Here are the reasons the Best Man Holiday movie rocked: Eddie Cibriani, Morris Chestnut, Nostalgia, Emotional, Tears, Terrence Howard, Laughter. The End.

See I am just curious by nature (a blessing and a curse sometimes) so I am never one to moan about a spoiler and so by the time The Best Man Holiday came out this side of the pond I had researched and read reviews even those laced with spoilers. So going in I already knew it was going to be a good movie and that I would face a roller coaster of emotions. Unlike the Frank Ocean over-hyped Orange album this time they hype and rave reviews were all worth it. Now let’s get into how many ways it was great.

1. Morris Chestnut

No words needed. Morris isn’t my type HOWEVER that body, that body for a man over 40…

2. Nostalgia

I remember when the first The Best Man came out, I was a college student and I remembered watching this movie whilst away on a group-couples’ holiday  and that holiday still is one of the best holidays of my life so far. So hearing the sequel was coming out nostalgia set in, there was also a pang of having flashbacks of those days as one good friend who had been with us then passed on. Though it also had email round robin of our ‘crew’ which is now scattered all over the globe checking when we were going to watch the movie. The growth of the cast also mirrored our own growth and where we are now in life.

3. Eddie Cibriani

Eddie Cibriani is worth watching the movie for – just to busk in the ambience of those dimples and foineness!

4. The tears 

There is a scene in the movie that the above song is sung and the whole movie theatre was in tears..as in tissues were being passed, sniffles could be heard and it was such a heart wrenching scene. Now there are quite a few more scenes were I cried. There is a death in the movie (oh yeah spoiler alert) and to me said death was much more poignant as having lost one of my greatest friends it hurt even more. Monica Calhoun was brilliant in this movie…BRILLIANT!!

5. Laughter

As said above I shed tears but Terrence Howard’s character is still as funny and he’s that big hug full of tickles that comes in and wipes those tears and makes you laugh.

6. There’s NO Madea

Now I do use Madea’s ‘Good Mornting’ and ‘Hellur’ almost every day and usually in response my dear friend Vimbai side-eyes me or just shakes her head. However this movie is realistic and very much relatable and the dynamics in that movie reminds us of our own circles. Tyler’s movies do lack that and I’m glad Malcolm D. Lee made sure this holiday movie steered clear of that box.

7. A Great Christmas Movie

I am a true sucker for romantic comedy, feel good, tear jerking holiday movies. The Holiday is one of my favourite Christmas movies. The Holiday solely because of Jude Law and now I am happily adding The Best Man Holiday to this list. It is definitely a must watch movie during the holiday times and also for your DVD collection. So wrap up warm, snuggle on your couch and enjoy this great movie!

8. The Soundtrack

Remember when movie soundtracks were just as great as the movies themselves during that late 90s, early 00s era? Set It Off, Love Jones, Love and Basketball, Brown Sugar, Waiting to Exhale (this album was full of BabyFace’s awesomeness)..well this movie’s soundtrack is also reminiscent of that time.

PhotoCredit: YourLifeAfter25, Google Images

From a young age my dad made sure to educate my siblings and I about the liberation war struggles of Southern African countries and most lessons started with music. We were never far removed from knowing what apartheid was, Oliver Tambo, Steve Biko, FRELIMO, history of Nyasaland, the times at Fort Hare university . So today a week after Tata Madiba passed on, my eulogy to him is to share with you the music I’ve always associated with him.

1. Hugh Masekela – Bring Back Nelson Mandela

I recently had the most gifted pleasure of being in the audience of the legend that is Hugh Masekela and it felt like I was in Madiba’s presence too.

2. Zahara feat Mzwakhe Mbuli – Mandela

This song has been on constant repeat!

3. Black President – Brenda Fassie 

4. Sarafina – FULL MOVIE!

This movie will give insight to what Tata Madiba did.

5. Miriam Makeba feat Hugh Masekela – South Africa Freedom Song

It feels like 2013 has been whirlwind year, a twerking, harlem shake filled whirlwind, but a whirlwind nonetheless.

Early this year you couldn’t go on the internet without stumbling across some new version of the Harlem Shake. The song was created by electronic musician Baauer and it seemed everyone and their grandmother (literally) were taking part in the internet meme.

And who could forget Beyonce at the Superbowl.Or as most people saw it the Beyonce concert with american footballers featuring as the opening act. Queen Bey put on an amazing show, ushering in the new “Grown” Beyonce post baby Blue Ivy and giving us all a taste what was to come during her Mrs Carter world tour. And the album that was never marketed just dropped today..a full Chaud review is coming!

2013 will most probably be remembered as the year of twerking. After Miley’s infamous provocative performance at the VMAs officially showed us that her Disney days were officially dead, she introduced the rest of the world which wasn’t already in the know to twerking – or at least her version of twerking. Which mostly involved awkward gyrations which had us hiding behind our hands and praying this wouldn’t catch on.

Love them or hate them Kimye have captured our attention this year. They have spent the year spreading their special brand of high fashion to the masses. With their engagement and the addition of baby North to their family it seems Kim and Yeezus will keep spreading their message into 2014.

Another bundle of joy that had us all abuzz on twitter this year was Prince George. Since the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced they were expecting, baby watch went into full effect and of course twitter knew before the official announcement.

2013 has also been encumbered with a number of deaths. Glee actor Cory Monteith was the first in a list of tragic deaths, along with Paul Walker, James Gandolfini, as well as Youtube star Talia Castellano after a six year battle with cancer. The recent death of Nelson Mandela resulted in millions of messages of mourning and remembrance of the great figure through social media.

2013 has certainly been a year of great highs and terrible lows. Although it treated us well and gave us plenty to talk about, I have to say I will be glad to welcome in 2014 and whatever trends, memes and mildly offensive dances that may come with it.

Beyonce’s new album made me blush! Rocket and Blow had me blushing and all kinds of ‘oh my I feel so naughty watching and listening to this on the tube’. The tweet below pretty much sums up how I felt listening to Rocket and Blow.

I saw a tweet that said the ‘B’ in B613 stands for Beyonce! Hilarious but  we all know that B613 is the  G.O.A.T GOON of goons.

Unannounced Beyonce dropped a visual album – which is the antithesis of making singles, the visual album is a non-linear journey through the thoughts and visions of Beyoncé. The CD/DVD will be available from 20 December 2013 in time for Christmas viewing! (those coming to mine you can expect a Beyonce viewing)

This is what Beyonce had to say:

I feel like right now, people experience music differently. I remember watching Thriller on TV with my family, it was an event, we all sat around the TV and now looking back, I am so happy I was born around that time. I miss that immersive experience. Now, people only listen to a few seconds of a song on their IPODS, they don’t really invest in a whole album. It’s all about the single and the hype. There’s so much that gets between the music, and the artists and the fans. I felt like, I don’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it is ready, and from me to my fans.

I told my team, ‘I want to shoot a video for every song and put them all out at the same time!’ Everyone thought I was crazy, but we’re actually doing it, it’s happening!’

I wanted to make this body of work, and I feel like it’s something that’s lost in pop music. I wanted people to hear things differently and have a first impression. Not just listen to a 10 second clip, but actually be able to see a whole vision of the album. It was important that we made this a movie, we made this an experience.

