Happy National Lipstick Day! I will admit I just started wearing lipstick two years ago when a guy I was "talking to" asked me why I did not own any red lipstick. I had to blink a few times and re- ask myself the question and could not come up with a proper answer because 1. No man (or woman) had ever asked me that and 2. You say what now?!

I have always been a "my lip gloss is poppin" type of girl and even when my grandma sat me down and told me it was high time I chose a lip color a few years prior, I ignored her and almost thought her approach was outdated (she also believes a woman should never leave the house without a hat on her head and has a strong argument against women in ruffles, but that is another post lol). 

So back to ol' boy- I did try a few red lip colors to appease him, but just like everything else I tried in that- uhhh #shituationship I failed and was unhappy with the results. I left the red lips and the guy alone, but I gained a new found interest in lip color. Well, specifically only purple lip colors lol

But anyway I love seeing women of all complexions rocking their bold lippies and in honor of National Lipstick Day I decided to come up with five lipstick tips and tricks for beginners! 

1. Research: Step away from the M.A.C. counter and out of Sephora! Lipstick does not and should not be expensive if you are just now starting out! See what colors, formulas and finishes you like by first looking for dupes (duplicates) of the more expensive brands and playing around with different shades to see what works best on your complexion. Experiment at the beauty supply! They have a whole range of colors starting at just $.99 for no name brands up to about $4.99 for a shade by Kiss, L.A Colors or any other national inexpensive brands. Play around with different shades and finishes- maybe you love a matte look or something similar to a stain or a sheerer wash. For $5 or less go crazy! And don't forget to look up product reviews online! 
2. Inspiration: We all have access to Instagram, Facebook and Youtube right? Find a celebrity with your same coloring- or even better- a Youtube star with your same complexion and look at some of the colors they choose to wear. You can kind of gage how a color will show up on you and learn tips and tricks on how to apply. 
3. Prep: Lip prep is so important if you want your color to last and if you don't want dry, flaky lips! Every other morning I exfoliate my lips using a paste of baking soda and water which makes a natural lip scrub to slough off the dead skin. You can also make one using brown sugar (I have even used a Sweet N Low packet at work once when my lips were peeling lol) and olive oil, use a warm, wet washcloth or toothbrush in a circle motion, or you can buy a lip exfoliater. This way your color will go on smoothly and will not get all gross in the corners of your mouth.
4. Accessorize: Oh you thought the lipstick was going to be enough lol? It can be, but the following items will make your application go on smoothly and allow your color to pop: primer, concealer, lip balm, blotting paper and a lip brush.  A good moisturizing primer will fill in lines and allow your lipstick to stay in place all day- perfect for those who like matte shades that tend to slide around, cake up and dry out the mouth. A concealer is great for cleaning up mistakes- take a q-tip and touch up your cupid's bow, the corners of your mouth and underneath your bottom lip. Lip balm allows for a smooth application and moisturizes your lips before applying lipstick (let it soak in for at least 10 minutes before applying your lip color). Blotting papers soak up excess oil from your lipstick but keeps the pigment. Blot, reapply and your lipstick will last you for a long time! If you want a perfect, professional lip pout then apply color with a lip brush because precision counts.
5. Mix, Layer and Experiment: My last tip is to basically have fun! Sometimes you get those little cheap ass lipsticks and the color is all wrong- too dark or too light, or just blahhh. Use a white lip liner for applying color straight out the tube, a shade similar to your natural lip color to try your hand at nudes, or try a lip liner in the same shade as your lipstick for a bold lip that will last you all day!!

Ronnita Bugg-Huff is more than just a hair stylist- this talented beauty is taking the hair industry by storm and building a legacy around her brand.  In between doing hair in her salon, creating apps, uploading hair tutorials on her website, celebrating the five year anniversary of her Studio Lux hair salon in Cleveland  aaaaand the grand opening of Studio Lux Texas- Ronnita made time to answer All the Fly Questions via email:

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING HAIR? 
I started the hobby at the age of 13, then made it a career at the age of 18 and became a true professional a few years later. Studio Lux Salon has been in business 5 years and we just expanded to Houston, TX, this year. 

