Welcome Damariz to our Family!

Ruby Leonne has grown in the short two years we've been on the web and we are excited about the future. Starting in January, we will have a new layout, we will have seasonal fashion editorial features with a new fashion editorial editor, and now we have a new beauty editor.

I would like to introduce you to Damariz Candelario.

Damariz is a curvy Puerto Rican native residing in San Antonio, Texas. With 14 years in the beauty industry as a MUA, she ignites everyone with her passion for life, beauty, and glamour.

Please welcome Damariz to the Ruby Leonne family and look for her first post soon!



Reflection: Give Me Some Candy Lady

Picture taken from Candy Land Wiki

So I was playing Candy Land with Kiran last night...you know spending some quality time with the kid. She picks her card and it takes her to Peanut Ville or something or other and she screams in excitement, OOOHHH I'm winning...I get to go to the Peanut Lady!! She's big and fat just like you! 

The fat girl in me almost forgot Kiran is a five year old and wanted to punch her in the mouth. Instead I shook it off and said that is not nice then nothing else was said. Kiran looked at me like what did I do?!?! We wrapped up the game, I put her little butt in the tub for bath time, then completed our nightly ritual.

Once Kiran was in bed, my emotions got the best of me and I ate eight chocolate single serving bars from her Halloween basket. Take that little one...the big fat lady is smashing your Crunch bars!!  As the chocolate overtook my mouth, I came to and couldn't believe the comments of a kindergartner would cause me to go into a depression...and later possibly a diabetic coma. 

Then I pull myself together and remember Kiran is coming from a background that is engulfed in the obsession with size. My sister is a size zero and still thinks she could lose a few pounds. One of the reasons she had an issue with Kiran not being involved in her dance classes as much as she told my mother...she didn't want Kiran to sit over my house and get fat. 

It also brought me to the realization I still have a ways to go before I'm truly comfortable in my own skin with  my own size. Yes...I do stand to lose some weight health wise, but I also need to re-evaluate the situation and see why that comment got under my skin.

I will say this...it's time for Kiran and I to have the beauty and self acceptance talk. I don't want her to obsess over weight the way her mother and I do. I don't want it to control or take over her life. I don't want her to look at someone and the first thing she sees is weight, height, race or disability. I want her to be a healthy young woman inside and out, but first I have to deal with some demons myself.

I will say this...at least Gamma Nutt knows how to accessorize!

Janelle

San Juan Beauty Show: November 6-7

In Puerto Rico, people love anything that has to do with beauty; from fashion shows, to beauty contests to beauty shows. The most important Beauty Show of the Caribbean, The San Juan Beauty Show, celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. They are going to have the Latin American Awards recognizing talent that have contributed to the Beauty Industry with the famous Red Carpet. It will be held on November 6-7 at the Convention Center of Puerto Rico in San Juan. Looking forward to that!!

The San Juan Beauty Show Inc. is an international company that was founded in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1997. As beauty industry developers they offer seminars, shows and services that contribute to professional growth. Their objectives are to reach and maintain a position of leadership in the industry by supporting activities, recruiting educators, and maintaining and organized show of international projection. I have gone to these shows and trust me they are incredible.

Nelly Trinidad and her model Andrea Nicole on their way to the Press Conference

The distributor, the exhibitor and the manufacturer work in an extensive environment that is favorable to advertising and business. Their achievements have been acknowledged by the cosmetologists from the Caribbean and Latin America who have attended their activity; which attracts over 67,000 people. Amazing! This year my friend, designer Nelly Trinidad will be showcasing her collection Le Petite along with the famous designer Carlos Alberto. I was asked to cover the event for Ruby Leonne by Victor Pino one of the organizers, a very gracious and professional man, I’m so looking forward to that. So stay tuned to my next blog, I will be blogging about everything that happened at this amazing show!!!

