Reader Costume Contest

Hey Queens!

If you are dressing up this weekend for Halloween I would love to see your costume. With that being said, send me your pics to compulsivewriting@yahoo.com, and I will judge the best! Of course there will be a lil' sumin sumin for the winner. I will also post the best costume on the site for all to see next week!

So get dressed up, send in those pics! Please please be safe, and if you drink, do so responsibly!

P.S. I don' t know what the hell my gravie is doing up there in that pic, she supposed to be doing the thriller dance, smh.


Stay Blessed & Happy Locing

Happy Friday!

Hey Queens & Happy Friday!

It's been kinda quiet around here in the Queendom...not much commenting going on. However, I trust that you all are well, and behaving like Queens (side eye). Anyhow, I received my anticipated box of goodies for the Americas Next Top Natural Model contest. Oh my when I tell you there were so many wonderful things in that box! I had no idea they would bless us with that stuff. So today I am home from work because it is a state holiday, Nevada Day to be exact. Look I don't know much about it other than I'm going to totally enjoy this day!

So anyhow, I am sitting underneath a hair dryer because I just finished washing, conditioning, and tightening my roots. I used the Jamaican Lime Mango products they sent and wow! My hair smells good enough to eat.

I also trimmed my edges. Listen, just because we have natural hair, and locs doesn't mean you can get away with trimming your edges. Quite the opposite you have to take care of them too for your locs to look really neat and nice. I don't like ragged edges, thinning locs at the very bottom. So I trim them to make sure its neat and healthy looking. Although, I don't lose locs (never have) my locs will break off at the tip of the end because of various reasons: my daughter swings off of my hair like a lil monkey (yes it hurts),my hair gets caught in furniture, doors, drawers, armpits, and butt. So I trim whatever seems to be out of place and canno't be saved by tying a knot, or marrying to another.

Today I will take some pictures for the contest, ya'll know you will be the first ones to view. With that being said don't forget to go to the left side of this page, click my face, and register to vote. Without your support I will not make it, okay?

Have a safe and fun Halloween!


Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

For Soft Hands....

If its getting cold here in Las Vegas, Nevada I know its cold for my Queens in the North, East, and South. Po' thangs... with that being said you know what time it is! You have to keep your hands touchable and soft. You don't want to get caught out there all chapped up and ashy do ya?

Well it will serve you well to grab a few of my absolute favorite cold month hand moisturizers!
Lay It On Thick- Bath and Body Works. It has a dollop of Shea butter in it (doesn't everything nowadays?), it's rich, smooth, and creamy. Nothing is better than slathering this on and then putting on gloves afterward! Its great for after a mani.

Almond Cookie Souffle- Carol's Daughter. Not only does it smell scrumptious but it leaves you smooth and soft. Also with a base of Shea butter. This stuff is great!
Good Ole' 100% Shea Butter- Natural Food and Health Stores. You know how I feel about the African Wonder Shea Butter. It can do so much for you. Dry skin, wrinkles, eczema, stretch marks, cracked and dry heels, elbows, etc. With the Shea butter you can do a multitude of things. Its a staple in my house, and I love it!
Crabtree & Evelyn Gardners Hand Therapy- Crabtree & Evelyn. Oooohhh....once when I visited my mother she had this in her bathroom and I just kinda put in my purse. Okay, I just had to have it, plus my my mother had the larger version of it on her sink anyways (don't judge me!). This stuff is wonderful, thick, and smells wonderful!


Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Product. Review of Pantene Shampoo

Boo bye, is all I can say to this shampoo made by Pantene. I picked this up at Wallyworld thinking that it was a fairly decent shampoo for a natural haired beauty such as myself; but I am upset that it did nothing for me, nothing! I mean it claims the following:

• Protect wet hair from the friction of combs and brushes (no need for help there!)
  
• Gently clean hair to help remove residue and build-up while increasing shine
  
• Strength against damage

Maybe it does for loose naturals, but not for loc'd naturals. I just don't think it did a good job at cleansing the locs. I had to repeat shampoos like 5 times to get what I thought would be good clean lather. It left my hair dry and hard. Most loc'd naturals know how hard it is to even get and maintain locs that are soft. So out of 5 crowns this gets a mere 3.

