I have only one TJ Maxx card in my hands…and that card goes to…

Commenter #5 – Nikia!

Congratulations!! We’re going shopping!! I can’t wait!!

I need to qualify that by saying this — all of you who entered this particular giveaway REALLY helped give me some fashion direction, and reassured me that I too can survive this winter thang with style. And it was EXTRA hard to choose a winner because I actually KNOW some of you who entered! So please don’t take it personally and PLEASE know we’re gonna hang out soon. Hopefully REALLY soon — there’s a fabulous Red Pump Project event coming up and I really really want you all to come out and party with me!

And if you didn’t win THIS giveaway, hang in there kitty — December is bringing the best giveaways I’ve ever had! So keep reading and keep entering!

Related posts:

1. The Winner of the Home Depot Giveaway!
2. The Winners of the Lexus Giveaway Are…
3. Wanted: Chicago’s Most Chic and Curvy Maxxinista!

Isn’t she lovely?

The beaming bella you see above is my homegirl Andrea — brilliant blogger of Fly, creator of awesome natural hair You Tube videos, and now creator of unique art that you can proudly adorn your walls with.

These prints are available to you at Andrea’s online store for the I Love My Hair project! This all began as a project for her thesis class, as Andrea herself explains in this post.

I love learning about the artistic process, and Andrea remains a continual inspiration. Her prints range from $25 to $30, and would make a fabulous gift for any Afrobella in your life during this holiday season (don’tcha think?)

Click here to get yours!

Related posts:

1. Hair Care for Little Afrobellas
2. Stylin’ Little Afrobellas
3. Afrobellas of the Week: Sweet Honey In The Rock, A capella Afrobellas

One of the most popular questions I get from my Trinidadian afrobellas is – where can I get these products you speak of? It’s true – in the USA we’ve got a wealth of natural hair goodness at ready disposal. When these products are imported and sold elsewhere, they’re often marked up to high heaven or imported in quantities that don’t meet demand.

Well Trini bellas, there’s a new store for you to check out. Body Beautiful, a brand new beauty supply store has just opened on Ariapita Avenue. I learned of this via my high school listserv — yes indeed, the owner is an alumni of my high school. Hilarians forever!

The store is offering natural bath, body, and hair care products. I’m not sure if Miss Jessie’s or Curls is available yet, but one of my favorite brands, Kinky Curly, is finally available for sale. Click here to read my review from 2006. Since then the brand has expanded to include some new products (the shampoo, the children’s line, and Midnight Miracle which I think I NEED in my LIFE). For now I’ll just say, start with the Knot Today. It remains one of my natural hair must-haves because it is THAT good.

Click here to check out Body Beautiful’s Facebook page, and if you’re in the neighborhood stop by and get what your hair needs!

Related posts:

1. Ask Afrobella — Curly, Coily, Kinky, or Coarse
2. Get Kinky!
3. Winter Hair Care Advice from Curly Nikki

Chicago has been having an unusually warm autumn and this bella is not complaining! It just gives me more time to rock my late-summer gear, and get ready for the cold weather that is inevitably a-coming. I’ve been thinking long and hard about the items I need to enhance my wardrobe, and I realize that I need HELP!

True story: I don’t know how to layer. I think I have it down pat, them my husband looks over my outfit and lets me know that ain’t it. (and he’s not exactly Tim Gunn, so I KNOW I’m struggling).

I apparently don’t realize what kinds of garments I need to get through the upcoming wind and cold with style and self-expression. And I don’t quite get how to put it all together to the most fashionable effect.

So I need help from someone who knows how to WORK IT in Chicago’s unfriendliest season. I’m on the look out for Chicago’s most chic, curvy fashionista, to join me on a shopping spree at TJ Maxx!

For this very unique giveaway, TJ Maxx has provided a $250 gift card for one lucky winner’s purchasing pleasure. The winner will use that $250 and join me in shopping for fall fashion essentials. And we’ll film a little video about our coolest finds, to share with Afrobella readers!

Does that not sound FUN?

