From beauty to style, stirring up everything that chic brown girls love!
Check out this week’s fabulous Twitter and Instagram photos from some of our fave celebs!
Alicia Keys, Lala and Kerry Washington
Joan Smalls
Angela Simmons, Bow Wow and Floyd Mayweather
Regina Hall
Solange
Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tia Mowry-Housley
For all the moms, have a Happy Mother’s Day! What’s your favorite photo of the week?
If you haven’t gotten around to getting your mom a gift for Mother’s Day yet, don’t fret! I’ve rounded up the perfect last-minute presents that my fellow procrastinators and moms will love.
From spa gift cards to Broadway tickets, give mom a gift that will allow her to have fun, relax and enjoy!
Surprise mom with tickets to Broadway’s hottest show in town, Motown the Musical! If you don’t live in New York City, make this experience even more special with a trip to the Big Apple for a weekend. The show runs through November. Motown the Musical tickets available here, starting at $65.
Wow mom with flowers year-long with a new bouquet delivered to her doorstep for 3, 6 or 12 months! ProFlowers available here, starting at $130
Treat your tech-savvy mom with a subscription to O, The Oprah Magazine. She’ll enjoy getting advice and tips from Lady O at her fingertips! Subscriptions can be purchased here, $20.
Give mom the gift of relaxation with a spa day in her area. SpaFinder gift certificates are available here.
Grab the popcorn! Your movie-loving mom will appreciate this box of goodies including 5 RedBox gift certificates. If you’re really strapped for time, you can create your own basket of snacks and pick up movie vouchers from your local theater! RedBox Movie Night Gift Basket available here, $52.
What are you getting your mom for Mother’s Day? If you’re a mom, what are you hoping to receive on Sunday?
This past Saturday I celebrated my 33rd birthday. The weather was great, my husband showered me with goodies, my daughter was giddy with excitement and I feasted on one of my favorite dishes (seafood pasta). After such a wonderful day, I stopped to ponder three of the most significant things I’ve learned so far in my thirties.
Ava and me on my birthday.
Thought I’d share them with you guys!
1. Some friendships aren’t meant to last a lifetime. It took me until I was 30 years old to realize that all friends aren’t supposed to be in my life forever. I had to learn how to recognize when a friendship’s season has passed and move forward!
2. Worrying about what other people think of me is pretty pointless. In my 20s, I spent far too much time concerned about how people perceived me. In these last few years, I’m the most comfortable I’ve ever been in my own skin and people’s opinions of me no longer have a place in my life.
3. Happiness is a choice! I have read my fair share of self-help books pertaining to the pursuit of happiness and have finally concluded that happiness isn’t just a state of being, but a choice. We have the ability to make the most out of our less-than-ideal situations and see the silver lining in every aspect of our lives. And Oprah is right, happiness and gratefulness goes hand-in-hand!
If you’re in your 30s (or beyond), what’s been the most significant thing you’ve learned during the third decade of your life?
Being a mother, I care about the future of our earth even more than before I became a parent. That’s why I try to do my part to help preserve our wonderful planet by making a conscious effort to purchase eco-friendly products. If we don’t do our best to keep our resources bountiful, we’re bound for environmental disaster.
From biodegradable shower gel to cruelty-free cosmetics brushes to all-natural lip gloss packaged in easily recyclable plastic, here are a few of my fave green go-tos:
The Body Shop Earth Lovers Apricot & Basil Shower Gel available here, $5. Cleanse skin with this completely biodegradable bottle of fragrant apricot and basil bliss.
Jane Iredale Quad Bronzer available here, $48. This compact is packed with quality minerals that leaves skin brilliant yet natural. 
EcoTools Bamboo 5-Piece Brush Set available here, $12. Made of 100% recycled materials, these brushes will allow you to apply your makeup in
Mixed Chicks Kids Shampoo available here, $12. This tear-free all-natural shampoo will leave your kids’ hair soft and tangle-free and is never tested on animals. 
Burt’s Bees Lip Shine available here, $5.49. This pucker-fixer-up is packaged in the most environmentally-friendly plastic available.
What are some of your favorite earth-friendly products?
This season it’s all about thicker, bushier brows to frame our faces.
That’s right, step away from the wax and tweezers and embrace a fuller shape that will not only make you appear a younger, but the fresher look is also easy to achieve and maintain.
Simply let your brows grow in and allow them to take their natural shape. Then, follow your natural arch and pluck wayward strays and fill in any sparse hairs with a brow pencil or powder for a polished finish. I usually opt for a pencil that’s one shade lighter than my hair color and apply in quick, small strokes for a fuller brow.
Check out a few of these must-have brow products:
Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Express for Brows and Eyes available here, $39.50
Benefit Cosmetics ‘Brow Zings’ available here, $30
Sephora Retractable Brow Pencil available here, $12
Lorac ‘Take A Brow’ available here, $22 *I swore by this palette for years!
Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil available here, $32
How do you prefer your brows, thick, thin or somewhere in between?
I’m sure some of my loyal readers have been wondering where I’ve been these past few weeks. Well, I haven’t felt my best for for a while and just decided to take some much needed time off. For nearly six years, I’ve been writing style/beauty/celebrity posts on an nearly daily basis. Needless to say, I was feeling uninspired and a bit burnt out.
That said, I’m back and hopefully will be better than ever! As promised, I hope to introduce a new column within a few weeks that will profile BGs who are doing wonderful things in their communities, etc.
I hope you all had a wonderful start to spring and an even better Easter.
Thanks for reading!!
What’s the thing you love the most about spring?
You may have seen the commercials or perhaps the print ads in some of your favorite magazines, but if you haven’t already heard about Soft-Sheen Carson’s newest haircare product line, Optimum Amla Legend Rejuvenating Ritual, read on!
An Indian beauty ritual for thousands of years, Amla oil is made from the Amla Superfruit, which is a powerful antioxidant rich in minerals and vitamins. Each of the products from this line is infused with the super conditioning ingredient and promises to protect hair from heat damage and promote thicker, fuller hair.
Amla Legend Rejuvenating Ritual available at drugstores nationwide starting at $5.99
The entire collection includes the following: Body Filler Hair Wash Shampoo, Body Filler Hair Cream Conditioner, Damage Anti-Dote Oil Moisturizer, 1001 Oils Cream Night Wrap, Billion Hair Potion and a No-Mix, No-Lye Cream Relaxer.
So far, I’ve only tried the Billion Hair Potion, which is a hair and scalp serum. Since I’m sensitive to overwhelming scents, I was afraid that this oil would be one of them. To my surprise, it’s almost fragrance-free! I’ve used it several times and I see why Indian women have been using it for centuries. It instantly gave my hair a sheen without being too greasy and combatted the dryness that always creeps along my hairline. If this product is any indication of what the other items in this line, I’ll definitely check them out!
Plus, this line has been endorsed by First Lady Michelle Obama’s highly-sought after hairstylist, Johnny Wright. Need I say more?
Have you tried any products from this line yet?
Carla Hall may not have won season five of Bravo’s Top Chef, but she’s been winning ever since. In fact, the effervescent Nashville native’s star has … Read This Post
Last week, I told you about the MasterChef Junior Live! Tour my family and I planned to attend. Well, it took place yesterday and it was awesome. Held … Read This Post
My daughter, Ava, has been allergic to eggs all her life. I remember the first time she tasted scrambled eggs — I was so excited to feed her something … Read This Post
When it comes to west coast destinations, San Francisco tops the list of must-see cities. The bustling metropolis is 400 miles north of warm and sunny … Read This Post