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT SO FAR? 
My biggest accomplishment to this day is relocating and expanding my business. Taking a big risk not knowing what the outcome would be. God knew what he was doing.

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU? 
There's so many people in the industry that inspired me, but most of all my mentor is everything, Rhonda O'Neal. 

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? 
I loving spending spare  time with family and friends. The simple things mean the most to me.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OFF IN YOUR INDUSTRY? 
My advice to anyone starting off in my industry would be to get to know your craft and build a solid brand... Invest in yourself and build a team, this is very important because we cannot do everything! Focus more on what you're good at and hire professionals to do what you can't do.

WHAT ARE YOUR GO TO PIECES? 
My go to pieces is my hat and blazer, two of my favorite things.

WHERE DO YOU SHOP? 
I love H&M!

​WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU REFUSE TO WEAR? 
I will not wear a belly shirt!

FAVE DESIGNER OR FASHION HOUSE? 
My favorite local designer is Dee Hayes.

WHOSE CLOSET WOULD YOU LIKE TO RAID? 
I would love to raid Kim Kardashian's closet.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVE SONG TO GET READY TO? 
I'll get ready to anything Beyonce, everyone knows this lol.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU? 
I'm working on my brand and I want it to live on after me... I believe in working smarter not harder and changing lives with my movement.

HOW CAN WE REACH YOU?
Instagram: @therbexperiance, website/blog/gallery: RonnitaBHuff.com, Studio Lux Salon Houston and Cleveland 
3299 West 105 Cleveland, OH 44111, and 1960 RD West suite 29 Houston, TX 77070

​*Ronnita is also offering a special to my readers:

• Applies to new clients only.
• Must book through the RBexperience app.
• One time use.
• Offer cannot be combined with any other offers.
• They must mention 'All the Fly Things Fashion&Style Blog' to receive discount.
• Must present coupon at time of service (printed or digital copy).
• Discount applied at checkout

On July 23, a  sweltering hot Saturday morning I attended The Power of One Fashion Show Luncheon at the Mediterranean Party Center. The event was coordinated  by the members of the St. Timothy Missionary Baptist Church S.A.L.T Women's Ministry to raise money and awareness for the Women's Wellness Foundation (WWF).

"Our Pastor Joshua A. Harris told us to think BIG when doing ministry that matters and our Annual Community Fundraiser Fashion Show is that ministry. To God be all the glory!" said Marcella J.K. Simmons, event coordinator.

Hosted by Meteorologist Janessa Webb Of Channel 5 News, and Minister B. Micheal McGee, male and female church members donned their Sunday's best looks straight from their own closets for the opening scene, then modeled clothing by Renati Apparel, Jeanology and Styles of Imagination. There was a sit down dinner of chicken marsala, chief carved beef, mashed potatoes, garden vegetables and a salad with cotton candy for dessert! Guests were entertained by not only fashion but music and entertainment was provided by DJ Ronni Knight, Humble G da Fiddla, (who played the dopest rendition of J.Cole on his violin while models walked down the runway!) and there was an awesome song performed by St. Timothy Young Adults, two praise dancers and a powerful young poet! 

The morning was not all about fashion and entertainment though. The mission of the evening was to "mix passion with fashion" and to bring light to the needs of women re-entering into society after incarceration. The women face major challenges that many of us consider minor and the Women's Wellness Foundation, which serves the women in these marginalized communities received the support and recognition that they deserve.  Representatives from the group shared with us the circumstances to which some of these women come home to literally nothing, and need basic items like deodorant, feminine products and under clothes, not to mention housing, employment and people skills. The event raised $1,000 for the WWF and the money will help go toward opening the Dinami House, A Faith Based Recovery Home for Women. You can also donate via their Go Fund Me campaign here.

I had a great time! Yes it was a struggle for me to get there- but it was worth the two buses, a train and walking in 1,000 degree heat with one Big Gulp cup of ice from the gas station while wearing a cat ears headband and a crop top in the hot muggy Cleveland humidity lol. But somehow I made it, (dripping with sweat nevertheless, but my edges were still laid!) and I'm so glad I did because I was entertained, talked to some great people and learned about a wonderful cause at the same time.
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​Enjoy the video and pics below!

