The "N" Word...More People Need It In Their Life

Ohhhhhh, you thought I was talking about the other "N" word???  Nope. No sir, no ma'am, not here.  Not with this post (Maybe later).  I'm referring to the "N" word as in....NICE.  

First things first: Let me just say this.  Being nice is not a sign of weakness. Smiling doesn't mean you're soft or your "thug" levels are slowly dissolving.  Letting someone merge into traffic doesn't mean you're a wimpy, scary driver.  Giving someone a friendly compliment doesn't mean you want to marry him/her.  Not. At. All.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  It just means you're....nice.  And there's nothing wrong with that. 

I idolized my grandma growing up.  She'd sit with me for hours and give me THE best advice.  One of the greatest things she ever told me was to 'be nice.'  And in true "keep it real" fashion, she never added a lot of ingredients to those two simple words.  She was so sweet.  She'd say, "Be nice 'cuz you never know what someone is going through."  That's it!  Simple.  

She taught me a lot, but that stayed with me. I was always a nice kid.  Polite, mannerable and easy-going.  Not much has changed.  I'm still the same.   

I pity people who are hell bent on being mean.  Typically when someone is mean and nasty, other traits like 'vindictive,' 'arrogant,' 'rude,' and 'bitter' are a part of their twisted energy too.  What a sad, sad life.  Oh well. *shrugs*

Those folks don't stop me from being nice.  No friggin way!  It's in my DNA.  It's what my grandma taught me.  And it's a comfortable place for me.  If I'm mad about something (doesn't happen often), I won't become a horrible, ugly Cruella de Vil.  I'll most likely become quiet.  Extra quiet.  And if THAT happens?  Whew. :)  D  *Nice people often add a smiley icon after saying something slightly mean*

If you're a genuinely nice person, do me a favor and continue to be that way.  I bet you're smiling as you're reading this right now.  Nice people smile often...it's so easy for us!  And for those who choose to live a different kind of life?  Hey--If that brings you joy and contentment, I guess...  Just be sure to tell "Karma" I said Hi when you run into her.  She's a beyotch!

My Pic of The Day: "Does This Outfit Make Me Look Fat?"

Hi, I'm An Egg With No Bio (Twitter Woes)

I love Twitter.  I can't live without it.  Not for the obvious reasons you think, either.  See...I'm a bonafide, unapologetic, Grade A news junkie.  With Twitter, I can connect with reputable newsmakers anytime and anywhere I want.  Whew. Yes. That's incredibly dope to me.  #nerd

I love the cadence and speed of it too.  It moves fast.  Like, Danica Patrick fast!  Fact: Twitter broke the news about Michael Jackson's death, the Hudson River plane crash and Osama bin Laden's raid & death. THAT's how fast it works.  If you don't "get" it.  I advise you to get into it.  If you're in PR and you're not on Twitter....drop the "P" and the "R" from your job description, pack your stuff, do not pass Go and kindly....leave.  Yep, I went there. *files nails* 

Anyway, I digress....  So yeah, I love Twitter. 

Here's the problem.  *sigh*  You know the small area at the top of a person's/company's Twitter profile?  The area that should have a picture/image/logo and a description listed?  Yeah, that one.  I really want people to stop leaving that section blank. STOP.   

First of all, it's 2012.  We gotta move past the default "Twitter egg with no bio" purgatory place.  I mean, who wants to connect with an egg?!  Come. On!  Having an egg as a profile picture (with no bio) is equal to someone showing up to a Democratic dinner party wearing a Mitt Romney costume.  Awwwwkward.

And Eggheads...listen.  I won't follow you.  I won't talk to you.  I won't acknowledge you.  No. No. No.  Not gonna happen!  Not until you take a sec, upload a picture and create your bio.  My tip: Don't stress about it...keep it simple. Think about your interests, prioritize (business vs. personal) and remember key words (Twitter is a search engine.)  Click here to see mine.  If you need more help, hit me up.  Remember, I'm here for you. :)

Exhibit A

Pic Of The Day: SWAGALICIOUS!

