You have a degree, a house, an amazing career and fabulous friends. You have it all — except someone special to share it all with.

Amidst the numerous social media postings of your friends, school acquaintances, and family members slowly slipping into holy matrimony and parenthood, you’re probably wondering, or even praying, about when your time will come.

It’s time to stop worrying because the reality is that not everyone should get married.

This doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with you or that no one will want to marry you. It just means that living with someone (long term) and actually creating a life with that person may not be for you. And that’s okay.

Let’s look at this common scenario: A man and woman have been dating for at least three years (if they are college sweethearts, let’s make it six years) and they’re in their mid-to-late 20s. The relationship has consisted of multiple breakups and make ups, and after a while, they have become comfortable with one other. While not every relationship is like the aforementioned example, some long-term ones are. Couples often feel like the next step is marriage based on the length of their relationship, what the people around them say they need to be doing, and because last time they checked, they loved each other.

In fact, according to a Pew Research Center survey, 88 percent of people believe that love is the main reason for marriage.

While that sounds nice, I disagree. Love plays a big part in a marriage, but there are so many other components and responsibilities that make up such a union, which a person has to be willing to undertake. And if you’re not, then you likely aren’t suited for marriage like you think.

For one, maintaining a healthy marriage is time consuming. Research done by sociologist Jeffrey Dew and W. Bradford Wilcox found that people who made the time to be alone with their spouse at least once a week were 3.5 times more likely to be “very happy” in their marriage. In addition to trying to find time for one another in that way, your time is cut even more after having children. Therefore, ensuring that you take the time out for your spouse while you can, regularly, can be even more challenging.

Also, if you don’t see yourself taking someone into consideration or factoring their suggestions into major decision-making, marriage might not be for you.

Marriage is filled with many compromises. Before making any major decision that can impact our family, my husband always gets my opinion. Even before making any large purchases (even from our own personal bank accounts), we consult each other since the outcome can have an effect on our shared financial situation.

I truly feel that people need to take the time to think about their needs, wants and life-long goals when figuring out if marriage is the right move. It might sound like the necessary next step in one’s life, but it’s not the right step for everyone.

Marriage can be great if you are up for it and find the right person for you. But the question is, are you willing to make the sacrifices necessary once you find that person?

Image via Shutterstock 

The post I Know You’ve Heard It Before, But Seriously, Not Everyone Is Meant To Be Married appeared first on MadameNoire.

I’ve recently become obsessed with NBC’s show “This Is Us.” And when I say obsessed, I mean I watched the entire first season in less than two week’s time. It is incredible. I’m sure by now you’ve heard of it, and I’m here to tell you, yes, believe the hype. Now that we have to wait until next season to catch our favorite characters, my sister and I have started delving into the social media lives of the cast, particularly Sterling Brown, who plays Randall on the show and recently won an Emmy for his portrayal of Christopher Darden in “The People vs. O.J. Simpson.”

My friend Victoria also watches the show and brought to my attention that Sterling’s real-life-wife Ryan Michelle Bathe is also on “This Is Us,” portraying the mother to young Randall’s Black friend. If you’ve seen the show, you know who I’m talking about. Ryan’s character is both the voice of reason and access to the Black community.

Anyway, Sterling’s Instagram page is full of adorable moments the two of them share. And since love’s in need of love today, I thought I would share some of my favorites with you all.

#atlanta @reissue82 @alanomiller @donaldglover_ #genius

A post shared by Sterling Brown (@sterlingkb1) on Oct 11, 2016 at 11:58pm PDT

The Ribbing

The post Sterling K. Brown And Ryan Michelle Bathe Are So Friggin’ Adorable Together appeared first on MadameNoire.

Where will you be tomorrow? Will you be taking the day off to participate in a “Day Without a Woman,” a global one-day strike on March 8th? What’s the purpose, you ask? To illustrate that women “do a disproportionate amount of unpaid labor, such as child care and cleaning at home,” reported The Grio.

Organizers of International Women’s Strike USA know, realistically, not all women will be able to participate, but they are hoping many women will take part, especially in such American cities as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.

“I think it was the January 21 mass mobilization during the Women’s March that gave many of us the confidence that the time was right to actually take up the call that the feminists internationally had given for March 8,” Tithi Bhattacharya, a member of the International Women’s Strike USA’s national planning committee, told The Huffington Post.

