Chocolate Pearl Cafe'

Mo'nique to star in "Precious"

2009-05-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

Comedian Mo’Nique recently appeared on Oprah and promoted her latest movie endeavor, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Saaphire. Now this isn’t the typical movie or role you’re used to seeing Mo’Nique in. Acclaimed producer and director Lee Daniels is the mastermind behind this very important, moving and highly-anticipated film. Precious tells the story of a Harlem, overweight, illiterate teen named Precious who is the victim of incest and subsequent pregnancies given the chance to take her life in a new direction when she enrolls in an alternative school. Mo’Nique plays Precious’ mother in the movie for which she earnedMo’Nique a best actor award at Sundance for her portrayal in this movie. This movie will definitely move people because this is the "dirty little secret" that nobody wants to talk about. Many people will identify with the characters in this movie and some may even find healing in the story (which is always a good thing). Just go out and support this pearl, I'm sure it will be worth it.

Michelle Obama' First 100 Days...

2009-05-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

Life these days for first lady Michelle Obama is a mix of the mom-in-chief role she said she would pursue first and foremost, and the ongoing development of a policy and outreach role. Since the Obamas moved into the White House 100 days ago, they have certainly brought change to the presidential residence. There is now a puppy, Bo, the Portuguese water dog, running around on the South Lawn, and a swing set for first daughters Malia and Sasha, installed outside the Oval Office. Obama got her hands dirty planting a vegetable garden with local students, and the executive mansion has been the site of a few sleepovers of giggling tweens. "Sometimes they sleep in the girls' rooms, or sometimes they sleep upstairs where there's a TV," the first lady told a group of schoolchildren at the White House last week. "They like sleeping in front of the TV, probably like you all do when you have a sleepover."

The first lady has graced the cover of dozens of magazines, inspired a comic book and a Web site that tracks her outfits daily. The fascination with her fashion began from the moment she made her debut at the inaugural ball in a flowing gown by Jason Wu. "The biggest thing that she's done is kind of transform the way we think a first lady is supposed to look," said Robin Givhan, the Washington Post's fashion editor. "One of the most distinctive things is that she dresses in a way that's very contemporary and is not concerned with trying to fit into the traditional costume of a first lady." Obama wears a mix of ready-to-wear basics from stores like J.Crew, with high-fashion pieces from designers such as Isabel Toledo and Jimmy Choo. Her style is decidedly more modern than any of her predecessors, particularly her penchant for sleeveless dresses. Her decision to bear her arms in her official White House portrait raised some eyebrows. "I think it's surprising only because we're so used to first ladies being covered up," Givhan said. "They're arms of a particular generation. They're about athleticism. They're the arms of a woman who came of age when women went to the gym and they lifted weights and that wasn't deemed as unfeminine, so I think in some ways it's generational."

Beyond the 'Fun Stuff'The first lady has said on a number of occasions that she has the best job in the White House, because she "gets to do the fun stuff." But America has yet to hear much from the other side of Michelle Obama, the Harvard-trained lawyer, the executive, the woman who once was President Obama's boss. Danielle Belton, who blogs for blacksnob.com, said, "She is very careful about what kind of energy she puts out there, about what she has to say. She's very mindful. She's very smart. I feel like she is waiting for the right time." First lady Hillary Clinton learned the hard way that too strong, too fast, did not work. First lady Laura Bush kept her politics fairly private during her husband's time in office.

What's Next for the First Lady?

Blogger Belton said if there's anything Michelle Obama has displayed in these 100 days, it's versatility. "She 'metamorphed' into this cross between Susie Q. homemaker meets I'm every woman executive meets classic diplomatic. I can be in a ball gown first lady, I can be at a business meeting, I can go visit every department here in our government and speak to anyone, and go meet the queen of England in my perfect little cardigan sweater, and I'm ready to go," Belton said, laughing. "I think she really studied and got into the role and just like everything else in her life, she's prepared herself. She's adaptable."

The first lady's office has said she would continue to build her role working with military families. Her first trip outside Washington was to Fort Bragg, N.C., where she met with military families at an emotional roundtable discussion. She will continue her listening tour of federal agencies. And, of course, she will continue the transition into the role of mom-in-chief. "She's really not dealing with controversial issues, not talking about the economy or Afghanistan," Gutin of Rider University said. "The things that she's chosen to do and the way she's gone about them have really played very well."

