EVENT ALERT: American Dreaming and Around The Way Curl Pop Up Mall!

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Antoinette

When: June 29th 2pm-8pm

Where: The Bolon Room 11-22 44th Road Floor 2, LIC, NY 11101

Who: All ages are welcome to attend. The event will be covered by Ebony.com and Philly 360

How & How Much: IT’S FREE!!!

RSVP HERE For Our Own Peace of Mind:

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/7066176123/efbevent

Travel is Available on the :

E,M Train (23st Ely Ave Stop)

7 Train (Court House Square Stop)

G Train (Court Square Stop)

Vendors Are:

CURLS UNLEASHED

SHEA RADIANCE

D.I.D Nail Paint

Most call it polish. D.I.D calls it paint. A high calling for fingertips and toes.

A three-free product, our paints contain no carcinogens like formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. in other words, you can get your nails did responsibly. creatively. freely.

LLULO

APPLE BUTTER BOUTIQUE

BEADS BY AREE

HAUS OF SWAG

We are Haus of Swag, SWAG is an acronym for Sisters With A Grind; a premium brand of fashion tees and accessories dedicated to positive, fashionable images of Black women, specifically individuals who rock natural curls. Haus of Swag is pioneering the way for fly apparel that celebrates the style and individuality of women of color.

HENNA ARTIST DIVYA JOHNSON

GAISIES BODY ESSENTIALS

AOEDE’S HANDS

AKILAH ACCESSORIES

KARMA KOLLECTIONS

MAKE UP BY KRIS MARI

And MANY MANY MORE including:

Thesepinklips
Creative Players
Nativ Hype
Plainsight
Crumbled Thoughts
The DNTN Brand
Cologe Denim
Shop Kin
Exodica
Body Wraps by MsPopns

These Vendors are dope y’all. Don’t sleep. RSVP BELOW!

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/7066176123/efbevent

See you there : )

Vibrate Higher

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Shanti

Antoinette and I made this video so long ago. Our intention was to shed light on what so many of us do on the daily. We fall into the trap of envy and dissatisfaction. We cower under the beauty of others, spend hours trying to duplicate others self expression or simply seek out visuals that fuel our insecurities. If you get off the computer and you feel bad about yourself, time to re-adjust your browsing habits. Find visuals,music, people etc that inspire and lift your esteem up! Its so easy to believe that the grass is greener on the other side.

Tracee Ellis Ross Launches “Hair Love” Campaign After Our Instagram Post

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Antoinette

Tracee Writes:

“So the other day I reposted an image that I saw on Instagram that absolutely killed me! Seriously, I was crying with laughter. As funny as it was, it started to stir something inside me–a bit of which I expressed in my Instagram caption– but the more I thought on it, the more I realized it needed a larger response. So I took to my laptop and recorded a video! Apologies for the blurriness, I’m doing my best to be more technologically savvy but apparently it’s a process, hahaha! Anyways, hope you enjoy a bit of my hair story, and I absolutely cannot wait to hear why you LOVE YOUR HAIR!”

This is a great campaign. Please take part in it. Shanti and I will do it with you. And who really wouldn’t want to talk hair with Tracee? You’d be buggin. But seriously, remember only love someone else’s hair as long as it is an inspiration to you to love you own. Can’t wait to see you videos. Make sure you tweet them to us.

July 4th

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Antoinette

Genius Marketing strategy: JAY Z’s new album “Magna Carta Holy Grail” comes to Samsung Galaxy fans first. Be among the first million to download the app on June 24th and get the album free July 4th, three days before the rest of the world. Learn more: http://magnacartaholygrail.com

Rick Ruben, Swizz Beatz, Timberland, Pharrell and Jay all in one room?! He can’t lose.

Happy Father’s Day!

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Antoinette

Shout Out To All The Big Poppas!

6-29-13

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Antoinette

We along with the American Dreaming Magazine are excited to invite you to “The Big Apple’s, New York Pop Up Mall”! American Dreaming Magazine tells the inspiring story of young entrepreneurs! This event is hosted by “Around the Way Curls”, and will take place from 2-8 pm on Saturday, June 29^th at The Bolon Room, located at 11-22 44nd Road LIC, NY 11101. In addition, it will be covered by Ebony.com, the online magazine which focuses on African American cultural insight, news and perspective! We strongly encourage you and your friends to come out for tons of great shopping with numerous vendors, appetizing food, great music and a guaranteed good time!

