Tax Time: Know Your Rights

As the holiday season starts to wind down a less joyous, almost dreaded, one creeps closer and closer. Yup you guessed it, time to start gathering your documents for tax season! Depending on your personal situation, tax filing preparation may require quite a bit of research, organization, and document review. And with that of course comes, time, energy and patience; Not to mention, the need for knowledge of tax accounting rules and regulations. For these very reasons, many opt for professional services, when it comes to filing their taxes. Whether you choose to prepare your tax filing yourself or call on the help of a tax specialist, it is important to understand your rights as a tax payer. That is why I bring to you the IRS’s “Taxpayer Bill of Rights.” It has been a goal of the IRS to ensure that American taxpayers are well aware of their rights under tax law.

Sex date, testing date, getting them papers... Date responsibly

Happy holidays! Before y'all kick off the holiday or start the new year let's talk about something... When you start to date somebody, we usually ask what are their hobbies, careers, goals, likes/dislikes, and what they want in a relationship, right? (I hope so)... And if you really like them, you'll meet their family, go on a date or few, get invited to an event or to their house... By this time, I'm pretty sure the majority are thinking sex. Where am I going with this...

Backlash Against VH1's Sorority Sisters

Just in case you missed it, Sorority Sisters premiered on VH1 on Monday 12/15/2014. I tried to watch it, but after 15 minutes in, I couldn’t take the Mona Scott scripted drama anymore.

I decided to log onto Twitter to see what everyone thoughts were of the show. And of course people were outraged, especially men and women a part of the Divine 9. I saw a few tweets of people asking their followers to boycott brands who were advertising while the show aired. That was a very good idea because The Washington Post reported today that some companies such as Carmex and Hallmark are going to stop advertising on VH1 if Sorority Sisters isn’t taken off air.

Fauxy Fur

My favorite winter trend every year is, fur! It brings every look up a notch and it’s the perfect accessory. It's also a great way to provide texture to a basic outfit like wearing all black and a pair of boots. I’m all for fur this season and there are plenty of brands that have included fur in their line. Here are a few that I am in love with:

Music for your Stocking Stuffer!

With Christmas time closely approaching, you may be looking for a gift to give someone. A favorite gift of mines to give is an iTunes gift card. People can ALWAYS use good music and with all the great albums that have come out in the month of November and December, it would be a perfect stocking stuffer. Below I have listed names of artists and albums that you should check out and purchase. Please look out for an album review or two in my future articles ;-)

Promising Paychecks in 2015

Finally the United States sees improvement in the job market. In recent years, we saw increases in specific regions; however joblessness is finally trending downward on a national scale. This November has marked what appears to be the start of a bright future, with wage increases and what Bloomberg describes to be “the biggest hiring surge in almost three years.” These economic improvements are not limited to any particular industry. Hiring has spiked in factories, offices, retailers, etc.

28 DAYS UNTIL NEW YEARS CHALLENGE

Transitionbeginswithyou

JAE CHALLENGES YOU TO CHOOSE AT LEAST ONE THING YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE NEW YEAR… POST IT ON FB OR IG… THEN tag @JAEBLOG and #JAE28DAYS… It’s a movement and we are better together. We got about 4 weeks until the New Year let’s get it crackin’. Continue to read for some ideas…

Online Dating

online dating- photo cred link

For those of us who didn’t get picked during cuffin season, this can certainly be a lonely time of year. Especially with it being the holiday season and family gatherings occurring often. And it doesn’t help that everyone keeps asking those questions we dread: “when are you getting married?” or “when are you having kids?” So you may be considering trying a different route of meeting someone, which is online dating.