As All the Fly Things Fashion&Style Blog grows I am  taking on new post ideas, columns, and features and just trying new things to keep the blog hot and fresh. One of the new ideas I am implementing is to attend local fashion, style, beauty and hair events and cover them for the blog. I love speaking and interacting with fashion related crowds and what better way to do that than actually being right there with them?

The first fashion event I will cover is The Power of One Fashion Show and Luncheon, produced by The S.A.L.T (Sisters Abiding in Love and Truth) Women's Ministry of St. Timothy Missionary Baptist Church on July 23, 2016, at the Mediterranean Party Center at 25021 Rockside Rd., Bedford, OH 44146.  I am beyond excited, not just because this will be my first time attending a fashion event exclusively as a blogger, but because of the purpose behind this particular event. I was able to ask S.A.L.T representative Marcella J.K. Simmons a few questions via email about the organization, the event and the cause they chose. 
​

What is S.A.L.T, what do y'all do and how did it get started? S.A.L.T.  (Sisters Abiding in Love and Truth) is the women’s ministry of St. Timothy Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Joshua A. Harris. The purpose of SALT Women’s Ministry is to change lives through discipleship and to provide women opportunities with sisterly relationships. Our mission is to do ministry that matters by meeting the multi-dynamic needs of women at every age and stage of life through a Bible-based enrichment designed to empower members to become the empowered, spiritually mature woman God created us to be through salvation found in Jesus Christ. 

How long has the organization existed? The women’s ministry under the name of S.A.L.T has been established at St. Timothy Missionary Baptist church for a little over 2.5 years.
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What fashion event are you having and what is the cause? The S.A.L.T Women Ministry is hosting The Power Of One Fashion Show & Luncheon, which will be a day of mixing fashion with compassion. A portion of the proceeds from this stylish summer event will go to The Women's Wellness Foundation and support the wonderful services they provide.​

What fashion designers/boutiques will be featured in the fashion show? We will be featuring fashion from some of Cleveland’s finest including Styles of Imagination, Renati Apparel by Khalil Grant, and Jeanology on S. Taylor.

What are some of the things that S.A.L.T does? We offer monthly Bible study every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6pm, we have a book club, we collect items such as deodorant, toothpaste, tooth brushes, washing powder, etc. to donate to the Season of Hope, which is an overnight shelter and wash house. We visit the sick and serve food at the Zelma George Family Shelter, we also have adopted a young girl in African to help pay for her education and we also host several fundraisers throughout the year that allow us to do ministry that matters and give back to more organizations like the Women’s Wellness Foundation.

How  did S.A.L.T find out about the Women’s Wellness Foundation (WWF) and why were they chosen for the fundraiser fashion show? We found out about WWF through the president of their board, LeAngela Aikens, during our S.A.L.T planning meeting in 2015 for our 2016 calendar. When discussing our outreach and fundraising we decided we wanted to work with established yet up and coming non profit organizations that are in the building stage. We discussed several organizations and when WWF came up  we discussed their purpose, mission and goals, and all the ladies agreed unanimously.

​Tell us more about WWF and what they do. The Women’s Wellness Foundation is a non-profit that provides an alternative to recidivism (relapse to criminal behavior) for women leaving incarceration by addressing housing, employment and basic needs, while offering programs which focus on healthy relationships, education and life skills, providing a bridge to a new way of life. Their current initiative is to open Dinami House, a Faith Based Recovery Home for Women.  You can learn more at www.womenswellnessfound.org

What is next for S.A.L.T? Our next event is our Annual Meet and Greet on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at the Bedford Heights Community Center located at 5615 Perkins Rd, Cleveland, OH.

Where can we find out more information? You can find out more about S.A.L.T on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/saltwomensministry. Our church website is www.sttimothymbc.org. You can purchase tickets to the Power of One Fashion Show and donate to the WWF at EventBrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-one-fashion-show-tickets-17238346358.

Also if you have a business, cause or upcoming event that you would like to promote? We have sponsorship opportunities starting at $25 and go up to $100. And will be seen by over 150 women and gentlemen. You can also support the ministry all year long by supporting out fundraising events, which will enable us to fulfill out mission of doing ministry that matters. Email us at saltministry@sttimothymbc.org.