Gutin said Obama's impact will develop as she delves more deeply into her signature issue.
"Any first lady can really have a considerable impact because it draws the national spotlight to whatever the project is," Gutin said, noting the work of former first ladies Barbara Bush (literacy), Rosalind Carter (mental health), Lady Bird Johnson (environment).
"It ends up being a boon to whatever the initiative is." Personally I would say that the first 100 days have been a success wouldn't you agree...

(source abc news)

Disney Unveils its First Black Princess and she's one of Our Pearls

2009-03-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Tony award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose will give voice to Princess Tiana in Disney's The Princess and the Frog. Playing princess is something shared by little girls around the world; but until recently the most recognizable princesses worldwide featured in the Disney Co. franchise did not include one that modeled the skin, hair, and facial features associated with women of African descent. Princess Tiana, the heroine of Disney’s new movie The Princess and the Frog, changed that when she made her debut Monday at this year’s American International Toy Fair in New York. Starting in Fall 2009, the company will sell dolls, t-shirts, backpacks, and other products that feature the likeness of Princess Tiana, Disney’s first American princess who also happens to be its first black princess. The movie will air in theaters nationwide during this year’s holiday season.

“We did a lot of work internally to make sure that the product that we were developing would speak to a really broad range of moms,” says Kathy Franklin, the vice president of global studio franchise animation and Disney consumer products. “We don’t see Princess Tiana product as being just for African American girls at all. But we want little girls who have not seen Disney Princesses who look like them to see Princess Tiana and be thrilled that they have a character in our franchise who speaks to them and how they see themselves as a princess.”

Tony award-winning actress Anika Noni Rose will give voice to Princess Tiana. Talk show host and business mogul Oprah Winfrey will play the voice of Eudora, and Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard also voices a character in the movie. Noni Rose says she was “thrilled” to give life to the first black Disney princess. “It has been a lifelong dream of mine to voice a Disney character and to have it be this one could not be more exciting,” she added. The story is set in 1920s New Orleans. To prepare for the role, Noni Rose says she “listened to a lot of music of the era, watched documentaries, and read up on New Orleans at that time.”

Kathy Franklin describes Tiana as a smart, aspiring entrepreneur. “Her dream is not to marry a prince; her dream is to open a restaurant. It is a dream that she has had from the beginning,” Franklin says. Princess Tiana dolls will be introduced in several sizes and at several price points, which will be determined by the retailers. The dolls will include a standard collector fashion doll equivalent in scale to a Barbie doll, a Tiana toddler doll, a doll that holds a talking frog, and a doll set with Tiana and Prince Naveen, her tadpole-hopping love interest post-transformation.

This year the Disney princess franchise, which accrues $4 billion in yearly retail sales worldwide, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Tiana will be the ninth character, the fourth princess of color, and the first African American princess in the franchise. She also marks Disney’s first return to hand drawn animation since the 1998 cartoon Mulan, titled after the Chinese warrior princess. Princess Tiana will initially stand alone and not be included with Disney products that group the princesses together until the summer of 2010 and after audiences have been fully introduced to her and her story, Franklin says.

“Collectors of first-of-a kind items and black doll collectors, in particular, will readily buy the Princess Tiana doll,” says Debbie Behan Garrett, author of Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting and Experiencing the Passion. Garrett believes that although most mothers buy dolls that represent their child’s ethnicity, the fact that the doll is the first African American Princess created by a company with Disney’s stature will help it transcend race and doll-buying trends. In addition to toys, Disney will also introduce an extensive line of apparel, accessories, home décor, consumer electronics, school supplies, and personal care products inspired by the characters.

This has been a long time coming. I can remember signing a petition a few years ago about Disney not having a Princess who represents our little girls and now look .... My daughter is going to be five, so this whole thing is very near and dear to my heart. We've been to Disney twice so far and although I know my daughter was just happy to be there I had a problem with there not being a "Princess who looked like her" so needless to say I'm am so looking forward to our next trip to Disney to see the beautiful Princess Tiana. I'm so happy for our little girls, they are do deserving to have their "likeness" on big screens everywhere. My Soul is smiling and resonating an important phrase -- "At Last"!!!!!