Blessings to all,

Marta

En Puerto Rico a nuestra gente le encanta todo lo que tiene que ver con la belleza, desfiles de moda, concursos de belleza y  eventos de belleza. El evento de belleza más importante del Caribe es El San Juan Beauty Show ycelebra su  aniversario número quince este año, van a tener los premios de América Latina reconociendo el talento que ha contribuído a la industria de la belleza y las artes con la famosa alfombra roja y se va a llevar a cabo los dias 6 y 7 de Noviembre en el Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico en San Juan, me imagino que va a ser espectacular!

Full house EVERY year!!!

El San Juan Beauty Show Inc. es una compañía internacional que se fundó en San Juan, Puerto Rico en 1997. Estos desarrolladores de la industria de la belleza  ofrecen seminarios, espectáculos y servicios que contribuyen al crecimiento profesional. Sus objetivos son alcanzar y mantener una posición de liderazgo en la industria mediante el apoyo a las actividades, la contratación de educadores y el mantenimiento y la muestra organizada de proyección internacional. He ido a este evento y es increíble!

Designer Carlos Alberto

 Sus logros han sido reconocidos por los cosmetólogos del Caribe y América Latina que han asistido a sus actividades, y que atrae a más de 67,000 personas! Mi opinión es que su gran trabajo en equipo ha sido el éxito por todos estos años. Este año, mi amiga, la diseñadora Nelly Trinidadestará presentando su colección Le Petite junto con el famoso diseñadorCarlos Alberto. Victor Pino me pidió cubrir el evento para Ruby Leonne, el es uno de los organizadores un hombre muy amable y profesional. Así que estén pendientes a mi próximo blog, les estaré contando todo lo que sucedió en este grandioso evento!!!

Bendiciones para todos,

Marta

Journalistic Wonder

Sometimes we meet people that have an impact on our lives. I met one a couple of months ago and her name is Karla A. Toledo Rios. I blogged a while back about how Casiano Communications was gracious enough to make an art for my daughter Ana announcing she had been chosen to model at The Curvy Revolution. This lovely young woman works for them.

Karla A. Toledo Rios

Karla answered my e-mails when I was inquiring on how plus size models could be acknowledged by their magazines. It meant a lot to me because she was one of the few who answered them. I contacted her and told her I wanted to blog about her so people who read my blog would get to know her better and can see a journalist here in Puerto Rico can also be a kind and caring human being. 

She was born in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, where she plans to go back someday, and raised by her mother and grandparents; her father died fifteen days before she was born. Karla grew up among cows, gas stations and men ... and if you think this affected her femininity you are wrong. 

Dove 50 Real Women

On October 2007, she won the prize of 50 Dove Real Women with 49 other contestants. She was the youngest at just 19 years old. As a requirement of the contest, she had to say what she had done with her life to make her become a real woman. 

She became independent when she was18 years old; fully funding rental expenses, utilities, transportation, gasoline, clothing and food. Furthermore, she worked full time to study part time in San Juan, a place so different from her birthplace Hatillo and graduated with a degree in journalism on May 2010 from Sagrado Corazon University.  

Interviewing Victor Manuelle

 She is a journalist from birth, always wanting to know who, how, when, where, and why they exist. Karla loves to write. This woman even offered to work as a volunteer for Casiano Communication, even though she needed the money...now this is love for what she does! 

Eventually she got the job and as of today, she is a Coordinator of Social Networks and Digital Sales Department of Casiano Communications. The management of social networks dedicated to maintaining the different pages of Facebook, Twitter and blogs of the 10 publications of the company and their customers. 

Karla doing what she loves!

  Karla has had the opportunity to meet and interview various artists such as Luis Raul, Raulito Carbonell, Andrés García, Noelia Crespo, Raymond Arrieta, Saritza Alvarado, Sonya Cortés, Yolanda Adams, Olga Tañon, Hannani, FM5, Zuleyka Rivera, Papo Brenes, Johanna Rosalia, Victor Manuelle, among others.

     Karla is very grateful to God for the opportunity to work at what she studied and loves to do. She is a very creative person and does not rule out reaching out to achieve other dreams.  Karla, good luck in your journey through life, the sky is the limit!

