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 ...
The devastation in Haiti after the earthquake is more than heartbreaking. We have to do what we can to help our brothers and sisters of Haiti…NOW. Entertainer Wyclef Jean; a native of Haiti has put together a Earthquake Fund for his country. Please contribute what you can. Here is his open letter.
“Haiti today faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced.
The magnitude 7.0 earthquake – and several very strong aftershocks – struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince.
I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now.
President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands ‘ready to assist’ the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible.”
Many people have already reached out to see what they can do right now. We are asking those interested to please do one of two things: Either you can use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill), or you can click here to DONATE.
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]
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.
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*
We are a few weeks away from the premiere of the highly anticipated Disney animation, “The Princess and the Frog.” Get a quick peak before you take your little princess. Not only will she love it. You will love it too.
You still have time to get your limited edition, “Princess and the Frog” bath and body products from Carol’s Daughter. The Magical Collection is selling like hotcakes. Put in your order now for holiday gift giving.
Janet Jackson wows the audience at the American Music Awards. Her medley of hits took me back to when my friends and I use to record her videos on the VHS and memorizing all her dance moves after school. Love her new song, Make Me, it’s one for the dance floor. As she wrapped up her performance with, Together Again, it only reminded all of us how much she misses her brother Michael Jackson. Loved her tribute….no dancers, no choreographed dance moves, just a fun loving performance. The words spoke for themselves. Janet is resilient.
A look back at Janet Jackson performing, Control, during her first solo American Music Award appearance in 1986.
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. […]
