I couldn’t sleep. The night before my TEDx Port of Spain appearance, I was nervous to the point of nauseousness. I remember tossing and turning in my old bed, trying to fall asleep in my old childhood bedroom. I had written a speech, but the point was to practice it over and over again until…
life lessons
How To Live A Life More Like Nelson Mandela’s
On December 5, 2013, the world lost Nelson Mandela. At age 95, he had lived an incredibly full life and news of his ailing dominated headlines this year, so hearing that Mandela had passed made me feel a strange mixture of sadness and acceptance. As Bishop Desmond Tutu expressed, “we are relieved that his…
Join Me As I Co-Host The Happy Black Woman Chicago Happy Hour!
My bellas in Chicago – you may have noticed that I don’t host many events. I also don’t go to many events. I tend to be kind of a homebody, when I’m home. But next Tuesday I’m participating in something truly special and unique – and I’d love you to come and join me!…
Things We Can Learn From Jenifer Lewis
Jenifer Lewis is a whole lotta woman. She’s a powerhouse actress, a groundbreaking performer of stage and screen, and a legend who has worked with the best in the business. And I can tell you from personal experience, she gives AMAZING quotes in interviews. I learned that from personal experience when I interviewed her…
7 Things I’ve Learned In 7 Years of Blogging
Seven years ago this week, I did something whimsical. After an evening of casual brainstorming, with the encouragement and advice of my husband and a dear friend, I bought a domain name and started this blog. I didn’t go into it thinking “OMG I’m going to create a brand and quit my day job and…
Say Something Nice To Yourself. Today And Every Day
“OMG I’m such an idiot.” “Oh no! I’m the worst!” “I’m no good when it comes to **insert task here**” “I’m sorry!” “I SUCK at **insert thing here**” Does this kind of thing sound familiar to you? Do you say things like this? Do you have friends who say things like this? How often do…
Ten Realizations About Being In Your Thirties
Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of my friends freaking out about turning 30, or being 30. This year I turned 34, so I think I have a little perspective to share. Not a lot, just a little. Just enough to tell all of you to stop freaking out about turning 30, or being…
Life Lessons From Jane Pratt
I’ve spoken about my influences here on the blog before, and I’ve mentioned it in my TEDx talk too — one of my biggest early writing influences was Sassy Magazine. My classmate’s cousin would send down her well thumbed, slightly tattered copies in care packages alongside mixtapes featuring artists I’d never heard of at…
What My New Media Expo Experience Taught Me
One of the things I’m learning about blogging as a career – there is no set road ahead of you. Many of us are figuring things out as we go along and finding opportunities in unexpected places. Take for example, my recent trip to Las Vegas. I was brought to Vegas to speak at the…
Why I Support Lancome’s Genifique Day (And You Should Too)
My blogging career takes me to some amazing places. Some are decadent and glamorous. Some can be more glitter than gold. But some are just so special that it’s hard to put them into words. That was this trip that I’m about to tell you about. Lancôme Paris took me and a group of fellow…