“BLACK” FRIDAY BOYCOTT

Although it is so very tempting to hop on these Black Friday shopping deals. I, like many other people are boycotting Black Friday shopping from everyone except Black businesses. African Americans have been upset by many injustices happening all over the US. Police officers have been killing our Black men. Michael Brown from Ferguson in St. Louis was killed this summer by a white police officer in plain sight of many bystanders for reasons that aren’t justifiable. Protests have been conducted in Ferguson and all over the nation because of the recent decision not to indict Officer Wilson, who shot and killed Michael Brown. People are upset with this failure of indictment. I couldn’t make it to Ferguson to protest but I can participate by not supporting this year's Black Friday shopping.

Beyonce's 7/11

http://www.rap-up.com/2014/11/21/video-beyonce-711/

This past Friday, Beyoncé surprised her fans with the DIY video for her new single “7/11.” Now this video wasn’t what we typically expect from Queen Bey; nonetheless, it was creative, fun, and playful! Furthermore, it showed us a look on the inside of Bey’s personal life away from the Hollywood/celebrity world. After all, Beyoncé did give us fans a glance into what most believe may be her very own home...

Got Them J's Though

Unnamed sources have confirmed that the Air Jordan6 “Black/Infrared” is scheduled for release in just a few short days, Black Friday, 11/28/14. That means that come Thursday thousands of “Sneakerheads” across the country (give or take a few folks looking for an easy come up) will gather their sleeping bags and prepare for an overnight wait in line. Not only will they sacrifice hours just to be among the few who were lucky enough to get their hands on the remake of the limited classic kicks, but they will also sacrifice hundreds of dollars, YES! HUNDREDS! I ‘ve heard of guys spending as much as $500 on one pair of sneakers. What makes it worse is that half of the people who actually get a hold of a pair won’t even wear them! They’ll just admire them while they sit among the other 20+ pair in their collection. I’ll admit that I’m guilty of purchasing a few more expensive, quality items such as jackets and shoes, but you better believe that I always get more than enough wear of it, to the point my friends are probably tired of seeing some of them lol. With that said, I’ve learned to say “no” more than “yes.” Its one thing to treat yourself once in a while but you should be able to do so within limits. If people could learn to be more logical than emotional they would use their money more wisely. I can think of 100 more practical, responsible things that people could do with their money.

1st Transformation Thursday: IVY JACKSON

Ivy Jackson

Happy Happy Thursday everyone!!! As most of us know, next Thursday is the big day. I'm excited to see family and have fun but definitely excited about the FOOD! I know I have been on good eating behavior leading up to this holiday knowing that I will have my fair share (plus more) of food items. Then, I will be good again (until Christmas), lol. But that will be my cheat day for the week and not Saturday. So, in preparation for this week's article, I wanted to inspire you with a weight loss transformation.

Tension in Ferguson: Awaiting Grand Jury Ruling

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsAPQoQCeiQ

Tensions are rising as the nation waits for the grand jury decision on whether Officer Darren Wilson should stand trial in the shooting of Michael Brown. According to CNN, "the grand jurors have until January, but the prosecutor's office has said a decision could come in mid-November"….Hopefully a decision is made soon.

Teyana Taylor's VII Album

http://www.last.fm/music/Teyana+Taylor/VII

Ms. Teyana Taylor is no longer that little girl who appeared on My Super Sweet 16 that later told us “you ain’t nobody, google me baby! You better ask somebody, google me baby!” She has evolved into such a beautiful, heart throbbing, woman crush of many, with a great voice and of course sex appeal to go along with it. When I first heard that she had a new album that dropped I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t pressed to hear it. But after hearing more and more buzz, I had to go give it a listen for myself. And let me just say that I was definitely impressed and have been playing it ever since …

Smoked Out!!! "Cigarette Smoking is the leading preventable cause ofdeath in the U.S."

cdc.gov

Cigarette smoking causes more deaths than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, and firearm-related incidents combined. The general public does not a clear understanding of how much smoking can do to one's body.

