A Diva State of Mind

Saturday, April 19th is turning into one busy day! But I’m not complaining

Following the Love Your Life Tour DC breakfast at Busboys and Poets (use code TWITFAM to save $10 off your ticket), I invite you to join me at American University for the Social Learning Summit!

The 4th Annual Social Learning Summit is a two day event of social media knowledge, whether you are an online beginner or hashtag addict. The first day will feature an American University Public Relations Student Society of America (AUPRSSA) event followed by a kick-off networking reception. The second day will feature panel discussions, networking, keynote addresses and free Dunkin Donuts and Cava Grill. The panels will be tailored to a particular industry or topic, so that you can create your own schedule and customize your learning experience. Topics include sports, journalism, branding, politics, entertainment, fashion and more!

I am one of the featured panelists for the Digital Runway (Fashion) panel along with fashion designer Eliot Payne,  DC blogger Meaghan Moynahan, and marketing associate Grace Beauseigheur. We will be discussing the role social media plays in the fashion industry. Not only do I look forward to participating as a panelist, I am excited to sit in on other panels and learn about the influence social media has in other industries. The American University Social Media Club has lined up a dynamic group of speakers who will provide a day of very insightful information.

To learn more about the Social Learning Summit and the American University Social Media Club click HERE.

Purchase tickets for the summit HERE. Tickets are $3 for students and $10 for professionals.

I hope to see you there!

If you are a lover of fashion, a designer or stylist, one of the people you hope to meet is celebrity stylist, designer, author and rock mom June Ambrose!

Last Thursday, Harlem Fashion Row CEO Brandice Henderson celebrated the launch of Harlem Fashion Row University and the 2014 McCafe Design Student Competition by hosting Conversations with June Ambrose.  Click HERE for more information about the competition.

Prior to the start of the event, I had a chance to go backstage and meet with June. I served as the recorder for Naseya of The Seventh District who interviewed Ms. Ambrose. It was a great interview; please check it out below. I wanted to take notes while recording! Following the interview, the three of us chatted briefly about styling and things to think about when transitioning from part-time to full-time. Following our conversation, of course we all took pictures. I’ll be the first to admit, I was HYPE! I mean, how often do you get a chance to chat with someone you look up to in the industry?

After the private interview and taking pictures, we returned to the auditorium. For the next two hours, June Ambrose provided her insight and wisdom on a variety of topics including success, self worth, racism in fashion, branding and more! The conversation was a mix of questions asked by Brandice and students in the audience.

Here are some key takeaways from the conversation:

• You have to assume that people are always watching. Especially with social media.
• Styling is about branding. Branding of ourselves is important. That is how we tell our story.
• We are the CEO of our lives. Whether you take on a job or start your own, you can still think like an entrepreneur.
• Don’t worry about being famous. If you do the work, you will be celebrated.
• Don’t take for granted the small things. Those small things are going to lead you to great things.
• An opportunity can be presented to you and you can miss it if you don’t know what to do with it.
• Consistently exercise your craft.
• You should be glamorous in anything you do in life.
• Don’t be afraid of yourself.
• Know that you are WORTHY!

One thing I love about June Ambrose is that she is so humble and down to earth. What you see is what you get. Following the event, she spent time taking selfies with Howard University students and chatting with attendees until it was time for her to depart.

This event was truly the highlight of my week! As successful as this inaugural event was, I think Harlem Fashion Row University is on a path to providing great opportunities for undergraduate students of color seeking to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

If you are a fashion student at an HBCU, be sure to check out Harlem Fashion Row University and the 2014 Cafe Design Student Competition.

Me: I’ll just chill and crush from afar. I rather live vicariously through my friends.

One of my girlfriends: Okay but don’t make that your life story. You gotta be BOLD sometimes. Remember, you are not here to be a witness.

During a recent chat with my girlfriends, I inquired about what they do in order to stay out of a guy’s friend zone. I met a guy who is really nice and we went out to happy hour (the idea to go out was approached on a friendship level), however afterwards I thought to myself “I’m not sure I want to be placed in the friend zone just yet.” Can I say I really like a guy after one outing? I’m not sure. But I can say that I am intrigued and would be interested in getting to know him. Some would say that in 2014, if a woman is interested in a guy, she should say something and not be afraid to ask him out. That’s the same advice I received from my girlfriends but of course I punked out.