So Maxxinistas — mount up! Do you have this cold weather fashion thing down? Leave me a comment describing your personal cold weather style. If you’ve got links to photos online, share with me! I’m going to leave these comments open until Wednesday, and choose a winner ASAP so we can go get our shop on! The air’s getting chilly and I’m ready to be in style before Christmas!

*** edited Wednesday at 8:05 CST – Bellas!! You blew me away with your AWESOME suggestions. I’ll choose a winner by the end of today from the 15 comments received so far, so hang in there! And guess what — I have some GREAT giveaways coming up next, so keep reading, keep entering and if it isn’t your turn this time it might be the next time!

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1. Curvy, Chic, and Crafty
2. Who Won the TJ Maxx Giveaway?
3. Earth Day Eco-Chic – Reuseable Shopping Bags

Sesame Street has been a tremendous influence on my life, and throughout the history of this blog I’ve celebrated the series on several occasions. Today I take special pleasure in giving tribute to the Children’s Television Workshop, Jim Henson’s genius, and Sesame Street. Today the legendary program turns 40 years old.

That’s HUGE!

Sesame Street taught me my alphabet, it taught me how to count, how to share with others, and that natural hair and brown skin is just as beautiful as any other kind. Allow me to share some Afrobella highlights from the last 40 years of arguably the best children’s TV show of all time!

The Cartoons:

Sesame Street has a long tradition of featuring animated characters with adorable afros in them! And funky music to boot. Take for example this supafly Seventies mama who fixes her car with the letter R. How badass is that soundtrack?

Both Billy Joe Jive and his partner Smart Susie Sunset had natural hair and fly Seventies style.

Then there’s one of the most popular grocery store lists ever:

Who doesn’t remember that? Years later, Sesame Street released a remake of “A loaf of bread, a container of milk, and a stick of butter,” but nothing can top the original.

Back in the day Sesame Street was groundbreaking and inspiring, dedicated to integrating their audience and teaching kids to embrace and celebrate each other’s differences. Listen to this song from the Seventies, by Roosevelt Franklin’s baby brother, Baby Ray Franklin.

What a great message to teach the kiddies!

The Celebrities:

The list of celebrities who have appeared on Sesame Street is so long, it might be worth asking — who HASN’T appeared on Sesame Street?

From the early days, iconic celebs acted and sang alongside muppets to teach kids new words and life lessons. Check out this montage for just a taste.

That video is amazing. Celebrities from Vanessa Williams, Maya Angelou, Liam Neeson, Rosemary Clooney, Doug E. Doug, opera singer Denyce Graves, Conan O’Brien…all joined together to sing composer Joe Raposo’s signature song. I think that montage is adorable, but my all-time favorite version of Sing is by Olivia and Linda.

Sesame Street was where I first discovered and fell in love with Cab Calloway. HOW old was I when I first became obsessed with this?

And let me confess – the Two-Headed Monster was one of my favorite muppets!

The first time I heard Smokey Robinson’s You Really Got a Hold On Me was this version right here.

Dag, that letter U was persistent!

So many of my beauty icons made their first impressions on me through Sesame Street. I will never forget when Lena Horne and her fabulous fro appeared, and sang one of the funkiest alphabets ever.

I was always just a little jealous of the late, great Madeline Kahn in this classic clip – she got to hold and cuddle Grover! He’s always been my favorite monster!

This clip of Ethel Merman and Michael Jackson appearing on a Special Sesame Street Christmas is both wonderful and heartwarming. Michael’s fro was ON POINT as always, and I’m just sad that he didn’t sing a song and appear longer on the show.

Back in the day in Trinidad, the television stations showed vintage Sesame Street episodes over and over again, so many of my most favorite moments were from the Seventies and early Eighties. Consequently I’m kind of a walking encyclopedia of random Sesame Street trivia. For example, did you know that the original New Way to Walk was by The Oinker Sisters (LOL), but Destiny’s Child remade it in the Nineties?

Random, right? And I got so much more where that came from!