“The strike is very consciously using a diversity of actions to talk about women’s labor, because women’s labor is most often rendered invisible, both by society and by policymakers,” Bhattacharya explained. “To strike as a woman worker is not just to strike in the workplace, but to understand the unity between domestic roles and public roles that as women we constantly have to straddle.”

Barbara Smith, co-founder of the Combahee River Collective and of Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, said as a Black woman it is important to participate, particularly in the current political climate of the United States. “I am excited to be a part of the effort to organize the International Women’s Strike on March 8th because it is grounded in a democratic vision of feminism that acknowledges and fights for the rights and freedom of all women. Our platform acknowledges that racism, economic exploitation, and imperialism as well as gender oppression destroy the lives of women and their families around the world,” wrote Smith in The Huffington Post. She added that under the new administration she feels like a “second-class citizen if not a third or fourth class one, since I am also a woman, a lesbian, and a worker who cannot afford to retire.”

This will be the second such women’s strike in our nation’s history. “The first national women’s strike in the United States was in 1970 when the National Organization for Women (NOW), following the charge of Betty Friedan, organized the Women’s Strike for Equality,” reported Complex. Then, women were fighting for free abortion on demand, 24-hour daycare for all mothers, and workplace equality. This year’s strike’s primary goals are more “focused on the rights and needs of working class women.”

According to Smith, those women not able to take the day off can participate in other ways. “Some will strike during their lunch hour and wear a sign to let people know that is what they are doing. Some women who are able to strike will wear the names of others who cannot. Women who do unwaged work or sex work are planning ways to be involved. In many cities there will be large visible public actions,” she wrote. You can also wear red in solidarity with A Day Without A Woman.

The post Tomorrow Is A “Day Without A Woman.” Will Your Participate? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Pregnant Ciara is absolutely and unequivocally adorable. There’s something stunning about seeing the usually chiseled tomboy softer and more feminine in her maternal glow, and looking at the photo spread in Harper’s Bazaar with the first love of her life, Baby Future, is enough to make almost any woman’s ovaries tingle just a smidge. Or maybe entice you to take a walk down the aisle as you hear the singer gush over husband Russell Wilson with the maturity of a woman who’s learned a thing or two from her past (highly public) relationships.

Her relationship with Russell, Ciara told the mag, is “even greater… just… so… amazing… awesome…It really is.” And that has to do a lot with the fact that Russell, 28, whom she tied the knot with last July, always has her back.

“If someone’s not supporting you and your vision and your dreams —whether it’s your relationship partner, your friend, whomever, then you’ve got to make sure to keep it moving. If people aren’t lifting you up, even if you’re the strongest person in the world, eventually it does chip away at you. You don’t even realize that you’re losing yourself. And that’s the scariest place to be in life… I don’t want to lose myself. I love myself too much. I love life too much.”

And why wouldn’t she? As a newlywed and an expectant mother, 31-year-old Ciara seems to have everything she always wanted. The fact that we’re still talking about her 13 years after the release of Goodies is a testament to her ability to achieve anything she puts her mind too. At 14, she made a list of three goals: to get discovered, sign a record deal and “have longevity.” Check, check, and check. In fact, there’s another delivery on the way many may not know about. According to CiCi, new music is on the way. “I got this baby and my album,” she shared.

“I’m just super excited about this time in my life,” she said. “Like, Oh my gosh, I can see my son running around, and soon it’s going to be two of these creatures running around! Our hands will be full of non-stop action.”

We can’t wait to see the two — or four — in action either. Check out all the photos from her spread on the next few pages.

The post Ciara And Baby Future Have The Cutest Photoshoot As She Gushes Over “Just… So… Amazing… Awesome…” Marriage appeared first on MadameNoire.

Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross is the April cover star of Health and looking fantastic in a colorful mix of bodysuits and body-con swimsuits. Inside the pages of the magazine, the 44-year-old talks about many interesting things, including how her body is changing, how she treats it and what she loves about getting older.

“The comfort in my skin is so much better,” she said about aging gracefully in Hollywood. “I spent so much of my life, culturally, seeing myself through others because I just didn’t always have the confidence to look at the world through my own eyes. As opposed to the ‘shoulds.'”