If you ever need to show someone what "swag" means *sips smoothie*.....

You Might Be a Great Publicist/PR Professional If....

Real quick: In every working field, there are people who are just... *blank stare*  *yawn*  *files nails* at what they do. There are some who are actually pretty doggone good at what they're being paid to do.  And then, there are those who are just drop-dead amazing at their craft (i.e. Beyonce, Phil Jackson, Valerie Jarrett, Shonda Rhimes, etc.)  PR is no different.

If you're looking to hire a publicist, if you're a PR newbie or if you're evaluating your commitment to the field, here are some things to seriously think about....

Obvious Signs of a Great Publicist/PR Professional: 

• Great listeners (Listen with intent to understand)
  
  
• Exceptional writers
  
  
• Strategists who will roll up their sleeves & jump head first into their bag/toolbox of tactics
  
  
• News junkies
  
  
• Highly creative (Thinks outside of the box & has fun doing it)
  
  
• Great communicators (Can hold an engaging conversation with anybody)
  
  
• Can't (and shouldn't) live without social networks
  
  
• Attention to detail is insane...On a scale of 1-10, it's about a 25
  
  
• Understand that PR is NOT a 9-5 job

 

Marilyn Was a Poet And You Didn't Even Know It!

She's my all-time favorite muse.  I think about her a lot when I'm writing.  Visit my home and you'll see scandalous pictures of her sprinkled here & there.  It’s been 50 years since her death.  Fifty years!  And people are still intrigued with....her.

A lot of women believe that being pretty and passive is enough to get you what you want.  Not Marilyn (She & I are on a first name basis.) :-)  She was Hollywood's ulitimate sex symbol, goddess, icon, misunderstood diva, comic, genius and < insert whatever you choose to call her here >.  But, listen. *peers over sunglasses*  There was so much more to her than that.

Did you know that......

• She wasn't a dumb blonde.  She was a very savvy business woman.
• Her favorite colors were beige, black, white and red.

• She owned her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions.
• She washed her face 15 times a day, due to a fear of blemishes.

• She wrote poetry, but would never show it to anyone. (Yes, poetry)
• She wore a dress size of 14. (I almost fainted when I heard about this!)

• One of her favorite novels was the notoriously complicated Ulysses by James Joyce. (She read it aloud to herself because she loved the sound of it.)
• Her first studio name was *drum roll*….Carole Lind.  (Blah.  I like Marilyn way better.)

• Her favorite singers were Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.
• She had a pet horse named….Ebony.  (Awwww….sweet!)

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure.  I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times, hard to handle.  But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."   -Marilyn Monroe

My Pic of The Day: THIS is Swag!

Listen.  If this isn't inspiration, I don't know what is!  My momma calls this lady, the "Queen" and I concur.  Chaka Khan is looking amaaaaazing these days, isn't she?!  She's 60 lbs lighter, 59 years old young and on the "10 Hot-o-Meter" scale, she's a 12!  




Chaka Khan



Sing To Your Mama...She'll Love it! (Happy Mother's Day!)

I think Mother's Day should be celebrated all year long.  Moms rock on sooo many levels, don't they?  Saying thank you, I love you, you're the best, you're my world, etc...doesn't seem like it's enough.

Sooooo.  *pauses & reflects*  This year I wanted to do something different.  Something daring.  Something meaningful. I love music (so does my Mama!), so I decided to sum up how I feel about my Mama with a special song....  **Clears Throat**  

*Sings*  Loooooving youuuuuuu!  Is eeeeasy cause you're beautifuuuuul....La la la la la.  La la la la la.  La la la la la laalaalaaalaa.....doo dooooo doo dooooo  *high note*  Aaaahhhaaaaahh!!  ♥

Love you Mama! (Your check is in the mail babe) :-)   HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

My Mama. With her cute, sweet self. 