Dear White People

photo cred: Wikipedia.org

I've been looking forward to seeing Dear White People since I seen the trailer earlier this year. It won the U. S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at the 2014 Sundance Movie Festival (sundance.org). The movie is a satire, mixed with thought-provoking content and parts to make you laugh. Which was a good idea by the way because I may have left the movie theaters in a very angry mood otherwise.

Shopping In Philly!

I'm not going to lie I barely shop in center city unless it’s a last-minute buy or if I'm just breezing through if I am shopping in the Reading Terminal or on the commute home and in need of some retail therapy. The main stores I shop in, in Philly are Macy's and H&M. I usually shop outside of the city or online. However, Philly is about to become a good shopping destination like New York with stores that are popular in New York like Century 21 (located on Market St at the old Strawbridges) and UNIQLO popping up in center city. Along with these stores there was a huge grand opening for Nordstrom Rack which is located at 17th and Chestnut at the old Daffy’s location. Another store soon to be opening is Forever 21 which will also be located on Chestnut St. . I like that Philly is starting to get on board with providing new stores to shop in especially stores that provide more fashion designer labels. It gets me excited to shop in Philly again like it was in high school, lol when the gallery was a go to mall even though I didn’t necessarily look at it as such, lol. Although it's not so great to park in center city and that will take the fun out of shopping at these particular stores it will give people without access to cars better shopping choices and it will bring more revenue to the city with it being a top tourists destination. These stores have also come at a good time just in time for the holiday shopping. We'll now have a great selection of stores to choose from when shopping in Philly!

Philly's Own: Brianna Cash

www.instagram.com/BriannaCash

On October 23^rd, 2014 I had the pleasure of attending Marsha Ambrosius’ Friends and Lovers Tour at the Theater of Living Arts . I was lucky enough to win two free tickets to the show from Veteran Freshman’s own Yusef Muhammad, which were super clutch by the way! The show had two opening acts before Marsha Ambrosius and they were Philly’s Own, Brianna Cash and MPrynt.

I have seen MPrynt quite a few times (and grown to love them more each performance) ; however, this was my first time seeing Brianna Cash and she did a great job might I add! Her voice was very soulful, her lyrics spoke truths, stories, and positive messages, and her band had a great sound.

Where's My Refund?

Early October, the IRS rumor mill struck into full rotation as speculations began to spiral about expected delays in Income Tax Returns in 2015. To be honest, I had not even heard such a thing until a friend of mine brought it to my attention, just yesterday. I have to admit, I hadn’t given it much credence, since I had not heard even the slightest whisper about it but of course I figured that it would be worth checking out. My first line of defense was to take to “Google” (it’s the new American way) and see what kind of information was in circulation. Several finance blogs/columns were reporting that IRS tax refunds will be delayed until October 2015. The stories they told were pretty consistent, and given the IRS’s recent history of (minor) delays, quite believable. Now, combine that with the latest news confirming that 50 “Tax extenders” expired at the close of 2013 in conjunction with the simple fact that our country is BROKE and….. Whalaa, the perfect recipe for Terror among Taxpayers.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Nationalbreastcancer.org

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I love how everyone, down to the football players, are rocking their pink gear to raise awareness for this sometimes fatal malignancy in women and men. I want to stress to everyone, although, not recommended by the U. S. Preventive Services Task Force, to perform monthly breast exam to detect any fixed mass in the breasts that could possibly be malignant. Breast monthly examines are not recommended due to the false positive from women but I would rather you be safe than sorry. For instructions on how to perform monthly breast examines, see below.

Black Girls Code

Photo cred: blackgirlscode.com[/caption]

I'm not sure how I came across Black Girls Code on Twitter but I have been following them for quite some time. I have been so amazed and in awe at what they have been doing with young Black girls. So I decided to find out more information about Black Girls Code to share with our readers!

Neiman Marcus Fashion Showcase hosted by MakeMeOverMalika

JAE Bloggers

On October 3rd, we had the pleasure of attending Neiman Marcus Charity Drive hosted by MakeMeOverMalika. It was located at Neiman Marcus in King of Prussia Mall. The event included a VIP cocktail reception and fashion showcase highlighting Neiman Marcus's top trends for Fall 2014.