She continued, “It’s a curse word! It’s literally worse than ‘f—.’ ‘Should’ has so much shame in it. There’s nothing good. ‘You know what you should do?!’ It’s awful! As I get older, I’m having fun being me for the first time. My ability to be present has gotten better. It’s taken me a while because my tendency is to be in my head, judging myself, going over moments.”

As she gets older, Ross is also more aware of what she puts into her body, hence the reason she has a pretty smart food rule.

“It has to pass two tests: Not only taste good in my mouth, but it also has to feel good in my stomach,” she said. “So a lot of foods that are good in the mouth, 10 minutes later? I’m cursing myself. Potato chips don’t do that, french fries don’t do that—they’re fattening as hell, but whatever. But cake? I feel bloated, I get, like, hives from the sugar, and I feel like I’m having an anxiety attack. Ice cream? I can’t swallow; I feel like I have glue in my mouth.”

And when it comes to her body, Ross told Health that she’s learning to give it positive feedback and train it well. I’m sure you’re wondering how that works.

“One, talk nice to it,” she said. “And two, find workouts that make me feel good. And I have to say that Tracy Anderson’s workout the last five years has been really good for me. I love the studio atmosphere, I love how beautiful and sexy and long and strong I look when I work out, and I love the loud music. I find that, as adults, we stay so regimented in our movement, even if we get on a treadmill. The music changes all the patterns, and my body gets to move freely, so you feel amazing—which is ultimately the point of the workouts, too. One of the things that’s most encouraging is you see a roomful of women working their a–es off and looking beautiful. You see women in their 40s wearing jog bras and their stomachs out proudly, walking in a stance that says, ‘I love my body,’ and that’s exciting to me.”

Ross works out about three to four days a week and says she puts in the work at the gym because at this stage in her life, she needs to.

“I feel the best when I work out,” she said. “I feel very strong. I didn’t wake up like this. At 22, I woke up like that. At 44, I work really hard for this! I am on TV, and I don’t want to lie to anybody. I’m not at my skinniest, I’m not at my fattest, but I live my life. This is my body. Health and the functionality of my body are more important than what it looks like.”

But if she had to pick an asset that both physically and visually she loves, Ross would admit that it’s her butt. She works to keep it perky by doing moves in the gym that lift and tighten.

“Gravity makes it drop and spread, so I try to lift and tighten,” she said. “[My trainer and I] specifically target it to make sure my butt is looking lifted and full. And I switch it up with other workouts, sometimes squats and lunges and deadlifts. I love a deadlift. I have 20-pound weights in my meditation room, so sometimes I’ll just do some.”

But it took a long time for the star to embrace her backside. It was only after going up and down in her weight that she realized that that a– wasn’t going anywhere. She’s happy it hasn’t.

“I love my butt in a way I didn’t growing up,” Ross said. “I really didn’t like it growing up. It was so much bigger than everyone else’s, and I wanted jeans to look the way they did on everyone else, and mine didn’t. I’ve been—to a certain extent—at odds with my body for many years, wanting it to be something other than it was, wanting myself to be something other than I was. Then, in my 30s, I started to get comfortable with the largeness of my personality. The same thing with my butt. I tried getting really, really skinny, and I learned that no matter how thin I got, I was still gonna have a butt.”

Images via Health/James White 

The post Tracee Ellis Ross On Loving Her Booty At 44 After Loathing It At 22 appeared first on MadameNoire.

When I first saw Emma Watson’s titties on the pages of Vanity Fair I didn’t think anything of it. She’s a woman. She has breasts and that day she felt like showing them. No big deal. But then came all this conversation about Emma being a feminist and whether or not feminists should exploit their bodies in this way. I rolled my eyes. It’s an old and tired argument. If the decision to show a bit of side boob, was indeed her own, then what was the problem?

I have no problem with this, but if you’re familiar with Emma and the type of feminism she represents, you’ll raise an eyebrow pic.twitter.com/Bb5Szzzrj5

— Kimberly N. Foster (@KimberlyNFoster) March 2, 2017

This is the part of my 2014 interview with Tavi where we talked about Beyoncé. My words are in bold. pic.twitter.com/Y8vumOeyDT

— Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) March 7, 2017

The post The Lesson Even Beyoncé Could’ve Learned From Emma Watson’s Feminism appeared first on MadameNoire.