LOL! It's Mother's Day!!

 In honor of Mom's alllll over the world... This LOL is on me. (You're Welcome)  :-)

Explain This To Me Please....

This woman is being mauled by a cheetah and her husband captures it all on film.  Somebody wanna explain to me why this man didn't put the camera down and help his wife???  Doesn't come to her rescue.  Not once.  Please explain this to me....  I'm listening.  *steeple fingers*

(FYI--She's ok... She received stitches for her injuries.)

The Virgo Woman...What You Need to Know

There's something to be said about astrology. Is it always true?  I don't think so.  But, it does give us a baseline to understand each other a little better. 

It's no secret, I'm a Virgo.  Hmmmm....what does THAT mean?  It means a lot actually.  And If you're so lucky to have a Virgo woman in your life (wink), there's some basic things I think you should know:

We're perfectionists.  It's true, we pursue perfection in everything we do.  That's a good and bad thing. It can be exhausting and causes us to be a little critical at times. Give us a minute...we're working on this one.  

We're a woman for all seasons.  We can change our mindset to adjust to even the most difficult situations of life. A strong woman. A versatile woman.

We're not as reserved as we appear to be.  A lot of people think Virgo women are shy *I shrug*, but the truth is, if you take a sec to get to know us, you'll see that we're quite entertaining...and charming. :)

We find humor in almost everything.  Our sense of humor is sharp, quick and smart.    

We are completely devoted and loyal.  Ever heard of a ride-or-die chick?  That's us!    

We're independent and free thinking.  Intellectual connections are very, very important to us. 

We're genuine.  Our motives are honest.  Never malicious.  Highly ethical and idealistic.

Singer, Pink = Virgo Woman

Famous Virgo Women:

Beyonce

Amy Winehouse
Raquel Welch

Nicole Richie

Lola Falana

Cameron Diaz

Jada Pinkett Smith
Shania Twain

Mother Theresa

Sanaa Lathan

LeAnn Rhimes

Anika Noni Rose

Sophia Loren

Selma Hayek

Joan Jett

Jennifer Hudson
Brooke Burke

Lauren Bacall

Cass Elliott

Gloria Estefan

Video of The Day: Chillin'

Over seven million views on YouTube.  I'm sure he (or she) is thinking... "Stupid humans. I'm just sitting here minding my business.  What's the big deal?  Get a life." :)

10 Reasons Why I Loved New Edition (Still Do!)

1. When I was growing up, there weren't a lot of boys on TV who looked like me. New Edition   
    caught my eye and well....the rest is history.

2. Bobby Brown - Ok, so...I know Bobby has had some issues. Who hasn't??  But, back in the
    day, Bobby was an amaaaazing entertainer!  New Edition was good, but I think Bobby made
    them great!

3. My mama and I would sing New Edition songs together. We both knew the lyrics to all of
     their hits. How dope is that??

4. Ummmm....have you seen the Candy Girl video??? I soooo wanted to be in that video! :)

5. Collectively, they were great.  But, Ralph Tresvant, Bell Biv Devoe and of course, Bobby

    Brown could rip it a-la-solo. 

6. I liked watching them grow up.  We were around the same age, so it felt like I knew them.  

    Like I really knew them.

7. They always seemed like regular dudes. Very humble beginnings. I can appreciate and
    I respect a "come-up" story.

8. I'm a sucker for good choreography.  Their tight steps really put them in a league of their
    own. So much that Beyonce paid homage to them in her 'Love on Top' video.  Dope.

9. If it weren't for New Edition, there'd be no New Kids on The Block, no Backstreet Boys, no

    Boyz II Men, no 'N Sync.... I could go on & on, but I'll stop here. 

