Fashion Label Spotlight: RUE107

The fashion line I'd like to spotlight is Rue107. The creative designer behind Rue107 is Marie Jean-Baptiste. Rue107 labels themselves as the "home of confidence and curves" and their clothing truly represents that. I love the theme of their clothing, its fun and out of the box. Plenty of their items are form fitting, incorporates bright colors, bold patterns and eye catching prints. Rue107 has remained true to their style but has found a way to keep their clothing innovative while remaining fun and fashion forward. They feature straight sizes and curvy sizes which is why I love this brand so much.

Ms. Jilly from Philly is officially back!

http://theybf.com/2015/03/17/new-videos-jill-scotts-you-dont-know

She's baackkkk!! Over the past few years Ms. Jilly from Philly has made appearances in films, awards shows, and even held concerts; however, it’s been a few years since she released some new music of her own. Her last album released was The Light of the Sun, that came out in 2011 when Jill Scott returned from a break from music scene with a new gorgeous body, new attitude, and of course the same beautiful, incomparable, and soulful voice. A few days ago, Jill Scott surprised us with the release of her first single/video “You Don’t Know” from her upcoming fifth studio album. The song is a cover to Lorraine Ellison’s “You don’t know (nothing about love)”, who is an (underrated) Queen of Soul from Philadelphia also. Jill Scott sets the tone for the song when the video starts and she sips a drink, and walks barefoot to the microphone with her hair and face messed up.  Jill then begins to sing from deep down in her soul about all of the hurt and pain associated with a woman who has experienced everything in love. The song definitely gives me an old school feel, with the horns and blues and she sings this song whole heartedly and perfectly! I look forward to hearing the rest of what Ms. Jilly from Philly will be sending our way with this new album! Watch the video below to check it out for yourself.

 

 

Too Much Tension

photo cred: link

We all have seen internet memes teasing women about not having edges. Although we may suckle at them, this is certainly a major problem especially among Black women. I don’t know who said that your hair has to be extremely tight to last or look nice, but I think that concept has been passed down from generation to generation.

Blush and Florals for Spring

I'm pretty much a girly girl sometimes lol, and I like pretty girly things. I've been coming across a lot of girly type clothing that may be pink, have flowers, lace, long flowy dresses and flouncy skirts. Wearing pretty things always make u feel girly in some way or another. I think its fun to incorporate girly things in your wardrobe.

Jazmine Sullivan's Reality Show Tour at TLA 3/10/15

Photo cred: Twitter.com/_Dre420

I’ve attended many great shows at the Theatre of Living Arts; however, the best one I attended was the Reality Show Tour by Jazmine Sullivan last night. I remember back in 2011, Jazmine announced her unexpected retirement from music and 3 years later, she returned from her hiatus with her album Reality Show in December 2014. And honey let me tell you, I am happy that she is back! Tickets for her show went on sale in February and were sold out in just one week! Jazmine had the entire venue packed from the stage to the door and she put on such a phenomenal show!

Jazmine opened up the show with “Famous” off of her second album, Love Me Back. She greeted her hometown Philly with a generous amount of love. She then went right into her first single off of Reality Show album “Burn.” The crowd got so hype and was dancing and singing right along with her. Not to mention her band’s sound was everything!  She then went into one of her most popular songs, “Bust the windows” and the ladies in the crowd went off! (I’m sure everyone has that one ex who hurt you and pissed you off to the point where you wanted to bust the windows out their car, if you didn’t already lol). Jazmine then followed up with the soulful melody “Lions, Tigers, and Bears”, that she sang beautifully and then “Holding you down”, which reflects on the struggle of being stuck in love.  Jazmine then went into her rendition of “Killing me Softly” by The Fugees, that she killed and may give Lauryn some competition. 

Following the Fugees throwback, Jazmine reflected on how blessed she was and thankful for all the support from her family, friends, and fan over the years and especially with her return to music.  She then went into some love songs & sang “Let it burn.” After that, she let her background vocalists open up the classic song “Rather be with you” by Bootsy Collins along with her, which all of their voices sounded great.  Jazmine then switched it up and went into her acoustic version of “Stupid girl” that was super dope. Following this, Jazmine let us step a little deeper into her life by giving her testimony about the very bad past relationship she was in.  This lead to her performing “Forever don’t last” and she truly sang it flawlessly, with range and runs that sent you chills. Jazmine put emphasis on self-care and self-love during this song and expressed to the crowd how important it is to not let anyone take advantage of you and to always love yourself first! She then had a very intimate moment with the audience when she cried and shared about the passing of her aunt who was supposed to be at the concert tonight. She dedicated her next song “Masterpiece” in her aunt’s memory, which reflects on inner and outer beauty. 