Lord knows the digital and tech world could use more people of color. Not to mention women. For representation purposes alone, we’re excited about this new app Afreekmoji. Like Ebroji and other similar apps plenty of celebrities have launched in the past few years, Afreekmoji is about using a keyboard extension to express our emotions.

And this one, as the name suggests, places an emphasis on Black and African culture. The app was founded by the Ugokwe sisters. These same women are behind Dashiki Pride. These three women, still in their early twenties, hope that Afreekmoji can be “another medium in which these entrepreneurs hope to share and educate the world about their beautiful African culture.”

Check out some of the examples of emojis offered below.

How are you looking today?! We hope you’re sitting pretty😊 #Afreekmoji #AfricaTotheWorld

A post shared by Afreekmoji (@afreekmoji) on Feb 25, 2017 at 8:56am PST

Use Afreekmoji this Valentines day to share your love with your loved ones❤ AVAILABLE on apple store and google play store #AFREEKmoji

A post shared by Afreekmoji (@afreekmoji) on Feb 13, 2017 at 4:29pm PST

Summer is coming. Text your friends and tell them that your on your gym flow!

A post shared by Afreekmoji (@afreekmoji) on Mar 1, 2017 at 4:49pm PST

Afreekmoji is available on both Androids and iPhones.

The post Three Sisters Create Afreekmoji To Celebrate Africa Culture appeared first on MadameNoire.

In February, we told you that the newest “Bachelorette,” make that “Black Bachelorette,” had been picked earlier than usual. She is 31-year-old Rachel Lindsay, a civil defense litigation attorney from Texas. Lindsay was just eliminated on last night’s episode of The Bachelor to move on to bigger and better things. 

“To be the first African-American woman is a beautiful thing,” Lindsay said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about what’s next for her. “I’m honored and humbled to be the one chosen. Because that’s how I feel: like I was chosen to be in this role.”

When speaking to PEOPLE last month about her excitement, Lindsay said that she was happy to “represent myself as a Black woman in front of America.” As a Black woman going on a dating show to find love, Lindsay told The Hollywood Reporter that she’s received a lot of questions from fellow Black people who wonder if she will pick a Black man (which was debated in our comment section when we announced Lindsay as the next “Bachelorette”).

“That is a very common question that I get from black people,” she said. “Honestly, I don’t want to go into this process with any preconceived notions or any pressures to do something for somebody else. I hate to sound selfish, but it’s my process.”

She added, “It’s my journey in finding love. And whether that person is black, white, red, whatever — it’s my journey. I’m not choosing a man for America, I’m choosing a man for me.”

With that being said, she does, however, hope that the men cast to fight for her affections will actually be diverse.

“I’m hoping that as a black Bachelorette you’re going to get to see a more diverse cast, a cast that’s reflective of what America looks like,” she said. “And not just Bachelor Nation or whatever else, but what America looks like.”

Lindsay’s season hasn’t even started filming as of yet, but so far, she said she’s received a lot of support, which outweighs any negativity that may come her way once the series airs.

“I know there are going to be people who criticize what I do no matter what, but I’m just trying to not get caught up in it,” Lindsay said. “I feel like it was meant to be and that outweighs any fear or pressure that I have in being the first African-American Bachelorette.”

Considering that most people who haven’t already been watching these shows probably won’t tune in anyway, does it really matter who she ends up picking?

Image via ABC 

The post First Black “Bachelorette” On The Pressure To Pick A Black Man: “I’m Not Choosing A Man For America” appeared first on MadameNoire.

Never heard of OkayAfrica magazine? Well, you might want to add it to your reading list, especially since Africa is considered one of the emerging markets of this century. OkayAfrica is an online magazine (and event producer) that covers all that is today’s Africa. And in honor of Women’s History Month, the media entity just debuted its premier “OkayAfrica’s 100 Women” to coincide with its March editorial theme, “Black Girls Only.”

“We proudly present 100 dope women who hail from the continent and the Diaspora—an amazing collective of visionaries, champions, pioneers and innovators,” said Antoinette Isama, OkayAfrica Associate Editor, in a press release. “These brilliant women, our seestahs, are positively impacting our lives and the lives of others across Africa and around the world.”