Fall Shows You Don't Want to Miss

This fall, Philadelphia has a lot of great concerts coming up featuring some popular and very talented R&B, Soul, and Hip Hop Artists. I have created a list of shows that you don’t want to miss. Below you’ll find information about them, when and where they’ll take place, prices, and links to where you can purchase tickets. Enjoy :-)

$1 Million for Youth Crime Prevention in Philadelphia

Philadelphia; the City of Brotherly Love…yea, not so much. As one of the most violent, high crime cities, Philadelphia has been in need of crime control for quite some time. On Sept 29,2014 , Mayor Nutter made an announcement proving that concerns around violence are no longer being over looked.

EBOLA in the U.S.

http://jaeblog.com/2014/08/07/the-ebola-outbreak/‎

If yall didn't know, there has been cases of Ebola in the U.S. First there were two doctors that cared for patients in Africa who were treated down in Atlanta's Emory University Hospital, where they survived. Now, the first reported death from Ebola was in Dallas, Texas this week. Refer to JAE's Ebola Outbreak article for more history and clinical info. In this article, I am going to let you know what you can do to help contain the virus outbreak and prevent the spread!‎

New ABC Comedy: Black-ish

photo cred: abc.go.com

Like most people I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the new ABC comedy Black-ish starring Tracee Ellis Ross, Anthony Anderson, and Laurence Fishburne. I was certainly turned off by the name and pre-judging the show before I watched it. Black-ish sounds like someone who is trying too hard to act “Black”. But I am one of the people who complain about it not being enough positive Black shows on television so I decided to give it a try.

The Scandal Collection!!!

Photo cred- thatsmee

Ok so Scandal is back and so is its fashion! Yes our Thursday nights are back and we are invoked with its edge of your seat madness... However, if you have an eye for fashion like I do you will in fact notice how well tailored and how fashionable the characters garments are such as the white Prada that Ms. Pope so fashionably handles, lol. My point is that while you are eager to want to get to the bottom of the newest scandal you can't help how well dressed these characters are, even the men!

Heart Walk

On November 8th, 2014, the ladies of JAE Blog will be participating in the AHA Heart Walk. We will be walking in the memory of Wayne Brickley, the father of our music blogger Kelisha Brickley. The Heart Walk will take place at Citizens Bank Park from 10am-2pm. If you would like to join our team, partipate in the walk and/or donate money to the cause please click the link below.

Beano's "Let It Go"

www.instagram.com/JusBeano

"Ayooo Beanooo!" I remember the first time I saw this talented guy perform, it was at The Blockley, when he opened up for Musiq Soulchild in February 2013. He performed a few of his own songs, along with his own rendition of “Adorn” by Miguel and “How does it feel” by D’Angelo … and it blew all the ladies in the audience away, including myself. He had such a beautiful voice, with a down-to-earth personality to match it.

Money in Social Media

Vine Stars: Photo cred- click here

Who would have thought that 6 seconds on vine, could be worth tens of thousands of dollars?!? ABC News shared the story of three social media celebs; Cody Johns, Brent Rivera and Greg Davis, Jr (Klarity), all 30 years of age or under and grossing six figure salaries just from their hysterically clever vine videos alone!

Fashion on a Budget!

Are you pressed for cash or on a tight budget and need to revamp your Fall wardrobe? Or, do you have items in your closet that are lightly worn and you can't see throwing them away. Well there are several resources available to help you get extra cash and more bang for your buck!

ATTENTION: PRODUCTIVE/BUSY PEOPLE ALERT!!!

