Saturday, March 31, 2012

Service Saturday: The Allia(N)c(E) Tha(T) (W)(O)(R)(K)s

     I propose a plan. Let's work together towards being successful so that we can both reach our goals faster. If you have a business plan that could work well with mine, let's build an unbreakable alliance. Networking could provide you with the connections that you need to get ahead. You hear all the time, "It's not what you know but who you know". This ideal has been tried and tested over and over again. Having connections work. If you are in a position to lend a helping hand to someone in need, the honorable thing to do would be to help someone else come up along the way. There is enough room at the top for everyone. The bottom is where it's quite crowded. If you can provide a service, use your skills to help yourself and others. I created The Brown Queens' Constitution to provide a service to Brown Queens like myself. That service is to inform. TheBQC is all about the journey to becoming a better person and better contribution to society. I want to do that by making you aware of services that others offer that could be of value to you. I wish to network to gain effective alliances. I am just starting out and in need of much help with the blog. If there is a service you can offer or if there is some way I could be of service to you, contact me today. I am best reached by email. My email address is thebqc@yahoo.com. I look forward to talking with you. Remember, "Networking bring Net Worth".

                       

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Thoughtful Thursday: Need Advice??

It's Thoughtful Thursday again!! If you need any advice, send me an email with a number 1-10 or comment on this post with the advice you need and I will respond on the blog. The email address is thebqc@yahoo.com. If you email me be sure to put "advice" in the subject line. So go ahead Brown Queens!! Shoot! What advice do you need?

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Relations Wednesday: PSA to the BROWN KINGS

I understand there might be some confusion about The Brown Queens' Constitution and the attitude towards men that is being presented to viewers both men and women. I want to make things perfectly clear so there is no misunderstanding. The BQC is not a site made for man bashing. In fact, we Brown Queens love our Brown Kings. I sincerely encourage the participation of all males on all posts. I think it is critical that we hear the male perspective on all subjects discussed here on The BQC. I encourage males and all other ethnic groups to join the blog and offer their stance on all posts. We acknowledge that we are not the only ones living in this world. We coexist with so many others. It it my hope that all people are represented fairly on this blog. Please understand that to be pro- Brown Queens is not synonymous with being anti- anyone else especially our Brown Kings. I want to highlight those men who live up to being real men and are a positive contribution to society. The BQC appreciates you. Please do not hesitate to state your opinion if your feel you have been represented unfairly. As always, I thank you for reading this post. Please join, comment, and share.



P.S. I also added a special song to the playlist today just for you. :-)

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Tresses Tuesday: Color Your Crown

It is officially spring, Brown Queens! That means no more cold grey skies. As we say goodbye to the cold harsh weather, we also say good bye to dull hair colors from the winter. It's time for color. I have been thinking about getting my hair colored but I'm hesitating because I had a bad experience with a permanent hair color three years ago. My hair broke off at the crown of my head. That was enough to scare me away from coloring my hair for a while. Now I think I may want to try sprucing my new natural do up with some color.  I just haven't quite decided when I will color my hair or which hue suits be best. I know that it's best to choose hair colors that go well with the complexion of your skin. I'm slightly darker than a caramel tone with a red undertone. Here are some of the hair colors I am considering. I'm leaning toward a much lighter brown or a red/copper tone. Maybe I should just start with highlights. What do you think? What color are you coloring your crown this season?




     

                                      

Monday, March 26, 2012

Music Monday: We love the 90's- The Super List

                                              