More Vendor Details To Come…

Free Admission

RSVP Here:

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/7066176123/efbevent

A Participant’s Reaction to NY’s “You Can Touch My Hair”

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Shanti

This was an awesome event that thankfully I was asked to participate in. Many people have negative views on the topic but what they haven’t done is read the article on un-ruly.com that brings light to all things concerning and involving African American hair. As a participant in the event, my take on it is that this was a great platform to speak openly about the taboo that not only African American women, but women in general, have in regards to touching their hair. This event was held to bring light to stigmas and stereotypes, as well as educate different cultures and race and OUR OWN PEOPLE. It was a safe inviting environment that opened up a forum for people to speak comfortably and ask questions. As a whole, we as people are curious beings and long to be educated, so why not free them of the ignorance and stigma around black women and their hair. The sign was the most insignificant part of the event, being that all it stood for was an icebreaker for open dialogue. The people who touched my hair the most were….wait for it… African American women! Many other races didn’t even touch my hair; they were just fascinated and finally allowed to speak on the curiosities they have always had. The majority of the people were curious about moisturizing, transitioning, products, do’s and don’ts and our hair journey as women. Many people there were returning back to natural hair textures (I use the word “returning” instead of “going natural” because we were clearly born this way, so we are only returning to our natural state). The negative attitudes facing questions and curiosity about our hair is only adding fuel to the ignorant fire. Think about it this way- what makes this event so different from a person holding up a sign saying you can shake my hand? Your hand is an extension of yourself also, but I doubt there would be controversy around it. My hair is still a part of my physical being and personal space, the sign just signified a way for people to feel like their questions would be well received, and not be turned away. Now don’t get me wrong, my fro has been assaulted and “sneak attacked” many times by everyone from strangers to TSA. I am MORE than offended when people come up to me and touch my hair WITHOUT ASKING, so in no way am I justifying rude actions. All I want to get across is, instead of looking at this event in a negative notion, look at the positive side as in people walked away much more enlightened and educated about our people, our culture and their hair! To hear more about my first hand experience as a participant in this event, check out my reaction video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w5V3RUX1tE.

You can also follow my hair journey on YouTube at YouTube.com/BeautifullyMarked

Cheerios “Just Checking” Commerical.

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Antoinette

With all the controversy surrounding the commercial, I just want to say how happy and proud I was to see it. While I was watching The View yesterday an interesting point was brought up. Sherri Shepard made the claim that if this commercial had featured a black woman and white man and not a black man with a white woman, that it would not have received the negative backlash that it has (youtube had to disable the comments section as a result). What do you think? I thought about it long and hard yesterday and I think I agree. I’m sure there would still be some hate thrown it’s way but this was on another level. Some folks at work concluded that black men are prized possessions on our community so seeing them step out immediately creates conflict and that white women are the same in their community. What do you think? Weigh in.

In the meantime in-between time. Here’s a message to those who have a beef:

NYC Launches “You Can Touch My Hair” Exhibit.

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Antoinette

They Write:

“With more and more people going natural, there seems to be a larger fascination with black hair, resulting in many being approached by strangers and asked, “Can I touch your hair?”

Some people don’t mind the solicitation while some find it annoying or offensive. What happens if we give everyone the opportunity to touch black hair… find out at un’ruly’s public art exhibit on 6/6/13 and 6/8/13″.

Learn more here: http://youcantouchmyhair.com

I feel like I’m going to have to go. I wished they would have showed the actual touching of the hair.Sidenote, I would have had to wash my hair 20 times after all those dirty NYC subway rat and roach invested hands had been in it.

What do you think ladies? Good idea? Bad idea? Would you do it?

Practice Happiness

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Shanti

1. Push yourself to get up before the rest of the world – start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill with a big coat and a scarf and watch the sun rise.

2. Push yourself to fall asleep earlier – start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable.

3. Erase processed food from your diet. start with no lollies, chips, biscuits, then erase pasta, rice, cereal, then bread. use the rule that if a child couldn’t identify what was in it, you don’t eat it.

4. Get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else.

5. Stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything.

6. Buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.

7. Buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small.

8. Strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.

9. Organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.

10. Have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.

11. push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realize you can learn from your dog.

12. Message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through.

14. Think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything.

15. Become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.

16. Lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you.

— Sixteen Small Steps to Happiness