Happy Feet!

Now that summer is officially only a few days away, it’s time to sport those cute toe-baring shoes if you haven’t already! In order to wear your killer gladiator sandals or fabulous peep-toe pumps with confidence, having a nice pedicure is mandatory. Having chipped polish and ashy heels is not a good look and can take away from your overall BG chicness.

Do you give yourself at-home pedicures?

Check out some of these products that will keep your feet pretty:


Just for You Pedicure Implement Kit available at www.sallybeauty.com for $9.99


Winning Nails Fun-shaped Toe Separators available at www.sallybeauty.com for $1.99


Homedics Pedicure Spa Salon Foot Bath with Heat available at www.ulta.com for $49.99


Tweezerman Glass Pedicure File available at www.tweezerman.com for $15


Bliss Super Slough Scrub available at www.drugstore.com for $34


Skin Free Sweet & Smooth Sugar Scrub available at www.drugstore.com for $15.99


Olay Body Thermal Pedicure Foot Treatment available at www.drugstore.com for $9.99


Lippman Collection Nail Polish Sampler Kit available at www.victoriassecret.com for $6.99


Heel-to-Toe Sure Grip Toenail Clipper available at www.sallybeauty.com for $2.99

BGG Chats with Celebrity Hairstylist – Ursula Stephen

You may not be familiar with the name Ursula Stephen, but if you’ve seen Rihanna lately, you’re quite familiar with her work. Ursula is a notable celebrity hair stylist who helped give Rihanna a cutting-edge coif that she’s popular for today. Hailing from Brooklyn, Ursula is definitely a force to be reckoned with when it comes to hair!

I had a chance to catch up with the busy stylist.

Check out our Q&A:

BGG: Did you always know that styling hair is what you wanted to do as a career?
US: Wow, Career, that’s a big word. Well at least at that age it was, too young to anticipate it as a career. I just knew that I had a passion for it. It made me happy- it just felt right.

BGG: We all know that you’re most known for giving Rihanna her new signature short hairdo. What inspired you to do that style? US: Well, I wanted to give her something that was edgy and classy at the same time. The bob just seemed perfect!!


Rihanna last week.


Rihanna in March.


Rihanna last September.

BGG: What products do you use on Rihanna’s hair?
US: I use lots of conditioning products. As her lifestyle requires lots of styling. So its all about protection and moisturizing. I use the Bed Head Ego Boost leave-in conditioner and the FHI hot sauce, which restores moisture to the hair.

BGG: What do you think will be the next big hair trend for the summer?
US: I think the next trend is heavy bangs. Heavy bangs combined with all lengths of hair. Its all abouts bangs!

BGG: I know that you’re all about the short-dos, but what styles do you recommend for women who are afraid to cut it all off, but still want an edgy, stylish look?
US: That’s a misconception. I definitely have a passion for a great cut – I do great weaves and work with real hair as well, let me tell you! (laughing) But mostly I love great looking healthy hair whether short or long. I just want sisters to let go of the weave. Especially when its not a confident weave or its not doing anything for you. If you want to try a new look but are afraid, try on some wigs, or if you have a weave cut that short; if you don’t like it you can always take it out!

BGG: What other celebrities’ hair have you styled?
US: Along with Rihanna, I also work with Michelle Williams, Saleisha Stowes(former winner of America’s Next Top Model). I’m always doing makeovers and fashions stories with Essence magazine too.


Michelle Williams


Saleisha Stowe

BGG: What’s the most glamorous part of being a celebrity hairstylist?
US: One of the glamorous parts of being a celebrity stylist is the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world. However, the reality is you probably won’t get to experience the country. You only get to sight-see on the way to the hotel and then its straight to work!

BGG: What are the 3 main tips you can give BGs in regards to maintaining healthy locks?
US: CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION!

