Category: #MustKnow

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New Year’s Resolutions: How About Now?

Sandré

Out with the old in with the NEW. Who says you have to wait until January 1st to switch things up or start “new year’s resolutions.” In fact, what better time than to start now. Dust that notebook off or purchase a new one. NOW is the time to write down our goals, our plan of action, and begin working towards manifesting them. It takes 21 days to form a habit. Do we really want to wait until the first of a new year to start working out, eating right, finishing a book, managing our finances correctly, ect…. again? Discipline is key! Do exactly what you said you were going to do, set deadlines, and DO share it with those who you KNOW will hold you accountable. My mentor always tells me, “never take on an assignment without creating a deadline.” I’ve honestly been applying this concept to areas in my life outside of work and it definitely has been contributing to my overall peace of mind and pushes me to accomplish small milestones. Did you know that according to studies only about 8% of people accomplish their dreams? That means 92% of us  leave this earth with unfinished dream related business, or without even going for them. Realistically, many of us will fall into the 92%, but God willing, you and I won’t, but that starts with decisions we make moving forward. Which percentage are you trying to fall under? Why wait to do tomorrow what you can do today.

Check these motivational videos out regarding discipline and goals!

Discipline

Goals

#MustKnow, Beauty, Community, Health, Healthcare, Lifestyle, Relationships, Uncategorized

Peace of Mind

Sandré

At what expense is your peace of mind? Money? Great sex? Nice things?  A conversation came up within the work place the other day. Relatively new, I mind my business and simply listen. A colleague was going on and on about how unhappy she is with her current boo. In summary, boo thang is trash. She was asked why she stayed and her response was because of the lifestyle he offered. His company came with cash and gifts. I’ve too found myself holding on to things or an individual not because it’s of value or because it was healthy per se but because of what it promised or came with. I’m usually not the one to blame it on the alcohol but I will say that a few days ago it definitely contributed to me being in my feelings. Frisky feelings to say the least, which resulted in exchanging some photos with an ex. I’m not sure if it was that the liquor was wearing off, my inner self trying to talk some sense to me, or a combination of both, shoot maybe it was God, but what originally started off as enticing and sexy, to say the least, turned into me feeling sick to my stomach. I felt rather awkward and began to think to myself.

What good is great dick if it comes with lies, confusion, and heartbreak? What good are lavish gifts if they come with entitlement and no respect. What good is money if you have to compromise who you are at the core to obtain it. What good is that high paying job if the work environment is toxic and literally tearing at your self worth or mental space. What good are thousands of followers and fame if you feel empty inside? Need I go on? You get it. Disclaimer, if an uneasy mind is due to underlying mental health issues, then it’s out of our control and we must not be afraid to seek professional help. But if it is not, understand that health is wealth and so is our peace of mind. A healthy mental space has got to be a priority. Maybe the things mentioned aren’t what contribute to you having a restless mind. None the less, it’s important we pinpoint what it currently is or may be and avoid it. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the notion that money, among other tangible things, are a cure all and will bring happiness. I’m not rich, but I can easily think back on a few moments where I thought receiving a certain amount of money or a specific item would fix a situation and it didn’t. I had to get to the root of the issue. The underlying issue that was making me lose sleep and wasn’t sitting well with my soul. This being stated, make your mental health a priority, choose peace!

xoxo

#MustKnow, Education, Featured, History, Motivation, Uncategorized, Urban Issues

Women To Know Wednesday: 19 Black women running for judge

Sandré

Black women making political history will always be refreshing news. In this specific case, not one, not three, but 19 women to be acknowledged! In Harris County, Texas, 19 black women will be running for judge in the upcoming election. This will be the county’s largest number of black women seen on a ballot and the FIRST time in history this number of black women will be running for various judicial seats in one county. Definitely women to know!  This being stated, congratulations

Sandra Peake,

Judge Ramona Franklin,

Germaine Tanner,

Angela Graves- Harrington,

Cassandra Hollemon,

Tonya Jones,

Dedra Davis,

LaShawn A. Williams,

Latosha Lewis Payne

Linda M. Dunson,

Toria J. Finch,

Erica Hughes,

Lucia G. Bates,

Ronnisha Bowman,

Michelle Moore,

Sharon Barney,

Shannon Baldwin,

and Lori Chambers Gray!

Furthermore, special thanks to Christin McQueen for capturing such a moment with all candidates in one picture. Congratulations ladies!  Click the link below to see which judicial position each woman is running for.