But on a good note, the conditioner rocks! I don't know how...but whatever they missed with the shampoo the conditioner gets it right! So if left my locs soft for about a week. The smell is subpar. Its okay. Out of 5 crowns it gets a 3 1/2.
Its a no go for me Queens, and the smell is blah.

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Newsweek Please....

So Allison Samuels a Newsweek Reporter has been chiming in on little Zahara Pitt-Jolie, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's adopted daughters' hair. She openly writes about her disdain for the way Angelina cares for it, or lack there of. Its ridiculous really. I find it odd that she dislikes this baby's' hair. Its not like its all dried out and matted to her head. Quite frankly I think she is one of those women who feels a Just for Me would be more appropriate or that she should have some sort of style. While I agree that more could be done for little Zahara's hair I doubt Angelina is neglecting it. Anyway here read for yourself what this woman has to say, then chime in on the subject.

I thought long and hard before sitting down two weeks ago to write an article about the state of Zahara Jolie-Pitt's hair. I knew any discussion about hair and culture would spark an angry debate in the world of bloggers and beyond. Just ask Chris Rock. His new film, Good Hair, has brought him all kinds of criticism and drama, so at least I'm in good company. Days after my story hit the Web, the comments sections of our site was overrun with furious remarks, and blogs had a serious field day roasting me all that week.

Still, I'm undeterred by the venom shown to me on the Web. I continue to believe Angelina Jolie should take better care of Zahara's hair. Hey, if Maddox can get blond highlights and a Mohawk, Zahara can at least get a quick top knot and rubber band. Is that asking too much?

To read more go here


Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Loc'd Beauty of the Week

Guitarist Alaina Reed

This Queen resides in Florida, but its obvious she is most at home on a stage with a bass in hand! As it was almost impossible to find a picture of her without one.

She had this to say:

I left corporate America to become a full-time musician after figuring out that the movie "Office Space" was more of a documentary than a comedy. I'm a bass player & have realized that the drummers of my life have way too much control over my state of mind. I think I most definitely suffer from reggaemylitis... The only thing about life I am absolutely sure about is that I must follow that little voice in my head, the gut feeling in my stomach & the passion in my heart - so far they are the only things that haven't led me astray.

I'm a freelance bass player & play lots of gigs in South Florida with many reggae, soca, blues, funk & R&B bands when I'm in town. I've worked with such great artists like Leroy Sibbles, Troy Genius, Everton Blender, Red Rat, Squidly Cole, Causion, Glen Washington, Mikey Dread, Nigel Lewis, Shaze, Wayne Stoddart, Elvis White & others.

I'm currently building a studio for serious productions for our new company BAD Lions Productions. BAD Lions Productions is a partnership between myself & Dave Richards & Brian Fontenelle. Please check out our site for more information.

I ride & train horses most days - it’s my other passion other than music. Sometimes they get crazy & try to kill me on a weekly basis, but I think like everything else in my life I wouldn't appreciate it unless it was a challenge.

You can find this Queen at her MySpace page here.


Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Save Heather Ellis!

Dear Queens,

I am not sure if you are aware of the case of Heather Ellis, the young college student who may face 15 years in prison for cutting in line at Walmart. The facts in the case do not add up, given that she was only joining her cousin in line. This altercation should never have ended up with police being called and it certainly should not cost this young woman her future.

The Ku Klux Klan has gotten involved, threatening Heather and her family for their public protests of the incident. The events took place in a town near the one in which Rush Limbaugh was born, so there is a long history of injustice toward African Americans.

I have signed the petition with the Your Black World Coalition to fight against what is happening to Heather. We are reaching out to the Attorney General of the United States, the Attorney General of the State of Missouri, and anyone else who can help this young woman achieve justice. We do not feel that this is the only case in which injustice is occurring, so this is the beginning of a long battle to make our system fair for everyone.