I wanted everyone to see the whole picture, and to see how personal everything was to me. I will make my best art and just put it out. And that’s why it’s out today!

Here are a 6 facts about the new album:

1) This album took a year and a half to create.

2) The initial recording process started in the summer of 2012, after the writers and producers gathered under one roof in The Hamptons to live together, work together and to immerse themselves into her world and into her head.

3) The videos were shot throughout her “Mrs. Carter Show World Tour” in places that included a beach in Brazil, the streets of NYC, a rollercoaster in Coney Island, New York, downtown Los Angeles, a chateau in Paris, a roller skating rink in Houston, Texas where she skated as a child, and a beautiful church in South America.

4) There is a long list of songwriters, producers, and video directors on the project which includes JAY Z, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Drake, The-Dream, Sia, Miguel, Frank Ocean, Hit Boy, Ammo, Boots, Detail, Hype Williams, Terry Richardson, Melina Matsoukas, Jonas Åkerlund, Noah “40″ Shebib, and more [No Ne-Yo????]

5) The album is available exclusively on Itunes (sucks for Droid users) for a week. It will go to retail December 21.

6) Two tracks are expected to be announced as the lead singles for different formats next week (per Billboard). [The last time she did this was with her third studio album I Am...Sasha Fierce.]

Source: NecoleBitchie

We  dubbed 2013 the year of Beyoncé for through out the year we have been talking about her and loving every moment of it:

Beyonce  on Oprah

Beyonce and Oprah are two women who make me work harder and go harder – they motivate me. They are two celebrity women whose brand and work ethos I look up to.

Life is But A Dream

We saw Beyonce and Jay Z tipsy singing Yellow. Beyonce also made a very great statement ‘I realised that being nice and business don’t go together’ and honestly I have learnt that when it comes to business we might be good friends but business is business.

Beyonce at SuperBowl

Destiny’s Child performed together again, Kelly came up looking all thick, Keyshia Cole regrets ever coming for Michelle and Beyonce shut it down – literally with no electricity!

Beyonce at the Inauguration

There was some hooplah about Beyonce lipsynching and she remedied that by

Beyonce sings national anthem

Mrs Carter World Tour – the tour of all tours

So the above happened whilst she was on tour and funny Beyonce responded with the below on her Instagram!

This tour has been extended and Beyonce is back in London from 28th February – 4th March! Santa Baby send me some Bey concert tickets!

Beyonce in TopShop

Beyonce also collaborated with H&M with summer pieces that were very affordable.

Beyonce, Jay Z and Blue on Holiday

Jay Z gave out free albums to Samsung users – his album going straing to platinum , dropped his hyphen, went on Twitter and had #FactsOnly and #MyLaugh trending, he also went on tour. Baby Blue dropped her second collaboration single and as stated above the whole Beyonce visual album concept took a year and a half to make – but in between that time the Carters also took time out to go on holiday – showing that you can work very hard but also take time out to relax. That whole ethos of ‘work, work, work’  is not healthy, you need time out with those you love and just relax!

Yup 2013 was definitely the year of B613 aka Beyonce Gisele Carter!

Caroline Brealey is the founder of one of London’s award winning matchmaking service – Mutual Attraction. Mutual Attraction is a leading Matchmaking and Introduction Agency for Professionals. Mutual Attraction was voted the 4th Best MatchMaker in the WORLD ! Being a matchmaker is no easy feat and we learnt a lot when we got the opportunity to not only interview Caroline but have her as our cover girl for the Fierce and Fearless issue.

Please tell us a bit about yourself, background and how you got into matchmaking business?

I’m originally from Nottingham and moved to London after completing my degree in child psychology, this was 6 years ago but it feels like I’ve been in London a lifetime!  I began working for a children’s charity coordinating services for children with complex needs before moving into management of Children Centres. I really enjoyed the line of work but had always had an interest in the world of dating and relationships and was looking for ways to move into the industry in a professional manner. I owned a couple of online dating sites but my interest lay in working one on one with people. I did my research and found there was a huge gap in the market. There were lots of matchmakers and dating agencies but they all catered to the older generation and only the very wealthy. There was nothing for young, engaging and dynamic professionals and so Mutual Attraction was born.

Can you tell us what are the most important components of your matchmaking process?

Firstly, I have to have a good connection with my client. I am fortunate that I’m in a position where I can select whom I work with and I only work with people who are genuine, who will actively get involved in the matchmaking process and who an all round great person. It’s important we connect so they can be honest and open with me and vice versa, sometimes as matchmaker you have to have difficult conversations with people, for example if their match doesn’t want to see them again or they have unrealistic expectations. A great relationship goes a long way in those circumstances!

The initial consultation is critical, this is when I meet with a potential client for the first time and it’s here when I really get to know the client, what they’re looking for in a partner and in a relationship, what their deals breakers are and where they’re willing to compromise. If I can help then I will invite them to join Mutual Attraction and everything they’ve told me will be taken into consideration when matchmaking.

What are some of the most memorable moments from your career in matchmaking?

So many but there are two really memorable moments. The first being our first engaged couple, when they told me it was such an incredible feeling, to know that you introduced someone to the love of their life is amazing! The second moment was our first Mutual Attraction baby. I will admit to shedding a few tears when I received the picture, such an adorable baby as well and I’m not being biased When you have a moment like this it keeps you on a high for days and can keep you going on the tough days.

After gambling and porn, online dating is the biggest revenue generator industry on the internet. How has online dating changed the way we have relationships?

The beauty of online dating is that it has greatly increases our opportunity to meet others. Before online dating people had much smaller networks and only met people through friends, work or blind dates. Of course classifieds were also used and they were the online dating of their time but we didn’t have access to all these great single people in one place. In some ways that’s great, we can pay a small fee or nothing at all and have all these profiles at the touch of a button. However the knock on effort of online dating is that we have a false perception that there is an endless source of single people out there who we want to date and who want to date us! Now more than ever we are striving for perfection, our date has to be ‘perfect’, they have to be the right height, have specific interests, be very masculine yet also incredible romantic and gentle….yep I hear these criteria all the time! We cast aside people very quickly nowadays, if they don’t meet our growing checklists we move onto the next, and the next and the next. We don’t give people the chance and are always looking for ‘better’. This means we miss out on meeting someone incredible for silly reasons that actually don’t matter because research has shown that if we meet someone who we have a connection with and who we have that butterfly feeling in our stomach over, we actually compromise far more on what we’re looking for. The interesting thing is if I tell a client they have been turned down for a date because they are too short for example, they are usually shocked and say ‘well I wouldn’t want to meet someone who was that judgemental and was that focused on physical appearance’ yet this is the same guy who will have turned down a woman the week before for not being a size 10. We don’t see it in ourselves but if we actually stopped and thought about what we were doing we would realise we’re being far too picky about irrelevant things. By all means have a few deal breakers, we all have them but try to let go of those must haves that should actually be ‘desirables’.

How do you then sell matchmaking services to those who would rather say ‘I’ll just go onto Match.com or any other sites out there?’