(Source: Disney; Black Enterprise)

Oprah Shares Cover with Michelle Obama

2009-03-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

It's the first time Winfrey has invited somebody to appear alongside her instead of appearing alone. Obama dons a Michael Kors dress and Dear Cashmere cardigan, while Winfrey wears a dress by Rachel Roy New York. In the interview -- Obama's first inside the White House -- the duo talk about everything from making the home more comfortable to her daughters' waning excitement about their dad being president. Here are some excerpts from the must read interview:

MICHELLE'S DECORATING PHILOSOPHY: "It will reflect our family. I want comfortable sofas, I want art that reflects contemporary and traditional, I want to bring in new American artisans," she adds, "and you've got to be able to make a fort with the sofa pillows! Everything must be fort-worthy."

MICHELLE'S WHITE HOUSE VISION: "It's a beautiful home. When you go out and come back, especially at night, with all the white lights on--it's just beautiful. We feel privileged, and we feel a responsibility to make it feel like the people's house. We have the good fortune of being able to sleep here, but this house belongs to America"

WHAT MICHELLE "KNOWS FOR SURE" IN LIFE: "I know that all I can do is be the best me that I can. And live life with some gusto. Giving back is a big part of that. How am I going to share this experience with the American people? I‘m always thinking about that."

KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS: That's the thing about being the First Lady: You try to catch your friends up on what's happening in your life, and they're like, ‘We know – we read it in the paper."

HOW MALIA, 10, AND SASHA, 7, KNOW DAD'S HOME: ""Once someone on my staff e-mailed to tell me that the president was on his way. But you could already hear the helicopter, so it was like, well, no kidding."

Pick up the Newest issue of "O" and add it to the collection of covers Mrs. Obama has graced in as many weeks (I luv it).

Sherri Shepherd to star in comedy on Lifetime Cable Network

2009-03-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

Just a week after false reports by Star magazine that Sherri Shepherd was going to be fired from the 'The View' because of the recession, Lifetime has now announced that they have inked a deal with the popular daytime talk show host to star in a comedy pilot. The cable network has ordered the not-yet-titled sitcom project by the former star of ABC's 'Less Than Perfect,' which will tape this spring. "I'm so excited about my upcoming pilot with Lifetime," Shepherd told BV Buzz exclusively. "The script focuses on life after divorce in a humorous way, and in times like these, we really need a good laugh!"

The TV pilot is loosely based on Shepherd's life experiences and was originally developed for the CW network in 2007. After the deal at the CW lapsed, the script went to Lifetime, which is half-owned by 'The View's' parent company, Disney. If Lifetime options the series, Shepherd will juggle double duty like fellow talk show host Kelly Ripa, who for three seasons balanced working on 'Live with Regis and Kelly' while starring in the ABC sitcom 'Hope and Faith.' In addition to co-hosting 'The View,' the almost-divorced, mother of one has starred in the films 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,' 'Beauty Shop,' 'Guess Who' and 'Who's Your Caddy.'

The 41-year-old comedienne, who also has a recurring role on NBC's '30 Rock,' is featured in the upcoming Lee Daniels' film 'Precious.' Shepherd and 'Law & Order' star Anthony Anderson recently co-hosted the Trumpet Awards in Atlanta. The telecast will premiere on the cable network TV One on April 12 at 8pm. Whatever this pearl decides to do I'm sure she will be "fabu" doing it.

Angela Bassett Calling The Shots

2009-03-04T17:01:00.000-08:00

She's played numerous icons (Betty Shabazz, Katherine Jackson, Tina Turner, Rosa Parks and most recently Voletta Wallace) on the big and small screen, has the respect of many of her peers, and is currently appearing on the last season of NBC's 'ER,' but Angela Bassett is about to embark on a journey not shared by many of her female colleagues. The Hollywood Reporter states that Bassett will make her directorial debut with 'United States,' an indie feature she's also producing with her Bassett/Vance Productions partner and husband Courtney B. Vance.

'United States,' based on the novel 'Erasure' by Percival Everett, is a dramatic comedy about Thelonius "Monk" Ellison, a prominent black literary figure who writes a faux autobiography from the perspective of a barely literate hoodlum troubled by the glorification of "ghetto" culture. When the book is lauded as a contender for the National Book Award, Ellison must choose between pride and fame. This sounds like a project we wont want to miss and I'm sure Ms. Angela will surely do us Proud.