Women to Know Wednesday

#MustKnow, About, Careers, Faith, Health, Lifestyle, Love, Motivation, Opinions, Relationships, TheMBG, Thoughts of a Black Girl, Uncategorized, Urban Issues

Sacrificing Your Friends For Your Future

shaniselene

It’s important to monitor your inner circle when it comes to pursuing your goals in life. One of the hardest realities I’ve faced has been learning to let go of individuals that have exceeded their expiration date. I used to be one of those people who held onto relationships (both platonic and romantic) based on the amount of time the person has been in my life.

After various events that took place within a friendship of mine, I realized that outgrowing people is a part of life and accepted the fact that everyone isn’t meant to come along during certain parts of my journey. If you care for your loved ones as much as I do, then you’ll understand why this decision wasn’t an easy one. There will be some people that take offense to your choice because they either don’t understand or don’t want to put in the effort to understand that you all may be growing apart and going separate paths.

One of my biggest mistakes were allowing some of those people to make me feel guilty for growing, for becoming the woman I am and wanting more for myself. Rather than encouraging me, I was ignored, called conceited and selfish. They were wrong about every description except classifying me as, “selfish”.  Even though I’m not a self absorbed person, for the past (6) months I’ve been extremely selfish with my funds, time and things I put my energy into. They say that your 20’s are the perfect time to think about yourself.  This is the time to make decisions for yourself and highly consider what’s best for you; it isn’t the time to settle. 

After having an epiphany and grasping what that concept really meant, I no longer felt the need to apologize for the decisions I’ve been making. I quickly learned that my true friends who genuinely supported me resided in different parts of the world. Sometimes we get so caught up on accessibility and fail to realize that just because something is available and tangible doesn’t always mean it’s in our best interest.

You want to ensure that those around you call you to the carpet when you’re slacking. Your friends must be able to hold you accountable for your actions even when they aren’t the best. They need to have the ability to feed your spirit and pour into you when you don’t have the energy to do it for yourself. 

In no way, shape or form am I telling you to drop your, “day 1’s”. However, I do encourage you to decipher who your are keeping in your life, why you are keeping them in your life and if they deserve to stay.

#MustKnow, Featured, History, Motivation, TheMBG

Women to Know Wednesday: Jahana Hayes, First-Time Candidate, Wins Democratic House Primary in Connecticut

Sandré

It’s not how you start, but how you finish! Jahana Hayes is proof of this. Born & raised in the public housing projects of Waterbury, Connecticut under the care of her grandmother, Hayes became a mom at the age of 17. Becoming “just another statistic” and a product of her environment seemed to not have been an option. She did go on to attend and graduate from Southern Connecticut State and eventually became a teacher. With over 10 years of educator experience in subjects such as: World History, Roots of American Citizenship, Civics & Geography, U.S. History, and African American History, she was named Teacher of the Year in 2016. This nomination was honored by President Barack Obama, himself in the flesh, May 3, during National Teacher Appreciation Week at the White House!

She is an active member of the Connecticut Education Association and passionate about education and reminding our youth that their circumstances do not dictate their outcome and that they can do anything they want to do, dream wise. After receiving Teacher of the Year in 2016, she took the following year to represent educators all around the nation and be a spokesperson for the teaching profession through travel and various speaking engagements. This modern day beauty who is now 45, had little to none political experience, AND a first time candidate WON the Democratic House Primary in Connecticut making her the first African- American Woman to represent Connecticut Congress. Jahana Hayes is definitely a woman to know!

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 “Being constantly faced with negative media perceptions surrounding teaching practices and a perceived lack of accountability makes me much more determined to be vocal and supportive of teachers and teaching as a profession.”

If Hayes is elected in November, she will be the first black woman of either party to represent part of New England in Congress. To all my modern day beauties I encourage you to do your research, get involved, and if through research you find one of our sisters deserving of the position they are going for, GET OUT AND VOTE!

#MustKnow, About, Careers, Community, Education, Faith, Health, Healthcare, Lifestyle, Motivation, Opinions, TheMBG, Uncategorized, Urban Issues

For the Love of Medicine

shaniselene

I recently began my clinical rotations at Florida Hospital this past week and although shadowing is not a requirement, it makes your medical school resume more competitive. This experience not only has altered my perception of life, but I’ve gained a newfound appreciation for my well being. Seeing numerous people with a variety of chronic illnesses and diseases opened my eyes to the lack of knowledge surrounding health. 