The list of women includes Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author Luvvie Ajayi, actress/director Issa Rae, Ethiopian-Irish actress Ruth Negga, Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, modeling icon Iman, actress Yvonne Orji, actress and playwright Danai Gurira, and South African 2016 Olympic gold track and field medallist Caster Semenya as well as lesser-known power players changing their communities and the world. There is also Phiona Mutesi, a chess prodigy from Uganda and subject of the recent Disney “Queen of Katwe” film; Farida Bedwei, information technology entrepreneur, whose cloud software is used by over 100 microfinance companies in Ghana; and Ilwad Elman, human rights and social activist from Somalia, who assist survivors of domestic violence and street children in Mogadishu, among others. The women are in a wide range of industries–from the arts to activism to business and technology.

The post OkayAfrica Honors “Black Girls Only,” Profiles 100 African Woman Making Moves Today appeared first on MadameNoire.

I find it so funny (ironic funny not hilarious funny) that when dating, men always ask me if I live alone and when I say yes I’m rarely met with a “me too.” It’s a question I don’t even like asking because the response always kills my grown a– man joy. Nine times out of 10, I’m met with some “It’s complicated” tale about why the guy is living with everyone but himself and all I hear is “Struggle ahead.” Some non-traditional living arrangements make sense for familial needs or financial planning, but others scream I’m not really in a position to date. Like these.

The post Awkward Living Situations That Prove He’s Not In A Position To Date appeared first on MadameNoire.

In a time when women seem to be facing a barrage of scorn from political leaders, we are not disheartened. In fact, we’re emboldened with purpose and a commitment to ensuring our rights and those of generations of women to come are protected. So on March 8, International Women’s Day, we have a few unconventional ideas on how to keep moving our cause forward.

The post I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar: Unique Ways To Celebrate International Women’s Day appeared first on MadameNoire.

Today millions of women will join together in solidarity through vocal displays and silent demonstrations to call attention to the contributions we have made to society. At a time when womanhood is under constant attack and our very ability to protect our rights is called into question, we stand united and show the power and poise of womanhood. In celebration of International Women’s Day, MadameNoire pays homage to 10 extraordinary women from around the globe who have had an undeniable impact on our world and serve as inspirations for millions of women today.

A post shared by Lu Collins (@blacsugabeauty_) on Feb 10, 2017 at 7:13am PST

Dame Eugenia Charles

Best known as the Caribbean’s first female prime minister, Dame Eugenia Charles’ legacy extends far beyond that title. A native of Dominica, Charles was born in a small fishing village outside of Roseau. She gained an interest in law at an early age and became the country’s first female lawyer. Gradually she became more interested in politics, particularly as a battle raged regarding freedom of the press. She would go on to form the Dominica Freedom Party and ultimately ascend to Prime Minister. Having survived two attempted coups during her tenure and given her hard-line stance on issues such as anti-corruption, she was dubbed the “Iron Lady of the Caribbean.” She may not have been perfect, but we have an immense amount of respect for a woman who thrived in a male-dominated and racist world.

The post 10 Influential Women From Around The Globe We Recognize Today appeared first on MadameNoire.

Our feelings are still a little hurt by Apryl and Omarion’s split last July, but our hearts were warmed seeing the former couple come together to celebrate daughter A’mei Kazuko’s first birthday March 7.

The proud parents of two threw A’mei a Moana-themed birthday bash based on the hit Disney movie and created by Los Angeles-based event planning company bDashd which didn’t miss a single detail for the big day. There were amazing floral decorations, a golden highchair, grass skirts, great ’90s music, hula dancing, and, of course, cake, one of which A’mei appears to have had all to her adorable self.

Check out all the photos and videos of the fun b-dash bash on the next few pages.

The post The Moana-Themed Party Apryl And Omarion Threw For Their Daughter’s First Birthday Is Too Cute appeared first on MadameNoire.

Usually the only thing most of us consider when buying an eyeshadow primer is how well it will do its job of keeping color on our lids, but this International Women’s Day we’re challenging you to think just a little bit deeper and put your money toward more than wear your makeup is.