Welcome back, Brown Queens. It's MUSIC MONDAY!!! I'm so excited about this post not only because it's about music, but it's also about one of the best decades to produce so much great music. I'm talking about the 90's. Today on MUSIC MONDAY we're going to travel back in time, not too far back, but just far enough. If you were around in the 90's then you remember the baggy jeans we wore (women and men), the dark lipstick, midriffs, jean ensembles, leather pants, big stereos, and two-sided cassette tapes. The music of the 90's was filled with feel good music, r&b love ballads, socially conscious hip hop, gangster rap, etc. Some of the best girl groups also came out in the 90's too. Brown Queens thrived in the 90's along with so many other artists.  Here are some of the artists that kept us " jammin' "  in the 90's! The music is so good that there are 15 90's songs added to the playlist this week! What are some of your favorite 90's artists? Share them with us! Join, comment, and tell ALL of your friends.
  • Brandy     
  • TLC
  • Aaliyah
  • Destiny's Child
  • R. Kelly
  • Michael Jackson
  • Janet Jackson
  • Whitney Houston
  • Montell Jordan
  • Missy Elliot
  • Dru Hill
  • 112
  • SWV 
  • Monica
  • En Vogue
  • X- Scape
  • Babyface 
  • Total
  • 702 
  • Blaque
  • Mary J. Blige
  • Usher
  • Ma$e
  • Boys II Men
  • Kelly Price
  • Joe
  • Case
  • Ginuwine
  • Donell Jones 
  • Mariah Carey
  • Bill Biv Devoe
  • Notorious B.I.G
  • Tupac
  • Dr. Dre
  • Ice Cube
  • Toni Braxton
  • Jon B
  • Tyrese
  • Next
  • Nas 
  • Jay-Z
  • Common
  • Outkast
  • Naughty by Nature
  • The Roots
  • Goodie Mob
  • Lil' Kim
  • Foxy Brown
  • Snoop Dogg
  • Lauryn Hill
  • Coolio
  • LL Cool J
  • The Fresh Prince
  • DMX
  • Bone Thugs n Harmony
  • The Fugees
  • Mya
  • Queen Latifah
  • Deborah Cox
  • Puff Daddy (That was his name in the 90's)
  • Faith Evans
  • Erykah Badu
  • Common
***Playlist includes Tell Me What you Want x Mase ft. Total, The Rain x Missy Elliott, Creep x TLC, I Wanna Be Down (Remix) x Brandy, No No No Pt. 1 x Destiny's Child, You're Making Me High x Toni Braxton, Where My Girls At? x 702, Rosa Parks x OutKast, 808 x Blaque, Are You That Somebody x Aaliyah, Kissing You x Faith Evans, We Can't Be Friends x Deborah Cox & R.L., Friend of Mine x Kelly Price, Secret x XSCAPE, Remember The Time x Michael Jackson***

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Soul Search Sunday: In Good Company

Tragedies of life are always hard to get through. They are even harder to get through alone. Being in good company always makes the difficult times that much easier to cope with. Surround yourself with loved ones and tackle life's challenges together.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

SERVICE SATURDAY: In Honor of Jared Thomas - Donate to The American Heart Association

 


Today I made a donation to The American Heart Association in honor of my friend, Jared Thomas, who passed last week as a result of his heart condition. This is close to me because my younger brother was born with a small heart murmur as well. He was a dear friend to so many and he will be missed forever. I would like to help gain awareness for heart diseases in his honor by way of the American Heart Association. Go to http://www.heart.org/ to make a donation of any amount and find out how you can help save someone else's dear friend from heart disease. There is also a video below about The American Heart Association. Thank you for taking the time out to read this post. Rest peacefully, Jared. I love you! 



Thursday, March 15, 2012

Thoughtful Thursday: Need advice??

Brown Queens, need any advice?? Respond here with your questions or email me at thebqc@yahoo.com with a number 1-10 and I'll respond here on The BQC!!! If you email me be sure to put advice in the subject box. I look forward to hearing from you!!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Relations Wednesday: The Ex Factor- Are you really over it?

                                       
Are you really over your ex? If your relationship is over but you find that something is keeping you from moving forward, I like to call those feelings, Ex factors. If the person you were with meant anything to you at all then of course you will remember what you had and it is recommended that you give yourself time to get over a break up. Staying off their Facebook and Twitter helps. But how much tine is too much time?  I find that some exes you never really get over but there are extenuating circumstances. Then you may need to question if that person should be your ex not. If U -X = Life not worth living then by all means, please, try again to make it work. That feeling is common but it is also just the initial feeling after a break up. Give it time then maybe you'll find that U + someone else = A happier U. I have come up with a list of Ex factors, or X factors. These are the red flags. These are 5 signs that you are not quite over it!
1. You find yourself talking about them all the time.
You broke up a year ago.Your ex should not still be the topic of all your conversations.
2. You are an ex basher.
You constantly put down your ex for something they did. If you say you forgave them but still linger on their mistakes, you are not over it. Forgive them for yourself and come to terms with it so that you can move on. Active closure from both parties would be great. If not, find closure on your own through forgiveness.
3. Opportunity knocks, you recognize it, yet you still don't answer.
A completely compatible match comes along but you treat them like a scrub. You owe it to the new guy and yourself to give it a fighting chance. The best way to get over it is to move along with someone else.
4. You compare every one to your ex.
Any statement that starts off with "My ex was more..." or "My ex was not as..." should not be used so often if you've been broken up for a while. The new guy is not your ex unless you've managed to find someone similar to your ex which is common. Maybe you should try someone different. You could go back to your ex if you were going to date someone just like him.
5. You are with someone else but won't allow your relationship to flourish.
After you've been hurt you must make an effort to rebuild your trust and remember that the new guy is not your ex. Don't let them take on the consequences for what your ex did.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Tresses Tuesday: Chopper Style- The Big Chop