The Characters:

There were quite a few human characters on Sesame Street that I grew up identifying with.

Susan’s bright colors, asymmetrical afro and plus size style made her a favorite of mine from early on — which is why I celebrated Dr. Loretta Long as one of my earliest Afrobellas of the Week!

Consider this clip from 1986 — in my prime growing up days.

On a personal note, Telly Monster has always been one of my least favorite muppets. Chill out, Telly!

Olivia always was one of my favorite singers on Sesame Street — check out her beautiful braids and the handsome George Benson in this classic clip. Olivia wasn’t a regular on the show in the later Eighties, but her guest appearances definitely meant a great song! For example — Birdland, a jazzy tune she sang at Hoots the Owl’s Birdland Jazz Club.

Aw, and there’s the late Northern Calloway as David in the audience singing along with her.

David was one of the coolest brothers on Sesame Street. He had one of the sweetest voices and sang some of my favorite songs. (anyone remember I’m Pretty? I think about that song when I’m putting on makeup sometimes. TMI? Maybe!)

I knew the actor who played David had passed away, but I had no idea what led to his demise. Wikipedia outlines the tragic end of his life. RIP Northern Calloway.

This morning I watched Sesame Street for the first time in many years, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda played a rapping realtor trying to get Big Bird to change his habitat, and First Lady Michelle Obama taught Elmo and Big Bird about planting seeds to make delicious fruits and vegetables grow. Today’s episode made me proud of the show that has endured so much change, and excited for the future. It’s been 40 years, and Sesame Street is still going strong! And someday when I have kids of my own, I can share the classic clips of the show I’ve grown up learning so much from.

If you still don’t own these DVDs, treat yourself (and your little ones) to Sesame Street – Old School, Vol. 1 (1969-1974) and Sesame Street: Vol. 2 – Old School (1974-1979). And why not throw in Follow that Bird — it’s a classic!

What are some of your favorite Sesame Street moments?

Related posts:

1. Happy Birthday, Stevie!
2. There’s Nothing We Women Can’t Be!
3. Afrobella of the Week- Dr. Loretta Long

A while back I was contacted by the folks at WowOWow.com with a specific beauty question. What is the biggest beauty mistake the over-40-year-old woman makes?

I just turned 30, so my own style identity is evolving from twenty-something, I-still-see-clothes-I-like-in-the-juniors-section sneakers-and-jeans-to-every-occasion into something more toned down and true to my life experience. So how could I answer this question? I spoke to all the women in my life who are over 40, before formulating a response. Click here to read my answer. I think I did them all proud.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love clothes. I love shopping, I love pretty things and just because I am full figured doesn’t mean that I’m not a fashionista. So when the Silhouettes blog wanted to interview me about plus size fashion I was SO! EXCITED!

Click here to read my interview which is all about being plus sized my whole life, and the kinds of fashion that we women of size DESERVE.

The Silhouettes Style blog is written by the fabulous Sarah of StyleIt — she is giving me pure LIFE and so much fashion inspiration with her On the Plus Size feature. Two snaps in a circle for Sarah, and for Silhouettes!

As a strong believe in blog sister love, it was an honor and joy to interview Curly Nikki recently. And it was wonderful to be interviewed back! Curly Nikki recently featured yours truly on her blog, in an interview all about natural hair, my current favorite products, and what the future holds for me. Click here to read it, and click here to support Curly Nikki’s next big move — she’s blogging for Tyra, y’all!

Writing is my main avenue of expression, but of late I’ve been seriously missing being a contributor to radio programs. RIP News and Notes! There still isn’t another program that fills the void. Lately I’ve been lucky enough to participate in some awesome radio interviews.

It began with a special AOL Black Voices podcast on Good Hair. It was fascinating to hear our varied perspectives, and I look forward to participating in future AOL Black Voices podcasts!

The Good Hair discussion continued when I was asked to be on one of my favorite radio programs — Cocoa Mode with Shawna Renee. And even better, the other guest on the show was my girl Deanna Sutton from Clutch! It was a great show and I’m happy to be part of the extended Cocoa Mode family. Call me anytime, Shawna!

