Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of my friends freaking out about turning 30, or being 30. This year I turned 34, so I think I have a little perspective to share. Not a lot, just a little. Just enough to tell all of you to stop freaking out about turning 30, or being in your 30s. Just breathe. Enjoy the journey. Absorb the lessons you’re learning. Being in your 30’s can actually be pretty awesome.

Traffic sign via Shutterstock.

I think it isn’t fair or cool that so much of the pressure that we feel about turning 30, centers on women. Do you notice that men don’t usually exhibit these kinds of fears? There’s no expected wringing of hands by dudes about turning 30. I have yet to hear one of my guy friends complain or express real fear about coming up on 30, or being in their 30’s. They might express a concern about not being where they want to be professionally by a certain age…but it doesn’t seem to me that 30 holds the resonance and weight with men that it holds with women. It seems to me like all of these expectations are laid on women to have hit all kinds of crazy benchmarks by the time they turn the big three-oh. It has to do with the biological clock and society’s sometimes antiquated expectations – way deeper issues that I’m not trying to delve into in this particular post.

I think people look at 30 and they’re like “oh no!” because of what 30 signifies for them. But I’m telling you, you should embrace it. It’s a good age to be.

30 doesn’t mean what it used to anymore. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re married. It doesn’t necessarily mean you already have kids or are even thinking about kids. It doesn’t mean you’re in a relationship, even. It could mean that you’re looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right. Or you’re chilling and focusing on yourself right now. 30 doesn’t necessarily mean you have your dream career and you’re all grown up and have figured everything out. On the contrary.

I used to think that being in your 30′s meant having your life together. I used to think that being 30 meant being places on time, having the right wardrobe, never feeling insecure, never getting a pimple ever again, and knowing that you were grown up and adult. Now that I’m in my 30′s, I realize that none of that was true.

I’m here to tell you that you can still feel like an awkward, gawky girl on the inside, even if you’re 34. You can still feel like you will never have it all the way together. You might still struggle to get places on time (Lord knows I do). You will still have things in your life that feel like homework and final exams, even though you may not have been in school for years. You might still have those moments of feeling like the new kid at school, even though that’s something in your past. And that’s all part of growing up and becoming an adult. That’s what you are now. All of those experiences and anxieties and moments of angst have shaped you into who you are. What you do with all that collective life experience is entirely up to you. We are all on different paths in this journey called life, but you might find that you’ll have a few of these realizations yourself.

10 Realizations I’ve Had About Being In Your 30’s

1 – Everything you’ve experienced has made you who you are today. All of the past hurts and friends you’ve lost and mistakes you’ve made. You can either let those past mistakes be a burden, or you can learn and grow from them. Choose the latter. It will set you free.

2 – If you were one of those people who had a mental checklist of things you needed to accomplish by 30…you may find that you haven’t yet accomplished them. It’s up to you to be OK with that. If you’re finding yourself approaching 30 or in your 30’s with dreams deferred, you probably know what you need to do to achieve them. You can either work towards making them happen, or continue to let them gather dust. Life circumstances can prevent you from doing things your heart has been set upon. Being an adult means dealing with that, but not letting those circumstances paralyze you into permanent inaction.

3 – You have to find your identity and find your own happiness. I hear so many people say turning 30 was a turning point, where they finally knew and came to terms with who they were. Some people figure that out earlier than others, but by your thirties the Jell-O mold that is your personality should have pretty much set.

4 – Just by making it to age 30, you’ve outlived some incredibly famous people, including Aaliyah, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Heath Ledger, Tupac, Biggie, Amy Winehouse, Garnett Silk and Otis Redding. If you make it to 35, think of who you’ve outlived – Donnie Hathaway, Sam Cooke, Chris Farley, Bruce Lee. Marilyn Monroe and Bob Marley only made it to age 36. Look at what they accomplished in their brief lifetimes. Now you’ve lived that long and then some. Thinking about that lets me know how much life you can live in a short time. It reminds me that I’ve got further to go and more of an impact to make. Just kinda puts it in perspective, kinda.

5 – Your concept of “old” needs to change. Remember when 30 seemed so old? And now here you are.Guess what? 40 isn’t old either, and it’ll come up on you faster than you realize. Nothing to be scared of. Just something to prepare for.