I get questions all the time about my natural hair and my decision to go natural two years ago. This week I have gotten more than usual. One question that many Brown Queens have asked is "how did I transition?". Well I definitely was not brave enough for "The Big Chop" or a really low cut rather. I actually transitioned for a one year and a half and cut my hair a little as I went along. This allowed me to stay close to my relaxed length as I transitioned. I did all sort of styles that fused the relaxed hair with the new relaxer free hair. I was very careful to not use too much heat or wear styles that would stress my hair and cause breakage where the new growth and relaxed hair met. This particular point of your hair strands is very weak and prone to breakage. Although I did not do "The Big Chop", I've seen some Brown Queens that have rocked the low hair cut very well. One is a friend of mine who just recently cut her hair and looks gorgeous. You go Queens!

This photo of Solange is stunning!!!


Chrisette Michele rocks her BC!!


 This is my friend Er'nyce who recently did "The Big Chop" Doesn't this Brown Queen's hair look gorgeous??

Monday, March 12, 2012

Music Monday: March Madness Sweet 16 For Soul Music

If you don't know by now I am a huge Soul music fan! Most of my favorite artists are of the soul or neosoul genre. I went to the movies last weekend to see Tyler Perry's "Good Deeds" and I heard a new Kem song in the movie that I fell in love with and I was inspired to share with you some of my favorite Soul artists. I listen to music quite a bit throughout the day. These are artists that I clean, study, drive, wake up, go to sleep, and sing along with in the shower. They sing songs that make me dance, smile, laugh, cry, think, sing and be inspired. Everything I do has a song or three to go with it. These are artists that make songs that speak to my soul and it will forever be the genre I connect with the most. Here is my list of artists that currently make my soul dance. I'm sure I have missed a few. I'm always looking for more soul singers so if you know of any let me know. Also check out The BQC's updated playlist. What are your favorite soul singers??
  •  Maxwell ( I adore him)
  •  Jill Scott (My best friend and she doesn't even know it)
  •  India Arie (So inspiring)
  •  Musiq Soulchild (Makes me dance)
  •  Kem
  •  Erykah Badu
  •  Eric Benet ( So romantic)
  •  Jazmine Sullivan (Just sangin')
  •  Fantasia (Sings from the deepest part of her soul)
  •  Lauryn Hill ( THE coldest lyricist)
  •  Kindred the Family Soul ( Just found them recently, I love the married gimmick)
  •  Bilal
  •  Dwele
  •  Ledisi 
  •  Lalah Hathaway
  •  Marvin Gaye ( can't forget Marvin)
***Playlist includes Doo Wop (That thing) x Lauryn Hill, Gotta get to know ya x Maxwell, Not Like Crazy x Jill Scott, Can you feel it? x Kem***

Welcome Back BROWN QUEENS!!

Welcome back Queens to another great week on The Brown Queens' Constitution. Tell all your girlfriends to check The BQC out! Take a seat on your thrown and let's have a great MUSIC MONDAY!!!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Soul Search Sunday: Sadness, Self Doubt, and Self Pity

A message came to me this week that I feel I must share with my Brown Queens. That message is to not let sadness, self doubt, and self pity consume you when things become difficult in your life. You were chosen to go through what you are going through because only you can handle it. Some one else may not be able to bear what you can. You were chosen because you are strong enough and your obstacles can be conquered.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Service Saturday: Big Brothers Big Sisters

Hey, Brown Queens! I saw this ad on tv the other day and thought it would be perfect to feature on Service Saturday. It's an awesome organization to join. 

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Thoughtful Thursdays: My Advice Column

It's Thoughtful Thursday again!! If you need any advice, send me an email or comment on this post with a number 1-10 and I will give you the advice you need. The email address is thebqc@yahoo.com. If you email me be sure to put "advice" in the subject line. So go ahead Brown Queens!! Shoot! What advice do you need?