BGG: Tell me a bit about your upcoming hair seminars that you’re planning for the summer. What can attendees expect?
US: I intend on offering so much more than the fact that I’m a “celebrity stylist” or providing hair tips. I want to talk
about everything in the business. The good the bad and the ugly! (laughing)

Visit Ursula’s site at www.ursulastephen.com

Are you planning on getting a cute new style for the summer? Please share!

Sweet Dreams & I’ve Been Tagged…Again (Music)!

For those warm summer nights when you want to feel pretty, but still stay cool, slip into a cute PJ short set! This comfortable and super feminine sleepwear style is the perfect mix of playfulness and sexiness.

What’s your favorite garment to sleep in during the warmer months?

Check out some of these:


Josie Cami & Short Set available at www.nordstrom.com for $43.90


Tildon Woven Cami & Short Set available at www.nordstrom.com for $21.80


Polka & Dot PJ Short Set available at www.forever21.com for $14.90


Tildon Ruffled Hem Cami & Shorts available at www.nordstrom.com for $24.80


Cami & Short PJ available www.victoriassecret.com for $14.99


Vera Wang Collection Cami & Short PJ Set available at www.nordstrom.com for $42.90


Tildon Woven Cami & Shorts available at www.nordstrom.com for $21.80


Aimee PJ Set available at www.forever21.com for $12.80


Xhilaration Cami & Short Set available at www.target.com for $10.49

So, I’ve been tagged, this time by PCD aka Pretty Circle Drawer. Here’s the deal,

MEME Rules:

1. Put Your itunes/ music player on Shuffle

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT!!!

Here goes!

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
Friend of Mine Remix by Kelly Price

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5 – I think the lead singer is soooo handsome!!!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake – LOL!!!

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
I Got 5 on It by the Luniz – I’m sooo embarrassed!

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae – I guess this would be cute if I were a singer or something!

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Save Room by John Legend – That’s true! I do believe that people should save room for love!

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Your Smile by Rene & Angela – I would like to think that I have a nice smile! 🙂

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
No Scrubs by TLC – That’s right, my mom is no scrub! LOL

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Guess What? by Syleena Johnson – Strange…

WHAT IS 2+2?
All Falls Down by Kanye West & Syleena Johnson – Funny 2 Syleena songs back-to-back

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Bump, Bump, Bump by B2K – SO WEIRD!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake – Good match!

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Before I Let You Go by Blackstreet – ???

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
All For You by Janet Jackson – That’s funny!

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Contagious by the Isley Brothers – LOL!!!

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
She Don’t Love You by Letoya Luckett – I hope not! 🙂

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
They Don’t Know by Jon B. – That fits perfectly!!

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
My Prerogative by Bobby Brown – I guess it will be my prerogative!!!

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
My Baby by Janet Jackson & Kanye West – So my husband is my hobby! LOL

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
I Want You Exclusive by Day 26 – Funny!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Bed by J. Holiday – Eew!!

WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?
Jam Tonight by Freddie Jackson

Thanks PCD for the tag, that was fun! 🙂

Nude Hues

As you guys already know, I’m a lip-gloss fanatic. So when I had the opportunity to try a couple new shades from Kissable Couture’s new summer line, I was excited! The line consists of three barely-there nude shades that are great for those who aren’t quite ready to jump on the brighter shades trend. These more subdued hues are perfect for mixing (which I love to do) to create your ideal lip color.


Halle Berry is a fan of the hint of tint look.


Kissable Couture in Honesty available at www.kissablecouture.com for $22


Philosophy Big Mouth Lip Sheer in Nude available at www.beauty.com for $22


Pop Beauty Mini Ribbon Gloss in Naked available at www.beauty.com for $15


Nectar Nude Super Shiny Lip Gloss available at www.walgreens.com for $7.70


Bobbi Brown Glitter Lip Gloss in Almost Bare, Buff, Naked and Nude available www.neimanmarcus.com for $19


Estee Lauder Pure Gloss in Quartz available at www.bloomingdales.com for $18


Scott Barnes Lip Slick in Suggestive available at www.beauty.com for $22


Iman Lip Gloss in Impetuous available at www.ulta.com for $9.99


L’Oreal Colour Rich Gloss in Soft Nude available at www.drugstores.com for $8.05

Do you like the muted lip look or do you prefer to use neutral shades for mixing to create your ideal color?

