Celebrate Kwanzaa: NIA

     Today we embrace the Principle of Nia: Purpose- "To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness." So today I ask you, What is your purpose? Why are you here? The sad thing for our community is that many of us do not know what our purpose is in life. This is because many of us lack guidance, self-esteem, and motivation. I encourage everyone to wake up in the morning, face the mirror, and tell YOURSELF how much you are in love with YOURSELF! While getting dressed in the morning listen to music that inspires you. I guarantee that this will definitely get your day going. When you pass by another person, greet them in a positive manner. Smile even when you do not have anything to smile about. Read Autobiographies and Biographies of people who you admire, or that have a career in a field that you believe that you are interested in. Finally, make a 5 year plan dealing with your financial goals, career goals, and personal goals. This can also coincide with a vision book. For my vision book, I used pictures and articles from magazines to form a scrapbook of my goals. This is not the only path to finding your purpose, but I truly believe that you will be one step closer to it. If you know your purpose in life, then I encourage you to help your fellow brothers and sisters find their purpose in life.

Celebrate Kwanzaa: Ujamaa

     Today we embrace the Principle of Ujamaa: Cooperative Economics- "To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together." This is a very important principle to me. Many of our Black owned businesses are very active in the community; however, this can become a struggle for them if they aren't making a profit to support their own family. When these same business are forced to closed their doors, then they are replaced with fast food chains and liquor stores. Folks, we have to do better about our community. 

     There are Black owned bookstores, restaurants, clothing stores, convenience stores, grocery stores, Dentists, Doctors, and of course Lawyers in many of our communities; however, most people complain that they are charged more in our community. Yes, this may be true for some establishments; however, you have to realize that they are trying to run a business, a household, and invest in more ventures. Sometimes they are charged more by vendors, because they do not order in bulk. I believe that if they have more people buying from them, then they can eventually lower their prices, and offer more product. Please remember that our ancestors built this country, and I believe that they did not do it in vain! They did it so that one day we can have something to put OUR name on!

     Here is a website that supports Black owned Businesses in the Middle Georgia area: http://www.maconblackpages.com/   Please take out the time to visit this website. 

Celebrate Kwanzaa

I missed the first two days! Yes, this can happen if you decide to go to the countryside for the holidays, and do not have Internet or phone service! With that being said, every year I try to revisit the seven principles of Kwanzaa to make sure that I continue to apply each principle to my life. Here is a link to the Seven Principles: http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/NguzoSaba.shtml

In 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga established this holiday to give African Americans an opportunity to celebrate themselves, and their history. I don't know about you, but I LOVE THE SKIN THAT I AM IN!

Today we celebrate the principle of "Ujima": Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together. To embrace this principle, you don't have to be rich or have various educational degrees. I encourage you to take a look in the mirror, and see how far you have come in life. Then look around at your community, and see how far you can take your fellow brother's and sister's in life! Many of our young brother's and sister's are being incarcerated for FELONIES at the young age of 18 & 19. In many of the cases, it is because "we" have turned our backs on the younger generation when we see them doing wrong. I still believe in the saying that "it takes a village to raise a child". It only takes a second to guide a child in the right direction. Teach them how to dress, the value of the dollar, how to respect other's property, self-esteem, and how to put a value on their life. If we all work together, and take responsibility not only for our family, but also for our neighbors, then we can make this world a better place.

PEACE, LOVE, HAPPINESS!

New Nail Trends

This year is ending with a bang in Nail Color. The trend is now to pick bold colors. My favorite colors this season are Red, Gold, and Silver. Both Red and Gold have been a hit among celebrities. It is very important to choose the right brand, and the right shape when picking these bold colors. When choosing a gold, make sure that it is a warm gold, and not too yellow. When choosing a silver, be meticulous about the application. Some silvers are too bold for the office; therefore, you may just want to apply it to the nail tips. Finally, when choosing a Red, be sure to find a Red that compliments your skin tone. OPI and Revlon are my top brands. They dry faster, and they also do not chip as fast as other nail polish brands. Along with choosing the correct polish brand, you should also make sure that you choose a good base coat, and a good top coat. Follow these directions, so that your fabulous nails can last up to 7 days.

1. Priming- Use a cotton ball to clean each nail with polish remover; thus removing all oils from the nails.

2. Base Coat- Do not use 2 in 1 Base/Top coat products. A calcium gel base coat will promote healthy, growing nails. OPI has a natural nail base coat product out.

3. Apply the Polish

4. Apply the Top Coat

Style & Beauty: Experiencing a Dominican Hair Salon

I am a big fan of trying out new styles and treatments with my hair, as long as they are healthy for the hair. For months I have been hearing a new buzz about Dominican Hair Salons and this treatment called "Dominican Blowout". I heard that it was pretty good, and I researched the pros and cons of going to the salon to receive the blowout treatment. About 2 weeks ago I decided to try out the treatment, and see what effect it would have on my hair. Needless to say I was very impressed. I was very impressed because I was in and out of the salon in an hour, the beautician was very nice, and she was not gossiping the whole time. For those who live a very stressful lifestyle those three features of a salon are very important. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the process of the Dominican Blowout, here you go:

1st: Hair is washed and massaged using Dominican products
2nd: Conditioner is applied, then you sit under the hair dryer for 15-20 minutes
3rd: Conditioner is washed out
4th: The hair is sectioned off, and a ceramic round brush is used along with hot air from a blow
dryer to straighten the hair
5th: Massages the hair with light oil
6th: A small flat iron is lightly used to bump the hair

I was very impressed because my hair was full with body. Upon visiting the salon I was in dire need of a relaxer; however, upon me leaving the salon, my hair was straight, shiny, and healthy. I plan to only visit the salon once every 8 weeks. I love my regular beautician, and I am not ready to depart from a relaxed style, which is why I will only visit the salon once every 8 weeks. For those of you with natural hair, this treatment would be perfect for you. The process may vary among the Dominican salons, therefore visit the salon at your own risk.

