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…
life lessons
Be a Jewel – In Honor of Jewel Figueras
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…
What’s Your Word Of The Year?
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…
10 Years of Afrobella! Reflections on My Decade of Beauty and Natural Hair Blogging
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…
The Perfect Father’s Day (According to the Fathers I Know)
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…
Making Your Own New Year’s Traditions For Luck, Love and Resolutions
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…
Lessons From A Very Different Thanksgiving for Two
“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…
9 Years of Afrobella! 10 Lessons I’ve Learned Along The Way
9 years ago, I changed my life. I didn’t realize it at the time, I didn’t go into it with intent. I noticed a void, I felt a lack of inclusion. 2006. Natural hair hadn’t yet become a movement. Plus size fashion was in some dark days. I wanted to read consistent information for me about…
New Year, New View – Realistic Resolutions to Improve Your Life
It’s 2015 and I’m still getting used to it. The holidays whizzed by me in a blur and now here we are, in a brand new year filled with promise and opportunity. It’s the season for vision boards and resolutions, a chance to dust yourself off and try again. January 1 is a natural invitation…
The Only New Year’s Beauty Resolution Worth Making
January 5, 2015. Day 5 of 365. We’re in the heady days of New Year’s resolutions. Everyone’s making a list, creating a vision board, and planning new ways to become better people in the next 360 days. It’s an exciting time. A time of promise. A time of self flagellation. A time of personal critique,…