One patient in particular has been battling sickle cell disease for their entire life; she’s forty years old and a mother of two. Along with excruciating joint pain and body aches, she was also in need of an oxygen mask due to having difficulty breathing. Thankfully, she has the support of her parents to assist with her illness and children, but I can only imagine her daily stressors.

It’s sometimes hard to fathom why bad things happen to good people, but unfortunately, that is life. There is no easy way to accept these circumstances, but this is what makes the job of a physician special because they have the ability to either find cures or assist with prolonging the life of the patient. This experience has further much confirmed my reasoning to pursue my specialty of interest because it breaks my heart to see those in pain. Dermatology not only allows me to educate others about skin care and assist with clearing their skin, but empower them and build their self confidence.

I highly advise those of you who are premed students or anyone interested in pursuing a career in the medical field to not only shadow at a private practice, but at an actual hospital. It will allow you to see what you’re interested in, as well as what you can and can’t handle. Being a medical professional includes having to keep your composure even during high stress situations. If you have a genuine passion to help those and love medicine, then go for it. Yes it will be a challenging journey, but the outcome will be rewarding.

#MustKnow, Beauty, Business, Featured, Lifestyle

Women to Know Wednesday: Social Media Influencer & Hair Product Line Creator Lianne D.

Sandré

“No cosmetology training, purely operating off of passion,” Meet Lianne. She is the Creator of ChroniCurls, a platform dedicated to taking you through her natural hair journey, and the mind and owner behind the hair product line Pop! Curl Color. Her decision to go natural came about during pregnancy. She wasn’t sure whether or not relaxed hair upkeep was good for the baby at the time and knew that soon would come the time to do her baby girl’s hair. What started as simply documenting this journey via YouTube and Instagram five years ago has now generated a very large following and her making a name for herself in the cosmetology business realm, enhancing multiple curl patterns at a time with homemade products! She is originally from Danville, VA, but as an Airforce wife has done a lot of moving.

What inspired your transition from relaxed hair to going natural?

“At the time I decided to go natural I was pregnant with my daughter. I didn’t know if relaxers were good for her and I thought about how my mom always took me to the salon. I told myself I need to know how to do my daughter’s hair.”

What led to you sharing this transition with the public?

“I got comfortable with styling my natural hair and wanted to document it. It was also during the time that blogs like Curly Nikki and natural hair YouTubers were becoming more popular.”

What was your why in creating Pop! Curl Color?

“I wasn’t satisfied with other temporary hair colors on the market. I felt other products made the hair dry, so I wanted something that was fun and colorful but moisturizing and defining at the same time.”

What does Pop! Curl Color do for our hair?

“My products are temporary hair color and curl products.”

Are there any FDA regulations or testing that have to be followed when creating and selling hair products?

“No specific FDA regulations for cosmetic products but they do have strong recommendations. It also depends on your specific state’s regulations.”

When did you realize hair care and creating such products was a passion?

“When I realized I loved creating content about it on my YouTube channel & blog. I loved doing my hair. I loved the feeling I would feel when I would edit a video and it would come out exactly how I wanted it to.”

“My viewpoint on beauty and hair in general began to change and that’s when I realized I wanted to make natural hair a part of my life.”

What were some initial thoughts prior to kicking everything off, business wise?

“Initially I thought I would end up sticking to youtube, full time, and eventually making money off of that, but it didn’t work out that way. I had been sitting on this idea for a year and something told me to simply work on my own product when I had time. A few months ago I was able to launch it.”

Any initial fears prior to going forward with your products?

“Uncertainty had me super scared. I knew the concept was good, but I didn’t know if people would like it. I had never started a business before and also because I already had the large following on other social media platforms, I thought if it failed everybody would know!”

And how did you overcome these fears?

“It was a lot of prayer. I’m also in a groupchat with other bloggers. We all have similar interests. One day I went in the chat and told them what I was feeling, and they were all just so encouraging, as well as my husband.”

“Having somebody else to hold me accountable for what I said I was going to do pushed me over the edge.”

Advice for those interested in entering the cosmetology realm but hesitant due to uncertainty, no school training, or afraid of failing?