10. They've been in the entertainment business for over 30 years...and they still got it!  You
      gotta give them props for that! :)

My Pic Of The Day: Her Royal Flyness (Part II)

Michelle Obama is just so friggin...fly!  I mean she just... *sigh*.  She kills it every. single. time. *sighs, again*  #swag

Awkward Conversation of the Week.....

Me: I'm about to get real serious about my workouts.  Like-for real, for real.  Summer's coming!

Skinny Friend: Me too, girl.  

Me: What do you mean? You're like a size 6 or something, right?  

Skinny Friend: Please!  I wish.  I'm a size 8.  Total pig.  Team Chunk.  What size are you?   

Me: *sips wine....blank stare* 


*Side Note: I'm larger than a size 8 and I'm very sensitive about my weight.

My Pic Of The Day: So Cute...I Can't Stand It!

This just....slays me!  On a cuteness scale from 1-10, this is like a 13!!

Women's History Month Spotlight: Fannie Lou Hamer

March is National Women's History Month!  Time to shine the spotlight on a few of my favorite ladybugs.  One of my all-time favorite ladies in history is Fannie Lou Hamer.  It really bothers me that people don't know her.  Her story is amazing.  As my momma says...she was something else.

About Fannie Lou Hamer (1917 - 1977)

• Born in Montgomery County, Mississippi, she was the granddaughter of a slave and the youngest of 20 children.
• At age six, she began helping her parents in the cotton fields.

• By the time she was twelve, she was forced to drop out of school and work full time to help support her family.
• In 1962, she'd had enough of sharecropping. Leaving her house in Ruleville, MS she and 17 others took a bus to the courthouse in Indianola, the county seat, to register to vote.
• After being jailed and brutally beaten for trying to vote, she
  began working on welfare and voter registration programs for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

• Her most famous quote: "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired."
• She became the Vice-Chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, attending the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in that capacity.
• Prior to her death, she was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, as an honorary member.

Most Memorable Lines from "The Help"

Real Quick:  If you haven't seen the movie 'The Help', go check it out.  I won't go into the storyline.  By now, everyone knows...  Some people loved the movie, others despised it.  Make the decision for yourself.  *Click here to read my review of 'The Help'.* 

Love it or hate it, it'll definitely make you pause, think and re-think.  Here are just a few of my favorite lines from 'The Help':    

"You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important."  -Aibileen

"Love and hate are two horns on the same goat."  -Charlotte Phelan

"Minnie don't burn no chicken."  -Minnie

"If you can love your enemy, you already have victory."  -Preacher Green

"Eat My Sh*t.  I said.....Eat. My. Sh*t."  -Minnie 

"Courage sometimes skips a generation. Thank you for bringing it back to our family."   -Charlotte Phelan

My Video of The Day: Colin Powell & Affirmative Action

I met Colin Powell years ago when he was contemplating a run for the U.S. presidency.  I was so intrigued with him.  After all these years, I still am.  One day....I'm gonna sit down and have a conversation with him.  Watch and see.  

Here's Mr. Powell from HBO's "The Black List", speaking about affirmative action. His words struck a chord with me.  I couldn't have said it better myself..... 

My Pic of The Day! (86 Years & Counting!)

Look at these two!  Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher. They're too beautiful... And get this: They've been married for 86 years!  He's 105 years-old and she's 103 (they were 19 & 17 when they married!)

They've lived through the terms of 15 presidents, they sleep in seperate bedrooms and have attended seperate churches throughout the years.  Hmmmm..... :-) 

Note: Miss Zelmyra in this pink suit...is giving me life!  LOVE it!!! :-)

Mr. and Mrs. Fisher



Time to Partay: "Party at Tiffany's" Star is Making Memories and Dreams Come True

Say hello to Tiffany Young, party planner extraordinaire, owner of Pink Pastry Parlor and star of the Oprah Winfrey Network's 'Party at Tiffany's'.  One glance at Pink Pastry and you'll see that Tiffany is not your typical party planner. You name it and she can make it happen!  She's all about that pink power (Yes!), female empowerment (High-five) and having fun!  Check her out:

Tell us a little about Tiffany, the genius behind Pink Pastry Parlor…

Where did you grow up?  I grew up here in Atlanta, Decatur to be exact.  I was born in Monroe, LA, but left when I was 3 years old.