Online dating and Matchmaking are at such different ends of the scale when it comes to dating services. They key thing here is to help people understand the difference between the two. Online dating is significantly cheaper than matchmaking but like most things if life, you get what you pay for! When online dating you have to be very proactive spending hours each night sifting and sorting through profiles, writing witty emails and trying to show how ‘fun loving you are’ through a perfectly written profile. You can forget all about that when you’re using a matchmaker because they do everything for you; hence it’s a popular service for professionals. Before a matchmaker introduces a potential match to a client they will have met and profiled them in person (so no fibbing about height guys!), spent time getting to know them and will understand exactly what they’re looking for in a partner and relationship. By the time the client meets their date they know they are on the same page, looking for the same things in a relationship and share similar aspirations.

Our clients tell us they opt to use a matchmaker over online dating because they prefer the privacy (we never share clients photo/info outside of our network), they like the security that we profile each person meaning we’ve spent time with them one on one and have also seen their photo id and proof of address….online you can be anyone you want to be! Ultimately though, our clients know they are meeting people who are at the same point in life as they are – they are ready to settle down, they want to find love and are not looking for a quick hook up, unfortunately the same can’t be said for everyone using an online dating site. Matchmaking is hassle free, you sit back and let the matchmaker do the work!

What was the strangest thing anyone ever told you they wanted in a mate?

I once met a really lovely woman, she was very bubbly and I instantly warmed to her. She was fast approaching 40, was single and really wanted the whole package – marriage, children and a house in the country. She told me she hadn’t dated for nearly 10 years because she was too busy at work. Now, nobody is ever too busy for dating for 10 years! I knew there was more to this story and she soon admitted that she would only consider meeting a guy who was under 30, Caucasian (she was black) and wealthy. Unfortunately not many guys under 30 are attracted to 39 year old women, of course there’s always the exception but generally speaking that’s a tall order! I asked her if she had tried online dating, she had and she had been approaching these young guys and had not got any response. I very politely tried to say that that should be giving her a sign that what she’s looking for is unrealistic but she was adamant that’s what she wanted. Best of luck to her but I couldn’t help!

Have you ever turned away a client – if so why?

I was once given a map of where a woman’s potential match would have to live and there was no compromise! It was a map of Chelsea with areas and streets highlighted and he had to live around there. The funny thing was she didn’t even live in Chelsea! Needless to say I didn’t take her on as a client, she was looking for a very specific type of guy and would be a great contestant for millionaire matchmaker!

Dating itself can be quite daunting and off-putting. What advice do you give your clients?

A few tips to pick from:

•        When you’re dating you are investing in your future so make an effort, you never know where you might meet a potential date and you will feel more confident and great about yourself if you’ve taken that bit of time and effort to look fabulous.
•         As women we tend to over analyse, it’s in our genes! Relax, and take a date as it is – a chance to meet someone new and decide whether you would like to know them better. Take it from there and don’t analyse his texts, emails, phone calls etc it will drive you insane for no reason!
•          If a guy doesn’t pick up the phone and call don’t hold it against him. Guys are notoriously bad on the phone and until they get to know you better don’t always feel comfortable calling you. We hear this a lot from guys so cut them a bit of slack.
•        Be approachable and talk to everyone who catches your eye, chat to those who you may not think are ‘your type’ and you might be pleasantly surprised.
•         We might not all admit to it but most of us do it. The first thing we do when we find out our dates name is hit the web to run a quick search on your own name to see what your date may find out about you, it may be time to have a web cleanse.
•          Before you fall head over heels with your date wait until date 3 is under your belt, this is when the ‘Third Date Bombshell’ hits. Your date tells you he has to be home by 10 as he’s tagged, he still lives with his parents at 35 or he’s a porn film director and wants you to star in his next movie.  It may not be a deal breaker but it may not be your dream match either!
• People forget that dating is meant to be fun, smile, enjoy yourself and if something goes wrong on a date laugh it off as much as you can and if it’s really terrible know you’ll have a funny story for your friends. Don’t let a bad date get you down, pick yourself up and continue your dating journey.

What are the most common or egregious relationship myths?

When it’s ‘the one’ you will know instantly. Some people have that heart shattering moment instantly, but the majority of people don’t. I’m a true believer that love is created and not found. In my job as a matchmaker I can find people who are a great match for my clients but it’s down to them to create the love, that has to come from the two people and it can often take time. The heart flutters, the excitement of seeing someone, the build-up are all signs that it could lead to love down the line.

Using a dating service like a matchmaker, online dating sites and dating events are for weird people who can’t get a date. When I hear this I would just love to whip out some profiles of my clients!  Contrary to this myth people who use a matchmaker are usually educated, hold down highly successful careers whilst maintaining an active social life and are financially sound. That doesn’t sound like a loser to me!

What is the biggest obstacle people face in finding love?

Managing their own expectations and actually doing something about it. All too often I hear ‘I want to meet Mr Right, why hasn’t he come along?’ This often comes from women who are smart, successful, pretty and lovely people but they’re not really doing much about finding what they’re looking for. They’re waiting for it to happen like it does in the movies but unfortunately like most things in life you have to put effort in to finding and holding onto what you want. You need to take yourself out of your comfort zone, try singles event, join groups and clubs that interest you, commit to online dating, work with a matchmaker and socialise not just with friends but with people outside your close network. The chances of this perfect guy knocking on your door are slim to none so make the effort, get out there and go find him!

It’s a bit like job hunting, it’s unlikely your dream job will fall in your lap without some serious effort on your part and the same goes in dating and love.

What makes for a long lasting match?

When matching a couple there are a few facts that are backed up extensively by research. A relationship has a higher chance of longevity if the couple are from similar socio economic backgrounds, are educated to a similar level and are a similar age. Of course there’s a lot more to it than that and this is where shared values, visions for the future, trust, commitment and effort from both parties comes in. Some of the questions we ask at Mutual Attraction might seem quite trivial but are really helpful in building up a picture of what someone future might look like e.g. are you an early bird or night owl and what type of holidays do you enjoy perhaps it’s climbing a mountain or relaxing on a beach with a cocktail. Love is something that needs to be worked on constantly to grow and it’s not just a case of how long you’ve been together.

What qualities should women/men be looking for in the opposite sex that lots of your clients come in having overlooked?

Many people come armed with a checklist but haven’t actually realistically visualised what this amazing person will be like. E.g. a woman might be looking for a guy who is very career driven and successful but the down side of that is that he is most likely going to work late, perhaps travel a lot and work is going to be a hugely dominant factor in his life. If she’s the type of woman who likes to have quite a lot of independence then great but is she’s a real home person who wants to spend most nights with her partner then how is that going to work? You have to think through ‘why’ you want something. Often we have developed this list based on what we think we should be looking for, the whole tall, dark handsome package. But actually when we stop and think about it living that reality we might realise that actually it’s not as sparkly as the dream.

What would be your top 3 tips/ recommendations be for women looking for ‘The One’?

• ·         Have just a small number of deal breakers but be prepared to compromise on the rest
• ·         Do everything you can to increase your opportunities of meeting new single people. Network, join groups, go out with friends. Enrich your life with things you enjoy and that make you happy.
• ·         Remember ‘the one’ may be packaged differently to what you visualise. Give people a chance in the same way you hope they will with you. Be open minded, treat each date as a great opportunity, stay positive and have fun.

What are the challenges have you faced in such ‘client-success’ based field?