For the last couple of songs, Jazmine put some extra flavor on two songs from Reality show (two of my favorites by the way) “Brand New” and “Mascara.” She had the entire audience engaged and singing every lyric along with her and dancing. Following this, she did one of her popular singles “Need you bad” that I’m sure everyone can relate to in some type of way with wanting and needing that special one back so bad. After this song, Jazmine waved goodbye as everyone clapped endlessly and began to chant her name after she left the stage. It was such a beautiful moment because Jazmine truly put on an amazing show and had a standing ovation. Jazmine then came back to the stage and performed “In love with another man”. She sang this song from the deepest part of her soul! Although it wasn’t a gospel song, her angelic voice took the entire crowd to church lol. It was the perfect ending to a phenomenal show!  Thank you Jazmine Sullivan, your talent, music, and artistry is truly appreciated. Can’t wait for the next show. 

Please enjoy the videos below!

Spring Brings Flowers and.....Denim

No matter how long the Winter is, Spring is sure to follow. As the weather changes as do our wardrobes. Denim is definitely blooming in many Spring collections. Denim like flowers come in all ranges of colors and varieties but I personally love dark denim.

I've always loved weather that calls for just a light denim jacket and a light scarf. The best way to wear denim is to keep it simple and dress it up with accessories to add more definition to your look. My absolute favorite look is pairing denim with bold accessories like a necklace or bangles.

Make sure to have fun this Spring shopping for your new wardrobe. As the clocks spring forward, be fashion forward too. Here are a few denim finds I've come across that I love: 

Ashley Stewart: Belted Denim Dress $59.59
worn here by Chasity Garner @garnerstyle  

Wax Time... Take care of your girl or man...

Wax season is coming ladies and gents... I know a lot of us ladies get the usual eyebrow wax every 2-3 weeks... There are risks to that such as burning and infection but this article will focus on below the belt line waxing... I personally have joined the Brazilian wax club and love it but there are steps to make sure you remain safe!

This generation is the complete opposite of the generations before. Before, they shaved down there, maybe, but this generation, particularly the 25 and older crew, like it bare! I was very skeptical my first time but fell in love. My experience at Koco Nail Salon and Wax Studio was amazing. The staff at Koco's were so nice and supportive throughout the entire process and they use chocolate wax which makes their spa pretty unique. There contact info is as follows, tell them I sent you:

Koco Nail Salon and Wax Studio 

4161 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19129

215-650-7595

www.koconails.com 

Anyways, there are certain instructions to follow to keep your genitals, the best looking and feeling. First thing first, is choosing a licensed professional to do your waxing and a pretty cool one because she/he will become one of your friends. I mean they're in your business anyways, lol. 

Prepping for wax: 

• For the ladies: Avoid scheduling your wax appointment the week surrounding your period. Our skin is more sensitive during this time.
• Shower and gently exfoliate with warm not hot water to the bikini area to make sure you are clean. No lotions to this area.
• Don't shave before you go. It has to be the right length to actually wax so let the professional do his/her job 
• Use Tylenol (acetaminophen) only for pain relief. Aspirin and Motrin (Ibuprofen) can cause bleeding. 

After wax:

• No tight clothing after waxing for a couple of days post wax.
• Don't touch freshly waxed skin to avoid irritation and pimples.
• No baths that day, take showers.
• No hot tubs, saunas, or tanning beds for a couple of days.
• Exfoliate. Exfoliate. Exfoliate. This will prevent ingrown hairs. Gently exfoliate with your washcloth and your favorite body wash. You can also try Tend Skin to prevent and get rid of ingrown hair. (hairremoval.about.com/od/bikiniwaxing/a/brazilian-tips.htm)
• REFRAIN FROM SEX for 1-2 days. You are at a greater risk of contracting a STI due to your open pores after waxing. So, in order to avoid common STIs and molluscum contagiosum (a pox virus marked by painless, wart-like sores) practice abstinence for a couple of days and remember to use protection when that time comes. (womenshealthmag.com)

The after wax instructions are all precautions to avoid developing an infection after your wax. Your pores are open and it's very important to protect the skin that protects us all the time. 

