Act Like A Lady ~ Think Like A Man

The King of Comedy Steve Harvey strikes again, but this time he has hit the New York Times Best-Seller list and has gone straight to the top! His newly released book titled Act Like A Lady Think Like A Man released January 27th, has received waves of praise from critics, including the infamous Oprah Winfrey. LADIES... This is a MUST read! Steve Harvey unlocks the secrets of the male mind, and kindly reminds us not to lower our standards even when all hope seems lost. We are worthy whether men make us feel that way or not, and that special man will do whatever it takes if he wants to step up to the challenge of being your one and only. This book is said to make you laugh, cry, and make you say "been-there-done-that." Copies of this book are selling fast, so make sure you grab yours fast!

Olive Oil for LIFE!!!

If you are unaware that olive oil is a staple by now, then please, do yourself a favor and keep reading!

Health Benefits: This stuff is great! Olive oil is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that have been proven to help cure what ails you (heart disease, high cholesterol, cancer, stomach ulcers, and other chronic diseases).

Cook with it: Olive oil is extremely healthy, so make it a habit to go out of your way to use this stuff when preparing meals. As a matter of fact, I don't even use bottled salad dressing any more, I make my own! Its really simple, just mix olive oil and balsamic vinegar together, and VOILA, your own homemade dressing! Kick it up a notch by infusing your olive oil in a cruet with garlic, onions, peppers, herbs, and spices! You can find these anywhere, even at Target!

Also use it to saute chicken to lock in flavor and moisture, especially before baking! (I have some amazing recipes that are quick, easy, and really healthy!)

A BEAUTY must-have: Olive oil is great for your skin, hair, nails, and MORE!

• Use it as a hot oil treatment for your hair or make your own homemade conditioner with it! 1-2 egg yolks and 2 tbsp of olive oil mixed together does wonders, just let it sit for 20-30 minutes before you shampoo it off! Or, you can simply add a few drops to your existing conditioner if the mess just isn't worth it. Olive oil helps to treat hair loss, stimulate hair growth, and relieves dandruff, dry hair, split ends and breakage.
• Add a few drops to your facial cleanser if it is leaving your face dry after each wash. This will prevent your face from being stripped of the oils during the cleansing process without clogging your pores. Mix 2 tsp of milk, 1 tsp of honey and a few drops of olive oil, and you have yourself a recipe for a nice homemade facial! Make it a scrub by adding sugar to help exfoliate. (Note: Make sure you rinse thoroughly or use a warm wash cloth to cleanse so that your face isn't sticky.)
• Olive oil helps the skin to regain its elasticity, prevent wrinkles, and even skin tone. If you have dry skin, use it to add moisture to your skin. This works for chapped lips, cracked heels, dry cuticles, knees, elbows, and more! Add a few drops to your bath to further hydrate your skin as well!
• Use it as a makeup remover and even as a substitute for shaving cream! (This actually works, and your skin feels GREAT after shaving!)
  

Olive oil is great to use and great for you. Although it is a bit expensive, a little bit goes a long way, just make sure you use EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil. (Its a long explanation, but trust me on that one.) Finally, make sure you are well stocked! Make sure you have one bottle in your kitchen pantry and have another stored in your beauty cabinet!

Prevent FROG FACE :(

Many black men have struggled for years when it comes to shaving. Over 50% of black men have encountered outbreaks of razor bumps from shaving. There are some alternatives and techniques that can be used to help prevent and relieve razor bumps, which include chemical hair removal, but for most men, skin sensitivity is a major issue.

Here are some tips that may help prevent those bumps:

• Cleanse the region with a mild astringent prior shaving to help prevent the dirt and oils from causing any further outbreaks or infections.
• Apply a moisturizing lubricant to the region after cleaning the area for a few minutes to help soften the hairs.
• Make sure that the razor is clean and sharp to help prevent irritation.
• Do not shave against the natural grain of the hairs.
• Rinsing the skin after shaving helps to calm the skin.
  
• Apply witch hazel or menthol after shaving. This hardens the hair and prevents them from becoming curly and grow underneath the skin.
• Keep the skin moisturized after shaving. Tea tree oil is great because unlike other moisturizers, this product it will help soften and calm the skin as well as moisturize. Tea tree oil also doesn't clog pores or cause any abnormal chemical imbalances like most products do. BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN CHOOSING MOISTURIZERS!!!
  

~Universal Mind Control~

Common... known for his lyric-ology, American Gangster, Peace-Love-and-GAP, political and social consciousness, Def Poetry floetry, and other marks of talent that have encompassed the success of his ever evolving career, recently released Universal Mind Control towards the end of '08. Now... For those of us who have been a witness to the growth of Common as an artist, we know that this album is definitely different, and even in some cases hard to grasp and accept. Common has always been a renaissance man of sorts by taking the road less traveled in terms of his music, yet this album seemed to almost cater to the mainstream culture in more ways than one. For those of you that don't know Common, he is an all-around uber-threat of raw talent from acting, to commercials, poetry, hip hop artistry, book writing, and MORE. I had MIXED EMOTIONS about this album at first. It was definitely a risky album that stands out from the rest of his discography. His usual LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE lyrics and tones make him different than the usual AMERICAN GANGSTER hip hop that flood the radio waves, yet UNIVERSAL MIND CONTROL moves you in an ELECTRIC CIRCUS sort of way. I was so afraid that he was selling out to the mainstream that I couldn't get into liking the album no matter how hard I tried, until I read his article in the January 2009 issue of SKINNIE MAGAZINE. GENIUS!!!!

During his interview, Common mentioned that he wanted to use this album to aid in his growth. He talks about how he was at a club in the UK and that his DJ went up to spin, and that he wouldn't even spin his music! He took up the challenge to make UNIVERSAL music, yet still have his message BE understood by THE PEOPLE. GENIUS!!!

I now have a new appreciation and respect for the album and I can now see it for its purpose. Once again, Common made yet another successful RESURRECTION by bestowing upon us another piece of GETO HEAVEN for our ears! COME CLOSE, check... out his new album on iTunes, as well as some of my favorite tracks by COMMON! Spread the word, and lets hear your thoughts and opinions!

Check out his CHARITY foundation as well!!!!

UNIVERSAL MIND CONTROL!!!

Common - New Music - More Music Videos

THE LIGHT!!!

Common - New Music - More Music Videos

COME CLOSE!!!

Common - New Music - More Music Videos

Stealing Education Could Cost You DEARLY!!

The children are our future, and education is the most important tool that we can give them in this ever evolving and ever changing country. Although I am not a parent, I am aware of the value of my education and how fortunate I was to have been exposed to such a great group of teachers and mentors throughout my adolescence. BUT! For some kids, this all has a cost.

A Rochester woman was being followed by an investigator for over 4 months for taking her kids to a suburban school, when her place of residence was in the inner city. Unfortunately for this woman, she is paying the price by having to serve time in jail, pay enormous fines, and other punishments. The law states that kids can get a free education as long as they go to a school to where they are in the proper district. Clearly she broke the law by falsifying documents stating that her kids lived in a school district so that they could get a better education. The question is, should she be punished? What are her options if the school district that her kids are assigned to is as unsafe as she claims? What should other parents do if they are in the same situation that she is in???

Check out the article for more details.... be aware!