6 –  By now you know what you should be doing to take care of your health. You’ll notice, things change. Things you used to be able to take for granted, you can’t anymore. You don’t lose weight as easily. Your skin may need more attention. When you get sick you don’t bounce back from it right away the way you used to. You find that you really do need to eat better, drink more water, and exercise regularly. Whether or not you’re actually doing these things, is another question.

7 – Being in your thirties means less time to care about things that might have really gotten under your skin in the past. That petty friend who said that mean thing, that stupid guy who didn’t call you back – what used to be a grievous wound of the heart is now like you skinned your knee or got a mosquito bite. You heal quicker. You’ll find that you have less time for drama and less inclination for heartbreak. Time and experience toughens you up.

8 – You start realizing life is too short to be left with regrets. You start living life on your own terms, and taking action to achieve your goals. You can see the sand trickling through the hourglass and you get that someday, there won’t be as much sand. You realize now is the time to plan for your future and get off your butt. Things that seemed really far away – like retirement – are closer than you realize, and now’s the time to prepare for all of that.

9 – You have a greater perspective on the circle of life. In this window of my life, my friends are getting married, becoming parents, becoming first time home owners – all great things! And there are people I know who are dealing with medical issues of their own, or of their kids, or of their parents. This is a time when you find yourself dealing with life’s ebbs and flows, losses and gains. The need for maturity hits you when you least expect it.

10 – When you weren’t looking or paying attention, you became an adult who is more capable, wise and ready for the world than you may give yourself credit for. You’ve come a long way, and you’ve got further to go!

These were my realizations.

I recently talked with my friend Renisha of Renewed Fitness about the mental changes that happen when you turn 30, and she said she totally experienced the same thing. “Everything clicked. Everything shifted. I don’t know what happened. It was a universal shift. And finally I know what I want, I know what my goals are, and I still have learning and growing to do but I know we don’t have time to lollygag and waste anymore. I am focused now. I’m walking in my purpose. I found it.”

That’s what 30 did for me, and what it did for Renisha.

PS: Three great posts to read on the topic – A Bucket List For Your 30′s, and Your Thirties Are Do Or Die. Also, 30 Life Lessons in 30 Years. 

My bellas who are in your thirties – what realizations have you made? And what advice do you have for anyone who’s freaking out about turning 30?

The post Ten Realizations About Being In Your Thirties appeared first on Afrobella.

FINALLY. Finally it seems like the heavy grey veil has been lifted off Chicago. The trees are green again. Flowers are blooming. Every neighborhood café is bustling. This is the time of year that reminds me of why we moved here. Spring has sprung and you can already feel summer coming up around the corner. This is my favorite time of year. It’s a time of anticipation and celebration and FUN. There are so so many things I’m looking forward to over the next few months. Here are five reasons I’ve been looking forward to summer 2013!

Blue skies and sunshine.

I totally took these things for granted, but I grew up in the Caribbean! Can you blame me? When I migrated, I lived in Miami where the weather is either hot, insanely hot, stupid humid, or thunderstorms. I didn’t really appreciate what four seasons meant until I moved. Now that I live in Chicago – which is gray, gloomy and miserable for like 6 months of the year – it seems like the first glimmers of blue skies, sunshine and heat makes the whole city smile. The weather this past weekend made me absolutely want to skip down State Street, and if I did, I don’t think anyone would have thought I was that crazy.

Alfresco dining, rooftop bars, summer nights!

Without giving away too many details about exactly where I live, I’ll say this — I am a city girl who lives within walking distance to a variety of fun restaurants and bars. When the weather is right, you can feel it in the air. Downtown Chicago comes alive with customers and couples and people with strollers, just going out to get a quick bite and a drink, buy groceries to go home and grill, or to just be outside enjoy the weather while it lasts. Around the lake, everyone is happy to just walk along the waterfront and soak up the sun. In neighborhoods like Wrigleyville, the beer gardens are open and everyone’s out enjoying the sunshine and a cold drink. There’s something really cool about alfresco dining on a perfect summer night. I absolutely love it! Especially in climates where it doesn’t get too humid and there aren’t too many bugs (like Chicago).

Bathing suits.

Yes! Really! This season there’s actually bathing suits that I look forward to wearing for what feels like the very first time. Monif C has an absolutely fabulous collection this season – I’m in love with her Sao Paulo high waisted bikini! And now my amazing friend Gabi Gregg a.k.a. Gabifresh has come out with her very first capsule collection of plus size bathing suits a.k.a. fatkinis. I need that purple galaxy bikini in my life, my body is ready! Gabi’s collection goes on sale tomorrow – May 15 – at SwimsuitsForAll.com.

