I’d love this to just be a relaxing weekend where I sleep in till the double digits, but I’ve got places to go and things to do.

I’m super, super excited for tomorrow — yours truly will be attending O You!, an all-day event where Oprah magazines’ top experts will be hosting seminars on beauty, fitness, health, and home improvement. I’m on a mission to meet Gayle! And on Sunday, I’m going to go to the opening of Natural Trendsetters’ new salon in Miami. I am really looking forward to meeting the Hylton sisters, and fingers crossed, I will try to get some of the most pressing Ask Afrobella questions answered by these natural hair care professionals. I’ll be writing about both of these fabulous events in the week to come.

Comments are officially closed on the Olay giveaway, and I’ll sift through the comments and declare five winners by Monday. One reader wrote in with a comment that I’d like to address really quickly, and in further detail later on — regarding my practice of using photos of my friends to illustrate beauty issues and reviews. Simone, thanks for writing in. She ends her comment by saying, “What you did say in that post which was so revealing is that there were so few images of black professional women with natural hair to choose from –- now that’s something to hate on.” So true. I do hate that. Sometimes when I am looking for an image to go with a topic I’m writing about, it’s excruciatingly difficult to find an appropriate, usable photo of a bella with natural hair to go with it. So I am reaching out to you, my readers. If you’ve got an exceptionally fly photo of you and your fabulous natural hair, send it to me! When an appropriate post comes up, I’ll feature your style and write a little about you along with it if you allow me to. For example, regular reader Nikki sent me photos of her fabulous wedding day ‘do that I’d love to share with you all very soon, as part of a bigger review of some new cool hair accessories. More photos of you — the bellas who read this blog — will mean less reliance on Google Images for me, and less inadvertent photo controversy. E mail me at bella@afrobella.com, and here’s a little disclaimer — I might not write back right away, so please don’t get mad at me if I don’t. But I am going to try to be better with that.

I always like to end the week with a jam, and I have a confession to make — I’ve always wanted to be a b-girl. I’ve always dreamed of having the kind of skillz that could shut down a dance off. Like the ladies in one of my favorite music videos, the remix of Run-DMC’s It’s Like That by Jason Nevins. It’s Like That has always been one of my favorite Run-DMC songs because of the lyrics, and the male/female battle in the video is just sick in the best possible way. So enjoy this Friday jam, and I’ll catch y’all on Monday.

Happy Friday!

Yesterday, Mychael Bell was released from jail, after finally being allowed to post $45,000 bail. I see Bell’s release and upcoming trial in juvenile court as a positive sign — in my opinion the whole issue of the Jena 6 was not that these boys were in the right — a beating DID occur, and they certainly should be held accountable for their actions. But this boy should never have been charged as an adult. Finally, there is hope that the punishment will fit the crime.

Read more on Concrete Loop, and if you’re closely following the case, watch today’s episode of Dr. Phil, which will focus exclusively on the case. Dr. Phil is heading to Jena to hear both sides of the story. I also read this interesting and nuanced article on Slate.com, that criticizes those who identify the Jena 6 protests as a reawakening of the civil rights movement.

There are so many divergent and controversial perspectives on this issue in our community. I personally enjoy reading opposing perspectives on this issue, I like an intelligent debate. I don’t agree with everything in that Slate article, but I think it’s really important to think critically, and really research these issues from as many perspectives as possible before falling into lockstep with any prevailing opinion.

I wish a peaceful weekend to all the residents of Jena, Louisiana.

I think my most regular readers realize Wednesday is my roughest day, but let me just explain why I didn’t post anything yesterday with this: work deadline + root canal = suckiest Wednesday ever. Seriously, I was at the dentist until after 7:00 p.m. So not fun.

I’ve been fighting this summer-never-dies fight for too long now, and the weather’s begun to turn on me. In fact, this whole week has been a dreary, bleak washout. The season has changed with a vengance. Yesterday it literally rained all day. Welcome to fall in Miami. Fingers crossed for no hurricanes!

The funniest part of fall in Miami is the store windows. Retail stores must change storefronts with the season, but because it never really gets THAT cold here, the racks of coats and all those cute scarves, gloves, and knit caps just don’t make sense here. I always feel a pang of shopper’s envy — fall clothes are so cute! As the weather gets wetter and chillier, I always start checking out the season’s cutest sweaters. And I gotta tell ya, Old Navy is coming out swinging. Yeah, I said Old Navy.

