Ten Things Every Black Woman Should Know and Believe

It’s no secret. The predominant images of black women blared across the global community are at best demoralizing and shameful. Far too often, all I ever see of the women who like me can be summed up in terms such as “video vixen” or “baby momma” or “welfare opportunist.”

We know the names of Oprah Winfrey, Etta James and Maya Angelou. These are the names forged from the backbone of generations of black women who paved the way with their blood and their sacrifice in hopes that their legacy would breathe hope and the power to persevere in the face of insurmountable circumstances. Yes, we know the names of  Billie Holiday, Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai and Mamie Till, who stood toe to toe with the Goliath of their time and defiantly breathed I will not bow, I will not cave and I will not compromise the truth.

Yes, we know the names of these majestic beauties but some how the global reach of their plight–of humanity’s plight–is muffled by an ideology that decrees that we (black women) are all booty-bouncing-morally-depraved-loud-mouthed-uneducated-sexually-deviant-miscreants of society. Five words: the devil is a liar!

And so I share 10 Things I Want to Say to a Black Woman by Joshua Bennett in hopes that it will break through the perpetual lies  that say that you’re not lovable, you’re not beautiful, you’re not good enough and you’re not more than enough because truth be told you’re all that and so much more!

#Parenting #Fail: Liposuction and 7-Year-Olds

It’s 2012. It’s the year the world will end (as per the Mayan calendar), the year we really get serious about bringing home our troops and the year we will select a new President. At first glance, it seems like 2012 is fast becoming a year that will prove to be unforgettable on many levels.

Liposuction as investment for a 7-year-old is not one I thought would ever top the list of forget-me-nots, but I stand corrected.

We live in a world that perpetually bombard our princesses (and princes) with destructive messages that corrupt the eros of the soul–that eat through the joys and wonders of being a kid. As I kid, I remember high-water pants, freckles, kinky-hair, glasses, chubby-faces, belly laughs, missing teeth, noses that spit milk, Now-Laters, pinky promises, climbing trees in skirts, doing cartwheels in the grass, hand-ball in the park, chemistry sets, secret diaries and first crushes.

Childhood is meant to be a time of exploration and discovery. See that photo? That’s what kids do! It’s the time our children begin to uncover who they are and begin a life-long journey of celebration and acceptance. It’s the time they begin to come into their own. Why on earth would any parent want to rob their child of such a pivotal and important time?

Why on earth would any parent purchase a liposuction voucher for her 7-year-old daughter as a Christmas gift saying, “She asks for surgery all the time. She wants to look good and lipo is one of those procedures that will always come in handy. I see these vouchers as investing in her future — like saving money for her education.”

According to Mommyish, this is the same woman who promised her daughter a boob job for her seventh birthday. Yes, you did read that right. A boob job at 7!

As a parent, I intentionally refrain from using the words parenting and fail in the same sentence. In this instance, however, there are no other words to describe this parent’s actions.

With parent fails like these is it any wonder that  7 in 10 young girls feel they’re not good enough or  like they don’t measure up to standards about looks and image?

As a parent, I shake my head in disgust. As a mother, my heart breaks not just for the 7-year-old girl but also for her mother. Anyone who proudly acknowledges herself as “The Human Barbie” because of her love of plastic surgery is obviously looking for acceptance and love. It is my hope that she and her daughter find it.

Supple Winter Skin? A Review and A Winter Giveaway!

Does your skin tend to look or feel dry, cracked, itchy, flaky or dull?

Winter skin is something all of us have to deal with. With colder temperatures come drier, duller looking skin. Because my skin is extremely dry, I’m always on the lookout for the products that help me seal in my skin’s moisture.

Recently, I got my hands on a new body wash product by Eucerin: Calming Body Wash. I had it for weeks before I even decided to try it. Why?  I am extremely selective about body wash. If you were to look in my shower you’ll see an extensive variety of body scrubs, bar soaps and bath salts. You will only find one to two bottles of body wash at any given point in time.

In fact, the only reason I used the Calming Body Wash was because my children used the last of my Dove body wash and did not say a word. Grrrrrrrr.

The product “combines soap-free cleansing with omega oils and other natural lipids to nourish and soothe.” In other words, it should clean my skin and leave it feeling smooth and supple–and surprisingly, it did!

My skin didn’t feel greasy, slippery or feel like it was caked in product. A nickle-sized dollop is enough to lather from head to toe. The soap-free cleanser is fragrance-free but does have a scent that could be likened to the smell of wheat.  The bonus? It’s gentle enough to use on sensitive skin especially skin with eczema.

“Jolly Holiday” Winter Giveaway

Do you have products or ways that you plan to keep your winter skin looking smooth and supple? Share your how-to’s or favorite go-to’s and you could win a Winter Prize Pack! Prizing includes make up bag and all of the following:

• Eucerin Calming Crème (8 oz.) Is a gentle, non-greasy formula that combines calming oatmeal and rich emollients to help relieve dry, itchy skin for softer, healthier-looking and more comfortable skin.
• Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Hand Crème (2.7 oz.) Is a unique, non-greasy formula that intensively moisturizes and is enriched with buffered alpha hydroxy to gently exfoliate.
• Eucerin Plus Smoothing Essentials Fast Absorbing Body Lotion (16.9 fl. oz.) has a unique formula with buffered alpha hydroxy that gently smoothes and moisturizes to reveal healthier-looking, radiant skin.
• Eucerin Calming Body Wash (8.4 oz.), is a unique body wash formulation that combines soap-free cleansing with omega oils and other natural lipids to nourish and soothe.
• Eucerin Calming Itch-Relief (6.8 fl. oz.) is a non-greasy formula calms itchy skin flare-ups with cooling menthol and natural oatmeal for effective relief that lasts up to 8 hours.

ENTRY RULES

1. Head on over to Eucerin Facebook page and share your how-to’s or favorite go-to’s for smooth, supple winter skin. Share the URL in the comments below.
2. Share this post on Facebook or twitter (post the URL in the comments below)
3. Viola, you’re entered!

FTC Disclaimer: author is a participant in the Eucerin Skin First Network. Opinions expressed are 100 percent her own.