Like most of the world, it took me a while to wrap my head around Whitney Houston’s death. I’m still in a bit of denial, but as thoughts of her premature passing flood my head, I force myself to stop and think about the highlights of her short time here with us. Say what you will about Whitney Elizabeth Houston, but this woman worked hard, loved hard, and lived hard! What’s not to admire about her fearlessness? There are so many lessons to be learned from Whitney including the importance of having a mentor (Clive Davis was truly her champion), the beauty of mother/daughter relationships, and the power in nurturing our gifts.

Speaking of which, Whitney’s gifts blessed her with countless accolades so instead of focusing on her untimely death, let’s shine light on her stellar accomplishments. As you can imagine, she had plenty to be proud of

If I asked you to try out a neon orange lipstick or lip gloss would you go for it or give me the side eye? I can see the side eyes and hear the she crazy grunts now. However, if makeup maven Bobbi Brown showed you how to infuse color into your everyday make up regimen I bet you would. This season Bobbi Brown Cosmetics introduces the Neons and Nudes Collection. The lip glosses and lipsticks are in dope bright hues of orange, pink and purple and will have tossing those light pinks and reds out the window

So, have you been paying attention to what’s been going on over at EBONY? This historic publication which holds a dear place in our hearts has undergone a total overhaul. New talent, a new look, new content, and as of this week, a brand new and totally fly Tumblr

Brooklyn-based carpet designer and the fly female entrepreneur behind Malene B. Custom Handmade Carpets, Malene Barnett, invited the world into her home this week as a guest on The Nate Burkus Show. With splashes of tropical colors throughout her brownstone and an eye for design that’s beyond impressive, Malene shows Nate what BK living is all about: culture, style and substance

Imagine sitting in a beautiful, historic theater surrounded by a sea of gorgeous women ranging from 10 to 60 (and a few very lucky men). We’re talking all ages, shapes, and beautiful brown hues with every hairstyle and texture imaginable. In true black girl fashion, everyone is dressed to the nines as we entered the Paradise Theatre in the Bronx prepared for greatness. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! had us laughing, crying, dancing in our seats, and celebrating the brilliance of black woman across the globe. Grab your girls, grab some tissue and tune in to BET on November 6th at 8 p.m. EST for a night of sisterhood and empowerment you won’t soon forget!

Fall is a season of newness. Remember the days as a student when you had to prepare for school? It was a new year, new grade, new friends and even new environments. As students of life, we must continue in the habit of “Fall-ing” into the newness of us. Check out Karen St. Hilaire’s five tips for “Fall-ing” into a new you

No sweetie, your eyes have not deceived you. We’re talking 365 days of window shopping, missing out on the end-of-season markdowns, and last but not least, turning your back on Black Friday. While it may sound absurd, the no shopping movement has been embraced globally and requires participants to reject consumerism, re-use, borrow and recycle instead

How do you react to the change in your life? Do you give it a warm and loving embrace trusting that every subsequent experience will be for your good? Do you drive change in your world or do you simply react to it? You can take on the role of the victim or you can take a lesson from the ladies of Georgia by using the change in your life as an opportunity for growth beyond your wildest dreams!

Like many other knowledge-seekers on the net, I came across this amazing commencement speech Apple’s Steve Jobs shared with Stanford University’s class of 2005. Drawing from the most pivotal moments of his life, he shares many jewels of wisdom that will undoubtedly inspire for generations to come. Here’s the statement that resonated with me most…

You can’t help but to be inspired by this woman’s hustle. As you may recall, we wrote a post about June’s beautiful line of turbans earlier this year. In true fly female entrepreneur fashion, the industry trailblazer is taking it to the next level with what I’m sure will be a fabulous line of eyewear

As much as we’re enjoying these beautiful summer months, it’s time to face a harsh reality. Fall and of course, it’s faithful successor, winter, are right around the corner plotting their return. You can stay in denial all you want, but it’s time to start prepping for cooler temps. When Damali Elliott, founder of Petals-N-Belles, reached out to tell me about their collaborative shopping event with one of my favorite outerwear designers, I was all ears

Have you taken a moment to view Beyonce’s “Year of 4″ mini-doc on the year-long personal and artistic journey that inspired her new album? Whether you’re a fan of Beyonce’s or not, you’ll definitely walk away with a newfound respect for her as an artist and fly female entrepreneur. Her crazy work ethic and commitment to excellence just makes this Virgo proud! No matter what you do for a living, this documentary will provide you with that inspirational boost to catapult whatever it is you’re doing to the next level

Tired of dealing with obnoxious crowds in the mass retail world? Are you looking for timeless, signature pieces you’ll never (never ever?) see duplicated across the room? Get to know Brooklyn Bleu, a brownstone-based style haven created with the most discriminating vintage collectors in mind

Anyone who knows my dad is very aware of his love for words…coming out of his mouth. Yes, that man LOVES to talk and swears that I’m not listening but here’s proof that I do. In honor of my very special father, I present to you the top five life lessons I’ve learned from my daddy, Mr. Nathan Bluitt, Jr

Life is beautiful and you only get one, so do everything you’ve always wanted to do NOW. Make a summer bucket list including everything you’ve been daydreaming about since childhood. From performing on stage to learning french or skydiving, write it all down and mark them off as you conquer each one. Remember, tomorrow is not promised nor is this beautiful weather so work it out!