Blessings to all,

Marta

Easy Breezy Beautiful Mille Banchs

Makeup...what a magical word! In Puerto Rico, we have great makeup artists. Today I am going to blog about the queen of makeup in Puerto Rico, her name is Millie Banchs. I had the honor of meeting her a couple of weeks ago.

One day, I was talking to my daughter, Ana, she told me she would love to take professional makeup classes with Millie. I was all for it, because as I blogged before, about Imagen Nuestra Revista being magazine royalty, Millie Banchs is makeup royalty on the Island. Ana contacted her and she started her classes. One day Ana called and invited me to go with her to the class.

Millie Banchs,  model Sara Isabel & Ana

Saturday came and I went to the class with Ana and Elenia, who was her model. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous because I was going to meet the makeup artist to the stars in Puerto Rico, and here I was in front of the sweetest kindest woman I have ever met. She is a very classy lady. I sat there for two hours and I could have been there all day. I felt like I was talking to a friend I had known forever! This lady had so many interesting stories to tell. She told me about her humble beginnings.

Millie was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and comes from a very large and close-knit family; that have been there for each other in good times and bad times. Millie has traveled all over the world with artists like Celia Cruz. She is so humble and that surprised me. What I liked most about Millie is she always has a kind word to say about everyone. God bless you Millie; the world is a better place with people like you in it!

Millie, Elena & Ana

Blessings to all,

Marta

Weekend Love: Good or Bad Hair?

I've been fighting with my hair for over six years. I went natural for the first time about six years ago. No reason really; just wanted something new. 

I've been getting perms...or relaxers...whatever you want to call them...since I was 10 years old. The relaxer didn't make my hair break off. Besides the occasional scalp burns, the creamy crack didn't bother me. I got tired of the whole cost factor of getting your hair "did". Some black women spend more money on their hair and hair care products than they spend on their bills. I've seen women go without major necessities in order to get their hair done. I mean women trying to decide on whether to pay their light bill or get a touch up.

I wanted to save money and make a step in the direction of an all natural lifestyle, something I struggle with and still trying to achieve daily. 

Some women and men think that natural hair is nappy hair or bad hair. I have that internal struggle with myself everyday! I get really discourage with my hair. I want my hair to get wet and instantly look like Rachel True's glamorous locks. (Which will NEVER happen...Ms. True is Biracial.) I get discourage, I don't feel "pretty" and go back to the creamy crack. 

Rachel True (pic from actors.com)

When I flirt with natural hair, I'm not comfortable with it, so I hide it with wigs and pieces. Even last night I had a natural meltdown. I changed into four outfits only to realize I didn't like my hair and I slopped my wig back on my head. 

On Sunday, I attended Felicia Leatherwood's Loving Your Natural Hair Workshop here in Indianapolis. Ms. Leatherwood is a hair stylist out of Los Angeles who does hair for Jill Scott, Sanaa Latham, Terrence Howard and many more. So when it was broadcast she would be here in Indy. I was one of the first to buy a ticket. We even got product junkie swag bags!!! I love FREE stuff!

I learned so much from the workshops; techniques, eating healthy, styles. But what I learned most is to embrace my natural hair and LOVE MYSELF. Felicia told us to go home and for the next two weeks, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself you love yourself THREE times a day. I challenge you to do the same thing. Let's see how we fill within two weeks time. In the meantime, I'm going to ween myself of my wigs and start being comfortable with what God put on my head; a glorious head of thick healthy tightly coiled hair.

Here are some pics from the Loving Your Natural Hair Workshop:

Felicia Leatherwood speaking to the audience.

Our free product junkie swag bags...A LOT of GREAT stuff!

MC of the festivities, Kyla Williamson.

Felicia demonstrating how to moisturize hair and a quick style remedy.

MC Kyla Williamson with Felicia Yvette Hooks, the woman who brought Felicia Leatherwood to Indy to speak.