Concerts.

Chicago is such an awesome city for concerts in the summertime, and this year my husband and I have plan to go to quite a few! Right here in Chicago there’s Pitchfork and there’s Lollapalooza. Every year we attend Lollapalooza and I’m totally looking forward to this year – the lineup looks more diverse than in recent years and there are some acts I’m dying to see! I was so excited when I heard Pearl Jam was coming to Wrigley Field…however their attempt at circumnavigating the traditional ticket issues and scalpers turned out to be a huge FAIL. Now tickets are nearly impossible to get, and astronomically expensive to get to because of scalpers. I also really wanted to see D’Angelo at the House of Blues this August, but floor seats are pricey. I’m putting it out the universe in the hopes that some tickets land in my hot little hands. Or that someone I know has a ticket oak.

Besides the aforementioned, there are some epic musical events on my radar – I’m not a house music lover but the annual Chosen Few picnic is super popular here and always attracts a crowd. And in New Orleans there’s the Essence Music Festival, which has a ridiculously sick lineup this year! I hope that I can make it. Time will tell!

Festivals and Farmers Markets and FUN

During the summer, each neighborhood in Chicago comes alive with festivals on the weekend. I always enjoy the neighborhood festivals, and then there are some truly unique Chicago experiences I look forward to every year. The Randolph Street Market is an outdoor celebration of antiques, gourmet food, live music, and vintage shopping – when it’s summer and a light breeze is blowing, there’s nowhere more fun to shop and wander around. I LOVE going. The Chicago Gourmet Food Festival is decadent, fabulous, over the top indulgence and it’s in the middle of Millennium Park, which makes for such a beautiful skyline backdrop. Can’t wait to go back this year! And the eagerly anticipated Taste of Chicago has stepped up the game all the way this year – there are food trucks and MAJOR concerts every night, including fun, Estelle, Robin Thicke, Maxi Priest and JILL SCOTT! I am SO THERE.

There are so many more reasons I’m looking forward to this summer, but these are just a few that I’m ready for RIGHT NOW! What are you looking forward to the most?

The post 5 Reasons To Look Forward To Summer appeared first on Afrobella.

Because I grew up in Trinidad, I didn’t grow up reading American literature. It was pretty much all British and Caribbean lit until I moved to America and started doing college literature classes. Naturally The Great Gatsby was an early essential, and from the first time I read it I had strong feelings about it. I loved F. Scott Fitzgerald’s lush depiction of jazz age excess, but I found myself hating many of the characters. I saw Nick Carraway as a passive observer of life, the person who lives vicariously, never truly living at all. Tom Buchanan was cartoonish and loathsome but Daisy was worse, and even in the book I couldn’t comprehend Gatsby’s deep, destructive love for a woman so shallow and selfish.

Before I get into this review, I feel like I should disclose my feelings about the film and the source material. I’m a big Leonardo DiCaprio fan, and I think Baz Luhrmann has a truly individualistic and brilliant eye for cinematic possibilities. I loved Romeo and Juliet – and that soundtrack included some absolute gems that have become classic songs (the end credit song, Radiohead’s Exit Music for immediate example). The fact that Jay-Z produced the soundtrack added to my intrigue. I went into The Great Gatsby screening with high hopes, based on the actors, the director and the buzz surrounding soundtrack. I didn’t counterbalance that with my feelings about the source material, so I’ll admit that from the beginning.

There were parts of this film that I loved, and that made me feel absolutely transported into the era. Let’s start with what I loved.

The costume design is absolutely to die for and it’s no small surprise that The Great Gatsby has become a merchandise marketing machine, with brands like Tiffany and Brooks Brothers coming on board to create Gatsby-branded collectors items seeking to capture that glamour for themselves. The party scenes are just as dazzling as you might have imagined them to be. And speaking of dazzling, show us that smile again Leonardo -

YES. HEY LEO, HEY.

Leonardo DiCaprio is the cat’s meow and he is gorgeous and convincing as Jay Gatz AKA Jay Gatsby. He took a role that could easily skew towards caricature, fleshed it out and made it as whole as possible. He’s the biggest draw in the film and ladies who are headed to the theater based on their love of Leo most likely won’t leave disappointed. He’s great in this part.

