Mean Girl Gone Nice

I told you all recently that I really enjoyed a speech I heard about improving your emotional language. After the speech, I decided to not only try to improve my emotional language, which is how you respond to people when they come for you for support, but I also decided to just improve my general language. My friend Dizzle is always telling me to be positive, so I felt that there was no time like the present.

So allow me to give you some history. I would pinpoint high school as when I began to change my language; when I started to get mean. I was made fun of a lot, so I guess that you can say that hurt people hurt people. In college, I continued to be mean because I was able to vocalize my nastiness in a way that made people laugh. People thought I was so funny and loved me for it, but at the core, I was just mean. So as an adult, I have continued my poor emo language and I can also throw shade with the best of them. I was eager to see what life would be like if I kept my mouth closed if I had nothing to say. There have been at least a couple of days when I have literally said nothing! 

The first major difference I have seen from trying to keep a clean mouth is that my ears have become sensitive to other people's cruelty. Hanging around colleagues recently my ears were burning from the nasty things that they were saying about our mutual friends. I had never noticed how nasty they were before. I guess because I was too and people like to keep like company. 

Another thing I have noticed from not being quick to respond with a remark is that I now have a lot of time to listen. Funny, it seems that nobody notices the listener. So I get to sit quietly listening to other folks spill their tea for the heck of it. I don't even repeat what I hear, but I find it funny how people are okay with being unkind and messy publicly, not caring who overhears. 

No, I will not be able to change my language overnight, but I am working on it. That is not to say that I will not stand up for myself if needed, but I really am trying to get away from just being nasty because. In trying to be more positive, I need more positive things to leave my lips. I will let you know that end result. 

Crown Royal Regal Apple Tasting

Last week, Crown Royal had its Regal Apple tasting in a suite during the Hawks vs. Nuggets game at Phillips Arena. 

Crown Royal Regal Apple 

Attendees had the opportunity to taste cocktails made with Crown Royal Regal Apple. My favorite drink was the Crownberry Apple cocktail, which was served with an apple slice. Think of it as a hard version of CranApple juice. YUMMY!

Whiskey samples on the Crown Royal Tasting Mat

Master of Whiskey Ryan Ross walked guests through the history of Crown Royal, then led them through a tasting of Crown Royal, Crown Royal Southern Harvest Rye, and Crown Royal Regal Apple. 

The Crown Royal Tasting Mat

Hawks Girls 

After the tasting portion of the evening, the Atlanta Hawks Cheerleaders paid a visit to the the suite. 

Me and one of the Hawks Girls 

 I had the opportunity to take a picture with on of the ladies. 

Me super excited when the Hawks Girl let me play with her pompoms. 

She even let me hold her pompoms which was a HUGE deal for me. Everyone close to me knows how much I have fantasized about being a cheerleader. 

I have to say that the best thing about going to the tasting was learning more about the history of Crown Royal and what it takes to make whiskey. I also learned that when it comes to the whiskey industry, there are many women at the forefront which is interesting, because you don't automatically think of women when you think of whiskey. The tasting also showed me that I don't do well with drinking whiskey straight. I definitely need a chaser, lol. Learn more about Crown Royal here. And don't forget to try the below Crown Royal Regal Apple recipes.

Crownberry Apple

1.5oz Crown Royal Regal Apple

4oz Cranberry Juice

Garnish with apple wedge

Crown Royal Press

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Deluxe

3 dash (s) Bitters

Top with Lemon-Lime Soda

1 Lemon Wedge

Garnish with a lemon wedge

The Northern Buck

1.5 oz Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

.5 oz Lime juice

Top with ginger beer

Garnish with a lemon wedge

Melissa Ambrosini Helps Us Get Our Inner Mean Girl In Check

You know that voice in your head that tells you that you can't do anything right? That you aren't good enough? That your ideas won't work before you even begin to iron them out? Well, Melissa Ambrosini refers to this naysayer voice as your inner "Mean Girl". Here, she gives us tips on how to get rid of it and get on the path to becoming our best selves.   

Q: For most women, where do you believe that their inner Mean Girl voice comes from?

A: Fear has been hardwired into our operating system of modern society. From a young age we are lead down the path of fear maybe from our parents, teachers, the media or siblings. It doesn’t matter where it comes from, what matters is you return back to love.

Q: How can one differentiate their inner Mean Girl voice from just having regular anxieties and fears about things?