Felicia continually told the audience, if we had any questions about our hair or hair products to contact her on her Facebook page and her website (Lovingyourhairworkshop.com). I invite you to do that. She answers her emails personally and is SO knowledgeable about ALL things hair...even Caucasian and Latina hair.

...Cause Me So Soapy

I love getting packages! That means I've treated myself to some retail therapy. 

Cherry Bomb from Curat Handcrafted Soaps (retail $6)

 Before my card got confiscated, I ordered soap from Curat Handcrafted Soaps. I'm trying to phase into using all natural products. I'm not jumping into the au naturale trend, but I'm slowly changing products to acheive my goal. I started with hair products, then facial cleansers and now I figure I would try body washes/soap. 

Curat is made in Indianapolis by makeup artist, M. Renee (Misty) Al-Eryani. The artist has done faces for designers, photographers, companies and movies like: Nikki Blaine, Michel Tavares, Smashbox and The Tuskegee Airman. When I saw on Facebook her soap company had a sale, I decided to order. Who knows better about skin care than a makeup artist?

I ordered two bars of the Cherry Bomb. It was on sale for $5 a bar. It was on back order,so I ordered it around the beginning of February and just got it yesterday. But it was well worth the wait.

I opened up the package; CHERRY EXPLOSION! It was like 100 packs of cherry now-a-laters simmered in the package. I made Jay smell it, even with his bad sinuses he almost choked on the cherry. Misty even through in a sample of her Pepper Ferocious soap.

  

Do you see the poppy seeds and the chili powder?

Take a look at this soap. All the ingredients are natural...hell you can even see the poppy seeds and the chili powder. Showering with it was awesome. The soap worked up a great lather. Lather is important to me. Smell is all good and fine, but if I don't see suds I'm not clean. The poppy seeds were like an exfoliant. When I got out of the shower, I felt clean...not sticky or grainy with no residue.

Misty says I should have tried the Pepper Ferocious first, I'm going to try that tonight. I will revisit Curat in a future blog. I think we need a gift certificate contest.

My Faves This Week

It's been a while since I've blogged on Ruby Leonne. I am a blogger for Aesthetic Design Style as well. Make sure you jump over there and read the blog. So here are my faves so far this week:

Curat's Cherry Bombastic (retail $5)

Makeup Artist M. Renee Al-Eryani of Fierce Looks is creator of this all natural line of soaps. Because it's Curat's first birthday she's having a sale on their Cherry Bombastic scent. I ordered some last night! Can't wait to get it. She says it smells like Cherry Now-a-Laters! Mmmm...

Carnelian Crystal

Scrounging around this weekend, I found a necklace with the semi precious gemstone of my zodiac sign. The stone is said to give eloquence to public speaking, relieve depression, dispels apathy, removes fear of death, purifies the blood, relieves menstrual cramps, back pain, nose bleeds and enhances desire and motivation. A lot of job descriptions for a such little stone. I got it...we will see how it goes.

(photo from CBC Sports) Cutey Aaron Rodgers!

Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl last night! YAY! No more football until August or possibly longer if there's a lockout! BOO! If there is a Super Bowl next year, it's in Indianapolis! YAY! Football ending means spring is on its way! YAY! I LOVE FOOTBALL. The Super Bowl always makes me sad. What to do on Sunday afternoons now?

Chloe Narcisse (retail $35.49 for 3.4oz)

Found my favorite fragrance on Overstock.com. Chloe Narcisse was released in 1992 and now it is so hard to find. This was my signature fragrance back in my young Ball State days. My roommates and I used it like water. I'm happy I found it. I pray Overstock NEVER runs out! 

Fade to Black

(Elle cover vs. Showtime premiere. Pic from thegrio.com who pulled pics from MSNBC)

Everyone is talking about the photoshopped picture of Gabourey Sidibe in the upcoming edition of Elle. While I understand why everyone is upset, I'm trying to figure out why is this any different. The media has been touching up celebrities for years; making fat girls skinner and people lighter. They claim they work magic with their photoshop wand to make "minor" changes to "small" flaws in a photograph. Everyone just rants about it on blogs and television shows, but no one does anything about it.