I’d given up completely on Old Navy for a while. Online their stuff was kinda cute…  kinda. But then I’d go to the store and find myself completely unimpressed. But now that Todd Oldham’s been named Old Navy’s creative director, hope is on the way. And their sweater game is tight right now!

I’m biding my time, but stealthily watching this cable-knit kimono sweater. As I hurtle towards thirty, I’m increasingly attracted to the kinds of clothes my mother would call “the basic essentials,” which means less teeshirts with random phrases on them, and more classic pieces I can mix and match with other stuff. This “tan heather” sweater looks so soft and comfy, and I can already visualize the big hoop earrings and pretty necklace I’d rock with it. Layer it over a cute tank, add your favorite jeans and a pair of funky flats (leopard, anyone?), and that’s effortlessly chic Miami fall fashion if you ask me. I’m just a sucker for a cool cardigan. I also adore this one from b & lu, which is another great site for plus size divas. (But seriously — being a bella on a budget, I can’t justify a $46 teeshirt. No matter how cute it is).

Fall colors are so rich and jewel bright and resplendent on bellas of all shades. This season, Torrid is all about gold and so am I! This Betsey Johnson gold foil bag would take my comfy sweater ensemble to the next level. And I’m tempted to go up an inch or so higher than my usual flats with these peeptoe gold wedge heels. Adorable! (warning — there is such a thing as too much gold. Kimora probably doesn’t agree with me).

My favorite fall colors are the wines and the deep berrys, and the purple, purple, purple. I’m a fool for purple, and I would totally rock this Old Navy charmeuse top. But I must be honest — I own a LOT of shirts just like this. Flowy sleeves, v-neck, waistband. Without that lush color and floral pattern, this top would not be that special. Check out the green and see what I mean — although it could be jazzed up with accessories, that just screams “renaissance fair” to me. Not the look I’m going for. The next shirt I buy needs to really speak to me. It needs to call my name, and whisper sweet nothings about how fabulous it’s gonna make me look. That shirt doesn’t speak loud enough to me.

Heavily patterned kimono prints in soft fabrics are currently the mainstay of the women’s section of Ross and TJ Maxx (trust me, I know). If you’re looking for a cute, flowy, fun top in a crazy pattern — forget Torrid, forget Lane Bryant (unless you enjoy spending over $35 for a teeshirt). I didn’t pay more than $15 for any of the newest shirts I’ve gotten recently, which are all empire waist tops from brands like Self Esteem, Chocolate Factory, and One Step Up. Which brings me to Alight.com — a great place to shop for full figured bellas with a passion for fashion. (pssst – were you wondering about the dress I got for that wedding in Lake Tahoe? It’s very similar to this one, and I wore a shrug with it. I’ll post pix soon, promise).

Let’s talk bottoms. Finding the perfect pair of jeans can be such a mission for curvy mamas, and shopping online for jeans if you’ve got an unusual waist-to-hip ratio just isn’t a good idea. So take my friendly advice and head straight to Lane Bryant. Their new Right Fit Jeans could be exactly what you’ve been searching for. They’re definitely making plus size bloggers happy. I sincerely advise you to read this follow-up post on The Pretty Pear about the pros and cons of Right Fit.

The system of sizing is completely different for these jeans, so there’s no size-based shame for the customer. I’m a size 4, baby! And I’ve never been able to say that before in my life. That doesn’t mean that I’m deluding myself into thinking I’ve somehow shrunk, but I do believe lots of plus size women feel weird shame about wearing sizes in double digits.

Another important word of friendly advice? Buy them in the store. I ordered mine online and had to send a pair back. They were way too big. At least in the store you have the option of working with a sales associate and trying them on first to make sure your Right Fits fit right. Now that I finally got the perfect size for me, I could NOT be happier! I have the light rinse flares in size 4, and they’re so, so comfortable. They make my butt look perky, and the waist and length are just perfect. And the price is right!

They cost $39.50, and come in stretch, boot cut, flare, and A-line cuts in rinses from light to dark. It’s a wonderful thing to find a pair of jeans that fit as comfortably as a pair of sweats. And that’s how I feel in these jeans. I used to come home, go upstairs and change immediately into comfortable clothes. Now I don’t need to! Love these jeans. But they might not be for every curvy bella.

Have you tried these jeans yet? Let me know how your Right Fits fit you! What cool clothes are you eyeing for fall?

Just because I don’t also share a specific beauty concern with you, doesn’t mean that I don’t have your back. You can write in any kind of Ask Afrobella question under the sun! Recently I got a good one.