Where did your love of party planning come from?  I just LOVE KIDS!  I designed my shop to be everything a girl would want for her birthday: A sleepover room, spa, stage for dress-up, classroom for crafts, tea party room, a mini shopping mall, an all pink fun house, and CUPCAKES of course!!!

Tiffany Young, owner of Pink Pastry Parlor 

Have you always loved the color pink?  Always.  It says "girl power" and that's what I'm all about.

What inspired you to open Pink Pastry?  The drive to just do something I’ve always wanted to do. To be my own boss and play with kids all day. It empowers girls and fulfills my true calling at the same time.

‘Party at Tiffany’s’ is an amazing show!  The look on the little girls’ faces when they see their parties is priceless. What kind of feedback have you been getting from the show?  Wonderful feedback!  I get fan mail from little girls all the time! I love it when they say, “I’m saving up to have a party with you!”

What’s the most important thing to remember when planning a party?  To make EVERY element reflect the birthday girl, not the price and not the parent, but all about the birthday girl. It’s all about her on that day.

The Pampering Spa

My favorite party on ‘Party at Tiffany’s’ involved lots and lots of poodles. What’s been your favorite party to plan so far?  Do you have a favorite type of party to plan?  Wow, I’ve done over 650 parties in a year, that’s hard to narrow!  But the “type of parties” that I love to plan are the ones where the birthday girl is a kind of shy, yet 15 minutes into the party she's the most talkative one!  Pink Pastry has that effect!

This one’s for my 62 year-old Auntie. She wants to know… Can she and her friends have a party at Pink Pastry?  LOL!!! Of course, it’s called the “Sweet 16…Again” Party!!!!! Bring it on!

Pink Pastry Make-Over Room

Fast forward five years…to year 2017.  Where do you see Pink Pastry?  I see Pink Pastry being in every major city, where every little girl can experience the party of a lifetime!  And I also hope to have a successful non-profit organization, so that every girl (even the less fortunate) can experience it as well. I’ve accomplished every goal I have put my mind to, and those are the ones on my mind now.

What's up next for Tiffany?  Let's see....More TV, multiple locations, and more parties! What else is there to do?? Lol!  Pink Pastry ROCKS!!!!! 

Click Here to check out more pictures of Pink Pastry Parlor.

Pink Pastry Parlor

8465 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Suite 1000

Alpharetta, GA 30022

(770) 650-PINK (7465)
Website: http://pinkpastryparlor.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pinkpastryparlor  
Twitter: @PinkPastryP

Tyler Perry's Good Deed: Live Chat!

Dear Whitney, I Will Always Love You...

Not much to say here....

My heart is so filled with sadness.  For me, Whitney Houston didn't just represent a great talent. Growing up, she embodied grace, elegance and undeniable beauty.  She ruled the the music world for many, many years and left a lasting musical influence on a lot of people.

I hope she'll be remembered as a legend.  I hope her legacy includes her being a mother and a daughter, someone who touched so many of our lives with her talent, her struggles and her death....

R.I.P. Whitney.

Whitney Houston (Arista, 1985)

My Video Of The Day: Music REALLY Is The Language Of Love

I love music and I love kids, so this one was a no-brainer.  I have no idea what this lil munchkin is singing, but she's so freakin' cute and her passion is priceless.  I fell in love with her right on the spot! :-)

 

Her Royal Flyness...

First Lady Michelle Obama looked absolutely stunning (as usual) at the 2012 BET Honors, didn't she?  The event was held at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on Dec 14th.  The show airs on BET on Monday, February 13th, 9:00 pm (EST).