Please click the link above to purchase a ticket for this wonderful cause! Make sure you like my Facebook page, and follow me on Instagram for a live broadcast and behind the scenes photos and videos the day of the show!

I absolutely love personal style and there was plenty of it last Saturday, July 9th at the Painting in the Park Cleveland Family Fun Day Celebration! The  free annual event put on by Painting in the Park Cleveland was held at Lincoln Park in Tremont, Ohio and it was a beautiful day with the perfect weather. There were all types of cool activities for kids and adults to indulge in, including painting with sustainable materials, face painting, hand made jewelry vendors, creative entrepreneurs and so much more, including a gospel singing group! There really was something for everybody.

 Thehouseoffly.com was there registering families for the "My Art, My Fashion, My Creativity!" show this coming October and I took advantage of all the street fashion by staging a Family Style Show right there turning the sidewalk into a catwalk! I had already asked a few of my friends to join me with their families and then I literally ran up on and recruited the rest of the couples and families lol!

​Sometimes you just have to make it happen for yourself so I approached people with awesome style, cute outfits and great hair and asked them to walk the runway while showing off their #ootd. Surprisingly almost everybody I asked agreed, even the very shy ones! I appreciate everybody involved because it ended up being a really cute video (even though I should filmed horizontally and cut a couple of people's heads off smh, my bad ya'll!).  

If you and your family live in Cleveland or the surrounding area and would like to participate in the "My Art, My Fashion, My Creativity Fashion Show" on Sunday, October 16, 2016, sign up right here on the website and you will be put on a mailing list to receive more information. All ages are welcome, (children 17 and under must be with a parent or guardian to walk in the show) all shapes, sizes, mother, son, daughter, father, sister, brother- you get the idea lol! No experience necessary!

The latest trend to sweep mainstream America has been popular for a few seasons and even found itself at the center of early controversy, but it is without a doubt that the African dashiki has landed it's spot on the street fashion radar and is here to stay. Again...

The garment- a loose fitting tunic sewed from bright African patterns and colors, often with embroidery around the collar, the sleeves and bottom half- first became popular in America in the mid 1960's as a style extension of the Black Pride movement. Worn by Black Panthers, Black leaders and diplomats,as well as the people on the streets, the dashiki served as an identity marker right a long with Afros, beads and head wraps.

Today is really no different. Yes, we see them worn on people who do not traditionally identify with the culture, but the same thing happened in the '60s when the hippies who were attracted to the embroidery and bright colors started wearing them. It doesn't take anything away from the tradition, the struggle or the meaning behind the fabrics and colors because other races chooses to embrace a style of dress as long as it is done in a tasteful and appropriate way. But buyer beware because most dashikis sold in stores or online today are directly from China, some vintage ones may have been imported from India or Pakistan. Check the "hand" (the heaviness of the fabric) and ask about the country of origin if you want authenticity!

With that being said, let's talk about three easy ways to introduce the garment into your wardrobe!

1. Trendy: If you are the trend setting stay fly by any means necessary type of guy then this should be easy for you. Pair a fitted dashiki with your designer jeans and the sneakers you purchased last week. Add a coordinating team snap-back, then stand off to the side so somebody can wipe you down.
2. Casual: You have a pair of Polo shorts in every color? Cool, find a dashiki with a color story that will match your shorts. You can't go wrong with navy, it's less serious than black, not as flashy as a bright yellow or teal short and you probably already have a pair in your closet. Finish the look off with a laid back pair of shades and a neutral pair of sandals or a boat shoe  wit' yo' grown and sexy ass...
3. Modern: You might be a borderline mixture of both trendy and casual; like you have never owned a pair of skinny jeans- but you do pay closer attention to the fit of your pants. Or you might have grown up wearing Ralph Lauren, but now you don't mind experimenting with other brands that have similar cuts and styles. If so, try your dashiki with a pair of black slim fit jeans, and a sophisticated but practical desert boot. Try a camo accessory if you are feeling risque', but no pressure lol!