I think there are three main things that causes problems with waxing. The first is not following the instructions above. The other is the skills of the wax technician, THEY SHOULD NOT EVER DOUBLE DIP! Lastly, there are risks of being burned by wax that is TOO HOT. Again, this is the technician's job to make sure the wax is the proper temperature. So take precaution, do some research prior to waxing, prep accordingly, and take care of your girl or man after the wax. This is a different hygiene routine than just shaving so you know my modo, it's something that you will get use to, just a change in mind set. 

New R&B Albums and Music

Today let’s talk about some new and upcoming R&B music and albums to look out for. We have a few from beloved R&B artists that we haven’t heard from in years including Case, Jodeci and Tamia. Just when we thought they were going to be on the next episode of Unsung, look at god lol. Another new album I want to tell you about is from an artist who is known for killing the R&B mixtape game, Raheem Devaughn.

Favorite Hairstyles from The Oscars 2015

One of my favorite parts about awards show is watching the red carpet and pre-show so I get an up close and personal preview of all the celebrities’ stylish looks, especially their hair styles and outfits. In this week’s hair article, I am going to show my top 5 favorite hair styles from the Oscars 2015. Are you feeling these? If not, which ones were your faves?

http://www.popsugar.com/beauty/Oscars-2015-Hair-Makeup-Red-Carpet

Emma Stone

Wavy half down, half up do. So chic!!

Kanye West for Adidas Originals

style.com image

Rapper Kanye West has come out with a new clothing line with Adidas Originals. In 2011/2012 he spent $10 million developing a clothing line for women which included designer shoes. He continued designing through 2013. He is said to be his wife Kim Kardashian's stylist as well and decided to take his chances at fashion.

Do Body Shapers Work or Naw?

So y'all may hate me for this article but I promise I'm only looking out... When I was looking for a good picture to drive home my point, I came across this one...

picture by Ericka Nicole Kendall

This picture illustrates on the left the normal insides of a body with a normal shape while the right shows an exaggerated picture of the insides and shape of a chronic tight lace wearer. What I want you all to get is that there are insides to your bodies and please don't forget that they are vital(important) organs that enables us to live. So while you are trying to get a nice figure by wearing a shaper, you can destroy and/or shrink the space needed for your insides to function properly.

Album Reviews: Drake & Big Sean

February has been a great month, musically. We’ve been seeing some good performances, attending some great shows, and receiving some great new albums. iTunes and Spotify have been receiving a lot of my money and support lately lol. Some albums released this month include, Raheem DeVaughn’s  Love, Sex, Passion, Drake’s If You’re Reading This, Its Too Late, Chris Brown & Tyga's  Fan of a Fan, and Big Sean’s Dark Sky Paradise. All of these albums stay on rotation in my earphones but if I had to pick my two favorites, it would have to be Drake and Big Sean.  

Virgin Hair from AliExpress

From time to time, I like to get a full sew-in weave as a protective style to help my hair grow. Before I knew about virgin hair, I would purchase Goddess Remy hair, which would last 1-2 months with proper care. But when I heard of virgin hair such as Indian and Brazilian that could last up to 6 months, I decided to give it a try.

New York Fashion Week 2015

This past weekend was the yearly Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York. Top fashion designers such as Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs, Jeremy Scott, Anna Sui and the Blonds, showed off their latest collections. You could also catch stars like Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé and fashion stylist June Ambrose, gracing the front row seats. 

MOST OF THE BATTLE IS WHAT AND HOW MUCH YOU EAT...

I know for sure that my weight lost is due to how much and what I eat... My schedule is not set up in a way that I have time for hours at the gym. Maybe one day but not in my '50 hour work week, graduate student, and mom of a three-year-old' days... So I decided to focus on what and how much I eat... You have to fuel your body with proper nutrition to help prevent cancers, diabetes, heart disease, body aches, etc. That all goes into what you eat and I definitely recommend some kind of exercise... I could definitely do better with my eating but I have lost 30lbs in the last 3 years... No, it's not the ideal plan of weight lost for most people who would want to lose that much in less than a year but it works for me and I'm keeping it off. Check me out...

                                                            2011                                2014

The Secret to LONG Natural Hair ;-)

http://lilbriko.deviantart.com/art/Natural-Hair-Woes-245215975

I remember when I first decided to go natural, four years ago. I was very nervous, anxious, and excited all at the same time. I was so ready to have long luxurious natural hair and completely skip over that awkward stage, which consisted of growing out my relaxed hair, having different textures of hair in my head, and having so much shrinkage.