A: With everything in life their are only two choices: love or fear. ‘Regular anxieties and fears’ are not your natural state of being, your truth is love! Your natural state is love! Love is ultimately all there is, but like I mentioned above fear has been programmed into us from before birth and it’s our job to remember that love is our truth. So if anxieties and fears come up (and they will) it’s an opportunity to return back to your truth, which is love. It’s not your cue to beat yourself up, it’s your time to choose love over fear instead.  

Q: How do you keep your Mean Girl in check on a day to day basis?

A: The best way to master your Mean Girl every day is by doing my 3-step mastering your Mean Girl process. Which goes like this: 

1. Practice awareness. Become aware of when your Mean Girl pops up and tells you that you’re not good enough, thin enough, smart enough, whatever enough. Most times we are so unconscious and not present that we aren’t even aware of her internal dialogue, so bringing your awareness to her words is the first step.
2. Gently close the door on her. Once you are aware that she has popped up, you can now choose to gently close the door on her. It’s not about fighting her, or waging an inner battle — that’ll just cause more pain and suffering. Instead, it’s a gentle, grateful act that comes from a place of peace.
3. Choose love instead. Once you have gently closed the door on her, choose to come back to your heart and choose love instead of fear. It’s so much more fulfilling when you do.

Q: What made you want to break the silence and write/speak about the issues that you and other women are having with their inner Mean Girl?

A: Because I have to help, teach, support and inspire. This is my birthright and what I came here to do.

Q: I believe that my Mean Girl prevents me from being as outgoing as I could be. How else can your Mean Girl voice take a toll on your life?

A: She can stop you from following your dreams with your career. She can also stop you from having the relationships and the health and wealth you truly desire in your life if you let her. Ultimately everything is a choice, our choice as we are creating our life moment by moment. You’re the one in the driver's seat, not your Mean Girl, and it’s time to stop letting her run the show.

Q: Outside of the book, what else is in the works for you?

A: To complement the book I have created the Mastering Your Mean Girl 10 Week Activation Program and Meditations to really help you cement everything you have read in the book. These will be released in the coming months so stay tuned, and in the meantime you can keep updating with all things Mastering Your Mean Girl here.

Q: Do you believe that men suffer from a Mean Boy voice? Are the effects the same?

A: Absolutely! Everyone has an ego, even the Dalai Lama. The difference is his is on mute and most people have theirs on volume 10 with a very heavy base. But that does not have to be your reality, you can choose love instead in any moment in any breath.

Q: How can we keep with you on social media?

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Pinterest

YouTube

Google Plus

Live Happy’s 3rd Annual #HappyActs Campaign for the UN-sanctioned International Day of Happiness (March 20th)

When I was approached about participating in Live Happy's 3rd Annual #HappyActs Campaign, I knew how I was going to spread happiness: by giving hugs. I am an excellent huger, lol, so before work on Friday, I went to the Ponce City Market and hugged strangers that worked there. You would be surprised at how many people around you need a hug and would be open to receiving one if you offered it to them. 

On Saturday, I went down to Atlantic Station to post my happiness cards on the #HappyActs wall. I had the opportunity tot meet the ladies of the Live Happy team. It was a beautiful day in the A, and visitors of Atlantic Station posted to the wall and hung out listening to music from a live DJ. I stuck around and read, surrounded by good vibes and happy feelings. I look forward to passing out more hugs next year. 

Me at the #HappyActs Wall

#HappyActs Wall 

People feeling out their #HappyActs cards 

A #HappyActs team member with a little girl who came out for the event

The DJ for the day

#HappyActs cards on the Happiness Wall

My #HappyActs card

See pics from the UN-sanctioned International Day of Happiness on IG @ #HappyActs

Spring Makeup Bag Refresh

 

Call me a dork, but one of my favorite things about a season change is switching out the products in my makeup bag. With spring around the corner, here are the new products that I am putting in my makeup bag to bring in the warmer months.

black Up Lipstick in RGE37M, $23 

Armour Lip Gloss in Edie, $24

Armour Lip Gloss in Purple Rain, $24

tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in Bae, $20

                                                       