The soundtrack was hyped so much as an essential and modern twist to the classic tale, but I’ll be honest – it didn’t add much to me, and in some scenes I felt that it detracted, or was used as comic relief (for example, the IZZO scene). Some songs worked way better than others. I loved Emile Sande’s jazz age version of Crazy In Love enough to want the soundtrack on Spotify.

This version of The Great Gatsby is so NOT East Egg – it is lurid, over the top, drenched in ostentatious fashion, style inspiration and dazzling visuals. I loved all of it. But amidst all of the ostentation, I lost the thread of plausibility and the negative aspects that bothered me about the characters in the first place came glaring into the spotlight. Let’s get into what I didn’t like.

It is a daunting and enormous task to bring an American literary classic to life, so I appreciate the reverence that Baz Luhrmann demonstrated for the book. Having said that, some books are just better as books – the written word more powerfully conveys the emotions that explain the plot of The Great Gatsby than this movie was able to, IMO. It seemed that Luhrmann knew that as well, since he used memorable passages of Fitzgerald’s prose, typewritten by Tobey Maguire’s latter period Callahan in a classic film cliché. Fitzgerald’s words are superimposed upon the screen and then they fall away like melting snowflakes, the first few times the effect was used I found it charming but at the film’s end I viewed it through a different lens, and I found it to have worn its welcome. It seemed more like a crutch, issued forth in the hopes of reminding the audience that behind the spectacle and the sets, there is vibrant literature here with a message meant to speak to the death of the American dream.

There were moments where I felt beaten over the head by imagery, like yes, the billboard with the spectacles, YES WE GET IT. I see what Luhrmann was trying to do, but it didn’t work for me, or for the audience it seemed.

I observed a lot from the audience’s cues – by the film’s third act, every time Gatsby called someone “old sport,” the girls in the row behind me started giggling and it occurred to me that The Great Gatsby “Old Sport” drinking game could be a success in the DVD release. The affectation was that ubiquitous.

Fitzgerald’s book is slender but staggering, and the writing keeps the characters three dimensional. That didn’t work for everyone in this film. Carey Mulligan didn’t convince me that Daisy was worthy of Gatsby’s undying, doomed love. Tobey Maguire stayed true to Callahan and reminded me of what drove me nuts about the character in the first place – he’s a device meant to observe but not disrupt the plot, the narrator who only exists to tell someone else’s story. Joel Edgerton’s Tom Buchanan was all bluster and machismo – in some scenes, I found him reminiscent of Bluto from the old Popeye cartoons. And to continue cartoon comparisons, I found Isla Fisher’s character to be equally one-dimensional – a Betty Boop-era flapper with hypersaturated makeup, whose final scene was reminiscent of a music video.

Can there be spoilers in reviewing The Great Gatsby? That would be almost like saying there could be spoilers for Titanic, or Romeo and Juliet. I don’t want to ruin the film for anyone who hasn’t yet read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, so I’ll just end the review by saying this – I didn’t expect to leave the theater rejoicing, by any means, but I did feel a tinge of emptiness and vague, unsettled disappointment after seeing The Great Gatsby. Seeing this movie made me want to read the book again and then see the movie again to better grasp what I felt was missing. So I guess, in the grand scheme of ticket sales and DVD rentals, it’s all to the good. This film was initially intended to be released in Oscar season and now it ushers in the summer blockbuster period – but it fits well here. For all of the over-the-top scenery and 3D delight, it works and I think it gives the audience what it wants. Glitter, glitz, fashion and Leo. And the fact that the movie opened to $51.1 million this past weekend, indicates that maybe America got what it was looking for.

What did you think of The Great Gatsby?

Full disclosure – I cohosted a Great Gatsby screening and that’s where I saw the film.

The post Afrobella Film Review – The Great Gatsby appeared first on Afrobella.

Afrobella for QVC!

All Access Beauty means just that — unparalleled access to the biggest names and brands in the industry. We’re talking breakthrough products and beauty tips straight from the faces behind the brands. Expect to see special appearances by Kate Somerville, Mally Roncal, Ken Paves, Chaz Dean and more, and special values on brands like Clarisonic, philosophy and Perricone MD. On QVC.com, I’m amongst a small group of top bloggers who QVC tapped to choose our favorite products. Check out the All Access Beauty Bloggers, and click here to check out my personal favorite picks!