And just last night I was honored to be a guest on Womanist Musings on Blog Talk Radio. Wanna hear the show? Click here to listen to the broadcast, which featured myself, the bloggers of Womanist Musings, and professional stylist Shaha, who blogs at Natty Locs by Shaha. Show these bellas some love!

2009 has been a brilliant and blessed year. I can’t wait to see what 2010 brings!

Related posts:

1. Afrobella on BAP Living Radio!
2. Afrobella On Your Radio!
3. Throwback Jam of the Day: Jonell featuring Method Man – Round and Round

Someone asked me the other day, “Bella, what’s up with you and all these giveaways?”

I just LOVE doing them. Part of being an online editor or blogger is learning about, and often getting the opportunity to review all of these amazing products. Offering a giveaway to my readers gives me a chance to spread joy. Please know that I do my best to review the products I personally use and respect the quality of. In turn, it brings me joy to hear back from you when you’ve won something here. Just recently I got awesome e mails from the winners of my Peace Images earring giveaway, and the Sarenzo Beads headband giveaways, complete with photos of them rocking their prizes. I can’t tell you how happy that made me!

I hope you enjoy the giveaways as much as I do, and even if you don’t win this one, keep commenting. Don’t give up – someday it’ll be your turn!

The winner of the Q-Tips giveaway is #50 – Kami. Congrats!!

And like I said, if you didn’t win – best of luck with the next one. I’ve got an AMAZING holiday season jam packed with giveaways, including my biggest giveaway EVER, so keep entering!

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2. The Winner of the Harajuku Girls Giveaway is…
3. Goddess Zuri giveaway winner!

If you visited Newsweek.com’s Human Condition blog today, you may have been greeted by this beautiful photo of two bright eyed, big haired girls. Those adorable little afrobellas are my nieces. Dominique and Isabella! And the article was my response to the latest rebuttal by Allison Samuels.

Hey response to the bloggers, if you will, was titled We Are All Team Zahara, and reignited ire throughout the blogosphere.

One of my favorite bloggers, Latoya Peterson tackled the Baby Z hair police head on in Jezebel. (LOVING all Latoya’s work over there, BTW).

Post Bourgie cosigned Latoya’s take, and Ta-Nehisi Coates took on the topic for The Atlantic.

Then Newsweek invited some bloggers to respond on their site.

Tami of What Tami Said wrote Natural Hair Is Not Unhealthy.

Author Roslyn Holcolmb who blogs at Stormcrow wrote Hair Don’ts Hold Us Back.

Nichelle of 55 Secret Street wrote Its Time To Fully Embrace Natural Hair.

And now you can click here to read my final thoughts about Zahara’s hair. If you could leave a comment on Newsweek’s site, it’d mean so much to me!

I hope that puts an end to these shenanigans, at least until the next trip to a toy store, where this little girl will emerge held by her mother, and surrounded by bodyguards, gawking onlookers, and photographers by the dozen.

If you’ve got a little girl in your life dealing with similar hair issues as Zahara Jolie Pitt and even Chris Rock’s little girls — struggling with loving their hair in its unfettered state and appreciating their natural beauty — you might want to get them an inspiring book for Christmas. Of course there’s I Love My Hair by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, the sometimes controversial Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron, and Happy to Be Nappy by bell hooks. Now you can add I Love My Cotton Candy Hair by Nicole L. Updegraff to the list. The book takes into account the diverse background of a modern interracial family, the hair issues of biracial kids, and ultimately it’s “a story about loving yourself just the way you are.” A message any kid (and most adults) should be able to get behind.

Related posts:

1. Team Zahara!
2. A Little Afro Love
3. Natural Reactions

This Columbus Day Weekend, Chicago was the place to be. If you love makeup and beauty the way that I do, it was a weekend to treasure. The Powder Group rolled into town for the Artist Summit — a veritable who’s who of makeup artists, brands, and professionals in the field. And we kicked things off with a bang!