One of the hardest things is that we want to scream from the rooftops when we have a couple get together, or a wedding or a baby but everything has to very confidential. We want to put pictures in the press and everywhere! We also reply on a lot of word of mouth but in the dating industry that can be hard to achieve because there is still a slight stigma where people are reluctant to say they met through a dating service. We should take a leaf out of the Americans book, matchmaking is such a bigger field over there and far more people access it as just another way to date.

The other main difficulty is that you either introduce you client to their dream person and they skip off happily into the sunset or you don’t. There’s no in between because whilst your client may have gone on lots of dates, had second and third dates and et great people if they haven’t met the love of their life they won’t see it as a successful service. Unfortunately though we can’t control the actions of our clients and members and how they behave and interact on a d ate, that’s down to them, we wish we could though!

With the success of shows like Patti Stanger’s Millionaire Matchmaker – will we be seeing you on our television screens any time soon?

I have something in the pipeline so watch this space! The Millionaire Matchmaker has definitely brought matchmaking to the forefront of dating. Whilst London (and the UK) has always had matchmakers, online dating has been dominating the market for the last decade. Getting word out that we’re here, we exist (!) has been a challenge but shows like MM bring it onto people’s radar.

What advice would you give to fellow female entrepreneurs who want to achieve some level of success like you?

To stop thinking and start doing! Now more than ever there are so many opportunities for women in business and some great free networks and resources to support you.

Enjoy what you do and follow your passions. There’s no point setting up a great money maker if you dread going to work every day.

Be ambitious, determined, organised and be prepared to put in the hard work. It’s tough but the rewards can be incredible and are so worth the hard slog!

Find out more about Caroline and her company Mutual Attraction here: mutualattraction.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Miss_Matchmaker

Chaud is to web series what Amy Poehler is to Tina Fey, what Drake is to emotions,  Micaela Erlanger is to Lupita Nyong’o - we go together, we go together extremely well, and as is annual tradition we let you know which Webisodes you need to watch during the year and not miss out on quality entertainment on your laptops and/or mobile devices.

1. EVERYTHING from the Black & Sexy TV stable –  Black and Sexy TV hold a very special place in our hearts – they gave us our first REAL cover and to us they are family! They have also – no fault of their own – made us snobs on the webisode circuit – because of the quality shows they create and deliver.

RoomieLoverFriends 

Hello Cupid

That Guy : This has become my favourite show from the stable mostly because of Judah and he’s also very interactive on Social Media making it even more enjoyable

Yellow

2.Brothers With No Game - this several Award-winning UK show also has a special place in our hearts – they are our boys, we are eternal stans and they keep giving us quality entertainment such that they are the winners of the web series space this side of the UK and globally. With Season 2 finale drawing closer, we are already anticipating what is in store for 2014 from these talented, funny brothers.

3. MTV Shuga – Nigeria – The MTV Shuga Series was where most Africans met Lupita Nyong’o, it started off in Kenya and now Season 3 is based in Nigeria. Personally I loved the two seasons set in Kenya more though that does not devalue Shuga Nigeria. These shows are edu-tainment in that they entertain but also educate about HIV/AIDS. 

4. Matchmaking Mondays – these Monday dating nuggets from our current cover feature award winning Matchmaker Caroline Brealey are worth watching and you can even send her in questions!

5. HouseMates 

1. Lupita Nyong’o

Oprah is in awe of her and then she cried for her.  She is funny and such a humble and down-to-earth personality, together with her stylist Micaela they are slaying the red carpets, the fashion magazines adore her, Social Media is in love with her Kenyans in fact most Africans are proud of her (to those who are saying she looks average – petty much?). I’m here for Lupita, her style is right up my boulevard and her personality rocks!

2. Being Mary Jane 

Mara Brock-Akil is my creative spirit animal – she definitely makes me want to create and challenge myself more. Her Black Girls Rock  speech is embedded  in the right side of my brain. Being Mary Jane is two episodes in, quite entertaining and what’s more is the conversation to be had about the show. Being the insomniac that I am, I caught up with the #shethriveschat thanks to Jamie of @BlackGirlNeeds – and there was a very insightful and entertaining conversation about the show, Mary Jane’s character and her decisions which of course like Queen of Piss-poor Decision Making Kingdom Olivia Pope make some viewers feel some kind of way, blogs will be written, podcasts made and twitter conversations had.  Are you watching?

3. Alexis Wilkinson

Alexis Wilkson has been all over the media because the economics major was elected president of the Harvard Lampoon, the 138-year-old comedy magazine that doubles as a feeder into writers’ rooms for The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation, and late-night shows. Wilkinson will be the first black woman to ever run the  Lampoon. (Notable alumni: John Updike, George Plimpton, Conan O’Brien, Simon Rich.). Alexis you rock!

4. Winnie Harlow

Winnie Harlow is a teenager who has most on Instagram in awe! Winnie is the face of vitiligo, proud, brave, fierce and embracing this skin condition which has no cure. Offered the option to go ‘white’, Winnie decline saying ‘If God had wanted me to be white he would have made me white’. Winnie inspires all of us in embracing our beauty as we are, looking in the mirror and saying ‘I am woman. I am invincible. I am beautiful and I am fierce’. Winnie you are Chaud and you rock!

5. Blood Sweat and Heels 

Blood, Sweat & Heels is an American reality show on Bravo series that premiered January 5, 2014. It depicts the personal, professional, and social circle of six women who reside in New York City.  Biased maybe but I’m here for Demetria and her message delivery mirrors mine. I’ve followed A Belle in Brooklyn for some years now and her journey to date has been nothing short of inspiring. Many a discussion topics are raised from the show and we will cover some in articles to come soon. I do however hope they are still not discussing a blog post in Episode 3.

The Watercoolers 

*@BlackGirlNerds - now we already featured Jamie on Chaud however if you are not following her on Twitter (how dare you) and in need of some mind stimulating debates, tech talk, laughs in essence your TL will be enriched by following Black Girl Nerds!

*Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Oscar nomination or rather Chiwetel’s sister’s reaction to his Oscar nomination.

* A Nigerian-Camerounian celebrity has a bleaching product out and apparently this has sold out – now I am not surprised because I do know people who have harmed their skin intentionally all in the name of bleaching. Now I will not be the judgement counsel – though it really isn’t about being judgemental but if only the men and women who bleach were aware of melona, and other side effects of bleaching creams maybe products like these would not be sold out. It is actually sad to think amongst the African community there are still misconceptions that being light-skin = beauty, it is sad, warped and shows we have far to go in educating people. Hopefully young people like Winnie Harlow will educate the younger generation and let them embrace their skin tones.

Swirlr is a new dating reality web series, the show features singles who are opening themselves up to the “world” of interracial dating. The show is hosted by Christelyn Karazin and Jordan Harbinger. The show premiers on Valentine’s day. Will you be watching? 

I definitely will be watching, live-tweeting and encourage you all our readers and supporters to get on to this show!! The UK needs this kind of positive diversity on our screens and such shows are a great start.

When it come to speaking your mind and always speaking the absolute truth, Oghosa is one young lady who has that covered. Sharing your opinions on social media can be very divisive and this is why most bloggers tend to be very diplomatic. So her channel comes as a breath of fresh air, as Oghosa shares her opinions in a very level headed and refreshing manner. We caught up with her to find out her style go-tos, dealing with social media negativity and how she juggles university and her blogger life:

1.    What was your inspiration behind making your very first video?

It’s quite funny remembering it, it was inspired by poetry and teenage heartbreak. It was a video of a poem I wrote. I’ve grown quite a bit since then!