To celebrate this day of global female recognition, Urban Decay has decided to donate 100 percent of every single purchase of their Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in the new shade Fix to Ultraviolet Edge, its global initiative to empower women. Since 2015, Ultraviolet Edge has helped fund organizations that fight for the rights of women everywhere and encourage all women to embrace their individuality.

When Ultraviolet Edge launched in 2015 with a limited-edition Eyeshadow Primer Potion shade, Urban Decay donated a total of $528,000 to causes that support women. In 2016, that figure jumped to $750,000 with donations from 100 percent of the purchase price of another limited-edition shade of Eyeshadow Primer Potion. This year, the brand is hoping for another increase with the release of Fix, a limited-edition beige matte shade with the same no-crease, 24-hour wear of previous potions, putting the company on target to reach its five-year goal of raising three million dollars.

Donations will support literacy programs and microloans to women in Uganda, education initiatives for girls in Kenya, and legal representation for indigent and abused women in New York City. And all you have to do is purchase one $20 Primer Potion in Fix — or two or three. Fix will be available March 9 on UrbanDecay.com and Urban Decay’s freestanding store in Newport Beach.

The post You Can Help Emplower Women Just By Buying This Eyeshadow Primer appeared first on MadameNoire.

Nike is representing for women in major ways these days.

Just last week we told you that the sportswear company launched a plus-size activewear line for women that goes up to a 3x. Now they’ve announced the development of performance hijabs for Muslim women athletes. It’s a market that’s barely been tapped, high-performance hijabs, but there are a large number of active Muslim women who could greatly benefit from the product.

Called the Nike Pro Hijab, Nike said in a statement that the product is another way to celebrate the “ongoing cultural shift that has seen more women than ever embracing sport.” The company made mention of Saudi Arabian runner Sarah Attar and Emirati weightlifter Amna Al Haddad, women who competed in the Olympics in 2012 wearing hijabs, as inspirations for the Pro Hijab. According to USA Today, Al Haddad only owned one performance-grade covering during that time, and she was forced to hand-wash the hijab every night when competing. The athletic hijabs of the past were more work than just your usual piece of performance gear.

Keeping such struggles in mind, Nike set out to create a hijab that was “inconspicuous” and could be worn almost like a second skin. Muslim women athletes in the Persian gulf are already taking advantage of the Pro Hijab, while a full launch is expected spring 2018.

Nike may be doing some innovative things in terms of a performance hijab, but such coverings, along with more modest apparel offerings have become more and more popular over the last few years. Brands like Uniqlo and many designers including Dolce & Gabbana and DKNY have launched collections with such pieces to both praise over such expansion of offerings as well as criticism over the idea that staples of Muslim spirituality are being turned into the next “hot buy.”

Still, Nike’s product stands out and is getting a big thumbs up from Muslim women athletes. Made with just a single layer of durable mesh, holes to allow for increased airflow, the ability to just be pulled overhead and a long back that won’t come untucked, it’s quite an innovative product. Not to mention that according to reports, women athletes who wear hijabs have been testing the prototypes Nike has come up with since early last year.

It’s refreshing to see Nike not only pushing for the empowerment of female athletes, but also pushing the message of equality and diversity at a time when more people need to tout it. (Not to mention, these performance hijabs look pretty amazing.)

The post Pro Hijab: Nike Launches Performance Hijab For Muslim Women Athletes appeared first on MadameNoire.

Hair care products always make or break my carry-on travel dreams. I’ll set out with the best intentions of not checking a bag, but if it’s between having everything I need to make my curls pop or preserve my blow-out and checking a bag, I’m checking a bag.

Thankfully, more and more brands are realizing Black women are on the go more than ever and we don’t have time to squeeze our favorite balms, conditioners, creams, and gels, in those little travel containers before packing for our red eye. So they’ve started selling their best-selling products in portions guaranteed not to rise suspicions from even the most overzealous TSA officer. Here are a few we can’t board our flights without.

SCALP NOURISH~MENT Braids and Locs Spray (3.3 oz)

Bumble and bumble All-Style Blow Dry (2 oz)

Design Essentials SLEEK Play HOTSTYLE Thermal Styling Glaze (2.3 oz)

Oidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel (2.5 oz)

OGX coconut milk conditioner (20z)

Creme of Nature Anti-Humidity Gloss & Shine Mist (4 oz)

 Cantu Coconut Curling Cream (2 oz)

Control Me Edge Gel Mini

The post 8 Hair Minis Perfect For TSA-Proof Traveling appeared first on MadameNoire.

