The title of this post will definitely raise some eyebrows, it certainly lifted mine. While working with my dear friend, Molaundo of The Clever Agency, he shared this piece that he knew I’d appreciate. Despite its brutal honesty, I’ve got to admit that this list hits home in many ways. Take a look, be inspired, and start making a few changes within your life in the name of forward movement!

The coming of Spring not only signals that Summer is just around the corner (short shorts, anyone?), but that it’s time to give our homes a good once over in preparation for warmer weather & sunny skies. We don’t need an excuse to redecorate, but Spring offers a way to up the ante on the cheap! Here are Atlanta-based Interior Designer Dayka Robinson’s six favorite tips to freshen up your home for Spring

On the evening of May 7th, a couple hundred of Ursula Stephen’s staunch supporters descended upon Fort Greene, Brooklyn to celebrate the official opening of the talented stylist’s new salon. The space was packed from wall-to-wall with a fabulous mix of the beauty industry’s “who’s who”, Ursula’s supportive family and friends, clients, and well-wishers. Check out this video, produced by Molaundo Jones of The Clever Agency, to get a look at how the night unfolded!

For years, Ursula Stephen has been a creative force to be reckoned with and the go-to stylist for the entertainment industry’s finest. Now, this proud Brooklyn native is poised to turn industry heads as she introduces Fort Greene’s newest beauty hot spot, Ursula Stephen The Salon. Check out the exclusive In Her Shoes interview with Ursula Stephen about her newest venture and a special salon sneak peek just hours before she officially opens her doors!

If you or a young lady you know is in need of a prom dress, PNK Elephant is offering the chance for one lucky winner to receive the Ultimate Prom Package. The winner will receive a gown, shoes, hair and luxury car service.  Enter to win by writing a short essay on why you should be picked and send it to prom@pnkelephant.com. The deadline is May 15th

Yes, I’m a beauty girl at heart but music truly makes my world go ’round. With that in mind, I’m pretty stoked to share my personal “Music 2 Fly To” playlist which is featured today on the fabulous Parlour Magazine. I have the pleasure of traveling quite a bit for business (and sometimes, pleasure) so putting together this list was quite fun for me. I like to grab snacks, a window seat and vibe ALL the way out. Check out my selects which include tracks by KING, Alice Smith, Robert Glasper, Zero 7 and more by clicking here. If you like what you hear, feel free access the playlist and share it with friends on Spotify.

Although it may not feel like it on the East Coast, spring is truly in full swing. The season is associated with rejuvenation, cleansing, and renewal so we’re quick to freshen up our homes and revamp our closets, but many of us neglect our makeup bags.

If your face is breaking out more than usual these days and you can’t pinpoint the issue, your makeup brushes may be the culprits. They touch our faces every day, but many of us can’t remember the last time we cleaned them.

New York City-based makeup artist Camara “Aunique” Beauty joins us today with five helpful tips to help refresh our beloved makeup bags this season

In a world driven by the glorification of “busy” it’s time for us to scale back, take a breather, and make time in our calendars for nothing. Yes, I said it. Nothing. No conference calls, no emails, no social media, no dates, no brunching with girls. No-thing. While this is much easier said than done for a self-diagnosed busy body like myself, it’s just as crucial to our well being as eating and sleeping. If you’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed, exhausted, and just not your best self lately, try doing nothing. Taking time to relax, daydream and reflect may be just the boost your body needs.

Are you guilty of talking about supporting more black-owned businesses but not putting your money where your mouth is? Thanks to New York City-based Around the Way and the mobile-app development firm Clearly Innovative, we now have access to black-owned companies nationwide at our fingertips! Around the Way is officially my newest iPhone app obsession, and will soon be yours too. Here are eight reasons why

There comes a time in every person’s life when they realize they’ve outgrown the club scene. Cheesy pick up lines? Over it. Ridiculously priced cocktails? No, thank you. Loud music? I can’t.

What’s a girl (or guy) to do when you still have years of socializing ahead of you but can’t stomach another underwhelming club night? Visit idontdoclubs.com. Created by New York City-based Genese Jamilah, I Don’t Do Clubs is the place to go if you’re looking for quality social experiences without the fuss!

While it may not feel like spring in many parts of the country, it’s definitely starting to look like it. Retail windows are giving us a glimpse of warm weather fashion and accessory designers are releasing pieces to top it all off. This morning, Tasha West’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection landed in my inbox and I must say, it’s everything my little jewelry-loving heart desires. Appropriately titled “The Balance Between,” this season’s designs are a family of Tasha West classics with a few new carefully-crafted pieces to support them.

Although she’s got her hands full with the launch, Tasha West took a few minutes from her demanding schedule to share the inspiration behind “The Balance Between” for In Her Shoes style mavens. Here’s what she had to say

Tanikia Thompson, the creator of Chicago-based blog nikkiandthecity.com, is celebrating Women’s History Month by asking ladies what they love most about being a woman. Here’s what yours truly had to say

To commemorate the launch of its new Coconut Shea collection, my client EDEN BodyWorks hosted “Style with EDEN” in New York City on Wednesday, March 20th at Midtown hot spot, Pranna. Guest speakers for the evening included: Celebrity Hair Stylist and Founder of Loving Your Hair with Natural Care, Felicia Leatherwood; BlackEnterprise.com Style Contributor and Image Consultant, Kéla Walker; Latisha Daring, Designer, Ashtyn LLC; and Milly Almodovar, Beauty Editor, Cosmopolitan for Latinas and founder, BeautyLogicBlog.com. The swanky after work affair gave New York City style mavens a chance to dig deep into their favorite topics: hair, beauty, and fashion with some of the best in the business.

After embracing my natural hair texture for over 10 years, I pretty much thought I had my curls figured out. I’ve learned that I have a lot of “fine” hair, so while all of the puddings and gels were great for some, they only weighed my hair down. I’ve learned that my natural hair, if not properly infused with moisture, can be as dry as the Sahara Dessert. I’ve mastered the use of cream-based curl enhancers and leave-in conditioners, realizing that when it came to products on my hair, less is truly more. And last but certainly not least, I’ve learned that when it comes to curly hair, all cuts are NOT created equal.

Check out a few behind the scenes pics from my first (but certainly not last!) Ouidad Salon experience. I walked in with a tired ponytail and left out with a great trim coupled with shiny, bouncy, and simply gorgeous curls. Don’t believe me? Just watch

Don’t you just love that rush of energy you get from listening to music that truly speaks to the soul? Back in August I wrote about one of my favorite song birds, Alice Smith, and her Kick Starter campaign to raise funds for her new album. I’m proud to say that not only did she make her fundraising goal, she exceeded it. And that album she was in the lab creating? Of course, she exceeded everyone’s expectations here too! Alice’s sophomore album, “She” is officially available on iTunes so do something for yourself today that your ears will THANK YOU for time and time again