What products did I choose? Click here to visit my personal QVC e-boutique page! It was hard to choose just 12 items, but these are the top 12 you-deserve-these-because-they-are-amazing-tried-tested-and-true beauty products that I hope you will love too. I included my favorites by WEN, Clarisonic, Mally Beauty, Bobbi Brown, bliss, Tarte and philosophy. Click to visit, shop, and enjoy – and tune into QVC tonight to see some of the people behind those brands share what makes their products so awesome!

Thanks for choosing me, QVC!

The post Get Into My QVC All-Access Beauty Favorites! appeared first on Afrobella.

Here I am with my friend Mitzi Miller, EIC of JET Magazine. Mitzi is amazing. So honored to work with her on this fabulous event!

An intimate crowd of Chicago’s social media and online influencers came out for the screening, and then after the movie came the after party, co-hosted by me and JET Magazine, with beauty stations by Fashion Fair on hand for extra glamour.

That’s Fashion Fair Trainer Timothy James – all night he was offering the ladies in attendance the chance to bump up their lip color to something more Gatsby-apropos from the vibrant selection of Fashion Fair lipsticks.  Guests each got an awesome gift box with a vintage photo of Pearl Bailey rocking Fashion Fair, containing a full size lipstick! I got Femme Fatale, which can best be described as chocolate cherry.

Thanks to blogger friends like The Sassy Peach, Chuck Olu Alabi, Gabifresh, Miss Lori, Rachel O, Traci Daniel, Jettasetting and everyone else for coming out and showing love!

Hey there Miss Lori!

Thanks to everyone who came out and made it a fabulous night! Thanks again to Warner Brothers, Allied Media and JET Magazine. The Great Gatsby opens in theaters nationwide tomorrow! Stay tuned for my review!

The post My Summer Of Gatsby Chicago Event! appeared first on Afrobella.

It’s all about opulent homes, status vehicles, ornate dresses and perfectly cut suits, and over-the-top, competitive entertainment. The plot speaks to our times despite the period setting, and the deeper messages Fitzgerald conveyed are timeless. I think it’s perfect fit to have the visionary Baz Luhrmann bring The Great Gatsby’s over the top world to three dimensional life, and to set it all to a soundtrack starring Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Lana Del Ray.

The film looks AMAZING.

I’ve been excited about the cinematic adaptation of The Great Gatsby for a while now, and tomorrow (Tuesday, May 7), I’m co-hosting an advanced screening of the film and a few lucky Chicago readers can come to the event! Alongside my friends at JET Magazine, we will welcome The Great Gatsby to Chicago before it opens nationwide on May 10.

And 20 of you can come too!

The first twenty people to comment on this post, including their name and using a valid e mail address, will have their names added to the guest list for tomorrow evening’s movie screening at 6 pm at the Kerasotes Showplace Icon in the South Loop.

Entries will be closed at midnight tonight. This will fill up fast, so hurry up and click below to comment!

For even MORE Gatsby, follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thegreatgatsbymovie, and on Twitter: @GatsbyMovie @LeoDiCaprio @TobeyMaguire. For tomorrow night, follow the hashtags #TheGreatGatsby #SummerofGatsbyCHI to see all about the glamorous local screening event!

Thank you to Allied Media and Warner Brothers for this opportunity!

**edited at 8:39 am – the comments are officially closed. Thanks for entering!

The post Chicago! Tomorrow! Come With Me To See The Great Gatsby appeared first on Afrobella.

At first I felt on top of the subscription box situation. I knew the main players and what the differences between them were. And then came the box explosion.

Happy box lady via Shutterstock

Now there are subscription beauty boxes, hair boxes, jewelry boxes, wellness boxes, lifestyle boxes, pet boxes, boxes of organic products, boxes for bacon lovers, adult boxes, and boxes for that time of the month. Here a box, there a box, everywhere a box box. Chescaleigh’s parody was dead on.

Just saying – there are an overwhelming number of boxes for women on the scene. (Check out SubscriptionBoxes.com to get an idea of the scope of the scene).

