over night.  You have to crawl before you walk. This is about coming into your own at a comfortable pace.  Don't feel that you have to change, but if you want to this is how you do it.

Start out with a simple outfit that you'd normally wear.  Let's say you typically don a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers combo.  This is what I'm gonna call "Rock Bottom".  

This is the base in which unless you're wearing men's clothing, you can't get anymore basic and less girly than this.  That means you can only go up from here.

What you can do is improve upon the basic format by adding your own girlie touches.  Jewelry can add some and life to your outfit.  Don't forget to do your nails and add a fragrance.  Exchange tennis shoes for flats and sandals.  Go beyond basic tees to fitted girly tops.  We brought you out of Rock Bottom by accessorizing like so

but making the simple exchanges can lift your style even higher.  It's just as easy to put on a top with feminine detailing as it is to put on a t-shirt.  When buying new tops, look for cute details like ruffles, lace, florals, appliques, etc. have fun with it!  Remember, just as quickly as you can wear denim shorts, you can put on shorts made from a different material.  And if you aren't adept at walking in heels, there's no reason why you can't rock cute sandals.  If you make those changes, you'll have this look:

Take a lesson from my polyvores and start by buying accessories. They can take your look to the max for less money than buying entire outfits.  Hit the sale rack and look for good separates to mix and match with the things you already have.  I went to Kohl's and found a cute floral mini for only $4!!  What treasures could you find if you get out there and look?

Dresses!  Do you know how breezy dresses are?  They can make you look put together and beautiful and all you have to do is slip it on over your head and go on with your routine.  This may take a little getting used to if you don't normally wear dresses, but once you do you'll wonder how you ever managed without them.  Even on a casual day you'll look like you put in more effort than you really did.  I used the same accessories I used in the last look to show you how simple it can be!

Give me face and head.  Make sure those brows are done.  Don't do them yourself unless you really know what you're doing. I recommend getting them arched and then keeping up with the shape at home.  This will open up your face and brighten you up.  Then make sure you have a cute haircut. This will obviously vary depending on your taste, face shape and how high or low maintenance you want to go.  Hair is very important.  Wear a bit of makeup, even if it's nothing but gloss and something to emphasize your eyes.  A little shimmery powder on your lids and you're good to go for the day.


T-shirts → tank tops, fitted shirts, cute fashion tops, blouses
Bottoms = keep them fitted, nothing baggy unless you have a fitted top or showing skin on top.  You want a balance. Experiment with different styles of jeans, skirts, and shorts.
Sneakers → flats, sandals, heels
Accessories = scarves, bags, bracelets/bangles, ring, necklaces, earrings, fashion belts, hats, etc.  Try to wear at least a necklace and earrings everyday.


It's not hard to look girlie at all.  Many women and girls get unnecessarily frustrated because they think this is something they could never achieve.  They might think they have to have a lot of money or the perfect body to pull it off. Well you don't!  All you need are my tips to help push you forward.  I look forward to hearing how my advice helped take you from Plain Jane to Pretty Girl Rock!

Bookmark This Page b/c My Blog Is Coming Soon!

Don't Visit a Bald Headed Stylist!

This afternoon I was watching a rather interesting Judge Alex episode.  A woman sued her former hairstylist for giving her a CUT instead of a TRIM.  The hairdresser was sleeping with the client's brother but when the affair ended, the plaintiff claimed that the hairdresser became nasty and spitefully cut her hair on purpose instead of trimming it like she asked.

I felt this woman's pain and I believed that she should have won the case. It was obvious to me that the hairstylist did that out of spite. She was wrong for that.  I can relate because I've had inches cut from my hair when I only needed a light dusting, and I've had another woman scratch my head right before applying a super relaxer.  These are just a few incidents that stand out in my mind.  It's to the point where I am very hesitant to trust people in my head.  A wise person once remarked about a short haired salon employee that did my hair: "[her name]'s hair all broke off and you lettin her in your head?"  I wish I'd listened to those words because that lady's faulty technique ended up causing me severe breakage later on.  I found out during my routine touchups, she'd been combing the relaxer from root to end to "keep it straight".

I have become scarred from my bad experiences so now I only want people with long hair to do my hair.  If you've got a short cut I might let you do a rollerset but you won't be wielding scissors and coming near my head.  If I can't trust you to keep the hair on your own head wtf you gonna do to my locks?  Now I'm not saying that all short haired stylists are like that.  There are so many professional women who wouldn't dream of being so unprofessional and cruel, and many of them aren't bald headed because they can't take care of their hair, but they have a short cut by choice.  I'm not talking about them.  I'm talking about broads like the one on Judge Alex.

Has this ever happened to you?  Unfortunately this is a problem that long haired black women end up having to deal with at some point in our lives.  Usually it's because someone is jealous, angry, or bitter because you have hair so they mess you up.  It's that pathetic crabs in a barrel mentality that some people are afflicted with.  If you got it - get help!!

Why We Love Toya Carter (Rolling Out Mag Interview Inside!)

I've become a Toya Carter fan.  To be honest, I didn't pay that much attention to her before (IKR) but her recent press promotions have shown a different side to her that we can all respect.  Read below to find out why.

EXPANDING HER PUBLIC PERCEPTION
People thought Tiny and I were gong to do a baby momma show. They only knew that I was married to Lil Wayne. But once we did season 2, they knew more about me. My life has changed, and I’m more in the public’s eye. I hear from people who are inspired by my story. I didn’t do the show to bash Lil Wayne or be labeled the mother of his first child. I will always be attached to him, but I’m doing things to better myself such as the TV show, my book and opening a clothing store.

