Miss Moon's Musings About: Natural's Night Out 2012

Boy, did I have a fabulous time at Chic n Kinky's Naturals Night Out 2012 this year! They promised to provide a bigger and better event than last year's and they did NOT disappoint!!

Danielle of Curls: Lovely hair and lovely smile. She was very sweet and answered all of my questions about Curls products (Can you believe I've never tried them before?!?)

I was super psyched to meet Nikki of Everything Under the Moon as we've been bloggy buddies for a WHILE now! I eagerly stole borrowed this photo from her Instagram.

My partner in crime for the night's events, Sudana of Creative Urbanista, who debuted her brand new 'do! Looking great, girl!

Check out Sudana's recap of the night by visiting her blog! Great photos (Like this one!) !!!

Adorable tees were available for sale from Haus of Swag, one of the night's fantastic vendors!

Ginger + Liz was on hand to offer attendees manicures! They were also having a killer sale on their polish!

The Lovely Monique of Cotton Beauty Pantry and I (Why does Ms. Mooch look like Prince Humperdink in this picture!?!? LOL)... We met at last year's Natural's Night Out! Check out her FaceBook page for her pictures from the event.

I look icky in this picture, but I'm including it because Courtney of CutieKinks looks adorable!

Naturalistas of every size, shape, color and texture hanging out on the patio.... I cannot wait to see what's in store for next year!!

Miss Moon's Musing About: Curl Crush with the Curly Girl Collective

Here's something you may not know about me: I'm painfully shy when it comes to meeting new people. I find myself feeling as awkward as a 12-year-old at their first boy/girl dance. This is something I strive to improve about myself, so I was very excited (and nervous) when I heard about the newest natural hair event sponsored by Curly Girl Collective, Curl Crush.

Curl Crush was an event that first and foremost celebrated natural hair like most events do, but with a little something extra that made it totally unique. Taking a cue from the ever-popular speed dating events, Curl Crush gave everyone an event to sit and meet with stylist, bloggers, and other curly girlies for five minute "dates" to discuss products, techniques and just to bask in each other's beauty. I took a big, deep gulp and RSVP'd "Yes".

Held at the beautiful Taj Lounge on 21st Street in Manhattan, women from across the tri-state area braved the rain that day to hang out on a work week and enjoy the festivities.

In addition to the "speed hair" sessions, guests were invited to participate in a scavenger hunt that required chatting with fellow guests to answer questions like, "Who big chopped this year?", "Who is presently transitioning?", and "Who has a hair steamer?", while sipping complimentary signature drinks for the event. I had such a blast and I'm so glad I went... and participated in a speed hair session!

Here's the first group getting to know one another....

Even the fabulous texture guru Dickey of Hair Rules joined in on the fun!

After five minutes were up, it's time to switch and meet your next curl crush!

Curly Girl Collective partnered with NaturallyCurly.com and (the fabulous!) Shea Moisture to host this event. Gia Low, one of the founders of CGC told Essence Magazine, "The energy in the room was simply golden!" "The women here gained a sense of sisterhood, inspiration and empowerment which is so instrumental in the natural hair community," continued Charisse Higgins, also one of the group's founders.

The lovely ladies of Curly Girl Collective welcoming party goes to the night's festivities.

Me (and my rain soaked curls!) with Raena, whom I met during our "speed date". Our conversation went from hair to makeup, and thanks to her, I am the newest member of the Cult of Ruby Woo. See? Not only did I face my fears of meeting new people, but I rocked a red lip while doing it!!! Talk about a two-fer!! LOL

I met Courtney a few months ago at another event, so when I bumped into her... I had to request my old and new "curl friends" to pose for a picture together. How DOPE are her earrings!?!?!?!?

Another highlight of the event was meeting Chai of Back to Curly, whom I've been such a major fan of for ages... I didn't snap a picture of the two of us (Booo, me!), but be sure to check out my cameo in her recap of the night.

In addition to mingling, there were some great vendors present, selling goodies that would make a welcome addition to any natural's home. After drooling from afar all night, I snatched up a tote bag, ankara hoop earrings and hair bows from QuellyRue Designs... I've been rocking the heck out of those earrings, so I have a feeling you'll be seeing them on me sometime soon!

For those who didn't want to shop, there was an opportunity to get your hands on some killer prizes in the raffle, one of the main prizes being a Huetiful Hair Steamer. I wanted that steamer... badly, so I purchased copious tickets in the hopes of bringing that baby home! I didn't (Awww!), but I did walk away with three of the raffle prizes, which included an amazing gift basket full of Miss Jessie's, Beautiful Textures, and Oyin Handmade products... in addition to two(!!!) Shea Moisture Gift Sets.... so I have no complaints! LOL

This event was definitely a highlight of the year for me, and I cannot wait to see what the wonderful women behind Curly Girl Collective think of next, because they sure do know how to throw a party!!!!!

D-I-Y Nappturaliciously: 31 Days of Natural Beauty with Curly Nikki!!

Happy Monday! And..... Happy August, Everybody!!! What better way to start the week (and start a brand new month) than with a new opportunity to win some tasty treats for your tresses!?!?! Thanks to Curly Nikki, you have a new opportunity to win big with her 31 Days of Natural Beauty Giveaway!

