Soul Search Sunday: Pursuit of Happiness

      I expect so much out of life. One thing I expect is to be happy. But I have realized that happiness is not a destination it is more of a state of mind. It's a state of mind to be carried with you as you take life's journey. Happiness is not where I am hoping to get but I what I want to have within me wherever I go. Attempting to look for happiness is like looking for something in the daytime with a flashlight. You don't need any material things to find it. It starts with you and it reflects on to everything you do. If you are going through life looking for happiness in other places you just might miss it. There's no better place to look than within yourself. Happiness is a state of mind and minds change. The idea is to be content with life as it is and everything else will be icing on the cake. I'm on this journey to being the best me possible. The greater I am at living, laughing, and learning the more happiness I gain and the less time I spend trying to find it.

     

Service Saturday: Go Green, Brown Queens. Are you concerned about the environment?

Brown Queens are you concerned about the environment? The AABE is. Check out how other Brown Queens and Kings are making a positive impact on our environment below.

The American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) is a national association of energy professionals founded and dedicated to ensure the input of African Americans and other minorities into the discussions and developments of energy policies regulations, R&D technologies, and environmental issues (from aabe.org)

Fashion Frenzy Friday: Animalistic Nature

Animalistic Nature by brownqueensconstitution featuring antique jewelry

Thoughtful Thursday: Advice Column

Brown Queens, need any advice?? Respond here with your questions or email me at thebqc@yahoo.com with a number 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!!

Relations Wednesday: Barely Legal and Married

     At the golden age of 18 while some young adults are thinking about college, others young adults are planning to be married. Adolescent couples who were once high school sweet hearts are now new adults considering the possibility of spending the rest of their lives together before experiencing the full gist of adulthood. As a college student and young adult, I am beginning to see breaking news of engagements pop up on my Facebook timeline and some marriages too. While I am happy to see young couples in love, I am starting to wonder if some of those couples realize the seriousness of the legally binding contract in which they are engaging. The National Center For Health Statistics says that 60% of young adults who marry between ages 20- 25 end in divorce. Perhaps that 60% could avoid the trials of a divorce if more time is spent getting to know one another. Really find out if you want to be married to your significant other by letting the relationship fully develop before making such a serious commitment. I think it is important to live the core of your life independently first before such a strong co-dependence is required of you. Young love is beautiful but rushing into a marriage immaturely can be grounds for disaster.

Tresses Tuesday: Short Hair Don't Care

       It's spring and as the weather gets warmer many Brown Queens are rocking fierce short do's. Newly liberated natural queens rock low cut big chop fro's or defined curls. And relaxed queens style their silky short cuts and bobs. When I first did my big chop my hair wasn't extremely short but it was very manageable. Many days I would define my short curls and go on about my day. Short hair means less hair to manage. Although your tresses are not long, Brown Queens your hair should not be neglected. Continue to maintain your hair as you would with longer hair and your sassy strands will look hot through the warmer months. If long hair don't care then short hair means no worries. If you're rocking short hair send your flyest pic of your sassy short hair to the thebqc@yahoo.com to be included on this post or copy and paste it in the comment box below.

MUSIC MONDAY: All in the Family

        There is an undeniable connection heard through the music of a band whose family ties connect them. And there's nothing like the sincerity of a love ballad from an actual couple. Love seems to seep through a record that's fueled by a real relationship whether it is a romantic relationship or one of family relation. These groups have a special connection that is apparent in their music. What's your favorite band that keeps it All in The Family?

*** Playlist includes I Want You Back x Jackson 5, Crazy In Love Beyonce ft. Jay-Z, Far Away x Kindred The Family Soul, All This Love x Debarge, You're All I Need To Get By x Marvin Gay and Tammi Terrell***

Soul Search Sunday: Work hard. Play later.

       I, like many, always seem to wait to the last minute to get important things done. I am a slave to procrastination. I seem to have formed the idea in my head that I work better under pressure. What's worse is that I actually believe it now. I typically find myself at the eleventh hour stressed trying to get something done that could have been done a long time ago. What happens when you just barely miss your deadline? You feel terrible. It would make more sense to spread a task out so that it's not too much at once or you let your deadline surpass you. A huge part of my journey to being a better Brown Queen is getting rid of this procrastination disease. Get the work out of the way so that there is more time for activities less stressful. I know I won't be changing over night but I can't afford to wait til tomorrow to start a change either. Work hard. Play later. Let's get these priorities together starting now. Go.

Service Saturday: Be a Mentor for Girls Incorporated

Girls Incorporated is the organization I will be getting involved with. Brown Queens, I recommend you find the closest Girl Incorporated near you and mentor a young girl.

Fashion Frenzy Friday: Candy Sweet

Fashion Frenzy Friday: Candy Sweet by brownqueensconstitution featuring a double finger ring

Thoughtful Thursday: 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?