The "Wee" Michelles in pictures (how cute are they)

2009-03-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

My little girl is beyond facinated by the first daughters so she inspires my post today. Here are the "wee" michelles in pics...... Their personalities shine through in every pic dont' you agree?

Beyonce' Ebony Cover Girl

2009-03-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

Beyonce' graces the cover of Ebony April 2009 and is featured in a photo shoot and interview. In the interview for the cover story ‘Beyoncenvolved: An Intimate Portrait of the Superstar You May Not Know,’ Beyonce talks about a variety of subjects, including home life with husband JayZ.

On how she defines herself and her professional career:
“I’m a daughter, I’m a friend, I’m a wife, I’m a sister. All those things first. I’m artist. I’m a businesswoman. I’m multifaceted. I’m a lover. I’m inspired by love. I make decisions from the heart.” “I turn down million dollar offers all the time because it’s something that does not feel true for what I’m trying to say. I have to be passionate about it. Love inspires and growth inspires me… If it is not going to be iconic, something I can love 10 years from now, I’ve learned I should not waste my time with it.”

Regarding her marriage to Jay-Z:
“He was very successful before I met him and I was very successful before I met him. So we have so much respect for each other, and respect for each other artistically. We are very close friends, and I believe he is the ultimate artist and he has the same feelings for me.” “I don’t know how to talk about it because I don’t like to talk about it. But I have a great example of a great wife, and that’s my mother. And I have great friends around me that have been married, so I’m lucky to have really good examples. And a great husband.” “I’m a little messy. Oh, yeah. Whenever I’m out in public, I have to be put together. When I get home, I rebel against it and I don’t want to take care of anything. I drop it. I’m relaxed. I don’t have any shoes on. No makeup. My purse is in the kitchen. I think that is most difficult thing for him. He’s very, very organized. I’m extremely organized when I’m working, and I work so much that when I get home I don’t want to think about anything.”

First Lady' Official White House Portrait Released

2009-03-02T08:02:00.000-08:00

The White House has released the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. It was taken in the Blue Room of the White House by photographer Joyce N. Boghosian. Mrs. Obama wears a sleeveless dress, which is becoming something of a signature style for the First Lady. The black dress was designed by one of my favorite designers Michael Kors.

A Beautiful Photo

2009-03-02T07:33:00.000-08:00

This is so Beautiful! Look at us; we come in all different shades of the chocolate spectrum; each one as beautiful as the next. Picutred are (Supermodel Imans vision of) "THE BEST SUPERMODELS" from the Model's book IMAN’S WOMEN IN BLACK. Bottom row, from far left: Gail O’Neill, Karen Alexander, Shakara, Clara Benjamin, Naomi Campbell, Iman. Center row: Kadra, Kara Young, Cynthia Bailey, Tyra Banks, Liya, Beverly Johnson. Top row: Oluchi, Katouché, Adia, Noemi. Photographed by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz for the book; and she did an amazing job.

Tracy Reese..... Need we say more!

2009-02-26T18:44:00.000-08:00

Tracy Reese, one of New York's most influential designers, is beloved for making clothing real women actually wear. So it's no surprise she's just become one of Michelle Obama's go-to brands. Mrs. Obama wears one of Reese's dresses on the cover of People Magazine's latest issue, on newstands Friday. "It's the moment we've been waiting for," the 45-year-old designer told the News. "I'm appreciative because it means I have an opportunity to dress her. It also means means a lot to women across the country that they can also afford something First Lady is wearing."

Michelle chose a pink lace "Kimono" dress from Reese's Spring collection. Reese's designs are known as much for their flirty femininity as for their moderate price points. Her affordable line Plenty features $150 dresses, while her runway looks are not much more expensive. The frock Michelle selected, for People Magazine's shoot at the

White House, retails for a moderate $395 at Reese's 641 Hudson St. store or at Tracyreese.com. Boosting NYC designers has become a priority for the First Lady. And while New Yorkers Jason Wu and Isabel Toledo outfitted the first lady for the Inauguration, (in my opinion) it was just a matter of time before Reese found her way into the White House wardrobe.

"I had the opportunity to meet her at a fundraiser which was the best moment of 2008," says Reese who launched her line 11 years ago. "She gave me a great hug and said, 'I need to be wearing your clothes.' Then she gave me a concerned look like, 'it's not that easy.'" Reese spent weeks working with

Ikram Goldman, Michelle's Chicago-based stylist. "It's a process. She's on the go. Any wardrobe choices have to go through her team." In the end, Michelle selected the pink dress out of 8 to 10 pieces Reese personally customized for the shoot.

