CHAN’S HOT LIST 10.8.12

Detroit native Danny Brown approaches hip-hop with a high energy charismatic flair. After being turned down by 50 Cents label G Unit because of his skinny jeans, Brown took his lyrical prowess to A-Trak’s label Fool’s Gold Records. Check him out as my feature track of the week. -Chandler

Rap} Grown Up- Danny Brown

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Vs9Ag0GPo]

 

Rock} Microphone Fiend- Rage Against The Machine

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOwutDkZeUo]

 

Electronic} Let Your Love Grow Tall- Passion Pit

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ROcQpVbKw]

 

Indie Rock} So Here We Are- Bloc Party

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzZQJZdcCU4]

 

Indie Rock} Blindsided- Bon Iver

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy3lJIxyZ60]

 

New job. New beginning. Endless opportunity.

Hey guys!
This is long overdue, but I have exciting news! God is amazingly wonderful and gracious! I couldn’t be more excited to announce that I have a new job! As of September, I was brought on the Houston Style Magazine team as their Fashion and Social Media editor. My first assignment was Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2013 which I attended with Houston Style Magazine National Entertainment reporter Rebecca Briscoe in New York, New York.
I had the wonderful pleasure of interviewing author and celebrity stylist June Ambrose after the Rebecca Minkoff show! Video below, enjoy!

June Ambrose on MBFW, Her Must Haves &  Being a Rockmom!

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with June, aka the Style Curator and Rock Mom, here’s a tidbit about her from her website: 

Whether designing custom metallic leather pants for Sean “Diddy” Combs and Busta Rhymes, One of a kind pieces for Jay Z & Will Smith or Styling & crafting couture outfits for divas such as Zoe Saldana, Missy Elliott, Kelly Ripa, Kim Cattrall, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Estelle, Garcelle Beauvais and Ciara, June has left an indelible mark on today’s youth, inspiring countless trends and major fashion statements found in popular culture.

Despite various accolades and titles, June Ambrose has been every bit of an awesome example of how to grace her transition to greater fame in humility. She was unbelievably warm and approachable and gave us a meaningful (& long!) interview. It was a really pleasant experience, and I will definitely use her welcoming disposition as my personal standard in the future.  Just watch 😉
Best,
-Chelsea

[slideshow]

Natural Hair: Product Review

Hey Guys!

It’s downright shameful that it has taken me this long to get to another natural hair post, but I have come across an amazing product and I want to share it with our readers! The product is called the Dark & Lovely 6 Week Anti-Reversion Cream Serum. Check out the description from their site:

Our first styling product developed specifically for relaxed hair, allowing you to preserve your straight, smooth hair up to six weeks in-between relaxing. It is designed to help control frizz, lock in shine while keeping hair soft, full of body and manageable from one shampoo to the next. Also suitable for use on color treated hair.

…I know, I know. We’re natural. Why would we need an anti-reversion product for relaxed hair? I’ll tell you why. I recently went to New York for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2013, and we had the pleasure of attending the Harlem’s Fashion Row show. Harlem’s Fashion Row was held at Jazz at Lincoln Center on September 7, 2012. The show featured four incredibly talented emerging designers as well as HFR’s designer of the year: Latisha Daring. It turns out that Dark and Lovely was a sponsor, and the Anti-Reversion Serum was in the gift bag. After weeks of sitting in a gift bag in the corner of my room I thought to myself what the heck I’m just going to try it… OH. MY. GOSH!!!

I don’t know what the secret is, but whatever they put in that product makes my hair so unbelievably soft. It’s incredible. The product worked so well on my hair that two days later when I went to the salon my hairdresser asked me what I was using on my hair because she was blown away by how how it felt and the way it moved.

Here’s the catch. My advice is to only use it if you are wearing your hair in its natural state -the serum will revert your hair because it is meant to be used on wet hair and then blow dried. If I am wearing my hair flat-ironed,  I’ll use it maybe once a week, if that, and then section my hair, individually brush out each section with a wig brush and roll parted hair with flexible hair rods, leaving them in overnight (photo in album). This is the best alternative to putting heat on my hair btw.