2.    What would be your dream career role?

I aspire to be a Theatre Producer. I want to do a range of things but long term I want to become a Business woman. I want to run my own company which will produce theatre productions, films and television shows.

3.    In your style videos, your style is always on point. What or who is your style inspiration?

Thank you, I get my ‘great style’ from a range of places. Lots of my style icons include celebrities, bloggers and style I see from different people on social networks. I see style as an expression of freedom and what you’re feeling and the stage you’re at in your journey in life. My style is a working progress and I’m still learning! But I’d say Rita Ora, Sarah Jessica Parker and Rihanna are my style goddesses.

4.    Which would you rather go without (Heaven forbid) your fabulous hair and makeup or your sassy sense of style?

Honestly, in university where I’m working all the time on different ventures, I go out without make up and in a plain pair of Topshop jeans and a graphic T Shirt, so on some days I look fairly ‘plain jane.’ But normally, I’d say I’d rather go out without fabulous make-up and hair. Good clothes make me feel like my creativity is still there and it speaks for me without me having to say a word.

5.    Has it been difficult juggling YouTube and uni?

Yes! Third year is much more intense so it is difficult. In fact after this I have a schedule calling! But I’m learning and getting better everyday.

6.    How do you usually pick the topic for your videos?

I get asked this question alot and I’m terrible at answering it. Topics are all around, in conversations with friends, on social networks, in university, on the news, even my dreams inspire some topics!

 7.    You seem to exude so much confidence in yourself, how have you managed to achieve that so young?

My confidence is something that I’m still learning to own, I think knowing God has helped the most. I believed I was a nothing and a nobody before I had a relationship with God, and knowing who your creator is, helps in knowing who you truly are. That’s where my confidence really comes from.

8. What advice would you give to anyone else wanting to start making videos?

Work hard! It depends what you want from making videos. Some make videos just for recognition or popularity. If you want to do it to make a difference, for yourself or for others-be prepared to work hard, editing and uploading can be stressful. You need to upload consistently and make sure you have decent lighting and a decent camera (even if it’s just your web cam. Also, above all-be yourself.

9.    We really appreciate the videos in which you talk about topics that are very relevant to young people right now such as celebrity worship and relationships. Do you ever worry about making videos where you share your opinion?

Oh yes! Sometimes I get very scared at what people will think about the things I have to say. But then I remember that I have to be true to myself and my beliefs and tell what I believe to be-the truth. And the truth is the most important thing. And as much as people may not LIKE my opinion, they watch my videos because they know I will tell the truth and I won’t gloss it over to make people feel better or more comfortable.

10. Who would you love to collaborate with in the YouTube universe?

Haha! Lots of people who are probably far too busy to collaborate with me! But I would LOVE to meet BeautyByJJ, SpokenReasons and have a long dinner & debate with SuliBreaks whom I like very much.

11. Social media has been both great for young creatives like yourself but there’s that ugly head of social media that brings about bullying, taunting and trolling. What advice would you give another young creative who might be scared to come on YouTube solely based on the negativity? And how have you dealt with the negativity?

Thats a very good question and it brings a very good point about the two faced-ness of social media. It can be a very dangerous place at times, but there is so much love out there. I’m not joking. There have been times when I’m really being led to upload a video about a sensitive topic and I’ve been scared. But you get responses by people all over the world, expressing those same worries you have, and agreeing with you and almost joining you in your journey to defeat the trials you’re facing. I’ve found that sometimes, if you give yourself out to the world, they will give themselves back to you. I have developed different ways to deal with the negativity. I don’t tolerate racism or any kind of evil prejudice on my channel and I report it instantly if i see it (however, Google has made the account system on Youtube more safe so I’ve noticed a drop in this behaviour). Sometimes if there are awful comments, I don’t reply and if I’m upset I tell a friend and it makes me feel better. I also pray about it and that helps alot too. And lastly, sometimes I just ignore the person, because sometimes ignorance needs to be ignored.

12. How do you see your channel evolving?

I want my channel to grow into something that completely changes my life, takes me to places I never thought I’d go and introduces me to people and ventures I didn’t think I’d ever get. I also want it to reach and touch thousands upon thousands of people and for some good to come of that.

Be sure to check our girl out because she is clearly going places:

Twitter: @SincerelyOghosa

Instagram: @SincerelyOghosa

Beauty & Fashion Blog: prettymeekoghosa.blogspot.com

PERSONAL Blog: www.SincerelyOghosa.com

There are 7 billion people in the world, at one point one of those people finds his or her way back home for or not for love. ”An African City ” also dubbed Sex and The City Meets Africa is set in the capital city of Accra, created by Nicole Amarteifio tells the story of  Makena, Sade, Nana Yaa, Ngozi and Zainab (five beautiful, successful and determined African women) who reveal the ups and downs of dating in Africa; adjusting to returning to a continent very different than the continents in which they were raised in search of the life and love they’ve always longed for.

The show gives us the viewers a peak into the beautiful landscape of Accra and something that I personally am loving about this show is the gorgeous fashions by top African designers worn by the cast.

Three episodes in and I am a fan of this show, I have harped on about a lack of African web series and An Africa City is sure doing well in quenching my thirst for now and is opening the gateway for more well-produced shows. Great job to Nicole and her team! Please watch, share and subscribe! Let us know your thoughts too!

You can keep up with the show by subscribing to their

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/AnAfricanCity

Website: http://www.anafricancity.tv/

Twitter: @AnAfricanCity

If there is one thing that we are starved of in the UK entertainment wise is the presence of positive shows that aren’t the stereotypical ‘Top Boy’-esque show and the presence of a show with women of colour that we can relate to is next to zero and therefore a change on the digital scene will hopefully lead to a change on our TVs. One of these positive entertaining shows that is set to set the tone is Life of Hers

Life of Hers is a drama series reflecting the lives and friendships of four millennial women in a cosmopolitan city. It explores the complexities of life as a young woman of the African diaspora and some of the unique conflicts that can arise between inherited traditions and assimilated new cultures.

From choosing between the ‘stable’ career and the ‘creative’, between staying ‘true to yourself’ and conforming, to tumultuous relationships, sex and the different expressions of love, Life of Hers has something that everyone can relate to. We ask viewers to join Kaima, Hodan, Cassandra and Valentine as they navigate young adulthood and the ever-changing course of life.

Life of Hers was written by British-Nigerian writer Samantha Chioma, and was directed by the film duo Ola and Olan (Ola Masha and Olan Collardy), and produced by Waiki Harnais.

Season One will be released in July 2014, and production for Season Two will begin in the next few months. Please take a look at the series website, where you can find out more about it, the cast, the crew, and view some behind-the-scenes photos of the shoot: http://lifeofhersseries.tumblr.com/.

You can also keep up with Life of Hers via @LifeOfHersUk

The loss I feel, I cannot describe. It’s like something I have never felt before. She was my spiritual queen mother and everything that that word implies. She was the ultimate teacher. She taught me the poetry of courage and respect.

Maya Angelou is the greatest woman I have ever known. She was my anchor. So it’s hard to describe to you what it means when your anchor shifts.

