Ch-ch-ch-changes

Hey pumkins,
How are my ladies? I'm positively wilting from this oppressive humidity. For those of you attending the Harlem Book Fair tomorrow, I say this in advance: please, please, PLEASE don't hold me responsible for my frizzy roots. Totally out of my control. Whew, I have tons to talk about this week...definitely feeling some bullets comin' on!

* First of all, Victoria Beckham is AWESOME. I'm not afraid to say it. Was I the only one totally shocked at how cute, funny and "may-jah" she was on her Coming to America special? And it was a total surpise for me, because I always felt she was a pin-thin sourpuss who, quite frankly, wasn't cute enough for Beckham. But there's something so HONEST about a filthy rich glamourpuss who has no problem embracing her diva-ness. You'll never see her looking grungy for the paprazzi, just to prove she's "real." Whatever to that. I really never needed to picture J. Lo on the 6. I like my divas to be so fabulous it's painful. Positively ripe for drag queen icon status. Thanks, Posh, for bringing back old-school, Tina-bring-me-the-axe, slightly demented glamour.

That said, please honey, PLEASE eat an empanada.

* Clinique has asked me to fill you in on their "Beauty Boot Camp" contest! 10,000 contestants will have the opportunity to try out Clinique's new Acne Solutions Clear Skin System FREE (enter here to find out how). After trying out the products, send in before and after pics, plus a short description of how you feel with clearer skin...and the five outstanding finalists will be awarded an Apple MAC Book. And the winner gets a total Celeb Makeover in NYC (photo shoot with Emmy Rossum, $5,000 and all!), a special tour of TEEN VOGUE, and an appointment with a stylist!

* Fellow SYB Babe, Glamazon Girl, on theme-dressing:" I had to dress in a nautical theme the first time I ventured on a yacht. I wore white bermudas, a stripped shirt, a scarf as a headband, and a lifesaver necklace. I totally wanted to be like Beyonce on the French Riviera, but it was more like "Peaches" on the Detroit River." HYSTERICAL.

* Last Saturday, The Washington Post ran an article called "Of Curls and Culture," all about our love for Dominican Salons! You guys are gonna LOVE this, and not just because I was interviewed for the piece. It really goes into the socio-cultural situation that goes down in these salons...so fascinating. Let me know what you think, pumpkins.

* Last night, Glam.com had a fabulous loft party for all it's bloggers, and several of them told me they wished I posted more frequently. Which is something I've been hearing A LOT. I've always wanted to--but my deadlines are really no joke. After giving it much thought, though, I've decided to give it a try! Girls, "Shake Your Beauty" as you know it is about to change. Instead of doing one long, rambling post a week, I'm now going to do much smaller posts, THREE TIMES A WEEK. In each post, I'll highlight one product I'm loving right now, or answer a reader question. Hopefully, you'll love the new change!!


DRUMROLL...
To kick off the new "Shake Your Beauty," here's a product that's currently driving me wild. Over the last week, I think I've whipped YSL SUN LINE NAIL TOUCH BRUSH PEN ($23) out of my bag at least three times. Oh, there's so much to love! First of all, the uber-glam packaging is just too cool for school. Secondly, it comes in six glossy, barely-there shades that flatter brown skin to death (transparent, metallic pink, parma, pearly beige, golden beige, and pearly white). The best part, though? In one click, this goof-proof pen releases the perfect amount of polish, coating your nail to glossy perfection. No layering, no angling to get the tricky spots in the corner. You can't go wrong! Mark my words, in six months every nail brand will have their own version of this salon-worthy pen. I just love that I was in on the magic, from the beginning.

Love you! Hopefully I'll see you in all your gorgeousness at tomorrow's Harlem Book Fair!