Chilli is trying to find a Man.....but it seems impossible due to her standards

First, I must say that I am the ultimate TLC fan. I have been one since their first CD. Needless to say, I was sitting in front of the T.V. patiently waiting for Chilli's new show. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED HER SHOW!!!! Now the person finding her a man, is lacking etiquette, but other than that I totally loved the show. Chilli has this long list of standards that her potential man has to meet, now some of those standards are realistic, but the others she could do away with. She probably just needs to build a man with the standards that she has. Some of the standards include: must be a Christian, have nice abs, can't drink or smoke, no more than 4 kids, no more than 2 baby mamas, must have a "large package", and some other criteria. Now with the criteria that I just mentioned, I think it is possible; however, it may be hard to find a professional man who does not drink along with everything else.
As a very intelligent Black woman entering the legal profession, sometimes I find myself checking my list, and checking it twice when it comes to dating. But hey it is very hard to date someone who does not carry themselves in such a manner, when you have worked so hard to make yourself a better person. Whats wrong with wanting a man who is successfully working on turning his dreams into reality, or dating a successful business owner or professional. I say go for the gold, and do not put your standards to the side, unless they are just outrageous. The hint is that if many people keep telling you that some of your standards are outrageous then they probably are outrageous. Chilli is a very beautiful woman, who has alot to protect. Many of us are wondering why she is still single. I don't believe that she had all of these expectations before she encountered previous relationships with men. I believe that she probably made this list along the path of her life.
My opinion is that she should continue to build a strong friendship with Mr. Floyd Mayweather, and eventually make him her man. Chiilllld that man is handsome, and that smile is a killer. Chilli better get on it before some random groupie snatches him up!!!! I really enjoyed the show, however I really wonder if she finds love by the end of the season.

Basketball Wives...or Women behind the Basketball Scene

So on yesterday VH1 premiered a new reality show entitled "Basketball Wives". Now I must admit that when I heard about the show, I thought hmmmm maybe this is a show to portray wives of basketball players in their day to day activities. However, I did not know that their activities consisted of picking on each other, and displaying their failed marriages. I was thinking that it would show the wives running the businesses that they have started, or charities that they have started, or maybe even show them running their households. But wait...let me start with the first problem of the show. It appears that everyone on the show is barely married. We have the ex-wives, ex-fiances, fiance, babymama....and the list goes on. Therefore I believe that VH1 should have put on their thinking caps and they should have arrived at another name.
Now the only person who I am familiar with on the show is Shaunie O'Neal; however, she will soon no longer be a basketball wife. I really believe that Shaunie is a strong woman to have put up with her husband's crap for all of those years. However, I am still lost as to the point of the show. They talk behind each others backs, they spend money on whatever they want, yet they are still bitter about their life.
So near the end of the show I arrived at the question: Is it worth it to stay in the marriage for the money, knowing that your husband is cheating? If you know that he is cheating do you then have your fun too? Are you staying as a guarantee to a certain lifestyle, or at least until all of the children turn 18? Some may think that I am wrong for this answer, but I say since you know what you are getting yourself into, you might as well stay in and stack your money. With all of the attention that athletes receive, there is a 90% chance that he will cheat. Therefore, while in the marriage, make business investments, have kids, stack your money, have your fun on the side too, then leave when you are tired of it, and get you a young fine man like Shaunie O'Neal. LOL. Truthfully this advice goes against the value of marriage, but hey, to each its own. I am not saying that I would do this to my future husband (I would not date a professional athlete, so my opinion really does not matter), but if you are entering a lifestyle that you know will be full of infidelity, then be smart about your investments!

Are you really a fan of Michael Jackson?????

January 26, 2010 was the official release date of Michael Jackson's "This is it". It is available on Blue Ray and DVD. As a true fan of Mr. Jackson I took the time out to make sure I bought my DVD on the release date; however, when I arrived at the store I noticed that the rack was very full. Now there are two possibilities to this situation: 1) Target is doing a very good job of making sure that the fans will not be disappointed in the stock quality; therefore, they check regularly to make sure the rack is fully stocked; or 2) People are not buying the DVD. Now I don't know about y'all but when I saw that movie I was so happy. To see M.J. singing and dancing on the stage, performing all of his music, and making sure that everything that took place was up to his standards was a delight. WOW: A concert in 3-D! "This is it" was going to be one of the biggest concert tours ever. Now, I must ask the question: Are you really a fan of Michael Jackson? Hmmmmmm....... Well I believe that if you are a true M.J. fan then you would have been in the store excited to pick up the DVD. Plus it has an additional hour of footage. Yea, I know we are in a recession, but I'm pretty sure that atleast 90% of his fans had an extra $16.99 laying around somewhere. In the words of a famous tweet: #imjustsayin!