MEALS FOR THE WEEK IN ONE DAY 

shayla.wordpress.com

I mentioned prepping for the week before but I thought it was a great time to revisit due to kids being back at school making our agendas a bit tighter. I am a mom, part time student, full time worker, blogger, server of two ministries and the list goes on… I’m pretty sure I am like a lot of you out there while in the midst of life, you are trying to stay healthy. Preparing for your entire week on one day will save lots of temptations, time and money. You will need a plan, trip to the market(s), and time set out to actually prep. The first thing is to do is plan what meals and snacks you will enjoy for the week. Personally, I use Sunday as my shopping and prep day for Mon-Fri and Saturday is my cheat day with limitations.

Kendrick Lamar's new single "I"

https://soundcloud.com/topdawgent/i-1

“We got a young brother that stands for something! We got a young brother that believes in the all of us! Brother Kendrick Lamar! He's not a rapper, he's a writer, he's an author! And if you read between the lines, we'll learn how to love one another! But you can't do that... — (Right on!) — I said, you can't do that without loving yourself first. "- Pastor

Jimmy Choo IPO: Get in on the Green!

Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg

As women’s infatuation with sexy, fun, and flirty shoes increases, investment opportunities in fashion continue to sprout. The infamous Jimmy Choo announced a late October 2014 IPO (Initial purchase offer) (investopedia.com) . This iconic brand has made a worldwide name for itself specializing in high-end women’s and men’s handbags, accessories, and let’s not forget SHOES. Bloomberg reminds us of the impact that character Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City” had on the success of the brand. Ms. Bradshaw was serious about her Jimmy Choo shoes and made that quite apparent throughout the six year HBO series. Because so many women, like Carrie, are obsessed with shoes and willing to pay top dollar this might be the perfect investment for individuals in to fashion and looking to profit from that interest.

NY Times Calls Shonda Rhimes an Angry Black Woman

Photo cred: click here

Shonda Rhimes fans are outraged by a statement made by NY Times Alessandra Stanley calling her an angry black woman. Now before I got too upset, I decided to go read the article for myself. The first line of the article is: “When Shonda Rhimes writes her autobiography, it should be called “How to Get Away With Being an Angry Black Woman.”

Fall LIPS!

Perfect way to get ready for the season is with a perfect Fall lip. Transitioning to Fall not only happens with clothing but also with make-up too. This change helps you get ready for the season. In the Fall we move away from bright vibrant colors to more dark neutral colors and our lip should match.

Upcoming Walks in Philadelphia

In the Fall there are a lot of great Walks in Philadelphia. I have created a list of upcoming walks; information about them and when and where they are going to take place. JAE may be participating in some, we'll let you know soon so you can join our team!

Philadelphia Out of the Darkness Walk

Chris Brown New Debut Album: X

photo cred: click here

If you know me, you know I loved me some Chris Brown since "run it, run it, let me see if you can run it, run it". I knew the dance and all lol Yes he has had some rough patches over the years but when it comes to music he never disappoints.

Musiq Soulchild to The Husel

http://urbanleakz.net/mixtape-the-husel-musiq-soulchild-the-husel/

The other day I was browsing Instagram and came across a post stating that Musiq Soulchild is now an auto tune rapper named The Husel and I instantly was like ‘Nah Bruh! This can’t be real!’ That is when I decided to do research myself and I was flabbergasted when sources proved that this information was indeed true. I went on to watch a video about him explaining all about his alter ego ‘The Husel’. He states that “It’s challenging to hear R&B sound being popular right now for whatever reason. R&B is not poppin right now and it’s struggling. I’m the kind of person that likes to entertain people according to what they’re saying entertains them … and right now, this sound is what is entertaining them.”

Revenge Porn

End of Revenge Campaign: Flowchart-click here

You ever start talking to a guy and he asked you to 'send him a pic'. Not quite sure what he means, you kindly direct him to your Instagram and Facebook pages where you have hundreds of cute photos that he can choose from. But then he goes on to say 'that's not what I mean'. If he’s bold, he’ll send you an explicit photo to show you what he really means. Then if you’re anything like me you tell him to lose your number and get his creep ass out your phone.