NBA All-Star Weekend 2015

All-Star Finale
photo cred: @iamdjfresh

The NBA All-Star Weekend was held in NYC this past weekend.The main events were held at two locations, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and Madison Square Garden. I always wanted to go again, so me and friends decided why not, since it was just around the corner. We also hoped we would run into Jay-Z and Beyoncé!!

Get Ready For Summer

With winter in full effect, temperatures dropping and snow falling. I'm surely  you can't help but to think of warmer climates and your next vacation. Whats a vacation, however without swimwear?!?! Nothing!

Black History Month- WE ARE WHAT WE EAT!

Welcome to my health lesson inspired by the food associated with my Black American Culture in honor of Black History Month...

Fried Chicken... Mac and Cheese... Candied Yams(Sweet potatoes)...

All of these foods are well emerged Black culture recipes especially on holidays and Sunday dinners. Some people even make them randomly at times. Your skills in cooking are judged by the taste of these food items. It's serious business. Lol. I love and enjoy every single last one of these food choices but they should be consumed in moderation. The honest truth is that there is large amounts of Fat, Sugar, and Salt with very little nutritional value... Yeah, you are hitting every food group but the nutrition of it is practically gone or takes up a great portion of your daily value/calories.

Grammy Awards : Who really chooses the winners?

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/grammy-awards-2015

     When the ‘Album of the Year’ category at The 57^th Grammy Awards was announced this past Sunday, fans, the audience, and especially Kanye West were surprised and bamboozled at who the recipient turned out to be. Beck, singer and songwriter won over Sam Smith, and the expected winner Beyoncé. In addition to everyone’s astonishment, Beck hisself was very surprised when his name was called for the award. As he walked up to receive his award, Kanye West ‘popped up on stage and moved towards Beck as if he was about to take the trophy. Instead, West turned away and quickly jumped down, but not before getting laughs from Beyoncé and Jay-Z’ (Fox News).  I’m sure we all thought that Kanye was about to pull the Taylor Swift incident all over again lol.

What Works For You?

I've been natural for 5 plus years now. When I say natural, I mean not using perms or any chemicals to straighten my hair. Although my hair is growing beautifully, I really think it should be above my butt by now. I know there has been a trend of trying hair growth vitamins but I am a little skeptical. I’m scared that instead of hair growing on my head, I may grow a beard.lol

NO SLACKING ALLOWED

HEY HEY YALL....

I hope yall missed JAE as much as we missed you... The last time we talked healthwise we were trying to get our New Year's Resolutions together... How's everything going? The first month is usually everyone's prime month with getting fit and healthy. Then, old habits try to sneak back in around now. The gyms are jam packed in January and the healthy snacks are half the price in markets. Then, the gyms are less crowded and the prices of foods have doubled. The motivation of the goal weight may have moved to the bottom of your list of things to do... Well listen, if no one else is going to motivate you I will. Get back into your routine and keep it pushing.

They're Bacckkkkkkk

Some people claim that 'R&B is dead. Music isn't the same anymore. It was better back in the day.' And if you're one of those naysayers, your ears are certainly in for a treat with these two new R&B albums from Jazmine Sullivan and Ne-Yo.

Slay the Crochet!

Crocheted Wig made by myself @layedbylish on IG

 I remember back in elementary school when a friend of mine had crocheted braids in her hair while all of us looked at her funny because we all were wearing our hair in ponytails or braids.  Now fast forward to almost two decades later, Crochet Braids are back and more popular than ever! This protective style allows you to be versatile because you have the choice of crocheting in marley hair, kanekalon hair, or pre curly/wavy hair which can be styled into bantu knots, spiral curls, braid outs, or even twists and braids … all while looking cute and protecting your own natural hair.

Did You Miss Us!!!

The JAE Bloggers took some time off to update our website and create a new plan for 2015. There have been a few changes including adding a new topic! A lot of our viewers have been asking so we have finally added Hair as a topic, which will be covered mainly by our 'updo killa' Kelisha Brickley! We will also still be covering Music, Health and Fashion.

Azealia Banks Hot 97 Interview

Ms. Azealia Banks has been getting more attention in the media for her celebrity twitter beefs than her own music. In the past, she has had arguments via Twitter with Lady GaGa, Pharell, ASAP Rocky, Lil’ Kim, Nicki Minaj just to name a few. Most recently, she has had ongoing beef with Iggy Azalea and T.I. Furthermore, Banks called out Iggy for referring to herself in her song “D.R.U.G.S” as a “runaway slave master” (and previously for taking part of her first name) and she called T.I. a coon for supporting her.