The year was 1982...and I was with a few friends over a DJ's house when he was previewing new music. He pulled out the Debarge record, "I Like It" and we were all in El's trance. We wondered like everyone else...is that Switch? Nope...after looking on the back-cover of the album. It was Bobby and Tommy DeBarge's younger siblings. We listened over and over again until we all knew the words and could sing along. Not noticing the time...it was two hours later and past my curfew. Needless to say, the week on punishment was well worth it. I sang, "I Like It," ...
Feel Good: Are You a Bionic Woman?
Remember the 70's TV show The Bionic Woman? I use to love that show. Watching a smart, savvy and strong woman take on the bad guys and win was awesome. I had all the toys; the doll, her blow up house (that took all Christmas Morning to inflate), her bionic station, the outfits....EVERYTHING. I wanted to be the bionic woman. Yet, I was only a little girl that hadn't experienced tough life occurrences. I only saw the end product. The bionic woman kicking butt and taking names. But who was Jamie Summers before her bionic prowess? How did she get ...
Simple Ways to Leave Work At Work
You are walking in your front door and your blackberry is buzzing, your children are hungry, your partner needs to chat and what do you do? Run to the computer to finish up one more thing at work. Learn how to leave work and work and create a balanced life. Work will be there tomorrow. You, INC...needs attention!
Water Play Safety Tips
Summertime and water play go hand and hand during the Summer months. Have a fun and safe summer with your children with these Water Play Safety Tips.
1. Keep Your Eyes Locked in at ALL TIMES. Stay focused on your precious little ones and save the good book for your personal beach or pool time. Don't depend on anyone else to watch your children in the water no matter who the are. If you or one of your children need to take a bathroom break. Signal for everyone to get out of the pool.
2. Bright Colored Swimsuit- dress all your children ...
Actress/Author Sherri Shepherd wants to have tea with you and your daughter this Friday at the Girl Embrace Annual Holiday Tea Party. Imagine having quality time with your little princess all while being up close and personal with one of televisions biggest stars. To Enter, email me at karenvaughn (at) ymail (dot ) com. A winner and her daughter will be selected Wednesday afternoon. In order to qualify you must live in the South Florida Area and be able to attend.
UPDATE: Congrats to Sharanda Paulk and her daughter. The winners of our Sherri Shepherd contest. See you there!
The Holiday Princess Tea Party
Friday, December 18, 2009
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
The Newport Beach Hotel & Resort
16701 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles, Florida
$40.00 Per Person
Proceeds Benefit The Embrace Girls Foundation
If you would like to attend you can still purchase tickets. Call (305) 270-4099.
Thank you to our contest sponsor, The Law Offices of J.B. Harris. We appreciate your generosity. For the past twenty-five years, J.B. Harris has built a world-wide reputation as a trial lawyer fiercely dedicated to obtaining justice and compensation for his clients and their families, who have been injured or killed by the negligence of others.
December 14, 2009 at 12:00 pm · Filed under Savvy Savers
We all know it’s far cheaper to cook at home instead of eating out, but there are those times when you just don’t feel like cooking. There are also certain restaurants that no matter how hard we try, we just can’t cook that dish the same way.
Eating out can add up very quickly and by the end of the month, we’re left wondering where the hundreds of dollars have gone. But just because we go out to eat doesn’t mean it has to break the bank. Here are five ways to dine cheaply (and no, it doesn’t mean you have to go to McDonalds), while eating well.
For decades, our images were rarely featured in mainstream fairytales, but a new day has come. This holiday season, Anika Noni Rose makes history when she’s crowned as Disney’s first, Black Princess–Tiana–in ‘The Princess and the Frog.’ With credits spanning stage (‘Caroline, or Change’), film (‘Dreamgirls’) and television (‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’), the 37-year-old Tony Award-winner is intent on keeping her good fortune rolling.
Essence.com caught up with Rose to chat about landing her dream job, seeing herself in animation and how she hopes to switch things up for her next, big role.
ESSENCE.com:What was your initial thought when you heard there was going to be a Black animated princess? ANIKA NONI ROSE: Oh my God, I was thrilled. [Working with] Disney has been my dream, so I just focused on getting the part and when I did, I called home screaming! [laughs] There’s no reason why a girl from Connecticut would end up being the first Black Disney princess.
ESSENCE.com: Well, there’s no reason why not, either! Weren’t Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Tyra Banks being considered, too? ROSE: I read that they were, but I don’t know any details. Ultimately, that didn’t matter to me because I was competing against me. As an actor, if you spend so much time thinking about how many other people are coming into a room, you’ll psyche yourself out before you even get there.
