May 01, 2018

4 Picks for Summer Bridal Trends

May 01, 2018/ Catalyst Wedding Co

It’s summer trends, but giving people a little cold shoulder action at your wedding is definitely a "Hell Yes," if you ask me. I have seen so many off-the-shoulder gowns lately and loved all of them. Everything from a fitted dress to a more beachy vibe, loose fitting off-the-shoulder is extremely beautiful and effortlessly sexy to me. Not to mention, Rihanna just released a new body glow product for Fenty Beauty, Body Lava, so just imagine having that glowing neckline exposed, yes girl!

March 20, 2018

Black BeauTEA Talk // Makeup Trends for The First Day of Spring

March 20, 2018/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Hey beauties, it’s March and the first day of spring, and I am so ready for some warmer weather and sunny days. It’s actually a bit rainy here as i’m sitting writing this but i’m still sipping on a half and half, or Arnold Palmer like the sophisticated people say. The weather seems to be lagging on getting the information that it's spring, but that doesn’t mean that we have to wait, so i’m going to drop my top 5 beauty products for the spring and a few makeup trends that I want to see in excess this season!

January 22, 2018

Black BeauTEA Talk // Selfish Self Care

January 22, 2018/ Catalyst Wedding Co

I think that people have romanticized the idea of self care; we don’t talk about what it really means to take care of self. What I want you to do when thinking about self care is to keep in mind those things that you need so badly. This includes the physical, mental, emotional, and financial. What is it going to take you to get to the place you need to be in these areas?

November 07, 2017

Black BeauTEA Talk // Shopfe-line + Black Woman-Owned Business

November 07, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Hey beauties, it seems like this has been a long-ass month, or am I tripping? Either way I have been waiting to come chat again; did ya miss me? I’m sipping some Teavana tea; it’s a winterberry blend, and it is amazing!! Seriously you all have to google it and order some and then let me know how you love it?! It is a loose tea and has like grapefruit and strawberry flavors; it tastes so good so if you’re into tea, then grab some! Onto the tea you’re all here for. This month I am doing another interview and actually trying something new! I want to add some “spotlight articles” where I will interview a business owned by a black woman that caters to black women. So this month I am putting the spotlight on my girl Felicia. She is the owner of Shopfe-line, a brand that if you follow me you are very familiar with, as I do makeup for her product shoots! So let’s see how the interview went with this bossbabe, shall we?!

October 05, 2017

Black BeauTEA Talk // New York Fashion Week

October 05, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

On to more pressing matters. This may come as a surprise, but once again I was not at New York Fashion Week this year. I know, right? How am I always way too busy to attend or work the show every year? (laughs) (One year I’ll actually be invited to the show, and then I can stop pretending I’m too busy to go. *ugly cries*) But that didn’t stop me from sitting on my couch stalking all of the websites and social media to catch every update, and of course everyone was serving looks! However this was the first year I paid special attention to the bridal looks, so let’s talk about my thoughts on the ones I’ve seen thus far.

September 07, 2017

Black BeauTEA Talk // Fall Beauty Trends Inspired by Black Girls Rock!

September 07, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Hi beauties! How y'all feeling?!! I'm feeling AMAZING after having watched Black Girls Rock! last night on BET!!! I mean how glorious was that show?! If you watched please do tell me all of your favorite parts and which looks you were here for. I'm sitting here sipping this vanilla chai tea because it's too damn hot to be playing those hot tea games, okay?! Anyways I decided that I'm ready for fall because that is my favorite season, and I guess that means we should talk fall beauty trends, right?!!! After watching Black Girls Rock!, I saw a few of the trends I was gonna mention in September's write-up, so let's do this thang shall we?!!

August 07, 2017

Black BeauTEA Talk // 7 Myths About Black Beauty

August 07, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Myth #1: "Black Don't Crack"

I'm going to talk about skincare first because as a makeup artist, this is the most important part of beauty. So under my post asking to hear the biggest myths from my readers, the first commenter said “black don't crack.” This was a good one, and I'll be the first to say that this is TRUE and not a myth, and I'll tell you why it's true. Black women age slower than other races of women, and one main and very obvious reason for this is that melanin, baby! However, the danger in this saying is that it insinuates that as black women, we shouldn't do other things to take care of our skin.

July 20, 2017

Black BeauTEA Talk // Celebrated, Not Tolerated: Woke AF Wedding Vendors List

July 20, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

One part that really seemed to stand out last month according to the feedback was the story about none of the vendors posting photos of the black bride's wedding. Her story really drove home why I push the phrase, “Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated,” so much. It's very important that on top of realizing these issues, we do our part to support those who truly support us! How many times have you been online and come across a new viral post about yet another business owner coming out as having been racist?! How many of these business owners had you supported in the past? Yea, I know girl, me too, and the worst part is there is no way for us to be able to tell, right?! Well of course there isn't, but we can damn sure look for the businesses that SHOW us that they are here for us. It's really easy to do; if you go to their website and don't see anything close to a representation of you, peace out! You'd be taking a chance with giving this business your support, or in other words, your coins!!

June 19, 2017

Black BeauTEA Talk // When Diversity is Cool, Black Women Are Still Ignored, Tokenized, and Used

June 19, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Diversity and representation are important, but before you send out that model call, stop and ask yourself these questions.

1. Why is diversity important to black women?

2. What do I do regularly to help fight against the white supremacist world we live in?

3. What will this black woman gain from doing my photo shoot?

May 15, 2017

Black BeauTEA Talk // Silk & Lace Thrift Shop Inspiration for Nontraditional Brides

May 15, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

I never dreamed about my wedding day as a child. I am not that girl! I honestly feel as though I would breakout into hives just like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City if I were to try on a wedding dresses. This is not an anti-wedding dress rant. Wedding dresses are the most beautiful gowns ever! I just cannot do traditional anything, and the cost per wear is just a little too high for me. What is “cost per wear” you ask? Well, this is the total cost of the item/number of days you’ll wear it. For those brides who think similarly, I’ve found a loophole for you!!!!

April 05, 2017

Woke Wednesday // Meet Makeup Artist Brittney Taylor

April 05, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Feminism is touchy for me because I feel it was created (or given the title and taken mainstream) by white women and fails to include black women. Black children, women, and men are my FIRST priority and who I scream the loudest for. So when something puts that second, it's hard for me to carry the title—although I do understand and agree with the views of feminism. I would say I'm an advocate for social justice because I do believe in equality, and I know the system is fucked up. What it all means to me is pulling your head out of the sand and saying, "That's some bullshit, and it's not okay," and then doing whatever you can to change it.

March 10, 2017

Black BeauTEA Talk // Natural Bridal Hairstyles Especially for Black Brides

March 10, 2017/ Catalyst Wedding Co

Black BeauTEA talk is a monthly column, and I look forward to bringing you ladies all sorts of TEA. No, seriously I'll definitely be sharing with you all what tea (as in the drink) I'm sipping as I write each post, as well as what tea (as in the latest news) I'm sipping as far aa beauty tips, tricks, and products for us.