Bloomberg's Top 10

Bloomberg's Top 10 for 9/11/14

Bloomberg.com provides a daily list of the top 10 stock. Check out the clip below for the stock the saw the most action on 9/11. Maybe it will help you figure out where to invest or divest.

Fabulousness costs Money Honey!

In honor of the fashion icon Joan Rivers an idol of mine, I found items that will have you looking like money this fall. Joan was definitely an ‘it’ woman of her age in fashion. She always looked polished and well put together (in other words she always looked like money), even if her attitude didn't match lol. With her favorite middle finger pose to the paparazzi, you just had to love her! With her witty personality and her attack the celebrity type of humor (no one was safe). You couldn’t help but notice her idyllic fashion sense.

NFL (NEGLECTED FAILED LOST) Ray Rice

It's all in the news about how Ray Rice knocked his wife (fiance then) out in the elevator earlier this year. Yes! It is a very sad tape and he deserves to be punished. No, his wife does not deserve to be abused nor do anyone else deserve that kind of treatment. But I think the NFL and the media is putting too much focus in the wrong direction! Yes, save the wife but what about him...

The Change in Hip Hop

http://www.refinedhype.com/index.php/hyped/entry/hip-hop-purists-could-kill-the-music-forever/

There are different ingredients that music artists use to make a song successful. Some ingredients include a hot beat, meaningful or catchy lyrics, relatable content, nice delivery, harmonies, vocal range, artist features, and etc. In my opinion, I think that main stream hip hop has definitely taken a shift from the 90’s & 2000’s up until today. I remember growing up and listening to Pac, Nas, Biggie, Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, Lauryn Hill and just being in love with their music and truly appreciating their artistry. With comparison to today’s era of music, a lot of songs mainly consist of a catchy beat and catchy lyrics, and not so much great lyrical content.

NFL Player Ray Rice- CUT

Earlier this year a video of NFL player Ray Rice dragging his unconscious fiancée Janay Palmer out of an elevator in Revel AC surfaced. Rice was suspended for 2 games and was charged with third-degree aggravated assault. It was agreed that once he completed the pretrial intervention program that charge would be dismissed (USA Today). Him and Palmer were married a month later. All seemed to be forgiven until....

Money Matters, Even in Dating

Do men court women these days? This has been the reoccurring theme of the conversions between me and my girls. I’m sure some do, but my most recent experiences would lead me to believe otherwise. There was once a time where men expressed their interest in women by offering to take them out on an ACTUAL date, instead of saying “I want to see you” which often translates to “come over”(insert side eye Emoji). As my ladies and I were discussing the topic, we were trying to figure out what changed. All of us are between the ages of 25 and 27, educated, and successful in our own right. The women I surround myself with are all beautiful both inside and out, and have a lot to bring to the table. Aren’t we deserving of a simple dinner?

This Week's Fashion @ the 2014 Emmys and VMAs

VMA likes: Nicki Minaj, Jessie J, Kelly Rowland

We were graced with the presence of celebrities on the red carpet twice in a two day period once on Sunday-August 24th at MTV's VMAs (Video Music Awards) and on Monday-August 25th at the Emmy's. Each event celebrities graced the red carpet in style and grace, some classy and some not so classy. Either way if you watch award shows for the fashion glitz like I do, your eyes were blessed by some and your eyes were cursed by some misfortunes.

City Fit Girls: 2nd Annual Fitness Retreat

Photo cred: www.cityfitgirls.com Photographer: Darren Burton

JAE Blog had the pleasure of attending City Fit Girls second annual Fitness Retreat this past Saturday, August 23^rd, 2014. This year it took place at Impact Hub, located at 4^th & Thompson Street. The lovely venue is where women of all different races, ages, shapes, and sizes joined together to “Inspire, Uplift, Encourage, and Motivate” (City Fit Girls mission). The retreat was only $25 and included your admission, access to 20 different fitness and information sessions, as well as massages, shopping with the vendors, snacks and lunch, a CFG t-shirt, and a book bag full of fitness goodies, coupons, and products to try. It was definitely worth every bit of the money for the wonderful experience we received!

