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,… read all

  OK so I’m not OLD. I’m 33 (almost 34 as my husband is quick to point out). 33 isn’t old, but we’ve been happily married for 11 years this year. That’s a long time, especially in this day and age. We got married a few short weeks after graduating from college – I remember studying for finals while… read all

I didn’t sleep well last night. And when I woke up this morning, the first thing I did was lie in my bed and let tears just trickle out of my eyes. Yesterday I learned that Erica Kennedy is no longer with us. She was a best selling author of Bling and Feminista, inspiring and… read all

I remember when I was a teenager, a classmate of mine made a joke about my family. “It’s like you have four mothers,” my friend said. I’m sure it was in response to me complaining about not being able to do something or go somewhere. Either way, my friend’s statement stuck with me and back… read all

Mama Bella, my mother, Peggy Aura Arlene Grell, is a woman of elegance and good taste. She loves the finer things in life. Every ounce of my fabulousness comes directly from her. Mama Bella knows what she LOVES and isn’t afraid to say it. She also isn’t afraid to respectfully speak her mind if she’s… read all

Over the years we’ve bought my mom just about every kind of Mother’s Day present you can think of. Together with my sister and brothers, we’ve gotten her spa visits and fancy lunches, clothes and cosmetics, jewelry and perfume and one misguided year I believe my brother bought her a fancy iron. From my recollection,… read all

The last few weeks have been rough, I can’t even front. Being sick always sucks, and at times within the past month it’s literally felt like the Mucinex commercials were being reinacted in my lungs. My site got hacked not once, not twice, but THREE times in succession. Just when I’d think everything was OK,… read all

Here’s a beautiful love story with a natural hair twist! Cindy Blackman has been a beauty icon of mine for years – ever since I first spotted her drumming up a storm for Lenny Kravitz back in the day. This weekend, here in Chicago, Carlos Santana let the world know how he feels about her…. read all

Most families have at least one person like her — the warm one, the one with all the culinary skills, the one who is most likely to watch cartoons with the kids, or play games. The one who’s motherly without necessarily being your mom. In my family, her name is Opal. And she’s always been… read all

Did it sneak up on you too?? Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, which means you’ve still got a few hours to sneak off to the mall to get your special someone a gift to remember. I got your back, fellas! Here are some outstanding ideas for you that I’ve tried and tested. And they’re all available… read all