It seems the older I get the more dating comes up with my parents. They haven’t pressured me into being married by now (I’m thankful for that), but every now and then my dad will ask “so are you dating anyone?” During my birthday lunch, somehow we got on the topic of dating and we talked how women should not be afraid to approach a guy if she’s interested; if you like what you see speak up! As I have heard time and time again, you cannot sit on the couch and expect something to happen. You have to put in time and effort. During my birthday party, one of my girlfriends Samantha asked about my single guy friend Charles because she thought he was cute. I asked her if she wanted to be introduced and she immediately said yes. I did my part and introduced them; they have been dating for the past month. Then last week, another friend called while she was on her way to go play pool with a guy she met the night before at Walmart.

So I started thinking, am I putting myself in a position to be a witness to life instead of participating in it, especially when it comes to my dating life? Don’t get me wrong, dating is not easy.  But am I really doing all that I can to put myself in a position to present new dating opportunities? As much as I say I want to date and put it on my vision board each year, I think subconsciously I have a fear of liking someone and being rejected again (based on many previous experiences). That cycle can get exhausting. I have become very comfortable with my single status.  But sometimes comfortable isn’t really living and after awhile, it allows you to be a witness to what is going on around you instead of participating.

You are not here to be a witness not only relates to the dating life of a single girl who is almost 30 (seriously, where the hell did the time go???) but it also applies to life in general. Often times, we sit back and watch others LIVE. They are checking things off their bucket list. They try something new. They step outside their comfort zone which leads them to a path of fulfillment and purpose.  They grab life by the horns and enjoy each and every moment. That’s the life I want to live. I rather live a life of “oh wells” instead of “what ifs.” I want to say “well at least I tried” even if that means embarrassing myself.

I don’t normally have a motto for the year, but you are not here to be a witness just might be it for 2014. Dating is not the only area in my life that I feel like I have allowed myself to become a witness. And now that I have acknowledged that, I must be proactive in changing my behavior; not allowing myself to become comfortable. You are not here to be a witness is a nice reminder that we are not alive to sit on the sidelines and watch things happen. We are here to be an active participant in this journey called life.

Hmmm….Now should I call this guy and ask him if he wants to go out this weekend?

Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. Fete is a celebration honoring the Best of D.C. as voted on by City Paper readers and chosen by writers and editors. Join more than 50 of the city’s top restaurants, artists, and entertainers for an unbelievable night!

Not only will you enjoy one of the best parties in the city, you will also be doing your part to give back to the community. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to Brainfood—a nonprofit youth development organization in Washington, D.C. Using food as a tool, Brainfood builds life skills and promotes healthy living in a fun and safe environment.

Date: Wednesday, April 9th

Time: 7:00 - 10:00pm

Location: Carnegie Library at Mount Vernon Square (801 K Street NW Washington, DC 20001)

Because this is one of the biggest parties in DC of the year, I want to make sure you don’t miss it! Use the following discount codes (highlighted in red) at checkout to save on your ticket:

BestofDCVIP $35 off VIP Tickets

BestofDCGA $15 off General Admission Tickets

Includes OPEN BAR!

VIP Tickets include one hour early admission to the event (6-7 p.m.), access to the VIP Publisher’s Party, cigar bar, and swag bag.

Click here to get your ticket today!  Check out pictures from last year’s party here.

I love Nia Long and Gabrielle Union like most, but after awhile it’s nice to see someone new on the cover of ESSENCE. For the May beauty issue, ESSENCE features three fabulous women: Erykah Badu, Ledisi and Solange.

According to their website:

At ESSENCE, we’re all about celebrating individual beauty, and that’s exactly what comes to mind with the three women gracing the cover of our May issue: Erykah Badu, Ledisi and Solange. Each of these artists have captivated audiences not only with their songs, but also with their style and beauty. And for each of them, it’s always about self-expression.

How Erykah Badu views her hair and clothes:

I view my hair and clothes as functional art. I’m my own stylist and I love it, but I am not trying to make a statement.

Solange on individuality:

We all have the option of how we want to express ourselves through our life, hair, style or whatever we decide. We shouldn’t be pigeonholed into any one category.

Ledisi on not taking her hair too seriously:

Although I’m known for my long, colorful locs, I still don’t take my hair too seriously.I experiment a lot, dyeing it and constantly switching styles to grab attention. My hair is one of my best accessories and changing it helps express who I am.

Love it; these covers are so refreshing! The May 2014 issue of ESSENCE is available now.

Source: Essence