Essence Eyeliner Pen, $2.99 

City Proof 24 HR Waterproof Mascara, $3.49

TheBG Discovers Emotional Language

A few days ago I was talking to my friend FeFe on the phone, having a fun covo, when she goes, "Guess what I am going to do? Nevermind." I hate it when people do that. I tried to press her to tell me what she was going to say, and she refused, essentially saying that she felt that I was going to be judgmental. Now, I really, really took offense to this and I can't lie, my feelings were a little hurt. My friends have been calling me for advice and support since I was in the third grade, and I have always considered myself a good friend. Plus, what is wrong with a little judgement? I for one think that folks should know when they are being stupid.
Then I was invited to the Women 2 Women Conference and had the opportunity to hear an interview with Dr. Camille Davis- Williams and Dr. Pamela Thompson who wrote the book Surviving Mama . And during this interview, Dr. Pam talked about emotional language, and it wasn't long after she started talking that I found that my emotional language was TERRIBLE and needed some serious work.
What is emotional language? I took it to mean that it's essentially the way that your react when someone comes to you for emotional support. She said this can also include having an "oh please" attitude when people come to you with their problems. Through Dr. Pam's words, I realized that I often react to what my friends tell me when they come to me for help instead of respond. And my reactions are not always positive and coming from a place of love instead of judgement. This, it dawned on me, was why FeFe didn't want to share her news with me. She discussed that emotional language is usually taught to us, and, if your emotional language stinks, people typically don't want to confide in you because they are afraid that they are going to be judged. This, the doctors explained, is why a lot of daughters are not honest with their mothers when it comes to their sexual behavior and, in my case, why folks sometimes don't want to tell me stuff.
The good news is that your emotional language can be improved. Below are the tips that Dr. Pam gave to the audience:

1. Validation- This includes the acknowledgement of someone's pain when they come to you for support, no matter how trivial their issue sounds to you at the time. So if a friend came to me upset about her job, an example of not validating and having bad emotional language would be me saying, "Girl please! At least you have a job!" This is no bueno. 
2. Touch- Touch is a big part of good emotional language. When someone is expressing their feelings to you, you should give them hugs and caresses as they are talking. According to Dr. Pam, this does a lot to encourage the person that is confiding in you. 
3. Check-In: So after the conversation goes down, you should circle back and make sure that the person is okay; make sure that they are soothed.

I have to say, I have been working on this for the two weeks since the conference, and I feel really good about the way that I am interacting now with the people around me. How is your emotional language? It wouldn't hurt to work on it. I am and I really feel that is has totally changed the way that I communicate. 

Get Your Twist on with Jane Carter Solution Curl Defining Cream

I have used a lot of products to twist my hair in the past. A few of my favorites have been the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream, the Fro Butter with Peppermint Oil, and the All Natural Pudding Souffle from EDEN BodyWorks. However, my latest favorite product for twisting is the Jane Carter Curl Defining Cream. 

I have read a lot of blog posts on Jane Carter Solution over the years, and they have a lot of fans that are in love with the products because they are 98% natural. I am a new fan of the Curl Defining Cream because it is light and it does not leave a residue on your hair. It also plays nice with other products because the cream is so light and it absorbs into the hair. I feel that this is great for spring and summer, because there is nothing worse than using a heavy product in the summer. And because it is absorbent, you don't have to worry about product dripping which we all can agree is not sexy. 

Because the product is a curl defining cream, I find that my curls are very defined once I take my hair down, which helps my look last a little longer than usual. All us naturals know that that is greatly appreciated!

Learn more about this product and other Jane Carter Solution products here.

Review: Celsius Energy Drinks

Prior to coming across Celsius, I was not really into energy drinks. The only one I had ever tried was Red Bull, which made me feel jittery and made it difficult of me to focus. As you know, I do not work out regularly (although I should), but I do work from home, and by about noon, I have no energy and find myself fighting not to crawl back under the covers. Drinking Celsius, which comes in an array of yummy flavors, definitely gave me a boost and had me operating on all cylinders within a few minutes. The drinks include ingredients such as green tea and ginger, and doesn't drop you like a lot of products that give you energy. Celsius also has a big celebrity following. Jillian Michaels, Mario Lopez, and Khloe Kardashian all swear by Celsius!
Learn more about Celsius and their products here.  

3rd Annual #HappyActs Campaign for UN-sanctioned International Day of Happiness Hits Atlanta

WHAT:  Live Happy magazine once again launches its mission to lead a global movement to make the world a happier place with its 3^rd annual #HappyActs campaign, inviting everyone –including residents of Atlanta – to spread  joy and simple acts of kindness, both in person and online, in honor of the UN-sanctioned International Day of Happiness (March 20).

#HappyActs are small actions with a BIG impact that can make someone's day a little brighter. It can be anything and as simple as a hug, a kind word, or helping a neighbor.

On March 19 and March 20, participants can help take part (and encourage others) by posting these small acts of kindness on their social media pages, as well as posting their #HappyActs at one of over 70 Happiness Walls that will be set up across the country, including Atlanta.