The boxes I’m most familiar with have been created by start-up companies and entrepreneurs with vision. Many of the boxes cost between $10 and $20 for a monthly subscription, and many people sign up for these boxes for an opportunity to try little known, up and coming, brands that have growing buzz, brands that beauty lovers and hair obsessives can look forward to trying for the first time. And now here comes a heavy hitter to switch up the game – Target has entered the subscription beauty box arena, and their box is a mere $5 including shipping and handling.

Via Target Style’s FB page: “The Beauty Box by Target boasts beauty, skin care and nail care brands you already know, and a few that may be completely new to you. Shipping is included, plus each order includes a special offer to keep you looking fab while staying on budget.” Sounds promising, right? A few spoiler posts have gone up online, so the brands included in box #1 are out there already – click here to see!

Box #1 apparently includes mainstream brands, but there are a few products that piqued my interest even though I’m pretty much drowning in beauty products (those Sally Hansen nail strips, and the Effaclar stuff). I’m thinking if there’s enough interest, Target’s upcoming boxes will include items from their in-house beauty brands, which could mean a $5 box including the best of Pixi, Sonia Kashuk, Napoleon Perdis or Umberto Beverly Hills.  If you’re strictly into indie brands, obviously this isn’t the box for you. But if you want to try out the latest from mainstream beauty and personal care brands, this sounds like a sweet deal.

The Target Beauty Box is only available online via Facebook, there are 20,000 Beauty Boxes available, and they cost $5 including shipping and tax. Click here to get yours before they’re gone!

What are your thoughts on the subscription box phenomenon? Are you a fan? Do you think there are too many? Would you sign up for this new Target box, and what do you think about big brands entering the subscription box arena?

The post Now Target Has A Subscription Beauty Box appeared first on Afrobella.

There are so many places I’ve wanted to go and haven’t made it to yet. As I get older I keep dreaming, and keep working at making my dreams come true. And I’m so happy to share one of them with you! I’m going to London this month!! HOORAY!!!

I’m so excited to go to UK for the first time, there are so many things that I have been dreaming of seeing around London! I want to see all the touristy stuff and the landmarks — Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Camden Market, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park…I’m so ready! I will be staying in a central part of London and I look forward to just exploring and being a tourist across the pond for the first time ever, seeing my old friends and family from Trinidad, and meeting my UK bellas! I know through the years quite a few of you read my blog and have been supporters of Afrobella, and I so appreciate you and can’t wait to meet you!

I’m incredibly excited to attend the Afro Hair and Beauty Show in London and I’ll be there representing the Strength of Nature House of Brands, which includes African Pride, Beautiful Textures, Elasta QP and the brand-new re-launch of Mega Growth hair products.

So what will I be doing in the UK, and where can we meet?

- On May 25th I’ll be making an appearance at Curlvolution at the Crown Plaza Docklands

- May 26th & 27th I’ll be at the Afro Hair and Beauty Show, at the Strength of Nature booth doing meet and greets!

- May 27th after the show, join me for the #BritBeauty Mixer at the Amber Bar In the Milk Lounge – from 6:30 to 10, I will be hosting a cocktail mixer showcasing the best of the Strength of Nature brands, taking photos and making new UK friends along with popular UK blogger Pelumi of Care For Your Hair!  RSVP to http://BritBeauty.Eventbrite.com to ensure your complementary admission.

So excited!

For my first visit to London where would you recommend that I eat, shop and visit? What are the must-see destinations for a first time visitor? Are there any other UK cities that I should try to make a day trip to? So many questions!

Click here to follow the Strength of Nature brands on twitter!

@LovinMyTextures

@ElastaQP

@MyAfricanPride

@MegaGrowth

Can’t wait to see you at the end of the month, my UK Bellas!

The post Afrobella’s Coming to London! appeared first on Afrobella.

I can’t deny that this news made me immediately sad, and brought back so many memories of a particular era of my life. The early 90′s, when life was all about owning a Cross Colors teeshirt and the perfect pair of Keds. When I was just starting to think I like boys and maybe one might like me back (maybe). Such an innocent, angsty time.

I was of that Kriss Kross generation. Jump would be on the soundtrack of my life. That song was a HUGE hit around the world, and the fact that Jamaican dancehall superstar Supercat was on the track made it even bigger in the islands. From the minute that song started, people went wild.

Instant memories!

CNN says Chris Kelly and Chris Smith were just ”13-year-olds when they were discovered in 1991 at an Atlanta mall by Jermaine Dupri.” I was the same age.