Hey Hey Bella,

I’m a light skinded black woman with an ongoing beauty problem. I have these big dark circles under my eyes and I can’t seem to make them go away! They make me look old before my time, and all I can do is use concealer to try to cover them up. Do you know of any products for bellas to reduce under eye darkness?

love your site! Rhonda the Raccoon

Hey hey, Rhonda!

I know dark circles can be a never ending beauty plague for the bellas who have ‘em. There are many possible causes of dark circles — heredity, hyperpigmentation, dramatic fat loss, lack of sleep, and vitamin deficiencies are all considered as contributing factors. And there are all sorts of fancy under-eye ointments and treatments — check out Sephora’s offerings, which range from Dr. Perricone’s $195 neuropeptide contour, to Bare Escentuals eye rev-er upper for $21. It’s a thriving industry based on products that may or may not work. Or so my friend Allie tells me.

“Oh, none of that stuff works. I’ve tried so many things,” she declares.

Yup, despite the last negative response to me discussing beauty issues with a friend and then posting their picture… I’m doing it again. And guess what — I’m not gonna stop. If I have a friend who is honestly knowledgeable about a beauty issue I’m covering, I’m gonna ask their opinion and share it on Afrobella regardless of what they look like. Why? Because I respect their opinion and can vouch that they’re for real about what they say. I have all different kinds of friends — some of them you’ll identify with, and others, you won’t. If it bothers you so much that you want to leave a comment about it, by all means express yourself.

Having placed that disclaimer… since Afrobella is about ALL shades of beautiful, I felt compelled to turn to the one expert I know in this particular arena, my co-worker, friend, and new neighbor Alexandra Quinones. Here she is. Say hi, Allie! Allie’s cool as hell, which is awesome for me because I sit next to her at work every day, and then I also get to hang out with her at home.

She’s of Peruvian descent, but Allie’s as pale as like, Kelly Osbourne. And dark under eye circles are the bane of her existence.

She’s tried just about everything, from the priciest potions to the cheapest creams. And she says nothing works. Ever. “Most of that stuff is just a waste of money. With the eye stuff, I think it’s most important to try to fix the underlying causes. With me, it’s probably due to allergies and genetics than anything else.” Allie’s pretty much convinced that it’s a hereditary thing, which makes sense because none of my relatives have dark circles. Our family beauty issues tend to deal with other kinds of hyperpigmentation. Allie has gotten so desperate to solve her underlying issues, that she’s giving up dairy products to see if it makes a difference. “All you can really do is cover them up. I use L’Oreal Bare Naturale mineral powder foundation because liquid foundation tends to look bad where the crease under your eye is — it’ll stick to the crease. It doesn’t give me the best coverage,” says Allie.

For reviews on new products, Allie hits up the My Dark Circles blog, so she’s always up on the hot new stuff. When the good people at Olay contacted me about their new Definity Eye Illuminator, I had to let her try it. As long as she promised to give me her honest opinion!

You may have caught the perennially gorgeous Angela Bassett doing commercials for this stuff on TV before. Ms. Bassett no longer shills for Olay, but she ( **edited follow-up, Angela Bassett still reps Olay!) was the first celebrity to attract my attention to the stuff. At this year’s Emmy Awards, Primetime Emmys Make-up Department Head Bruce Grayson used Olay Eye Definity on the ever-rotating cast of celebrities whirling through his makeup chair. The official quote from him: “Before I even begin to apply eye make-up, I like to start with Olay Definity Eye Illuminator ($25.99 at drugstores nationwide) because it has multi-colored micas that help to hide imperfections. It limits the amount of make-up I need to use around the eye and this strategic use of make-up helped to create a beautiful look that was anything but ‘over-done.’” True — I noticed on some of my favorite stars (like America Ferrara), the makeup look was all about the lips, and eye makeup was kept effortlessly simple with false lashes instead of heavy shadows and liners.

So I asked Allie to try this stuff and tell me how it worked for someone who actually HAS these dark circles and is turning to Olay to alleviate the problem. “I think it works good for sheer coverage because it has a light-reflecting quality to it, so that’s good for days when you want to wear less makeup. As for actually lightening my circles, I’ve only tried it for a few days so I haven’t seen any real changes. And I can only use it at night; the package says to apply morning and night, but it doesn’t look good under makeup — it’s kind of like putting foundation on over glue. But I’m not a makeup pro. I’ve heard creams like this work good as a primer from some women,” she says. “Honestly, the best thing you can do is drink a lot of water,” she adds. So there you have it.