 

HOW REALLY SHE FEELS ABOUT FAME
It's a gift and a curse, but a blessing. People feel like they really, really know you. So you get the weirdos who come up to you, ‘Oh, you looking for love? I can help you with that,' and ‘Wayne's crazy' and this and that. The plus side is you get to meet people who genuinely give you this love and open up to you so it helps people. 

SPEAKS THE TRUTH ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
I just feel like women just go so hard. They give their all so fast. They give 100 and don’t get that in return. Relationships supposed to be equal. A lot of women didn’t grow up with the affection from their dad. So, when they find a man, they expect that man to give that to them.They look for love in all the wrong places. They never had their fathers around to say, I love you, and you’re beautiful. So, the first man to tell them, I love you, and you’re beautiful, they fall for it. That’s the biggest problem. They throw themselves on a man all the time and say, I got him. That [doesn't] work.



HOW TO RAISE A YOUNG LADY
When you have kids at a young age, your kids tend to grow up with you. So, as I was learning, she was learning, which is why she is wise beyond her years. People see my daughter and say, She is so grown. We were learning together. I couldn’t just put her off on everybody. That didn’t stop me from being a mother. I told her when she was born, I’m going to give you all I didn’t have and more.Love your kids listen to them, hear them out. People say, If you didn’t have it, you can’t give it, but that’s not true. I didn’t have [anybody], but I’m trying to be there for my daughter. talk to me because I didn’t have [anyone] to talk to.



GIRLLLL YES!!
Men have to be more respectful. This generation is just so disrespectful. They think it’s corny to open a door for a woman and just be polite. What goes around comes around. What you put out, you will get back

We respect her positive insights on dealing with life's ups and downs, raising her daughter, and being classy.  We and 1.5 million viewers as well wanna see more of our girl Antonia Carter so we'll definitely be tuning in to watch more episodes of Toya's Family Affair on BET.

Drop a line in the comments and tell us what you think!

Maxi Skirt Trend

This season, inject a dose of ladylike glamour by rocking maxi skirts. The dramatically dropped hemlines are perfect for enjoying calm spring breezes.  Maxis let you look radiant and feminine. You can easily dress them up or down, yet still maintain the effect of making an effort.

Short girls- You ladies look best when you stick to monochromatic skirts, detailing closer to the neckline/face, and avoid patterns & colorblocking.  A 1 color dress can actually visually elongate your body making you look longer and leaner, and pairing them with wedges is a nice addition for your frame.

Big girls- A cute idea is to stick to heavier materials and A-lines.  Look for good structure, yet fabric that wields and floats gently away from your body.

Maxi Skirts by YouWantAPieceOfMe featuring gold necklaces

Will you be rocking maxi skirts? Yay or nay?

Fantasy Shoes

If you've got 3 stacks to blow on heels, let these be the ones you choose.  Patricia Field showcases these 6 inch multi-colored Swarovski stoned beauties.  

1 look at the Chiquita shoes made me orgasm on sight!  I would love to stomp the concrete runway rocking these.  I like them with a simple t-shirt and skinny jean so as not to compete with the drama.


What bad bitch can you picture rocking these? Nicki Minaj? Lady Gaga? You??

RIP Dariel Pulliam

The fashion world suffered a tremendous loos when Dariel Pulliam, hair and makeup artist to the stars, passed away April 4th.  The 29-year-old ATL based stylist was hospitalized for a couple weeks and is speculated to have died from lung complications or a staph infection.  His exact cause of death has not been concretely established at the time of this blog post.  Pulliam was most well known for his associations with Keyshia Cole, his best friend Neffe Pugh, Fantasia, Tiny, Tionna Smalls, and Toya Carter just to name a few.  He appeared Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, Frankie and Neffe Show, and What Chilli Wants.  He is loved and reminisced by his fans and friends everywhere.  Condolences and grief from loved ones and fans have been expressed throughout the twitterworld. It is terribly sad whenever a bright talented soul is taken away from us.  Gone too soon.

His family is asking for donations to help with funeral costs.

Dariel Pulliam Jr. family appreciates all your condolences and is asking for HELP with memorial donations. Please send donations for celebrity hair stylist Dariel Pulliam memorial services to address: P.O BOX 47001 Windsor Mill MD, 21244 or you can send donations via PAYPAL to sparkle@trioent.com and click on “Add Funds” this can be done by PayPal account users only as we are working on other methods for donations.

Are The Kardashians a Decent Choice for Kids??

I just watched Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards with my little sister and just became annoyed with society.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  What were the Kardashian sisters doing at the awards?  No, not Kendall and Kylie, which would have been an age appropriate choice at least; but Kourtney and Kim.  Yes THOSE Kardashians.  I didn't think they were kid stars.

As we all know, the Kardashian family fame is only a byproduct of a cleverly leaked sex tape starring Kim and Ray J. A kid's network just gave a glorified porn star unwarranted airtime.  Could Nickelodeon even pretend to be responsible?  What kind of message does that send to kids, particularly young girls?  That you don't need any talents beyond your sexual abilities and looks?  That you too can get fame and recognition from a sex tape?  I'm just trying to get it..

As a big sister, I didn't approve of that message at all. 

No tea, no shade, just reality. Did you see the 2011 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards?  Do you mind your kids watching Kim Kardashian?  Drop me a line and tell me what's good.