Reese thinks her high-profile client made the perfect choice. "Even though she's a strong woman she's also very feminine and the lace brings out this side," says the designer. "I love seeing her in this dress. She has such great arms and I think they're shown off." Fresh off presenting her Fall line at Fashion Week, Reese hopes she'll be dressing Michelle again in the future. "A lot of our signature dresses would really complement her," she says. "There's any number of things I'd love to see her wearing. The idea is to find out what's working best for her and supply more of it." Does that mean Michelle may be taking a front row seat at next season's runway show? "I doubt it," laughs Reese. "The security would be insane."

The First Lady Graces Another Cover

2009-02-26T17:45:00.000-08:00

Their father may have run on a platform of change, but for First Daughters Malia and Sasha Obama, the rules are the same in the White House as they were in their home in Chicago, PEOPLE reports in its new cover story, on sale Friday. Start with the girls' chores. They're still making their own beds, cleaning their rooms and clearing their dishes. Even with their grandmother, Marian Robinson, 71, staying in a third-floor guest room to help out, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, must show responsibility.

Their mother, Michelle Obama, has asked the White House staff not to do too much. "People want to make your life easy, and when you have small kids – I've explained this to the staff – they don't need their lives to be easy. They're kids," she says. The girls do have roaming privileges all around the historic mansion and can pop into the Oval Office whenever they want. "I've tried to encourage them to feel like this whole place is their home," Mrs. Obama tells PEOPLE. "We actually had this conversation – just let us know where you're going."

First Lady hosts Black History Month Celebration for kids

2009-02-22T15:32:00.000-08:00

Michelle Obama hosted a Black History Month celebration for nearly 200 6th and 7th grade students from D.C. schools in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday (February 18), which also featured a performance by Sweet Honey in the Rock, an award-winning female acappella ensemble. After an introduction by the White House's longest serving employee, Chief Usher Admiral Rochon, Mrs. Obama spoke to the students about how hard work can take you anywhere you'd like, even to the White House like the President. "Like Barack and I, the Admiral didn't rise to his position because of wealth or because he had a lot of material resources," she said.

"See, we were all very much kids like you guys. We just figured out one day that our fate was in our own hands. We made decisions to listen to our parents and to our teachers, and to work very, very hard for everything in life. And then we worked harder any time anybody doubted us."Michelle Obama then asked the students about the famous White House's history, garnering a surprised look when students answered "Yes" to this question:

"So many milestones in black history have touched this very house. Just to name a few, did you know that African-American slaves helped to build this house?"She then began to share several other moments in black history with the students."Did you know that right upstairs in a bedroom called the Lincoln Bedroom, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that marked an important step forward in ending slavery? Did you know that happened right here? "Yes," the young students responded.

After discussing Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders, Mrs. Obama then asked whether they knew who lived in the White House today and why is making history."He is the first African American president of the United States," a girl from the audience answered.The First Lady encouraged the students to visit the White House often, because she said it should be a place of "learning and for sharing new and different ideas, sharing new forms of art and culture, and history and different perspectives."

First Lady Graces the Cover of Vogue

2009-02-17T17:30:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Obama is pictured in a stunning magenta silk dress by Jason Wu, the designer who created her white inaugural ballgown. The style bible bills her as "The First Lady The World's Been Waiting For." For the inside pages, Mrs. Obama chose outfits by Narciso Rodriguez and High Street label J Crew. All are from her own wardrobe. "We thought the First Lady should wear what she felt was appropriate, and we couldn't be happier with her choices," said Vogue spokesman Patrick O'Connell. With the exception of Bess Truman, every First Lady since Lou Hoover has been photographed for the fashion magazine. However, Mrs. Obama is only the second to make the cover, after Hillary Clinton in 1998.
The pictures were shot by Annie Leibovitz at the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington DC, where President Barack Obama and his family stayed before the inauguration. Reflecting on the enormous media interest in her fashion choices, Mrs. Obama, 45, said: "I'm not going to pretend that I don't care about it. But I also have to be very practical. In the end, someone will always not like what you wear - people just have different tastes." She also discussed her role as "mom in chief" to (the "wee" michelles) Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7. "I'm going to try to take them to school every morning, as much as I can. But there's also a measure of independence. And obviously there will be times I won't be able to drop them off at all. I like to be a presence in my kids' school. I want to know the teachers, I want to know the other parents."