Check it out . It’s just a suggestion lol, but I loooooove it! It’s been wonderful for me, and I’ll def be recommending it to all my natural girlfriends 😉

God is love,

Chelsea

[slideshow]

 

THE BEAUTY REVIEW WITH MEAGAN BALL-JORDAN

Ruby-Woo MAC lipstick (Matte)

Red Lipstick MACRed is one of my favorite colors. Red is the color of love, fire, heat, and passion. I used to love watching my Aunt paint her nails fire-engine red with flaming red lips to match. Growing up, my sisters and I were never allowed to wear red anything because my dad thought that color was too grown for us. They say, if you want a man’s attention, then wear red! My dad may have been on to something by not letting us wear much red but as soon as I was grown and on my own, I bought my first tube of red lipstick and I have been in love ever since!

 

Most people are afraid of red lipstick because of its vibrancy, the attention it draws to the mouth, and the fact they think it just doesn’t look good. Red lipstick actually makes the teeth look whiter and can instantly add a pop of color to any makeup palette or outfit. One of the red lipsticks that I adore and drives the men insane is Ruby-Woo by MAC. It is a matte red lipstick which I prefer because it doesn’t have that extra shine or sheen to it and it is only $14. Ruby-Woo has blue undertones and compliments my dark-brown skin (I am African-American). Not all reds are created equal.  There are true reds, red with blue undertones, and red with orange and pink undertones.  Most people are wearing the wrong hue for their skin tone and finding the right hue is essential to  pulling off the red lip.  Life is about taking risks; Take a risk, put on that new lipstick and paint the town red!

 

Purchase at MAC stores or online at www.maccosmetics.com

 

Meagan Ball-Jordan is a beauty connoisseur and grad student currently residng in Dallas, Texas. Keep up with her on Twitter @MeaganElyce!

THE FOOD REVIEW WITH ANDREA DUARTE: Petrol Station

Andrea Duarte, your Coffey Break food expert!

Chelsea and I share a love and passion for good food, so we thought we’d collaborate to share my experiences by trying the newest, most beloved, and everything in-between spots in Houston.

Sick of visiting the same old spots? Want to try out a new place? Afraid of wasting money and your palate on a mediocre meal?

 Let The Coffey Break do the leg work for you!

Stay hungry my friends -Andrea

Review Date: Tuesday September 11, 2012
 Review Location: The Petrol Station
985 Wakefield
http://www.facebook.com/PetrolStation
 Review Time: Dinner
Not too long ago I had a huge craving for a really good hamburger, so I googled “Best Burger Houston”. The Petrol Station caught my eye.
I visited there with some co-workers today who frequent it for its beer selection; they have various crafty brews on tap. The place is so named as it was transformed from an old service station. It’s a whole-in-the-wall with no visible sign, in the middle of a neighborhood, and a hippie inside. I was intrigued!
Petrol Station Houston, Texas
The place was a bit empty when we got there, but it was more or less what I expected. A pub with older masculine clientele, and a beer-snobby bartender.
I got the Rancor, the burger the place is best know for, behold:

It contains: 1/2 lb angus beef,cheddar cheese, bacon,fried egg,lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle & mayo served with natural cut fries.
(I took my pickles out, sorry)
 It’s definitely a feast on the eyes when it arrives, which was good because I am definitely a visual person. I was also super excited about the egg.  You definitely need some creativity to bite into this bad boy, and quite a stack of napkins!
The burger was good, but I hate to admit not the best I’ve had. The meat patty was super thick and juicy. The bacon was inches thick, and still crispy. The veggies were fresh and crunchy, and the egg runny, which is exactly what I wanted. However, the burger was a little overcooked to my taste. I was also a bit underwhelmed with the lack of “pow” in flavor, and I was not excited when I was eating it, a bit indifferent. When I bit into it everything kind of ran together, and nothing stood out. I definitely had mixed feelings, but overall still enjoyed it.
 The fries were ok. Although some were super crispy, others were a little soggy, and they were not fresh. But still a good companion to the burger. 
In the end I was pleased, but not blown out of the water. Would definitely come back and try other things on the menu.
 Overall Rating:           B-
 FOOD RATINGS
Taste:                          B-
Presentation:            A
Selection:                   A- (not a lot on the menu, but everything sounded good- quality over quantity!)
OTHER:
Ambiance:                  C+ (mosquitoes!!!!!! And no music)
Location:                    B- (a bit out of the way)
Prices:                         B  (burger was reasonably priced but beer was a bit more than expected)