Excerpts from Michelle Obama’s speech

The first time I read “Phenomenal Woman”, I was struck by how she celebrated black women’s beauty like no one had ever dared to before. (Applause.) Our curves, our stride, our strength, our grace. Her words were clever and sassy; they were powerful and sexual and boastful. And in that one singular poem, Maya Angelou spoke to the essence of black women, but she also graced us with an anthem for all women –- a call for all of us to embrace our God-given beauty.

Her message was very simple. She told us that our worth has nothing to do with what the world might say. Instead, she said, “Each of us comes from the creator trailing wisps of glory.” She reminded us that we must each find our own voice, decide our own value, and then announce it to the world with all the pride and joy that is our birthright as members of the human race.

Dr. Angelou’s words sustained me on every step of my journey –- through lonely moments in ivy-covered classrooms and colorless skyscrapers; through blissful moments mothering two splendid baby girls; through long years on the campaign trail where, at times, my very womanhood was dissected and questioned. For me, that was the power of Maya Angelou’s words –- words so powerful that they carried a little black girl from the South Side of Chicago all the way to the White House.

And today, as First Lady, whenever the term “authentic” is used to describe me, I take it as a tremendous compliment, because I know that I am following in the footsteps of great women like Maya Angelou. But really, I’m just a beginner — I am baby-authentic. Maya Angelou, now she was the original, she was the master. For at a time when there were such stifling constraints on how black women could exist in the world, she serenely disregarded all the rules with fiercely passionate, unapologetic self. She was comfortable in every last inch of her glorious brown skin. But for Dr. Angelou, her own transition was never enough. You see, she didn’t just want to be phenomenal herself, she wanted all of us to be phenomenal right alongside her.  So that’s what she did throughout her lifetime -– she gathered so many of us under her wing. I wish I was a daughter, but I was right under that wing sharing her wisdom, her genius, and her boundless love.

She showed us that eventually, if we stayed true to who we are, then the world would embrace us. (Applause.) And she did this not just for black women, but for all women, for all human beings. She taught us all that it is okay to be your regular old self, whatever that is –- your poor self, your broken self, your brilliant, bold, phenomenal self.

That was Maya Angelou’s reach. She touched me. She touched all of you. She touched people all across the globe, including a young white woman from Kansas who named her daughter after Maya, and raised her son to be the first black President of the United States.

Editor’s Note: I was and am a Maya Angelou stan – someone once suggested I go on Mastermind and have Maya Angelou as my  Specialised Subject, she was my Godmother in my head, I have read and own all her works and she allowed me to enter her space, to know her, to let her come into my space and be my literary teacher, a woman whom I admire and who encouraged me to write, to express my thoughts and my emotions with words.

Third Culture Kid (3CK) is a dramedy which is based on conversations with strangers and telling the Diasporan tales. Third culture kids/individuals can also be referred to as cultural hybrids, cultural chameleons, and global nomads.TCIs are particularly adept at building relationships with other cultures while not possessing a cultural identity of their own.

TCK follows the story of Noku who herself is a TCK/TCI and right now she’s at a cross roads – whether to stay in London where she’s made a home for herself or return to the country of her birth. We get to meet Noku’s friends. Noku interacts with different strangers she meets in London who through their conversations they seem to help her make a decision with regards to her dilemma.

Audition and shoot dates 30th August, 6th – 7th September, 13th – 14th September

FEMALE African Age: 25-32

NOKUXOLA: THE LEAD

Noku is calm, compassionate, smart,funny, Calm, compassionate, very quick witted, funny, loving, kind. She loves her family and her friends are the family she has created for herself. She loves her friends very much. Keeps a small circle but they have a really strong bond. She cares about her appearance, she enjoys blogging, reading, cooking and baking – she is always hosting a dinner party or two.She works as a Social Media Manager so is savvy with Social Media and also a pop culture fiend.

FEMALE, Afro-Caribbean 25-32

LESLIE-ANN: THE CONSIDERATE ONE

She’s the peace maker which sometimes can be seen as straddling the fence. She is into her fashion and labels. She loves poetry, music and dancing. She cares a lot about her appearance and is the ‘label’ fiend one of the group. She’s the go-to-unsolicited critic.
Opinions on Noku’s Relocation : Straddles the fence and wants Noku to make her own decision.

MALE, White 25-35 

BEN: THE LOVING BOYFRIEND

Ben is a trendy, fashionable, trendy lawyer. He is quick witted, calm but also very protective. He is inquisitive. He has now quite grasped the ‘hair routines’ of Noku – throws in casual words like ‘twistout’, bantu knots, pre-poo – but maybe in wrong contexts. He loves Southern Africa,  family and family bonds. He has many African friends so is comfortable throwing in African slang, or expressions.  Wale and Jason are his close friends.

MALE, Afro-Caribbean(Nigerian or Bri-gerian) 25-35 

WALE

Wale’s the one who understands why Ben and Noku should move to Africa.
He supports their move and believes Africa needs their generation to make a difference.
Very strong character, funny, well travelled, is part of their group of friends, connected, fun group.  Wale is an entrepreneur, who is trendy, fashionable and pop culture savvy. He’s also Leslie-Ann’s fiance.

MALE, Afro-Caribbean 25-35 

JASON

He’s the stranger that blends. He’s inconspicuous because he’s amongst a circle of friends but he is also the stranger with the voice. Has just returned to London after time in the States. He resonates with Noku’s feelings of confusion. He’s the voice of reason. He’s role is to make Noku understand that home is anywhere and she can still make a difference from afar. Making a change and an impact to one’s country of birth can still be done thanks to the global village connecting the world.
Very strong character, funny, well travelled, flirting with Samantha, likes Samantha

MALE, Afro-Caribbean 30-45

BRAVADO

Bravado’s  a musician who has played with Beres Hammond. Has a great singing voice. Has knowledge of Zimbabwe and knows what has happened. Supports Robert Mugabe and hates the negative image the country suffers in the media.  West Indian twang.  His appearance is trendy – he is either sporting dreadlocks or wearing a hat. Loves Bob Marley. He is a very strong character, funny and playful. He is insightful and an educator.

Contact us to Apply:

Email : castings@getneeks.com

Twitter : @3rdCKid

 RYVITA® LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION BEN DE LISI TIN

Think you know Ryvita®? Think again!

Store your favourite Ryvita® in style with the new limited edition Ryvita® tin, created by leading London-based designer, Ben de Lisi.

The award winning and internationally acclaimed designer, Ben de Lisi, renowned for his vibrantly modern designs across homewares and fashion, has teamed up with Ryvita® to create an exciting new limited edition for the popular Ryvita® Tin range. Ben’s bright and bold tin is part of the exciting new changes occurring at Ryvita as the brand moves into a fresh and dynamic new era.  Possibilities with Ryvita® are surprisingly endless; that’s why we’ll be championing all the fun and undeniably moreish ways to enjoy the full Ryvita® range this autumn.  From the irresistibly crunchy Crispbread to the deliciously versatile Crackerbread; it’s time to revel in all the surprising and imaginative ways to enjoy the entirety of the Ryvita® range.