Zit Zapper

Some products get a lot of hype, but don’t always live up to their expectations. At first, I thought that was going to be the unfortunate scenario when I tried Mario Badescu’s drying lotion. This pink potion has been lauded in tons of magazines as the go-to-product for pimple prevention, which made me want to try it even though I’m well past the acne-adolescent years. In fact, after having it in my possession, I found myself waiting for one of those pesky imperfections to emerge. I never thought that I’d actually be anticipating the arrival of a pimple, but I couldn’t wait to try it – eventually I got that opportunity.

After dabbing a bit of the lotion directly on the zit with a Q-tip, I let it sit overnight. The next morning I was not impressed. I thought that it would have miraculously disappeared, but that was not the case. Usually when products don’t meet my expectations the first time, I usually toss them aside; but my ugly pimple made me reach for the drying lotion again. After applying it again the second night, by the following morning my blemish was just about gone! I was glad to see that this heavily praised product actually works (for me at least).

Have you ever tried this product? What do you use to get rid of unsightly whiteheads/blackheads or are you one of those lucky few who never get blemishes?


Drying Lotion available at www.mariobadescu.com for $17

BGG Chats with Artist Tanekeya Word

Recently, I received an email from a young woman by the name of Tanekeya Word. She had come across BGG and wanted to share some of her work with me. After visiting her website, I quickly saw that she was a brilliant painter and overall highly creative individual. This D.C. resident and Howard University alumna has a beautiful body of artwork that exemplifies strength, femininity and fun! If you’re in the NYC area, you can see her exhibit, Popping: The Rebirth of Fresh at Harriet’s Alter Ego & Gallery today (last day). After falling in love with her eye-catching pieces, I wanted to share them with you.

Check out our Q&A:

BGG: When did you know that you wanted to become an artist?
Tanekeya: I was exposed to art at a very young age, my mother is an artist and she used to draw these lovely women as flowers and as soon as she drew me as a pink rose I was hooked!

BGG: What inspires your artwork?
TW: Life inspires my artwork! Fashion, women, the notion of what a woman is supposed to be, media, literature….I am drawn to the emotions of people and the labels projected on them.

BGG: Who are some of the artists you admired while growing up?
TW: My mother, then I fell in love with Ernie Barnes’ work and Annie Lee’s and Andy Warhol as well as Georges Seurat. Now, I am heavily hooked on Kehinde Wiley, R. Alexander Clark, Mickalene Thomas and Sylvia Ji just to name a few.

BGG: What words would you use to describe your paintings?
TW: Colorful, Fashionable, Couture, Contemporary, Figurative and Inspiring.


“Infamous” part of her Donne Di lusso collection.

BGG: Describe your painting process. How long does it take to complete a piece?
TW: It depends on the artistic technique: the pop art as seen in the “Donne Di lusso” series takes 10 + hours. I have to create the backgrounds then the foregrounds. The series emerged when I worked as an Art Coordinator for a graphic design company. I fell in love with the graphic designers’ work…the flatness of it. So I wondered if there could be a world where graphic design and fine art mixed and so I developed a process where my backgrounds have a flat graphic look and my foregrounds have a fine art process of texture and depth. My “Urban Pointillism” series as depicted in “Sol Lady: Sunrise” has an entirely different approach and it takes 100+ hours…80 hours on a smaller piece. I used a pointillist technique so everything is build from layers of dots. Most people look at them and cannot believe I would have so much patience and determination to finish it. Yet, I am very detailed oriented and I love every point.