Each day in August, visit http://www.naturallycurly.com/giveaways/index/31-days-of-natural-beauty enter to enter to win $6,000 in fabulous curl-specific prizes from some of the top natural brands, including Kinky-Curly, Jane Carter, Karen’s Body Beautiful, Carol’s Daughter, Hair Rules and Ojon.

One grand-prize winner will receive a Mizani Ultimate NYC Getaway and be flown to New York City to meet Nikki herself and be a VIP guest at the CurlyNikki.com meet-up.

The grand-prize winner will also receive celebrity treatment while in New York that includes having their hair styled by Mizani’s celebrity stylist, dinner with Nikki, and a featured story on CurlyNikki.com and NaturallyCurly.com.

To Enter The Giveaway, 31 Days of Natural Beauty Giveaway participants must register here to win. The giveaway begins August 1, 2011, at 12:00 a.m. CST and ends August 31, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. CST. Only online entries will be accepted. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.

Best of Luck, Curly Girlies!!!!

Miss Moon's Musing About: Curly Pool Party 2011 NYC

This Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Curly Pool Party at the beautiful Grace Hotel here in NYC, and I had a TOTAL BLAST!!! I hardly know where to begin!!

I guess the best place to start is with the Grace Hotel and the Pool area where the party was being held. The hotel, in New York's Time Square, was absolutely beautiful, surrounded by shops, theatres and a couple thousand tourists!!! LOL

The pool area boasted two saunas, a float up bar, a lounge area, and oodles of lush, lavish places to sit down, recline, and chat.

I was invited by NaturallyCurly.com to avoid the lines and come early to the reception designed for bloggers and press, when I arrived, I met briefly with the organizers of the event, received my HUGE goodie bag (PACKED with sweet treats from sponsors Jane Carter Solution, Hair Rules, Shea Moisture and Ouidad!) and arrived at the bar area that was complete an army of tiny tables, each topped with yummy treats as far as the eyes can see!

Cheese platters, cold cuts, veggie platters, and the one item that made me go "Ooooh!!!"....

SUSHI!!!!!!!

I walked into the pool area and was greeted by my girls Sudana of Creative Urbanista and Miss EmpressRi herself, y'all (it was AMAZING to finally meet her in person after knowing her for years online!!)

I also had the pleasure of meeting Chanel of Boutique De Bandeaux, whom I've admired for a long time and missed the opportunity to meet her at the recent Chic and Kinky's Naturals Night Out.

Sudana and I

The Empress Herself, Chanel, and Sudana all looking lovely and ready to hit the pool!!

During the first few moments, we had the opportunity to see a presentation of NaturallyCurly.com's new Mobile App, Curls on the Go, for iPhones and Android devices. It's dope, Y'all!!! I am very seriously thinking of bidding farewell to my BlackBerry to get an Android, JUST to download this app! LOL

Chai from Back to Curly surrounded by two lovely friends... I am so bummed I didn't get a chance to chat with her, aside from yelling hi across the room! We must meet up for coffee soon, Chai!

Chanel and I

After a gracious welcome from organizers Cassidy Blackwell (of Natural Selection) and Michelle Breyer (Co-founder & President of NaturallyCurly.com)... it was time to HIT the pool! After all, it's a Pool Party, and as the tagline of the event says, "Curls and Water DO Mix!"

I admit I spent waaaay too much time in the pool and not enough time chatting and networking (which I suck at!), but the water was definitely seductive to me. So much so, I was hesitant to get out the pool to get a drink! LOL Luckily, my girl Stephanie, arrived just in the nick of time with a glass of wine just for me! (Thanks, girl!!!)

After finishing my wine (in the pool...decadence!), I decided to venture off to the spa area with Sudana, Chanel and Stephanie. The Spa, hosted by Shea Moisture, had scrubs and other goodies for us to lavish our skins with before hitting the sauna.

This curly cutie from Shea Moisture was so sweet in giving us instructions on how to best use the Sugar Scrub!!

She and the Sugar Scrub, get a BIG thumbs up from me!!

Time to rinse!!!!!!!!!!! (I love this picture!)

Stephanie, all smiles and looking lovely as always!!!!!

Hanging with Steff in the sauna... I will be investing on a Hair Steamer in the next few months, because I've learned my hair is IN LOVE with steam!!!!

After our steam, we went over to the Sponsor's area, where the wonderful people of Jane Carter Solutions, Hair Rules and Ouidad were doing demonstrations and having one-on-one chats with curlies on how to use their products.

This curly cutie was kind enough to sit for a photo... I loved her hair!!

Carolina from Ouidad, showing Stephanie how to use their famous "rake and shake" technique for super happy curls!

Ouidad's newest spokesmodel!! :)

I had such a good time at the event!! Thanks so much to Alicia from NaturallyCurly.com for being so awesome and inviting me. Thanks Sudana and EmpressRi for the amazing hang (and for photo sharing!).. And thank you Stephanie for this...

I am proud to announce that I have finally got a new camera, so hopefully there will be much more (and much better quality) photos coming from me soon! Cheers!