Being your own boss is lit for so many reasons. You can set your own work schedule, go to lunch when you want, and there’s no cap on how much money you’ll bring home each week. If you’ve been in business for yourself and feel like entrepreneurship is more of a burden than a blessing, here are some areas that may be causing you to miss the mark.

1. Your marketing isn’t strategic. The channels you use to advertise your services should be places that your ideal customer is likely to be. For example, if you are a seamstress, now would be a good time to let people know you’re available to make prom dresses. Generally, you can find high schoolers on Instagram and Snapchat, not reading the local newspaper. Fashion is a visual thing and your customer won’t get the full spectrum of the design in a black and white newspaper ad.
2. You’re misleading people. Be honest with yourself and let customers know what you can and can’t deliver. If you’re only good at making cupcakes, why take a deposit for a seven-tier wedding cake? Although you see yourself expanding into bigger orders, the most important day of a customer’s life is not the time to take chances. Practice on your time, not the customer’s.
3. Your personal life overshadows your business. Do potential customers know more about your drama-filled relationships or your shady attitude versus the business you’ve started? Reevaluate what’s going on in your personal life so it doesn’t stunt your professional growth.
4. Your work has left a bad taste in someone’s mouth. Perhaps your last business transaction didn’t go as well as you thought. Or maybe a customer expressed dislike and you ignored it. In any event, a bad review spreads like hives. Assess the damages and come up with a plan to save face.
5. You’re lazy. Everyone wants to be a boss until they realize you can’t fake it until you make it. When you’re working a 9 to 5, it’s easy to shuffle around a few papers, drink coffee and convince your supervisor that you deserve to get paid this week. However, when you decide to be your own boss you work with clients who have direct access to you. There’s no extension to forward their calls to and keep them on hold until they forget what they called for–they want to hear from you about the progress of what they’ve paid for. You must deliver results.
6. Your price points are way off. You may be undercharging for your products and services. If your revenue barely sustains your basic needs, it’s time to increase your prices. Sometimes as new entrepreneurs we are so anxious to do what we love for a living that we forget it has to be profitable.
7. You’re too busy focusing on another entrepreneur’s success. Do you stalk people’s social media and fantasize about what it would be like to get the press and speaking engagements they receive? If your answer is yes, stop doing that and focus on how you can improve your brand and achieve the same success. It’s also not good to copy other brands. Find your authentic voice and customers will find you.
8. You need to delegate some tasks. Being an entrepreneur means that you started a business, but it doesn’t mean you have to work alone. Time is of the essence and you shouldn’t waste it on things that are outside of your skillset. Graphic design, public relations, and accounting can be handled by someone else if it’s too much for you to handle.
9.  You don’t know how to network. Networking is not about becoming friends with folks and stealing their connections. Socializing with others is a huge part of life and if you want to succeed in business you’re going to have to position yourself at conferences and events tailored to your industry. Attending workshops allows you to meet other smart people who can relate to the work you do and refreshes your thinking.
10. You have no faith in yourself. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint at heart. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, why should a potential customer? Reevaluate why you went into business to make sure this is what you really want to do and find a good mentor in your industry who is seasoned if you decide to continue.

The post Mind Your Business: 10 Reasons Entrepreneurship Isn’t Working For You appeared first on MadameNoire.

In last week’s episode, MJ was full of struggle. She had a less than comfortable moment with Lee’s son, had her story covering Judge McAllister taken over by Ronda, and to make matters worse, she was suspended, along with Justin, as he refused to give up his sources to Ronda and Kara. Thankfully, though, in this episode our girl has a lot more luck, but not before dealing with the usual drama first.

When the Ex Meets the Next

As the episode opens and we find out that both Justin and Mary Jane have been suspended at work due to his insistence not to share his source for the Judge McAllister story, the focus turns to MJ’s personal life. She meets up with Lee and his ex Zoe, the charming mother of his two kids. The chemistry between them is strong and, well, Mary Jane isn’t happy about it. She ends up asking Lee the million dollar question: Why aren’t they still together? In an interesting turn of events, he says he doesn’t know why, admitting that he still has feelings for Zoe. However, he makes it clear that he does indeed love MJ.