Ryvita®’s collaboration with Ben follows the first designer tin launched last year, created by Kelly Hoppen, which flew off shelves, selling out in a matter of days. Featuring Ben’s signature style, the new beautifully colourful Ryvita® tin will instantly brighten up your kitchen counter whilst keeping your favourite Ryvita® Crispbread extra crunchy, fresh and tasty.

The eye-catching tin has an abstract design with splashes of pink, green, orange, yellow and blue, along with Ben’s well-known signature on the side.

Ben de Lisi comments: “I was extremely excited to be asked to design a tin for Ryvita® as it’s such an exciting time for the iconic brand. I love cooking, also, and really enjoy experimenting with different toppings on their range of Crispbreads.

“I wanted to create a striking, bold look that would stand out and look great on people’s worktops.  I hope the colourful tin will inspire home cooks to be daring and try new flavour combinations and recipes with this tasty and versatile range.”

The stylish tin is exclusively available to buy via the Ryvita® website at www.ryvita.co.uk, it costs £7.49, including postage & packing, and will be available whilst stocks last.

About Ryvita®:

• The Ryvita Company was established in 1925 when its dedication to creating an irresistible crunch
• Every Ryvita product is British through and through, made with Rye grown by British farmers in the fields of Dorset
• Ryvita is baked in Dorset too, and is free from chemicals and additives, ensuring a healthy and honest crunch
• As one of the country’s most trusted food brands, Ryvita is renowned for tasty, healthier and versatile products
• The whole range now includes: eleven varieties of Ryvita Crispbreads, four varieties of Ryvita Thins,

two varieties of Ryvita Thins Bites, four varieties of Ryvita Crackerbread,, six Ryvita Minis,

two varieties of Ryvita Crackers for Cheese and two Ryvita Fine Rustic Bake varieties

About Ben de Lisi:

London-based designer Ben de Lisi’s signature style is instantly recognisable with its distinctive vibrant, sexy, modern design, which has gained him a loyal fashion and celebrity following.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Ben graduated from the Pratt institute in Brooklyn where he studied sculpture. In New York he established his own successful menswear line before moving to London in 1982 to pursue a career as a fashion designer further. Soon after relocating, Ben created his first capsule collection to great acclaim.

Ben won the Glamour Designer of the Year award at the British Fashion Awards for two consecutive years, establishing himself as one of Britain’s leading fashion designers. Ben created the stunning red gown worn by Kate Winslet at the Oscars in 2002 to great acclaim and it is still considered to be one of the most beautiful Oscar dresses to date. In 2010 Ben took on a project of a slightly different kind, by creating the winning design for the new NHS hospital gown which is currently in production.

As one of Debenhams’ main womenswear designers, Ben creates his signature BDL by Ben de Lisi collection, which includes his hugely popular homeware range. In 2009 he also became the designer for the re-launch of Debenhams’ Principles range.

Ben is an avid cook and dog lover, with these passions regularly influencing his Debenhams ranges. From French Bull Dog lamps to practical and aesthetically pleasing kitchenware, Ben’s work is always created to an incredibly high standard with cutting edge modern designs.

On television, Ben has appeared on a huge variety of shows including Sky1’s Project Catwalk where he was the designers’ mentor as well as a judge. Ben has also appeared on Sky Living’s Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model, Channel 4’s Come Dine with Me: Celebrity Special and on BBC 2’s Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.

I personally love this stylish tin as it definitely stands out in my kitchen and I encourage you to get one! It is exclusively available to buy via the Ryvita® website at www.ryvita.co.uk, it costs £7.49, including postage & packing, and will be available whilst stocks last.

Imagine if you will, your day to day job, whatever it is that you do… for however many years you have worked there; you go in and you do the work either required of you or out of pure passion. You brave the elements, the obstacles and the naysayers and you work. During that time you may accrue money, accolades, positive public opinion…a name synonymous with good work. Whatever. You’ve slogged it out and built something that you are proud of. It makes you want to share the news with friends, relatives and colleagues. Then in one fell swoop you wake up to find out that you no longer have those accolades, money or positive public opinion. Maybe you forgot to file taxes or maybe you deliberately skipped one or two payments here and there. Maybe you took shortcuts where you should have taken the time. Whatever the case, ALL your hard work, not a portion, not a slice, not even a percentage but ALL of your work is relegated to dust.  Whilst you are collecting your thoughts, your coins and your wits you can hear the gleeful whispers at your current situation. How would that feel?

I imagine whatever hopeless feelings accompany that knowledge of your entire work being removed and seeing people happy about it, is possibly similar to what Nigerian blogger, Linda Ikeji is feeling. Amidst accusations of plagiarism, copyright infringement, lazy writing and the biggest blunder of them all; not buying her domain name, Lindas’ popular entertainment blog was taken down by Google.  Linda, honey, listen… your blog is ranked No. 10 on the Alexa rankings of Top 500 sites in Nigeria!!!! As a half-assed blogger I have so many questions and I doubt Sway has the answers, DJ Clue won’t squash it  but Jesus might come along and fix it. Linda should have known better.

In any case this incident was more than a teaching moment for bloggers everywhere. As the news cycle ran through social media, commentary by users of various platforms revealed another side to this story. What came to the fore was a disturbing amount of glee expressed by some people at the demise of Linda’s blog. I wasn’t surprised. I’m not a Linda Ikeji fan but as much as you wouldn’t catch me retweeting her content you also would not catch me doing a praise dance because her blog was taken down. However some of her dedicated readers and part-time sharers of her content crowed with glory that the “wicked witch” of blogging had been taken down. Ugh. Toto, bring me my red heels and let’s click out of here and go home to Kansas.

If there is one thing I have learned in this world, it’s that as soon as you start getting ahead (further than most or further than where people expected you to get to) that’s when you can separate the true supporters and the pretenders of your intimate and wider circle. People say when you are down and out, that’s when you know you’re true friends. Listen, honey…listen. Misery loves company and if someone is not a true supporter there is nothing they like to see more than you down on the ground. The minute you gain a little success whatever that may be there’s always a shift in the dynamics of friendships, partnerships and family. You’ll begin to hear how you’ve changed. Or you’ll see people throwing unnecessary underhanded verbal jabs. You’ll see some people pull away. Or worse yet you see an increased amount of attention from friends who never really bothered to read nary a blog post.

This is not a celebrity problem. It’s a success issue for all of us. You might be an entrepreneur and experience the surprising side effect of success noted here by Sherry Collier:

“Friends and family who seemed supportive of you during the dreaming stages of your business (those days when you would get sparkly eyes as you spoke about your passion and ideas that were as of yet, untried) might suddenly seem to turn on you. You may start to experience little passive-aggressive comments about your business, your personality, your marketing efforts, or your busy lifestyle.  People who are used to thinking of you as “one of their own” or “on their level” see you doing things that they might have liked to do or overcoming fears they might have wanted to overcome and this can cause resentment and negative emotions.” – Sherry Collier

Am I  then saying I’m perfect? That I never experience jealousy or envy? Nope, I sometimes feel that pang when I see someone achieving or having something that I would like but I have learned to curb it in it’s infancy. I recognise it for what it is. My jealousy of another person’s success or personal moments of happiness is simply me comparing my life to theirs and criticising myself for not having what they have.  Cue the social media hiatus phenomena (where people get depressed by seeing how happy, content and or successful others are in their lives and hence take a “prolonged break”).