You can sign the petition by following this link:

https://greatblackspeakers.wufoo.com/forms/heather-ellis-walmart-and-the-kkk/

To read more about Heather's case, please visit:

www.TheHeatherEllisCase.com

Thank you for joining me in this struggle.

*taken from http://saveheatherellis.com/*

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Lawd Ms. Claude....

So I trot on down to the beauty supply store to pick up some hair pins. Honey this place is a warehouse of fake hair. Let's just say that you can get lost up in there if you take a wrong turn. So while I am walking I journey on through the weave section. I mean I like to see whats up with the hair, I like to know what our sisters are spending their rent and utility bill money on. I also wanted to know if they carried salt and pepper kinky for my mother, remember she is getting her loc on by any means necessary. The lil store employee, who was a young white girl gave me the strangest look. I go, "Is something wrong? Can you just show me where you carry your salt and pepper synthetic hair?" She says, "Ma'am please don't do it. Don't get no weave, your hair is beautiful the way it is." I go "huh?" She continues, "Ma'am the women come in here with bald spots, patches of hair gone because of this stuff. Its no good for your hair. Your hair is just fine."

I'm thinking lawd...what do these people really think about us running up in these damn supply stores picking up a new bag a week? I mean this chile, is actually pleading with me not to purchase some weave. I find it useless to tell her to mind her own damn business and let me do me. So I just take my hairpins, shift my feet, and mosey on over to the line with a muttered, "Thanks."

Now this is where it really gets good!

Why oh why is a young lady at the register arguing with who could have been her sister about the color weave she should buy; and if she should color her hair jet black. Why is this even a big deal? Well because this young girl is at least 8-9 mos pregnant! Lawd no!!!!!

Everybody should know you shouldn't color your hair with hair dye when you are pregnant, at least not that far along anyway! And why in the hell is she still wearing weaves? When I was pregnant my hair grew like a weed. Its a fact that our hair grows, heck everything grows when we are pregnant. She should only put good natural things on and in her body? SMH

I digress, I just got the hell outta there as fast I could! Lawd be some common sense!


Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Will it Ever Stop?

The beautiful and highly successful Angela Simmons took to her blog on Global Grind to vent her frustrations. It seems as if she is being treated rather harshly due to the color of her boyfriends' skin (smh). We have discussed this a many day here at the Queendom. Its just a damn shame people can't get past a person's color, of course this hatred just had to be coming from our own people right? Why? When will we learn? Our brothers don't care what you think about them dating outside of their race, they are doing so in record numbers. So why not ease up and allow this beautiful young lady room to grow, and experiences life? I'm just saying.

Angela had this to say:

Hello Global Grinders!

It has been a while since my last post but I've been super busy traveling all over the place..sheessh :)

Now that I have a moment to sit down and reflect, I wanted to talk to you about something I have recently noticed. I am a lil surprised at the number of people that seem to disapprove of the relationship with my boyfriend. I find this reality to be kind of hard to accept. There are times when I notice people giving us long hard stares and those stares are usually from my own people!

Honestly, I wish everyone could benefit from the beauty that can come from experiences that happen outside of your own comfort zone. It is truly a beautiful thing that can add so much to your life.

Give it a shot and you can learn so much from a person you never thought you'd talk to or have something in common with. I'm not just talking about dating but about all types of relationships.

Sometimes society makes it hard for us to be comfortable enough in our own skin to embrace others who are different.

I am a firm believer that we are all the same.

Basically what I'm saying is love everyone. Rise above the hate.

I don't feel like this subject gets enough attention, so I thought I would share this with my GG family.

Ok, well I'm done preaching! I'm going back to work...

Love ya :)
Angela

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Smell Good...

Who are the Smell Goods?


They are comprised of the McVay Family, a husband and wife team, and two darling assistants. In the year 1998, Smell Goods was birthed in a shoe box, and now it has grown into so much more!

What is Smell Goods 1998™?