Together with the fabulous Lianne Farbes (AKA The Makeup Girl) and Erin Scandalous, I hosted the Drugstore Divas Blogger Mixer. We had a blast! So much so that we completely forgot to take photos, and I only have two. D’oh!

Here’s me with Lianne and our fabulous sign at the front of the J Bar at the James Hotel!

Like my outfit? Vintage long sleeved sweater dress by Silhouettes that I bought at the incredible Redress NYC, belt by Torrid, octopus necklace from Etsy, Payless boots, and tights by Stone Fox — available online at MyHosieryStore.com. (Review to come on this amazing hosiery company soon!)

And here I am with gorgeous ladies Rashida B (that’s right! Of BeautySchooled and The B Spot and of that eyebrow interview from a while back) and Contessa Gibson. Love her!

We had a great turnout, gave out some GREAT giftbags, and had a blast with Twitter friends, makeup artists, and fans of our blogs – twas AWESOME. Thank you so much to Suave, Sunsilk, Degree, Vaseline, and Carol’s Daughter for contributing to an amazing night!

The next day was the summit itself, and I got there later than I wanted to. (Blame that on the lychee martinis!)

I got there just in time for the blogger’s panel, featuring Lianne, Felicia of This That Beauty, Christina Farrell of The Makeup Blogger. Their panel was informative and engaging. GREAT lessons for up and coming bloggers.

I spent most of my time wandering in and out of sessions, meeting makeup artists, and checking out the amazing brands on the main floor. That’s Koren Zander of Enkore Beauty during his presentation. I LOVED watching him, and have learned so much from his YouTube videos!

I got to meet the creators of OCC Cosmetics, David Klasfeld and Katie Pelligrino. Katie chatted with me about the infamous Lip Tar and the shades to come in the future. YAY me! I scored lip tars in two colors I ADORE — Vintage, a deep wine-tinged burgundy, and Safety Orange which is exactly what it sounds like.

I’m wearing Safety Orange in the photo here with my girl Erin Scandalous!

One of the biggest booths at the Artist Summit was Inglot Cosmetics — their website is still under construction but believe me when I tell you, the variety and quality of their products – DAZZLING. And behind the counter I met Mr. Divo, who was repping Inglot and looking like a male model all the while. Mr. Divo was such a sweetheart!

The crew at Make Up For Ever were so friendly, and they kindly helped to explain how I should use the Flash Colors — more to come on this soon!

I was lucky enough to meet one of the owners of Chicago’s own Ruby Room – this wellness center promises to do more than just pamper your body, they recharge your spirit with positive energy. I am DYING to go!

I had a blast at the Artist’s Summit, and look out for a special review of another brand I discovered at the event. If you’re a makeup fiend and The Powder Group comes to your town, DON’T HESITATE! Get tickets ASAP, because their events are WELL worth attending!

Related posts:

1. It’s a Drugstore Diva Party!!
2. Weekend Love
3. The Amazing Race

My days of dressing up just might be over, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be enjoying the candy! I’m gonna wait till tomorrow, and catch the sales at the drugstore!

Halloween has become so much more commercial since I was a little one. Back in the day, your mama might make you a witch costume. That was it. But now there are so many awesome adults and children’s costumes on sale, you can be absolutely anything you want without having to make anything at all!

I absolutely adore the Princess Tiana costume available at the Disney Store, HOW CUTE is that? But for $89.50 in this economy… Disney gets the c’mon, son.

I am sure some enterprising bellas can sew their daughters up a replica. And at least there’s the Princess Tiana veil and shoes that dare I say, are cute enough to wear to other occasions? If your little bella just can’t get enough of The Princess and the Frog, the Carol’s Daughter Magical Beauty Collection will be pre-sold online Monday, 11/2. You’ve still got time to place a pre-order, but they’re going fast!

Are you dressing up this year? Or taking your kids out in costume? However you celebrate, I hope your Halloween is sweet!

Related posts:

1. Happy Historic Halloween!
2. First Look at The Princess and the Frog
3. The Happiest Halloween