Anyway  back to Linda Ikeji. It’s interesting how not only days after announcing on her blog that she had bought a new Range Rover that this unfortunate chain of events occurred. Re-reading her blog announcement you might easily get stuck on the first few paragraphs and roll your eyes.

“Yay! My dad finally gave me permission to buy the 2014 Range Rover and I’m beyond happy. I’ve wanted this car for so long but he was against me buying it. But it’s my birthday this Friday and he finally agreed that I could buy it for myself as a birthday present.

So he and I went to a car company in Victoria Island yesterday and bought this brand new 2014 Range Rover Sport Supercharged. I bought it for N24million. Yeah, I know! Its a lot of money to spend on a car but I’ve been wanting this car since it came out…so…lol. But I swear I’ve been feeling so guilty since I bought it. I keep telling myself ‘do you know how many lives you would have changed with N24million?” A lot, I know…but my life is important too na, abi? Lol.” Source

I definitely rolled my eyes. However if you read further, there are glimpses of what really matters. Linda, finally found something she is good at and she’s proud of it.

“Anyway, to make myself feel better, the September LIB giveaway will be bigger than ever…and I’m more determined now to start my #I’dratherbeselfmade campaign where I will mentor and help some young girls start their own businesses.

Now there’s something I want to say to all the young girls reading this. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a man buying you things, but always remember that if you believe in yourselves and your dreams, you work hard and stay focused, there’s absolutely nothing you can’t buy for yourself. I’m not only buying myself cars that I want, I’m in the process of buying my own house, with my own money.

I made it on my own, in my own way and on my own terms. If anybody ever tells you that the only way you can make it in life is by laying on your back, the person lied to you. You don’t have to do that. You shouldn’t do that. You are strong, you are brave, you have been blessed with a talent, find yourself, believe in yourself, push yourself…and never give up. No money is sweeter than your own money, trust me. You can do it. Yes, you! You can do it. Just be patient, pay attention and work your butt off.

It’s not easy trust me…if you think I had success overnight, you thought wrong. November this year will make it eight years that I’ve been blogging. Every single day! Before then I was a model, I was a model manager, I was an events planner, I was a columnist, I wrote a book, then I became a blogger. I put my hands in so many things because I was determined to make it in life. Finally one paid off – blogging.” Taken from Linda Ikeji’s site

I’m not sure about you and what you are doing in your life but I’m not at the buying Range Rover stage of life yet but even though I’m not a fan of Linda’s blog, I did crack a smile for her and her success. It takes nothing from me to be happy for someone else. However this entire saga has reaffirmed another lesson for me…not everyone is here for your success be it small or large. In the age of social media keep it cute and quiet.

Photo Credit: Google Images

Social Butterfly

@MsKkj

People always say that you can’t please everybody. I think that’s a cop-out. Why not attempt it? ‘Cause think of all the people you will please if you try – Kanye West

Welcome to #Blogmas, a tradition I’ve adopted from my favourite YouTubers who do #Vlogmas which means there will be daily posts from today till December 31st!

“It’s only led me to complete awesomeness at all times. It’s only led me to awesome truth and awesomeness. Beauty, truth, awesomeness. That’s all it is.” – Kanye West

This really is to make up for the lack of attention I’ve been giving this here my baby Chaud and you our loyal readers and supporters. I’d love to say my absence was  due to a lack of time and then brag off a reel list of all the important stuff that I’ve been doing whilst also looking for your applause and admiration like Law School, work and work promotions, Netflixing, different awesome projects but honestly prioritising Chaud fell on the back burner a little bit and this was solely on my poor time management skills. However all that neglect will soon be forgotten with the features, articles, podcasts, reviews, gift guides, blogs and more that I have planned for you during this festive time.

“For me to say I wasn’t a genius, I would just be lying to you and to myself.”  – Kanye West

What’s more awesome is that I’ll also personally be blogging about different topics something which I have not done in many years – I was once a great blogger, an Award winning blogger for that, so for that I shall reintroduce my awesomeness.

Now that we’ve also established that #Blogmas is a real thing…let the good times begin!

This post was sponsored by Beyonce 7/11 Gifs and Kanyeisms 

Firstly congratulations to Chrisette Michele for hitting Number 1 spot with The Lyricists’ Opus! What is The Lyricists’ Opus? It’s Chrisette’s own opus with violins, celo, horns,percussion, piano and with the Guitar Slayer Justin on the guitar.  A no judgement zone where she sings soul, gospel, country and rock – all kinds of art which sounds. The Lyricist Opus sounds like one long piece with 5 movements.  The Lyricists’ Opus is Chrisette Michele’s favourite thing that ever happened!

On the day she has her EP release party for her favourite thing that ever happened, having this independent project reach number on the R&B charts and then have Michelle O come up to you and say ‘I’m a big fan of yours’…let’s sip some mulled wine as these thoughts warm up our hearts.

We all have long established that I am a Chrisette Michele super stan, loving her, loving her art, her voice, her poise, her down to earthness, her making you believe you could hang with her and have the most awesome ‘GIRRL’ moments, her maturity in apologising to Chante Moore (R&B Divas LA), her humbleness, her sense of style (we share a love for Ted Baker)…sigh..Now  imagine how geeked out I was when I found that another woman I stan for is there with me heading #RichHipsterNation fandom the lady herself MRS MICHELLE OBAMA aka FLOTUS! Yes hunty, Michelle Obama is a super fan and the thought of the two of them having such a great moment together #LindaHoneyListen awesomeness is a literal understatement of that moment.

Super Chris

Together – Snippet

I digress from my moment of losing my cool, going into super stan mode and come back to talk about the awesome #TheLyricistsOpus. As stated above it is 5 movements (songs) Art, Super Chris, Together, Hennessy Shot and Make Us One. This album feels very personal, like Chrisette is inviting us into her world, the thoughts she goes through, how she is more worried about the art and fame ain’t the aim..she wonders is it okay that she writes what she thinks for a living, unity is why she creates art to unify different people. Then she takes us on this little voyage – of in love Chris (aren’t Chrisette and Justin just too awesome TOGETHER?)Together and Hennessy Shot are definitely songs to add on your ‘Love playlist’ if you’re one of the super sentimental couples who make each other playlists during the holidays. Make Us One takes us to church, a great way to end one long piece of music, with God.

I totally understand as an artist why Chrisette wondered if her fans would appreciate this new music, whether they would send ‘judgey’ vibes her way..it is all in the process of creating art. However this piece, this body of work, this art, is genuis, it is soul, it music, it embodies the souls of Rich Hipsters and for that I’d like to say Chrisette Michele THANK YOU FOR THE ART!

Super Chris Official Video

The Lyricist’s Opus is available on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon. Click here to purchase

You can also keep up with all things Chrisette Michelle on Rich Hipster – space for having a chat with Chrisette and being all up to date with all things Chrisette and #RichHipsterNation

The Black & Sexy TV team are friends of Chaud, and in the run up to the end of the year their YouTube subscribers need to hit 100,000 – I actually was surprised that it hadn’t already reached this spot. If you are reading this article, just subscribe here -  it’s free and it will take less than a minute of your life and you are subscribing to the best entertaining content on the Y.T.  Don’t believe me? Just watch below:

So subscribe and get them to 100k subscribers before the end of the year!

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