The post Being Mary Jane Ep. 8: MJ Meets Lee’s Ex, Finally Gets To Embarrass Ronda appeared first on MadameNoire.

It’s been almost three weeks since Remy Ma released “ShETHER,” her scathing diss track that targeted Nicki Minaj. In it, the Bronx-born rapper accused her female rap counterpart of sleeping with an array of different men in the industry, of having faulty butt implants and of actually being happy when Remy went to prison for six years.

Since then, Minaj hasn’t responded (on wax at least, Twitter is another story). Remy even released a second diss track called “Another One,” which wasn’t received with as much fanfare. And making things even more complicated, Foxy Brown tried to jump in the beef, going as far as to bring up Remy’s recent miscarriage. But after talking to multiple people in the media, including Wendy Williams, claiming she only came after Nicki because the hitmaker was trying to interfere in her career and monetary pursuits behind the scenes, it seems that Remy is no longer interested in beefing. In retrospect, she wishes things could have played out in a different way between both women.

“I actually liked her but don’t try and come for me,” Remy Ma told Buzzfeed in an interview. “It just bothers me that me picking apart another female is what went viral. We could’ve done this working together.”

And picking apart is definitely what Remy did. She shared old photos of a less voluptuous Minaj and pretty much taunted her on social media. While many would say, well, that’s hip-hop, Remy would have preferred if they could have come together a long time ago. For the record, Remy said that she doesn’t know why that never occurred.

“It wasn’t me, I just think it would’ve been cooler if we came together and did something crazy and that’s what everyone was talking about,” she said. “I don’t regret it, I’m just not particularly proud of it.”

At this point, it doesn’t seem likely that Minaj will respond in song (what could she really say?), but if she does, Remy claims that she’s not going to do the back and forth.

“I don’t care.”

Oh, and as for Foxy Brown, Remy only has two words — or two visual words that is — for her: She said “no comment” in sign language.

Image via WENN 

The post Remy Ma Doesn’t Necessarily Regret “ShETHER,” But Admits She’s Not Proud Of Beef With Nicki appeared first on MadameNoire.

When you’re trying to juggle a career, a marriage, a family and still hoping to find a way to carve a little something out for yourself, something’s got to give. In an attempt to excel in one area, usually our professional careers, many of us take for granted the other aspects of our life that require tender love and care. It’s one thing to know you’re slacking in such a way, it’s another to actually acknowledge, apologize to and celebrate those who’ve been put on the backburner. LeBron James is doing just that.

While speaking with teammates Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, who have the podcast Road Trippin, he James stated that his drive to be the greatest to play in the NBA has caused him to, at times, sacrifice being with his family so that he can train, practice and play. It’s something he decided to apologize to wife Savannah for.

“I am addicted to the process. I’m addicted to the process,” he said. “It’s so funny. I just told my wife the other day, I apologized to her. She was like ‘What are you apologizing for?’ I said ‘Because the journey that I’m on to want to be the greatest to ever play this game or to the point where no one ever forgets what I accomplished, I’ve at times lost the fact of how important you are to this whole thing.'”

He continued, “‘I want you to understand that along this journey while I’m playing this game there will be times that I lose the fact of how important you and my three kids are – my babies are.'”

Knowing how important Savannah is in keeping their home together (a home that includes sons Lebron, Jr., Bryce and daughter Zhuri) and being one of his biggest supporters, James has often been pretty vocal in his adoration of her. He shared this post about Savannah on Instagram just a day ago to celebrate International Women’s Day:

LeBron and Savannah James have been together since high school and married in 2013. In an interview with Essence.com last year, Savannah opened up about what it takes to be the wife of an NBA champ and one of the most celebrated athletes in the world. Without her, where would he be?

“I’m his support system with whatever he needs. If he needs someone to listen to him. If he needs to talk or if he says, ‘Hey babe, I’m tired. Can I take a nap?’ I will say ‘Yeah, baby. Take a nap,’ and keep the kids occupied. It’s a part of the role that I play as the mother of his kids and being his wife. The balance that I create in our house is for his success. He is very busy and I understand that, and the kids are at the age now that they get it. Being there for him is a huge part of his success.”

Image via WENN 

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