(Beyonce Knowles. Pic from The Grio)

Until we hit the media and other companies where it hurts, their pocketbooks, they are going to continue this practice. They assume the general public wants to see a smaller Kate Winslet or a lighter Beyonce, but what the public wants is to see someone that looks like them in the spotlight. We want to see a fuller Jessica Simpson. We want to see a darker Freida Pinto. It's evident that our desires are being heard with the first plus size fashion show during New York Fashion Week. We love it. Now we need to convince the media and companies we will not condone the modifications of physical appearance on magazine shelves and advertising. It's not a black/white thing or a skinny/fat thing, it's a wrong/right thing.

Easy Breezy Beautiful Other Brands?

(From Cover Girl Website)

Those who know me know that I LOVE makeup. I love trying new things and and new products. Unfortunately, makeup can be very expensive. So who knew that Cover Girl has a place on their website that allows you to "match your department store shade for less".

Bobbi Brown, MAC and Sephora are just a few brands that Cover Girl list swaps for. Once you choose the brand that you are looking for, choose the category you are looking for (foundation, eyeshadow, etc), then pick the product and/or shade. Cover Girl lets you know what they have that is similar to the expensive department store product that you love.

I encourage all you makeup fiends to check out the website and play with it. There are a lot of options but it still missing some name brands. (I wish they could match Avon or Mary Kay!) But it is a great start for people who want to look their best at an inexpensive price.

Go to Cover Girl's website for more details.

The Case of the Oily Face: Review of L'Oreal Go 360 Clean

(I'm not being paid by L'Oreal for review. I purchase the product myself.)

Okay, those who knows me know I am a product fiend. All those advertisements on television send out subliminal hints to my message receptors. Buy me...try me...please. As seen on TV infomercials will be the death of my wallet. Oh God...and don't let me have a conversation with my great friend, Reggae Red, a nice red wine from my favorite local winery. Red coerces me all the time to buy things I don't necessarily need or want. She does a damn good job too.

Well this time I needed a new facial cleanser. When the season changes, my face performs circus acts. Pimples disappear and reappear in seconds, like Houdini. My face becomes a slip and slide, so oily anything that comes in contact with it becomes part of a trapeze act. So while watching the television, I am introduced to a new product by L'Oreal. So while on the phone with my sister at the local super-mart, who pleads with me to try the product so I can later give her my opinion, I am stopped by the bright green bottle. (I am a very visual person.) The color reminds me of a tropical setting, so needed with all the snow and sludge that is disappearing outside. It comes with a little scrubber too. You can even attact the scrubber back to the bottle. So easy storage. I need help cleaning these pores. The whole town of Whoville could live in my little potholes. So...I buy it.

Now I am used to gel or creme cleansers, so as put some of the liquid cleanser on the scrubber and start toward my face, a little fountain of cleanser enters my mouth. UGH. That taste did not go away for awhile. I know I am not supposed to eat it, but accidents happen people. After trying to clean my mouth out from the taste, I use the cleanser. Upon first use...I like it. My face actually feels clean...stripped of all oil and residue. It actually takes off my makeup pretty well too.

After using the product for a week a peculiar thing happened, my face was so dry (even with moisturizer) that it was peeling horribly. I looked like I had vitiligo for a second. So...I had to restrict my use of 360. It is a deep cleanser, so I am going to find a gentler cleanser and use this product once or twice a week. It still does the job of cleansing, just without the unnecessary peeling.

So overall I give L'Oreal Go 360 Clean a C+. It helps clean oily skin, so I have experienced less blemishes and breakouts. But I can't use it on a regular basis because of skin dryness.

This is just my experience. Feel free to drop me a line if you know of a cleanser that helps with oil and breakouts. Also contact me if you want to do a review on any cleanser you might have used. I would love to hear from you.