Red Bull Sound Select: Luke James, MPrynt, and Jay Marie

 

I live for concerts with quality music! Especially when the price is just right! When I came across the announcement for Red Bull Sound Select event, curated by Veteran Freshman with Luke James for $3, I immediately clicked the link to RSVP. I quickly spread the word to my ladies of JAE Blog and once Thursday 8/21/14 came around, we were in there like swim wear lol.

The Ne-Yo Concert at the 2nd Annual Hartbeat Weekend Hosted by KevinHart

I had the pleasure to attend the long awaited Ne-Yo concert in Atlantic City at the House of Blues this weekend. As a Ne-Yo fanatic, I didn't expect anything less than a great show which he gave with flying colors. If anyone loved Ne-Yo from day one, it was because he put out great music with content that we can relate to. Ne-Yo admitted during the show that his more recent music did not excel like his first three albums but his talent, love and appreciation of music and his fans runs much deeper than his nonsuccess.

JAE's Family Fun Festival

When we came up with the idea for JAE, we wanted it to be more than just a blog. We also wanted to be involved with our communities and give back. That is why for our first event we decided to have a free Family Fun Festival in Hunting Park. We wanted children to have a good time before the end of the summer and get them excited about going back to school!

Philadelphia Schools Still Deal with Deficit

William R. Hite and William Green address school plans
Photo cred: Alejandro A. Alvarez

We all are aware that the Philadelphia School district has struggled tremendously in the last few years. “In the past several years, the district has shed 5,000 jobs, closed 31 schools and reduced administrative costs to less than 3 percent of its total $2 billion budget"(Philly.com). As funding continues to be a major concern, Philadelphia council begins to think outside of the box to strategize on how to raise more money to pump into the school district.

Orange is Not The New Black

Orange was supposed to be summers "black" but that wasn’t quite true. We didn't come across much orange, I mean it was there but it wasn’t prominently taking over black to be called the "new black". So now let’s step out and bring it over to fall as your pop of color.

In Memory of Robin Williams- Depression is not a Weakness, but an Illness

 

In Memory of Robin Williams

Depression is not a sign of weakness, it’s an illness

Hey, my JAE readers! This is article is coming from the bottom of my heart. In the memory of one of the best actors and comedians, Robin Williams, I felt that this article was necessary. I mentioned before about how depression is heavy in our communities, most likely not mentioned. We have to break this stigma. Too many people are wasting away and losing their lives just because they are too ashamed or afraid to admit they need help because they are depressed. Look at Robin Williams; he had all that people strive for everyday. We think having lots of money and material things will bring all the happiness we need. It is not true. It begins within us.

End of the Summer Music Concerts

www.hercampus.com

Is it just me or did Summer 2014 breeze by just way too fast? (sad face) As it gets ready to come to a close, make sure you check out some of the dope music concerts that are going on in and around the city. I’m sure you or a friend or two can find something that’ll interest you …

                                                   

 

 

Protests in Ferguson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGZ2yTYntKM

If you don’t know about what’s going on in Ferguson, Missouri, you must be living under a rock. By day there are peaceful protests for Michael Brown; the unarmed teenager who was unlawfully killed by a Ferguson police officer. But by night all hell breaks loose. According to CNN, on Monday night protestors are said to have thrown rocks, Molotov cocktails and used gunfire towards police. That’s why police officers already dressed in riot gear chose to use stun grenades and throw tear gas into the crowd of protestors. Thirty-one protestors were arrested and two people were shot by civilians. All this chaos can simply be ended when charges are bought against the officer.