Rhonda Raccoon, if you’d like to solve the problem, consider addressing your own underlying issues — get lots of sleep, drink lots of water, and treat your body right. I hope that helps somewhat. And having said that — it’s giveaway time!!

Do you have dark circles under your eyes? Would you like to try Olay’s new $25 hotness, to see if it helps your situation out? Leave a comment for me, telling me about your own dark circle issues, and favorite treatment method. I’ll close comments on Friday, pick five winners at random, write you to get your mailing address, and Olay will hook you up!

My appetite for new music is as insatiable as my appetite for makeup and hair products. Which is to say, I’m always on the lookout for the next big thing. I especially love female singers with spunk and sass and indisputable talent. Personality counts for a lot, and I admire a musician with style. But the kind of singers that steal my heart and become my instant new faves are more than just fresh and fly; they also radiate soul to the max. So in the vein of previous Afrobellas of the Week Chrisette Michele, Conya Doss, Janelle Monae, and the criminally slept-on Alice Smith, I present to you the enchanting pixie that is Ayo. She’s glowingly talented, and as refreshing as a glass of mint lemonade on a sweltering summer day. And she’s been making it big in Europe for a while now!

Ayo Olasunmibo Ogunmakin was born in Cologne, Germany, but she’s of Nigerian parentage — her father moved from Nigeria to Germany in the Seventies. Her mother is a gypsy. Her name means “joy” in Yoruba, and her debut album — the fittingly titled Joyful — went platinum in France in 2006. Ayo’s voice is sweetly nasal, kind of like a young Randy Crawford’s (OMG, love this song) , and her music can best be described in terms of her influences — she mentions Pink Floyd, Fela Kuti, Donnie Hathaway, Jimmy Cliff, and Bob Marley on her official MySpace page. I can definitely hear a bit of each of those artists in her music. She rides reggae-lite rhythms, upholds the lilting danceability of Fela Kuti, and often takes the Pink Floyd less-is-more spacey approach to her lyrics.

The first single from the album, Life is Real, is a breezy inspirational ditty that for some reason reminds me a bit of a modern-day Des’ree’s You Gotta Be. (it’s also an uptempo feel-good song that’s good for road tripping). The video’s filmed in Lagos, and features Ayo strumming her guitar all over the Nigerian countryside. These Days is a sad ballad that reminds me of Corinne Bailey Rae, and I love the soft, melancholy accordian break in How Many Times.

Help is Coming captures that island lilt, and her biggest hit, Down On My Knees, is built around a sweet and sad repeated refrain: “Down on my knees, I’m begging you. Please, please don’t leave me.” The theme of desperate abandoned love combined with the reggae bounce of the rhythm reminds me of Dawn Penn’s “No, No, No (You Don’t Love Me)”. If only “Down on My Knees” had a heavier bassline. (If you’re really feeling the track, enjoy this ten minute long live version).

Ayo’s adorable in every music video she’s released, but her personality just glows in her live performances. Her beautiful smile is infectious as she sings With A Little Help From My Friends in this live duet with Jude. And I love, love, love her live version of And It’s Supposed to Be Love, filmed in Athens over the summer. She’s one of those singers who sounds just as great live as she does in the studio — as evidenced by this live version of her song Only You. For those of you who would like to hear her sing a song you love, here’s her performance of Natural Woman, which is followed by an interview conducted mostly in French.

The video I’m about to share isn’t the best in terms of visual quality — you can see she’s gorgeous and wearing a beautiful dress, but there are no close-ups of Ayo and her pretty crown of natural curls in the video. I wanted to share it because of the message of the song. It’s dedicated to her father, who raised her and her siblings by himself when her mother became addicted to drugs. The song is just real and stark and stunning, in my opinion.

The lyrics speak from her soul: “You were always there for me. You are my best friend daddy, I know I was unfair sometimes. Now, with this song I apologize. Where would I be today without you being there for me all my life? What would I do today without you taking care of me all the time?” I am sorry that the video clip ends abruptly, but the song touched me enough to post it regardless.

In 2005, Ayo had a baby boy, and she named him Nile. His daddy is the amazingly talented and super-fine Afro-German reggae artist Patrice. She’s currently raising her baby, and touring around Europe.

I hope that she starts to get some more mainstream attention Stateside, I love a talented singer/songwriter who also plays guitar, and I know I’m not the only one! I’m feeling Ayo’s style, and I hope you do too. Congrats, Ayo! You’re Afrobella of the Week!

Big thanks and respect to regular reader and commenter NYC/Caribbean Ragazza for the intro to Ayo!