Relations Wednesday: Don't Write Off The Mama's Boy

    Brown Queens, do you find yourself steering away from "Mama's Boys"? Well don't write them off just yet. Is it such a bad thing that a man has a healthy loving relationship with his mother? If he is not a full grown man still being supported financially by his mom or both of his parents, consider the positive factors of dating a "mama's boy". The way a man treats his mom is often a good indicator of how he would treat you in a relationship. A man who disrespects his mother probably has little respect for women period. This is not all cases but it is the most common case I have seen and witnessed by others. "A man who treats his woman like a princess is proof that he has been born and raised in the arms of a QUEEN."- Unknown    

Tresses Tuesday: 3 Ways to Do Away with Bad Hair Days

     

   Queens, we have those days when we are tired of rocking the hairstyle we've been rocking for a few days or we're trying to make one hair style last to the end of the week. What was a cute hairstyle at the beginning of the week is now a bad hair day. Some days we have no idea what to do with our hair and then we to resort to the ponytail. The ponytail is cool sometimes but there are several other ways to style your hair until the next wash. Here are 3 ways to turn a bad hair day into a cute, quick do.

1. (The Scarf) Tie it down. Wrap it Up. There are several ways to rock a scarf. With so many styles and scarves to choose from, you're sure to find one that suits you. 

           

    

2. (The Bun) Pin it up, girls. Wear it sleek, loose, or messy. High or low.

                     

3. (The Hat) Put a cap on it. We all know this one but who says your hat has to be a plain old ball cap. These hats are sure to get a stare or two.

                           

                                     

Music Monday: Black Movie Music

Hello, Brown Queens! Happy MUSIC MONDAY to you! Today's MUSIC MONDAY has a twist. The music featured today comes from the soundtracks of our favorite black films. What's your favorite movie with a predominately African-American or brown cast? Chances are, you remember the music from that movie and the soundtrack was just as iconic as the film. These movies featured on today have had the best soundtracks and are almost as recognizable as the movies they accompany. You remember that Maxwell song you heard when Q and Monica first got together on Love and Basketball or the Maxwell song that was played when Nina and Darius Lovehall got together on "Love Jones". he pivotal scenes in the movies always have the best music. The updated playlist for this week has the most popular songs from these iconic black films! Which of these are your favorite songs from a soundtrack of your favorite soundtrack overall?

Set It Off (Missing you x Brandy, Tamia, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight)



Dr. Dolittle (Are you that Somebody x Aaliyah)





Boomerang (Love should've brought you home x Toni Braxton, End of The Road x Boyz II Men)








Love Jones (Hopeless x Dionne Farris, Sumthin' Sumthin' Mellosmoothe x Maxwell, The Sweetest Thing x The Refugee Camp ft. Lauryn Hill)








The Best Man (As x Stevie Wonder, Candy x Cameo, All is said and Done Beyonce' and Marc Nelson, The Best Man x Ginuwine ,Tyrese, Case, R.L.)








"Love and Basketball" ( The entire soundtrack featuring Maxwell, Donell Jones, Angie Stone, Chaka Khan,  Al Green, MC Lyte, Guy, Black Eyed Peas)





"Waiting To Exhale" (The entire soundtrack featuring Whitney Houston, Brandy, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige, SWV and TLC.







"Soulfood" (The entire soundtrack ft. songs like A song for Mama x Boyz II Men, We're not making love no more x Dru Hill)





"The Wood" (If this world were mine x Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn, I wanna know x Joe)




***Playlist includes Candy x Cameo, The Best Man I Can Be x R.L. Tyrese, Genuwine, & Case, I'm Not Gon Cry x Mary J. Blige, The Sweetest Thing Lauryn Hill and The Fugees, Love Should've Brought You Home x Toni Braxton, If This World Were Mine Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn, A Song For Mama x Boys II Men***

Soul Search Sunday: Fools Follow Dreams

    

        Do you know what you want to do with your life? It can be difficult to find your purpose. We all wish to have fulfilling careers instead of working jobs we have no passion for just to pay the bills.  Choosing a career affects the rest of your life and should be a decision that is carefully thought over. After considering all the things you would like to do with your life, some of us then face the decision to either be practical or follow our passions. You are lucky if your passion happens to be practical. I am a very practical person that doesn't like to take chances on ideas I am not at least 75% positive I can make happen. However, I believe in finding a balance between being practical and daring to dream. I had to realize that if someone had done it before means it can be done. More importantly, it is possible to be done by me. Dreams can seem far- fetched or unreachable but if it's been done before then surely you could figure out a way to accomplish the same goals. I admire those who are able to wander through life with a dream alone. Those people work hard at making their dreams come true because their well being depends on it. If you are like me and you do not want to put your all into a career goal you are not certain will work, try using a stable job to fund your own dream. Invest in yourself. You then have the safety of a job and you're working toward your ultimate career at the same time. Once you've done all that, you'll start to believe more in your dream because you've then dedicated time and effort. It's more difficult to get others to believe in something if you don't believe yourself. What if something bazaar happens like your dreams actually come true. Dreaming does not make you a fool but not considering your passion for practicality does.