“Do your research, ask questions, and just do it! Everything doesn’t have to be perfect. I was recently reading something that said “Launch it broken. Fix it live.” So even its not perfect go ahead and just do it. Launch it and continue to work on it as it goes along, because if you’re waiting for it to be perfect, it’ll never launch.”

Describe to me a typical Pop! Curl Color day or week.

“Pretty busy. I make the gel at home. I take a day I’m not working and make what I think I’ll need for the next week or two. Two days out of the week I spend packing and shipping. I have a process in place to stay organized so that when I’m off and my kids are home I can keep my attention on them.”

Personal strength that you feel have contributed to the success of Pop! Curl Color?

“I am very flexible, business and personal life wise, because things are not going to always go the way I want them to but I have to be quick coming up with another plan.”

Are your products for all hair textures ?

“My products are for all wavy, curly, and kinky hair types.”

Biggest accomplishment thus far from all of this?

“My biggest fear was people wouldn’t like it or understand it, so I’m proud that people really like it. I get really excited when customers send me pictures. It validates the idea behind the business to begin with and makes me feel good. I want women to like it and feel good about their hair.”

Lianne’s advice for those interested in making such products is to do your research, test other products, know what it is that you want, and to join online groups and websites that will guide you into launching your own products.

Outside of being an entrepreneur and using her social media platforms to influence and promote her products you can find Lianne exercising, enjoying the outdoors, online shopping, and being an Airforce wife as well an amazing mother to two beautiful kids! She also received a Bachelors degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and a Masters in Health Sciences from Duke University. Her background is in medicine and she currently works part time as a Physician Assistant out of Alaska. If you’re natural and looking for quality products to enhance your curl pattern and add temporary color you should definitely follow her social media platforms!

chronicurls.com

Instagram: @chronicurls

Youtube, subscribe!

#MustKnow, Business, Community, Featured, TheMBG, Thoughts of a Black Girl

Women to Know Wednesday: Black Woman Director Ava DuVernay

Sandré

Did you know Ava DuVernay is the first black woman to direct a $100 million dollar grossing film? Not only this, but it is said that she made color representation a priority during the casting of the film, A Wrinkle in Time. She was also the first black woman director to be nominated for a Golden Globe award for best director in 2014! California native, Long Beach to be exact, her filmmaking journey began while working in the film publicity and marketing realm. Ava attended UCLA where she double majored in English and African American studies. She eventually started her very own agency in 1999. DuVernay Agency specializes in movie marketing for African- American audiences.

The list of accolades and accomplishments does not begin nor stop at “A wrinkle in Time.” Ava has created and directed multiple documentaries and feature films. DuVernay was also the first African American women to win Sundance Film Festival’s dramatic competition directing award in 2012 for her second feature film “Middle of Nowhere.” She directed Hip Hop Artist Jay Z’s Family Feud music video and the 2010 Essence Music Fest’s 2-hour documentary. She is the creator of the tv series “Queen Sugar.” More recent upcoming projects include a TV movie titled Battle of Versailles, a historical drama TV series titled The Last Amazon for Atrium, a comedy series with Colin Kaepernick, which will focus on his high school life, and a CBS racial drama title Red Line, set to premiere 2019 just to name a FEW! DuVernay has and continues to accomplish so much, all the while making history and paving the pathway for more to come and be inspired. This is definitely a women to know and I encourage you to check out the following sites provided below: her official website and another article to take in more past and present events as well as more details on what this phenomenal women is accomplishing in the film industry.

AvaDuvernay.com

Biography

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#MustKnow, Beauty, Education, Featured, Health, Lifestyle, Opinions, Style, TheMBG, Thoughts of a Black Girl, Uncategorized, Urban Issues

Fresh Faced

shaniselene

Tomorrow marks the final day of my makeup detox and I must say that I see a significant difference in my skin. Although I absolutely enjoy being dolled up, I usually take pride in my, “Fresh Faced” days. Disciplining myself to go makeup free for an entire week was a slight challenge this go around because I am still recovering from the allergic reaction that I experienced about a month ago. I was so determined to stick to this detox that in the event that I had to run an errand or leave the house, I wore a medical mask to cover the areas from the sun (oddly enough, I still got hit on and approached, but that’s for another blog post lol).