Finally! The Jena 6 gets the kind of front page coverage it deserves.

Essence featured voices from yesterday’s protest, the New York Times said the protest echoed the Civil Rights Era. (I got the photo at the top of the page from this NY Times update). There have been major stories in MTV News and USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times.

Oh, and did any of you catch this week’s Drudge Report’s screaming headline where Jesse Jackson accused Barack Obama of “acting like he’s white” because of the Jena issue? It was also mentioned on Bossip.

This Washington Post blog gives a succinct rebuttal: “Today, the episode spilled onto the presidential campaign trail, as The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C. reported that Jesse Jackson had criticized Barack Obama for not speaking out more forcefully on the controversy. “If I were a candidate, I’d be all over Jena,” Jackson was quoted as saying. “Jena is a defining moment, just like Selma was a defining moment.” By not seizing on the issue more, Obama was “acting like he’s white,” the paper quoted Jackson as saying. Jackson, who endorsed Obama in March, today denied making that last comment, while The State stood by its reporting.

Obama’s campaign, meanwhile, noted that he had made a strong statement on the matter last week, when he called for the district attorney to drop the charges and said, “When nooses are being hung in high schools in the 21st century, it’s a tragedy. It shows that we still have a lot of work to do as a nation to heal our racial tensions.” “Outrage over an injustice like the Jena 6 isn’t a matter of black and white. It’s a matter of right and wrong. We should stand as one nation in opposition to this and any injustice. That’s why I’ve previously spoken out and demanded fairness in the Jena 6 case,” Obama said in a statement today. He also noted that his comments on the Jena 6 “were carefully thought out with input and support from one of my National Campaign Chairmen, U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.”

Ooooh. Zing! I’d love to hear your views on this. Does The Rev. JJ have a point — should Obama have gone down to Jena? Or has Barack’s continual addressing of the issue been enough? And is it a low blow to bring up the fact that Jesse’s son is hitching a ride to Obamaville? Why can’t we all just get together and get along?
Some of my best blog buddies have been covering the story, including Racialicious, Concrete Loop, Crunk & Disorderly, and What About Our Daughters — which serves up a nice retort to Jesse Jackson’s “acting white” statement. Please visit What About Our Daughters for coverage of other very pressing stories within the black community, including the stomach-churning news out of Dunbar Village in West Palm Beach, and West Virginia. For the readers who have asked me to write about these stories, I will. I’m slowly working on something and it takes me a while to slog through the saddest stuff. And these stories just break my heart and make tears roll down my cheeks.

I want to add that the display of solidarity on this issue does my heart good. It’s wonderful to see so many of us coming together for positive change, commenting on an issue that matters more than Beyonce’s new hair color or Jay-Z’s new song or OJ’s latest debacle.

At first I felt hesitant to hope, but I feel the stirrings of a new phase, a new awakening of the Civil Rights movement. And this revolution won’t just be televised, it’ll be blogged and podcasted as well!

I’d posted this video before, but I’m gonna post it again. This song has been circling around my brain, and I like to end Fridays with a jam. Sing it, Dennis Brown!

“Are you ready to stand up and fight the right revolution? Are you ready to fight it, just like soldiers? Many are called, few are chosen.” I love this song. And the beginning question is pertinent — do you know what it means to have a revolution? And what it takes to make a solution? For myself, the answer is no. But I’m willing and ready to learn.
PS: This issue is bringing all sorts of new commenters and readers to Afrobella. Hello, newbies! I understand that you’ve got a passionate opinion. I encourage you to read my Afrobella FAQ before launching into an expletive-laden rant, cause I delete that stuff. Speak your piece intelligently and eloquently, and let the discourse begin!

** Edited Saturday Sept 22 – I went to Jesse Jackson’s official website to find out his perspective on the Barack Obama comments he’s been accused of saying. I couldn’t find a direct refutal of the widely publicized statements, but I did find an encouraging official response, which reads as follows:

“I reaffirm my commitment to vote for Sen. Barack Obama. He has remarkably transcended race. However the impact of Katrina and Jena makes America’s unresolved moral dilemma of race unavoidable. I think Jena is another defining moment for the issue of race and for the criminal justice system. This issue requires direct and bold leadership. I commend Sen. Obama for speaking out and demanding fairness on this critical issue. Any attempt to dilute my support for Sen. Obama will not succeed.”

So there you have it. If anyone has read an additional response by Jesse Jackson that you’d like to share regarding this, please leave a link to it in the comments.