The memory that instantly came flooding back to me was when Kriss Kross came to Trinidad – all of my friends from school got to go to the concert, but my parents refused to let me go. We had a family obligation and they weren’t budging, no matter how big my crush was or how much I loved their songs. I remember the cassette of Totally Krossed Out was a highly coveted item amongst my girlfriends. And to this day, when my husband and I are going to reheat a meal, odds are high that one of us might make a reference to their follow up hit, Warm It Up. Cause we’re silly like that.

Hearing that Chris Kelly passed away made me feel like a little sliver of my childhood died. And it made me reflect on what happens to celebrities after their time in the spotlight has ended. What must it have been like to be THAT famous at age 13? And what happens when you have to reinvent yourself and leave fame and fortune behind? Hearing the news made me all kinds of reflective.

I think it’s undeniable Chris Kelly, Chris Smith and Jermaine Dupri created magic in the studio back in 1992. I’ll always love Jump, and hearing that song will always take me back to being 13, when dancing and music and knowing the latest songs was so essential to my being, and not being allowed to go to a concert was the biggest worry I had in the world.

Thank you for the memories, Chris Kelly. RIP.

The post RIP Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly of Kriss Kross. appeared first on Afrobella.

What with the proliferation of natural hair brands taking over retail store shelves at places like Target and Walgreens, it’s even easier these days for aspiring naturals to enter into the world of natural hair products (and potential product junkie-ism). There are indie brands who have made it big, big brands who continue to grow, and brands that really focused more on relaxers in times past who have come to realize the wisdom and profits in natural hair sales. Ahem.

There are great brands to be found in mainstream retail stores and they are also amazing brands that have not yet been discovered by those mainstream retail stores. Some of these brands are ready to be prime time players, others will continue to thrive in a handmade mom-and-pop capacity. That’s the beauty of entrepreneurship!

I wrote a similar post to this in 2012 – click here to read Natural Hair Products – Who Got Next – and it was so cool to look back and see which brands made it to the mainstream! So now let me tell you about five of my favorite little independent hair brands that are doing it big in terms of quality and integrity. Some you’ve read about here before. Others you may not have heard about yet! All are worth your attention.

Coco Curls is intended to be the ultimate multi-use styling product for natural hair. Made by Jeannell Darden, the product came about after she dealt with damage after relaxing, drying and blow drying her hair into a frenzy. Jeannell went natural and found that there were too many products out there confusing and cluttering the market. Her engineering background came in handy in creating her Curly Styling Aid – the only product in the Coco Curls family right now. I love it as a hair moisturizer and styling product, especially in cooler months. Click to buy!

OBIA Natural Haircare is all about the moisture! Every product I’ve tried has been fabulous in terms of delivering the hydration my hair needs. Their Curl Moisture Cream and Curl Hydration Spray are both awesome. And for men who need natural hair care, there’s a men’s line too! Great quality everything. Click to buy!

Anu Essentials stepped into the natural hair arena with credentials galore. Created by renowned natural stylist, Anu Prestonia, founder of the Khamit Kinks salon in Brooklyn, these products simply deliver. Anu Essentials has specialized hair care for natural needs – I’m loving her Moisturizing Curling Cream right now! But the brand doesn’t stop there. Body butters, soaps, perfumes – is there anything Anu can’t do? (I doubt it)! Click here to shop!

Komaza Care is building a big, fabulous reputation in the natural hair community!  I was introduced to them by my homegirl Felicia Leatherwood of the Loving Your Hair With Natural Care Workshop. She put me onto their Coconut Hair Pudding when I was out in LA visiting last time, and she was so right – my hair fell in LOVE. I was sleeping on this brand, but I’m not anymore! Click here to shop!

Soultanicals has the whole package, if you ask me. Innovative products, cool packaging, and a genuine aesthetic for natural hair. Created by Ayo Ogun McCants, the Soultanicals credo is all about fresh, handmade, afro vegan LOVE. I’m a big fan of the Hair Sorrell Knappylicious Kink Drink. My hair loves it just as much as this Trini girl loves sorrel at Christmastime!

Add these to the list of national brands that I think have got next, alongside Koils By Nature, Naturalista cosmetics, Oyin, Cara B and so many other brands!

Those are my latest favorites of the independent natural hair brands that I have been blessed enough to try. Do you have any new favorites that I need to know about, bellas?

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