Ninetynine Magazine

Whilst at the You're Beautiful Woman event I went to last week. I had the pleasure of meeting some innovative and inspirational black entrepreneurs. I love magazines but cut down on them dramatically. However this magazine caught my eye.

It is called Ninetynine magazine. Olumide Solanke is one of the creative forces behind the magazine. He spoke to me about it with such joy. You could tell that care and thought has been taken to create this rarity in Black British society. It is filled with stories of UK Black achievers in every level of society. Their mission states that they aim to “identify, inform and celebrate the achievements of proactive black people in the UK”.

It is quite a new magazine a unisex one at that. I have the 2nd issue which has been a very lovely read. Tim Campbell from the Apprentice is the cover star, who shares his life since Apprentice and his current role and founder of the Bright Ideas Trust. This issue explores the need for role models, family values, young mentors , food, money and much more.

I will definitely be subscribing , that way I do not miss a copy. The subscription fee may not be a discount like my Glamour mag. Though it is so worth the read and will save me searching for this brilliant magazine. Have you read it, if so what do you think? I think this is just what Black Britain needs. A positive inspirational magazine from the UK.

Fuzzy Logik ft Egypt – In the morning

I am not clued up on what is the best funky house songs. Though I do try to broaden my musical tastes. I have always loved funky house. I love songs with a good vocal and occasionally instrumentals are fine.

I have been hearing this song throughout summer not knowing who was singing. Thankfully after listening to the latest mixtape by Figa DJ, I finally got to know who was singing. It is a track by Fuzzy Logik which features a singer called Egypt. Her voice reminds me of CeCe Peniston and many singers from that time. I am not saying it is spot on but it has that essence to it.

Her MySpace page says that she has been singing and writing songs from the age 12. She joined a group but soon left to pursue a solo career in 2000. She has been working hard ever since. I have listened to some of other tracks on her Myspace page and the potential to do well is there. Lets hope who she has a good team behind her. UK talent often gets wasted by record companies and execs that have no clue what to do.

The single is out on the 7th September 2009. Check out the video below and let me know what you think!

You’re Beautiful Woman

I had the pleasure of attending the You're Beautiful Woman event in London on Saturday 15th August 2009. I was invited to attend by the wonderful Ondo Lady. It was such a pleasure to meet one of my blogging buddies in the flesh. She is such a lovely lady.

The event was held at the Highgate Newton Community Centre. I travelled from the East Midlands to London just for the day. Got lost with my friend, though thankfully a nice lady offered to give us a lift and we reached safely. Even better it turned out a handful of my friends were in attendance.

We listened to some inspiring seminars and delighted in the many black business women and men in attendance. Fine hand crafted jewellery, bags, hats and handmade beauty products. Business opportunities and more. The food smelt delicious.

One of the seminars I attended was by Noreen Mak’Osewe called Bag Lady put your S down. She used a bag as a way to describe emotional, mental, financial and spiritual baggage. Key point for me was when she said that a bag only fulfils its purpose when it is in use. If your bag is weighing you down you must think about what it is you have put inside of it.

I will be doing some more posts of some of the stalls and entrepreneurs I had the pleasure to meet. So do look out for those. Also if you did not attend please try and attend next year. You will not be disappointed!!!

Blackberry Dreams

I used to be a Nokia stand for about 10 years. I do remember trying Motorola at one point as well. Never got along with the latter. Nokia just offered simple easy to use system. I even owned the very 1st Nokia flip phone, which my husband sent abroad without my permission. Not happy at all about that as I loved that phone. Just think how much that would have been worth now.

Then just over a year ago my friend suggested I get a Blackberry. In fact two friends suggested I get one. To simplify the transition I got a pearl as I then thought the width of the curve was too much for me. My only complaint was a few  technical issues with the operating system. My messages were being deleted left right and centre. The timer would not disappear and T-Mobile UK call centres were fobbing me off big time. Thankfully their store staff were more help and problem sorted itself with an upgrade of the operating software. Not forgetting a hard reset I think its called when you take the battery out whilst the device is still on.

From time to time I check out the Crackberry website which I discovered almost immediately after becoming part of the BB alumni. There is so much on there for the BB addict plus you get to read about the latest phones and rumours of such. I was eyeing up one device currently called Onyx but the new Blackberry Curve 8520 will do me just fine. The track ball is replaced with a track pad like what you would get on a laptop.  That feature alone caught my eye.

Of course there are many many more features that the Research in Motion team have thoughtfully packed into the curve. Just check out the websites.

I am waiting patiently as my upgrade was due end of June beginning of July. I called T-Mobile and was told that the new curve should be available end of September. Lets hope they do a competitive deal. It is already available on Vodafone and Orange.

I think I ought to buy shares in Research in Motion and their Blackberry brand. Wonder if that will get me a seat on the board?!

In Style magazine and Body shop freebies

I am such an impulsive shopper. Yet buying what I truly want takes forever. I need a financial advisor to help me spend wisely reduce debts and live within my means.

Anyway after reading the latest Money Saving Expert beauty deals of the week which is updated weekly I went and bought In Style magazine. It is not a magazine I would normally buy, however with 2 free eye liners by the Body Shop which are worth just over £14 I could not resist. You have 3 colour sets to choose from. I chose brilliant blue and black. The other combinations are black /  shimmering steel and black and vibrant emerald.

I have not tried Body shop makeup in a while. I still have a bronzer and shimmering eye shadow cubes which are brilliant. As for In Style mag, I have just skimmed the pages and there is an article which all users of makeup will like. It features R&B songstress Shontelle beautifully showing the latest trends in the ever popular smokey eye.

In Style is a fashion magazine and from my first impressions there seems to be more to read. Unlike the industry standards of Cosmopolitan. I bought that magazine once and I think I read like two pages. Pictures were amazing to look at though.

Acrylic nail art

I managed to get my nails filled and shortened. I now know for sure that shorter nails are far more practical. I was not too impressed with this particular nail salon. They usher you out when nails are just dry and not fully dry. So I have smudged nails. You have to look closer to see. If at the time I was not on my way to get my kids I would have walked back and said “Yo! re-touch these £19 for in fills and design. The design I copied from my friend and the nail technician re-jigged it so it was more of an inspiration.

These nails need re-doing again. So if you look close enough you can see the gap between the acrylic and my cuticles. I am stretching these boys out. One more thing. As I had them shortened they now look a bit on the thick side. So I might have to force myself to get a full new set when I finally go to the nail shop again.