Smell Goods 98™ is a made-to-order gourmet spa line. Specializing in Signature fragrance body oils, Signature hand dipped incense, and spa products that can be customized with over 40 Signature fragrances. Smell Goods 98's™ recipes are 99% unrefined, raw, minimally refined, and 1% cosmetic grade ingredients. Products are paraben and formaldehyde free! When preservative is needed, preservative of choice is Optiphen Plus. No artificial color. No petroleum. No mineral oil. No animal testing.

How did it begin?

The beginnings of Smell Goods 98™ was in a shoe box that contained a small selection of body oils and incense. As the years continued, the McVay team found their niche. The McVays have been successful with the product line and the growth of the business.

The Smell Goods 98™ mission is to produce fine quality products, to encourage consumers to seek healthier options in bath and body care. To be a positive tool in the community through empowerment and philanthropy. To give back to charitable organizations that cater to the needs of young females, teen moms, cancer patients, and sickle cell patients.

Go to SmellGoodSpa!


Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Coupon Code...

Queens, its time to start representing! Go ahead and hit the shop button on the menu bar above and enjoy savings on On the Road to Queendom apparel! Just enter coupon code TREAT19 when you are ready to check out and you're good!

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Happy Friday Queens!

A wonderful & inspiring video by master loctician Thierry Baptiste reminding us all that Black is...

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Thou Shalt Not Lust...

Woo baby, these would look fab-u-lous somewhere exotic!

But honey these would be perfect for right now!

Queen click here if you are ballin!
Queen click here if you are like me and you're ballin on a budget!

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Good Hair Review....

The extremely talented, intelligent, and beautiful Crystal Belle who happens to be an accomplished poet and 9th grade English teacher lent her pen to write a review of Chris Rock's documentary, Good Hair....

Chris Rock's new documentary Good Hair is a funny, revealing film about how issues of hair and identity affect the African-American community. A movie of this kind hasn't been done officially on a mainstream level, so it was a great idea to have a celebrity as popular as Chris Rock, take on the task.

Although the concept of the film is bold, the film itself isn't and actually is more subjective than objective. According to Rock, his only intention was to do a film on "himself, his daughters and the annual Bronner Brothers International Hair Show in Atlanta. " To touch on such a sensitive issue in the black community and then say it was a film only meant for him seems a bit contradictory.

The inspiration for the film Good Hair came about when Chris Rock's 3-year-old daughter asked him why she didn't have "good hair." This question alone startled the popular comedian and urged him to take a deeper look at black women and hair. Some of the questions he explored throughout the film were: 1) What are the implications of "good hair?" 2) What lengths will black women go to in order to achieve the supposed "good hair?"

Go here to read the rest.

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Member Picture

Look at Queen Okrantomatoes with the Stila lipgloss giveaway prize! We see ya Queen! You look too cute!

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Are Black Women Paranoid?

I pose this question because everywhere I look, and read I am finding black women asking everybody else how they feel about their looks, lives, etc. Whatever happened to living for yourself? I don't mean to offend anyone, but really Queens I am getting a little perturbed at some of the emails I am receiving. I get an email at least once a week asking me if they should "risk it all" by going natural. Risk it all? Exactly what is, "risk it all?" You mean to tell me all of your loved ones, friends, family, your job, everyone is going to turn their backs on you just because you choose to love yourself and do you?

Please turn off that damn idiot box called television, log off of those darn computers (even mine if you have to), whatever it is you need to do to get reacquianted with self. Can we as black women make up our own minds about what beauty, and sexiness is? Are we this vain that we feel that we can't actually make it unless people deem we are beautiful?

If this is the case then we have a lot of work to do on self. I am afraid for you if you can't wake up, walk to the mirror, and smile. Honey get this, if a man you are peeping, seeing, come across isn't feeling your natural flavor then guess what? You don't need him. It's as simple as that.

Your self growth, and self esteem is more than what others think of you. You cannot live your life like that. If you are that afraid of throwing that tattered weave, wig into the trash than you need to run not walk to the nearest therapist to get some help. There I said it.

I remember once this older guy was trying his best to date me. He said he loved everything about me, but he did not like my hair. I had been loc'd for about 2 years and he asked me, "When are you going to take those things out of your hair?"