Live Happy will donate $1 to Big Brothers Big Sisters* for every #HappyAct shared at a Happiness Wall. Live Happy also has a variety of other resources for participants to continue their ‘March to Happiness,’ including the new March/April issue of Live Happy magazine and their first-ever book, Live Happy: Ten Practices for Choosing Joy (HarperElixir).

HOW:                     Accept the #HappyActs Challenge by visiting: www.happyacts.org

·         Share as many #HappyActs as possible by March 20 via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter

·         Visit a Live Happy Happiness Wall (for a complete list of cities, visit happyacts.org)

·         Learn how to create your own family happiness board in the new March/April issue of Live Happy magazine

·         Pick up a copy of Live Happy: Ten Practices for Choosing Joy (HarperElixir) at your local bookstore or order online for more happiness inspiration

WHERE:                              Atlantic Station                                                                     Andretti Karting

1380 Atlantic Drive Northwest                                          1255 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30363                                                               Marietta, Georgia 30062

WHEN:                                   Saturday, March 19^th                                                           Sunday, March 20^th

10-9pm                                                                                  12-5p  

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: www.happyacts.org  

Serena Doc Comes to EPIX

Premium TV network EPIX® announced today that the EPIX Original Documentary Serena, an intimate portrait of 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist and International sports icon Serena Williams, will make its World Television Premiere on EPIX on June 22, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT, 7C. The feature-length documentary provides viewers with unprecedented access inside the world of the athlete-designer-businesswoman, including day-in-the-life interactions with her family and friends, plus her most trusted colleagues and fiercest competitors. Shot verité style – Serena explores the pressures that come with being number one in the world, and Williams unflinching commitment and drive to succeed, ultimately emphasizing the humanity under all of her accomplishments.

Mark S. Greenberg, President and CEO of EPIX, said: “Serena is a personal journey during which we are privileged to follow one woman’s incredible march to achieve a level of greatness that so few tennis players have achieved in the history of the sport. The film presents us with a captivating vision of this world-class athlete while offering the viewer rare insight into what makes Serena Williams the person she is beyond the court. Serena transcends the world of tennis and is sure to fascinate viewers across the country.”

Remarked Serena Williams: "2015 was a defining time in my life and career. I think my story will be relatable to audiences whether you love tennis or not. It’s a story of perseverance, failure, and triumph. It’s the most intimate I’ve ever allowed myself to be on film. It was a scary but ultimately really gratifying experience, which I’m hoping inspires others to pursue their dreams. I’m really grateful to EPIX for this incredible opportunity and the care they’ve shown me. Can’t wait for you all to see it."

For Serena, the documentary team was provided unparalleled access. Viewers will be witness to the external pressures and vulnerabilities Williams faces in her quest to achieve four Grand Slams in a row (a “Serena Slam”), and her losses at the 2015 U.S. Open and 2016 Australian Open. In addition, the film takes an unprecedented look at Williams’ life off the court as the filmmakers capture intimate and unguarded moments with her family and inner circle of coaches, trainers and friends.

Join the conversation about Serena on Twitter with #Serena and visit http://www.epix.com/serena

Serena, an EPIX Original Documentary is produced by Matthew Goldberg and Brandon Carroll – Film 45, and directed by Ryan White. The executive producer is Peter Berg. Jocelyn Diaz, Ross Bernard and Jill Burkhart are the executive producers for EPIX. Valerie Bishop is the producer for EPIX.

For photos and more information about EPIX programming log on to: http://press.epixhd.com.

Review: MyChelle Dermaceuticals Gentle Cleansing Wash

My whole life, I have enjoyed a bright, healthy complexion. However, since turning 30, I have gotten breakouts that you wouldn't believe! You would think that I was a teenager the way that I have been experiencing breakouts out of nowhere! And to be honest, I never considered myself a vain person. I am not one to spend hours and hours in front of the mirror before I leave the house. However, having pimples was making me self-conscious. I found myself examining my face in any surface I could see myself in. Plus, the fact that I have sensitive skin and can't use a lot of the products that I researched that are acclaimed from getting rid of zits only added insult to injury. Luckily, I came across MyChelle Dermaceuticals Gentle Cleansing Wash.

The MyChelle Dermaceuticals Gentle Cleansing Wash is unscented and mild, which is great for my skin. It is free of gluten, parabens, and sulfates, and reduces redness and irritation. It also includes the MyChelle DermaCalm Complex, which is made of Blue Daisy and French Oak extract that helps to moisturize skin. So far, this cleanser is helping me to keep my skin under control, and it is affordable at only $16! 

Learn more about MyChelle Dermaceuticals and this product here.