Moving on Up: Living Expenses for the Single Person

Huffingtonpost.com

I am 25 and still living at home. A few years ago I thought that I would be embarrassed to say that at this age, but it has pretty much become the norm. It is just now that the majority of my friends are thinking about spreading their wings and branching out on their own, or at least with a roommate. Personally, I have been considering purchasing a house since I was 22. By time I hit 24 I decided that it made more sense for my first property purchase to be for investment purpose, since there was less risk. With my parents allowing me to stay with them in the comfy confines of their Philadelphia twin (rent free might I add) I was in a position to take that chance. Now that a year has passed since I embarked upon my rental property journey, it's time to start thinking about living on my own.

For those of you who are also looking to leave the nest and are unsure of what expenses to expect, I thought I would give you guys an idea of what the average person spends monthly on life’s necessities in five of the most popular cities: LA, NYC, H-town, Chi-town and of course the city of Brotherly Love, Philly.

End of the Season SALES!!!

Now that summer is coming to an end :( It is the perfect time to rack up on your fav items this season for next summer; from now until September. Of course some things maybe outdated by next summer, just make sure to purchase summer essentials such as maxi dresses, maxi skirts, basics tees, shorts and tanks.

The 5 Love Languages

Photo cred- click here

We spoke about love previously in JAE’s Love, Live, Laugh article but I was put on 5 Love Languages and it gave so much more insight to love. “The 5 Love Languages” book is written by Gary Chapman, a marriage counselor, who took his expertise and experience to discover that Love has different languages just like the spoken word. To not know a person’s love language is the same as speaking a foreign language to someone. The beauty of knowing one’s love language can heal broken hearts, prevent divorce and break ups, and make love that lasts. Find out what is your primary Love Language.

Artist Spotlight: Dinachi Onuzo

www.dinachionuzo.com

This beautiful naturalista goes by the name of Dinachi Onuzo. She is 26 years old and from London, England. She is not only one of JAE Blog’s readers and supporters, but she is also an upcoming singer and songwriter. Her music can be described as “an intriguing blend of jazz, folk, highlife, and gospel.” Dinachi was blessed with the gift of singing and she started to shine with her talents by performing on her church choirs and leading gospel choirs throughout high school and college. Upon graduation from college, she started to perfect her craft by writing her own lyrics and playing the guitar.

Females Making Sports History

Taney Dragons celebrating their victory at the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship game-
Michael Bryant-AP

Philadelphia's Taney Dragons are going to the Little League World Series. Part thanks goes to their female pitcher 13-year-old, Mo'Ne Davis. According to Fox Sports, "Mo'Ne struck out six in the six-inning game in the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship game." Mo'Ne surely takes her competitors by surprise. She told ESPN-W, "If I'm pitching I just go out and throw strikes and they think I throw soft but then they see my fastball and they get kind of scared and I just strike them out." The World Series starts this Thursday in Williamsport, PA. Good luck to Mo'Ne Davis and the Taney Dragons, may they go all the way!

Travel For Cheap

Who said traveling had to be expensive? My friends and I have always been excited by the idea of experiencing new cultures in the states as well as outside of them. If we can get there without breaking the bank we're down! In fact we just came back from Toronto for Caribana. Before this trip, I thought going out of the country meant spending thousands of dollars. Well, not necessarily. Between travel and rooming expenses it only cost me $228 for a 5 day, 4 night stay in Yorkville,Toronto!

Shopping Small and Overseas

Rue107 Swimwear- click here

I love shopping small and online businesses. Following bloggers on social media has exposed me to a lot of small business internet sites. Rue 107, Custom Plus, ZelieforShe, Monif C., Nakimuli and PopUpPlusNY. There are also many overseas businesses that we can only shop online for such as ASOS, Boo Hoo Chic, New Look, SimplyBe, and Eloquii. Most I listed are plus size websites but some sell straight sizes as well so make sure to check them out!