Those things? I cut that shit off right then and there because I can handle a fool, but an old fool is the worst. So I am telling you black women stop asking everybody else about what you should do on things that relate to you, grow up and make some decisions for yourself.

Okay, that's enough preaching!



Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

It's a Brand, not the Man!

Michael Jordan is a man...who has God given talent to do extraordinary things with an object. This object has become the golden ticket not only for himself, but for thousands of other black young men, and men who desire to make it with this same object.

An apparel company, decided to take that God given talent that Michael Jordan has and brand it. Now this brand when worn resembles something for people all over the world. This brand says, greatness. It gives the illusion of being "well-off." Remember now, this is only a brand, an illusion in which this company has decided to pimp, I mean profit from.

This man is an idol because people decided to worship his talent, and therefore they started to worship the man because of this talent. Stay with me here folks. This is a mistake. A mistake we all do. The same mistake we make with anyone who has talent or a gift from the Most High (preachers, presidents, singers, etc.) We must remember that these people are human beings. They are NOT to be worshiped but only marveled. They should be looked upon as blessed in only that way which makes them great. They are not to be worshiped because they will and do make mistakes. They will and do let you down. They will and do hurt you. Understand? Well, Chamillionare should have understood before he got hurt, but he is human. So, keep this in mind when you peep this video.

That is all....

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Random Tidbits...

Juanita Bynum's Ex-Husband Remarries (Straight From the A)
Kanye West is NOT Dead (Egypt Said So)
Another rapper goes to jail? (Idolator)
Educated Black Women Should Have More Babies? (Necole Bitchie)






Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Should you Date like a White Girl?

Look I can't make this stuff up! Essence published an article in this month's magazine which had a small write up by a woman who suggests that after months and months of dating or lack there of, she decided to date like a white woman. I was unaware there was a difference. Apparently in her opinion white women go on more dates, and have the grandest time. Well, I have to refute this because as a Black woman when I was on the dating scene honey I had a blast. I dated anyone I felt I wanted to. I won't go into my dating history because I already told ya'll how the color of a mans' skin wasn't even a factor. So anyway she went on to say (without direct quotes) that she used to date men with the whole idea that "he might be the one" she always had visions of wedding days, therefore she couldn't enjoy herself on the dates.

So she finally threw in the towel and decided to date whomever she wanted, going on to say she didn't care if it were the valet. Now that's what I'm talking about ladies! Go for it! Go for fun, not dating because you are trying to find Mr. Right! How about Mr. Right now? How about someone to go to the movies with, out to eat, browse the latest artist collection with?

What I am trying to say is, I know some of you are looking for you husband, but why not just lay back and enjoy your time now? How about dating without any expectations? How about allowing Mr. Right to find you? You will never know when he comes along; and he may have already but you were so busy looking for your husband that you overlooked him!

So, I don't exactly know if White girls are having more fun dating, but I know you can too; and it doesn't matter what color you are. So if that bus driver is allowing you to climb 0n the bus without paying your fare, and he keeps staring at you from the rear view mirror(and he's attractive) why not give him a smile back?

I'm just saying...


Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!

Loc'd Beauty of the Week

It's Brittany Thomas, or B, as she is known on her ever popular and super savvy beauty blog, Clumps of Mascara, where she is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief.

This well rounded young lady is rocking the locs literally, with brown highlighted teen, chin length locs.

Why I love her? Because she is uplifting all women in a real kind of way! Not bombarding us with airbrushed photos of women who have a team of makeup artists urging us to try and emulate them. No ma'am! B is in our faces with the best and newest beauty products giving us real reviews. Telling us where to find the best deals, doing this all on her own time. The best part? She is breaking down the myths one mascara at a time about what beauty products black women can't wear. You want some fire red lips? B's got the right tube. You wanna rock some pink eyeshadow? B will point you to the right counter. So you wanna rock some blue nails? Hmph, peep the photo above.

Brittney is a beautiful Queen with purpose! She is repping that crown well wearing a face of perfect polished makeup :)

http://www.clumpsofmascara.com/

Stay Blessed & Happy Locing!