August 5, 2016. It was like any other day, pretty much. I was talking to my dad on the phone, telling him about a doctor’s appointment I had the day before, telling him about my plans for the 10th anniversary of Afrobella – that would have been August 13th. I had plans and stuff… read all

When I was in high school, I wanted to look like anyone but myself. I thought I was too big, too dark but not dark enough at the same time, with acne and dark marks from picking at my face. My hair wasn’t long enough for my liking. I felt uncomfortable in my own skin…. read all

They are beautiful, sparkling, harvested from the earth, and used to adorn our bodies, our homes and our lives. Your self care and wellness-knowledgeable friends may seem to know a lot about them. But how much do you know about crystals, and do you believe in crystal therapy? I’d love to know your thoughts.  … read all

We live in a bold new world, bellas. No longer do you have to sit back and dream of being an entrepreneur – thanks to the internet and social media you can literally come up with a business idea and launch in less than 24 hours if you get your ducks in a row. Be forewarned… read all

This month we suffered a tremendous loss in the multicultural blogging community. If you knew Jewel Figueras, count yourself amongst the lucky. She was a great friend to so many of us, beloved by all who encountered her smile, her laugh, her welcoming warmth. Jewel = LOVE. Her blog was called Jewel’s Fab Life and… read all

At one point I used to write a list of at least 10 resolutions, and then disappoint myself by failing each one. Then I got into vision boards and spent time at the end of each year gathering and then cutting up my magazines to create a master plan for my year. Over time my… read all

  I can remember exactly what I was doing 10 years ago this week. The memories are so vivid. 10 years ago this week, we were living in a townhouse in Kendall, Florida. I worked as assistant calendar editor for the local alt-weekly. I was bursting with ideas of my own, but always on assignments… read all

Socks and ties and socks and underwear and socks and a nice shirt and maybe a wallet or a belt or some of those whiskey stones — for years I took a very material, literal approach to Father’s Day. My dad could rely on certain gifts every year. It’s always a challenge to think of… read all

I used to celebrate New Year’s Eve in a raucous way. Lots of drinking, lots of noise, lots of people around to toast with and kiss at the stroke of midnight. Party like a rockstar and recover all day January 1. I’ve got some great memories from those years. And honestly, I’ve also had some… read all

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans,” as John Lennon sang in his ode to his son Sean, Beautiful Boy. If you saw me a month ago and asked about my Thanksgiving plans, I would’ve started gushing about recipes and table setting ideas. I was planning a fabulous Thanksgiving for… read all