This detox has allowed me to pinpoint certain products and ingredients that don’t agree with my skin and also served as an example for what happens when wearing makeup excessively. Typically, the longest I’d wear makeup is around eight hours, but between relocating within the last two weeks and entertaining guests that were in town, I wore makeup for thirteen hours over the course of three consecutive days and the irritation that I experienced was a clear indicator that this wasn’t something my skin was accustomed to. Initially, I thought that I was building an allergy to my foundation, but quickly came to the conclusion that wearing it more than my regular regimen. Most are unaware of this, but a majority of skin allergies stem from products already introduced to the skin. For example, you could be using a facial cleanser for ten years and the eleventh year, have an adverse reaction to it.

If you’re a product junkie like myself, I suggest doing an at home patch test if you’re unaware of ingredients that don’t agree with your skin. The area on your inner wrist and forearm are the closest to the skin on your face. Apply a pea size amount of the new product (label if it’s more than one) and allow to sit for (24) hours. If you notice any signs of inflammation or bumps, that is a clear indication of an irritant. If you’d like to take it a step further, you can ask your physician if they offer medical patch tests at their office or to direct you to a physician that does. The process is quite similar, but instead of (24) hours, a patch test panel is taped to your back for (48) hours. They can test anything from makeup to latex to decipher what you are allergic to. Since I am constantly asked about skincare, I also recommend getting your blood type tested. Once your blood type is identified, you can obtain a list of foods and ingredients that aren’t suitable for it. This serves as a great way to clear your skin if you are experiencing problems, but as always, I advise everyone who seeks my advice to speak to a Dermatologist; they are not only professional, but have the access to tools and additional knowledge to conduct further research and can confirm if your skin concerns are dietary, hormonally or cosmetically related.

Aside from giving your skin a breather, I encourage all cosmetic lovers to indulge in a makeup detox. My face is brighter, more even and supple. Not only is it great for your skin, but it helps fuel your self confidence if your suffer with insecurities of going bare. There is something empowering about not wearing makeup and living in your natural truth. For those of you who aren’t as comfortable going makeup free, this is a great way to start. As aesthetically pleasing as you may be externally, remember that beauty fades and at the end of the day, YOU have to be ok with what you see in the mirror when you wake up in the morning, so love yourself wholeheartedly; imperfections and all.

#MustKnow, Beauty, Careers, Community, Dating, Education, Faith, Featured, Health, Lifestyle, Love, Opinions, Relationships, Sex, Style, TheMBG, Thoughts of a Black Girl, Travel, Uncategorized, Urban Issues

Likes for your Soul?

shaniselene

Social media platforms such as, Instagram, are not only updating constantly, but evolving on a tremendous level. As a blogger, it is important to consistently post quality content in order to maintain your brand, however, Instagram’s recent changes has made it extremely difficult to reach new accounts and engage with others on the platform; even your current followers have become more difficult to connect with due to the algorithm. 

Most of us would agree that the order in which your feed is displayed is one of the worst attributes of Instagram, but I believe the affect it has on the psyche and our self esteem takes the cake. Rather than utilizing this social media outlet to connect with family and friends whom you may not be able to engage with on a daily basis, it is now used to obtain followers, likes and views. To make matters worse, people are willing to do anything for attention; anything to get them seen. This includes paying ridiculous sums of money for advertisements and promotions to compromising their morals and values. 

For those of us like myself, who’s accustomed to being in the spotlight or characterized as the popular kid in school, attention isn’t something you crave when it’s always been handed to you. Please be advised that I am not excluding myself from experiencing a time of self doubt due to social media, however, the confidence and self assurance that I have both internally and externally play a major role in preventing me from falling victim to the psychological plague of Instagram.

Although I’ve received from flack from friends, outsiders and individuals with cyber courage that stated I wouldn’t be able to relate to certain struggles on Instagram because I meet a majority of the standards of beauty or been trendy before Instagram existed, my main goal is to educate and inspire others through my medical school journey, new ventures throughout my career and levels in which God has brought me to and places He intends to take me. I want others to know that He can do the same for them and not to allow the perception of society limit them to what they can do. 

No shade to the accounts that have reached large pinnacles of success, but most of them eat, live and sleep Instagram and have nothing else going on for themselves outside of it. When you begin collaborating with other bloggers or influencers, receive deals from major companies and network with successful individuals in the industry, you learn that IG is not all it’s cracked up to be. It isn’t REAL. The more you begin to focus on all of the positives in your life, what you currently have and cultivating the things in your world, the hype of Instagram will begin to fade and eventually, you won’t even notice it. Remember to water your own grass rather than sprinting in a never ending rat race chasing something unobtainable.