ESSENCE.com:How did you feel when you saw Tiana on the big screen for the first time? ROSE: When I saw Tiana, with my expression on her face, in color, standing in the moonlight, surrounded by sparkles–I was truly undone! I’ve been crying for a year– seriously.
ESSENCE.com:What does it mean to you to be making history? ROSE: The largesse of it all didn’t hit me [in the beginning], but when they unveiled the doll to me, I remember thinking, “There’s a doll, based on me and the work I’ve done, that’s going to be here for these little girls–and she’s glamorous.” This movie is showing the world a different picture of Black America, which is phenomenal. It’s just phenomenal.
ESSENCE.com:What were your feelings about the initial criticism surrounding the film, specifically relating to the prince not being Black and the firefly being a bit…ethnic? ROSE: I was surprised by some of the things that the community took issue with, especially considering the amount of negativity that’s in the world about us, on TV and film. But I think it’s really about us not ever having this happen before and wanting to have some control over our image, because we so rarely do. There’s a lot of humor in the film. There are also a lot of touching moments that I think are very genuine and it’s all been done with such love, which you can see in the details. You can see it in Tiana’s little, round nose and in how she moves…and that firefly’s funny!
ESSENCE.com: So, what can we expect from you next? ROSE: Well, I’m co-composing a musical for Broadway. I’m reading a lot, too, and I’m always looking for books that are a possibility to make. I’d love to do some foreign films and also, an action movie where I could wear a boot–a heel–and beat somebody’s butt. I’d be 5′2″ and just punching and kicking…in leather! [laughs]
This holiday season bring Eco-Friendly elements into your traditions with the book of the month, I‘m Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Anna Getty. From recipes to crafts you will love creating with your little ones while helping the planet.
Academy award winning actress Halle Berry is one woman that has it going on.
She handles it all with grace, motherhood, acting, producing and living life to the fullest. She is revered as one of the most beautiful and sexiest people on the planet. We have been mocking Halle’s hustle for years…from her signature short hair to her style.
Want to peak behind the velvet rope on her beauty secrets? She reveals them to OK Magazine…and now…to us.
Working Divas…bring your little divas to a tea party she won’t forget. The Embrace Girls Foundation presents The Holiday Princess Tea party with special guest Comedian, Actress and Co-Host of “The View,” Sherri Shepherd!
Friday, December 18, 2009
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
The Newport Beach Hotel & Resort
16701 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles, Florida
$40.00 Per Person
CALL (305) 270-4099
Tickets are available at the door for Group Purchases
Proceeds Benefit The Embrace Girls Foundation
Includes Autographed Copy of Shepherd’s New Autobiography, PERMISSION SLIPS, “Every Woman’s Guide To Giving Herself A Break” Continental Breakfast And Photograph With Sherri!
The Embrace Girls Foundation is a wonderful organization that assists single mothers and their daughters. Improve their quality of life and learn more about how you can help now. Read more here.
December 8, 2009 at 2:47 pm · Filed under Work It @ Work
Don’t let your Working Diva Card get tested by a workplace bully. Stand up for yourself and receive the respect you deserve! You can still be a pit bull in a skirt with grace and professionalism. Get’em girl!
Bad co-workers come in a variety of guises: there’s the office gossip, the suck up and the slacker. But one of the most infuriating types is the credit stealer–the co-worker who hogs someone else’s spotlight or, even worse, brazenly takes credit for a colleagues work.
According to a survey conducted by the temporary staffing service Office Team, 29% of employees interviewed reported that a co-worker had assumed credit for one of their ideas. Even more surprising, 51% of the respondents did nothing about it.
It’s been a long time coming. Finally, SADE is BACK. Don’t we all just love Sade. After a 10 year break, she is back with Solider of Love…the title track was release today and it’s getting raves from radio stations throughout the country.
Her longtime band-mate Stuart Mattewman worked with singer and label-mate Maxwell on the track, “Trust Me.” He says, “It is so monolithic it’ll shake you in your shoes.”
Solider of Love will be released worldwide February 8, 2010. Just in time for Valentine’s Day! *hint, hint*
Problem: You’ve heard all about the health benefits of pomegranates—protect against free radicals, help regulate blood pressure, maintain digestive regularity—and ... […]
It's summertime, which means it's time to strip down. (Hey, get your mind out of the gutter--we just mean lose the top layer...it's hot out there!) Reveal a flash of leg or sport some edgy cutouts and before you know it, you've got a whole lot of sexy going on. Read on for summer style ideas that'll keep you cool all season long. […]