BGG: What was the main inspiration behind your “Donne Di lusso” collection?
TW: Growing up there were so many labels put on me. Because I was a strong woman I had to be mean, because I knew what I wanted I was stuck-up, because I loved business I was trying to be in a man’s world. When all I wanted to do everyday was be me and give the world what God had put into my soul to do. I am a woman who does whatever I can to inspire, create and empower; thus, if I choose to be a powerhouse does it make me less of a woman? Can a woman have a voice and still be feminine? Can she cook, clean, have a business and still be seen as a good wife? Yes! I believe that women are multi-faceted and it is okay to straddle the lines of domesticity and patriarchy…we all need one another and if he can cook and I can fix the broken faucet; then as long as dinner is ready and the water is running we are a great team…(laughing)!


“Sol Lady: Sunrise”

BGG: Do you think having attended an HBCU (Howard University), played a major part in cultivating your style of artistry?
TW: Attending Howard was one of the most influential things in my life. Being exposed to the powerhouse nature of its student body and leadership of the faculty the atmosphere gave me a sense of readiness. I left Howard ready to take on the world and claim my spot because it was my right. As well, fashion and politics and business were the normal conversation. Like when there are 18-year-olds sitting down and discussing the stock market rocking the latest sneakers or bag. I realized that stereotypes or labels in general were ways to box others in and I wanted out of it; so, I created art to uplift the unseen.

BGG: I know that you’re an overall extremely creative young woman, what other activities do use as creative outlets?
TW: I just penned my first poetry book “Sugar In the Raw: A Love Saga” on sale at www.tanekeyaword.com Summer 2008 from my up-and-coming publishing company (website coming Summer 2008 www.icemediapress.com) I.C.E. Media Press (acronym stands for Inspire.Create.Empower), I am working on the business plan for my branding company in 2009, completing research for a huge art project about contemporary Urban women in the African Diaspora…this will be a project to remember. Also, I am attending graduate school at American University in the fall for Arts Management and always painting, reading, researching and writing while enjoying the now.

BGG: What are your goals as an artist?
TW: Simply to Inspire, Create, and Empower by sharing my gifts with the world. I believe that I am walking in my destiny and will become a renowned global artist amongst other things.


“Dimples-N-All” part of her Donne Di lusso collection.

BGG: What’s been the greatest advice you’ve been given in regard to being a young African-American female artist?
TW: “Pray, Push and Paint!” and “ See all obstacles as opportunities and keep the faith!”

BGG: What’s next for you?
TW: As the Duchess…I am here to claim my spot as Heiress of the art world; so, I am NEXT…(laughing)

Tanekeya will also have an exhibition the entire month of July entitled “Heir Royal Court: Introducing the Duchess” in Washington, DC. Prints are available for purchase online here.

Stylish Swimwear for Summer!

With the mercury rising and the urge to be near water becomes increasingly apparent, you know it’s time to find that perfect bikini or bathing suit. This summer head to the pools and beaches in sexy & stylish swimwear. Forget about being ashamed to show off your body – flaunt what you have and be proud!

Whether you like to toss on a barely-there bikini or full-coverage one-piece, BGG is bringing you the best of the best!

Which do you prefer? Bikini, tankini or one-piece?

Check out these pretty poolside pieces:


Tropical Print Bikini available at www.asos.com for $43.26


Mossimo Chain Printed Swimwear available at www.target.com for $12.59


La Blanca by Rod Beattie Halter One-piece available at www.nordstrom.com for $105


Solid Ruffle Triangle Bikini available at www.delias.com for $24.50 each (top and bottom sold separately)


Oye Cut-out Monokini available at www.couturecandy.com for $363


Crescent Bay Bikini available at www.anthropologie.com for $58 each (top and bottom sold separately)


Floral Print Ruched Tankini available at www.newportnews.com for $34


Diane Von Furstenberg Orange Zebra Print Side Ruched Swimsuit available at www.bluefly.com for $102


Flamenco Dotted Glamour Bikini available at www.jcrew.com for $50 (top) and $38 (bottom)


Essential Keyhole One-piece available at www.gap.com for $42.50


Melissa & Odabash “Sharita” Halter Bikini available at www.netaporter.com for $155