Vogue's editor at large, Andre Leon Talley, interviewed Mrs. Obama for the eight-page feature and called it "one of the best experiences of my life". He said: "She's so accessible, natural and normal. There's nothing affected about her." While most cover models have their clothes chosen for them, Talley said of the First Lady: "She doesn't need any help. She loves fashion and knows what works for her. She's never had a conversation with me about, 'What do you think?' or 'How did this look?' And I'm glad for that." Explaining why Mrs. Obama had been selected for the cover, Vogue editor Anna Wintour said: "Change was the clarion call of Barack Obama's election campaign, though I don't think any of us at Vogue initially realised that would include the difference that was going to be made by First Lady Michelle Obama's wardrobe. It's inspiring to see our First Lady so serene and secure in her personal style."

(source Telegraph.co.uk)

What is it about this Love?

2009-02-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

What is it about this Love Story? What is it about this affection? What is it about this Man.....this Woman? Why do we find ourselves smiling like we won something we when see the way this man looks at this woman, and the way she looks at her man? When he touches her hand, hugs her or whispers in her ear, it makes our hearts smile. Could it be that we African American women have not seen this type of sincere affection toward a woman of color in a very long time. This kind of affection makes you want to truly be in love with someone and have him love you the way this man loves this woman. Its beautiful, its warm, its REAL. Its honestly what we never thought we always wanted and never knew we could have in a lot of cases. I'm truly hoping African American men will take notice of the way this man loves this women and truly understand that we are worthy of this kind of love and better yet that they themselves are worthy of being loved right back with "this love"....I might be an optimist but I'm thinking that this is the beginning of something very beautiful.......

Michelle Obama visits, praises Interior employees

2009-02-09T18:34:00.000-08:00

First lady Michelle Obama was honored by Native American groups Monday at the Interior Department and, in turn, she praised the agency's employees. A department worker and member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi tribe, Nedra Darling, presented Mrs. Obama with a handmade shawl that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said honored a woman of high achievement. The Black Bear Singers, a drum group, performed a traditional song in her honor.

This was the first lady's third stop on a listening tour through the federal bureaucracy to thank employees for their work. "It's been such a great way for me to get to know our new community and to meet you, our new co-workers and our new neighbors," Mrs. Obama said of her visits. She praised Interior Department employees, saying they would be critical to the new administration's energy policies, such as using natural resources responsibly and fighting climate change.

"These aren't only vital for the survival of our planet," she said. "But also incredibly important to strengthen our economy and the well-being of our families." Mrs. Obama also hailed the employee's work as stewards of the nation's land, saying that opportunities to experience nature through hiking and camping were key to family life. She told those working with Native Americans at the department's Bureau of Indian Affairs that her husband, President Barack Obama, will appoint a senior policy adviser in the White House to work with them on issues including health care and education. "Understand that you have a wonderful partner in the White House right now," she said to enthusiastic applause.

Without addressing specifics, Mrs. Obama acknowledged the scandals that have plagued the Interior Department in the recent years, including the conviction of a former deputy secretary for obstructing justice regarding his association with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The office that oversees oil and gas leasing was also rocked by a scandal last year involving sex, drugs and inappropriate gifts from oil companies. "I know that this is an important time of reform and renewal here in this department," the first lady said. "And as you begin the work, the hard work of taking this department into a new era of excellence, I wanted to come by again to simply say thank you."Mrs. Obama visited the departments of Education, and Housing and Urban Development last week.

(source Associated Press)

Tasha Smith on her Passion For Faith Based Books

2009-02-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

We first got a glimpse of her talent as the scene-stealing crackhead in the HBO miniseries 'The Corner.' But Tasha Smith really carved out her space in the world of film, appearing in numerous Tyler Perry movies, including the smash hit 'Why Did I Get Married?' in which her sassy, over-the-top character again lit up the screen. Smith is set to appear in an upcoming Vince Vaughn movie, 'Couples Retreat,' which will also be the directorial debut of Peter Billingsly (Ralphie from 'A Christmas Story').
In addition to acting and appearing in films, Smith is also committed to giving back. She holds acting workshops and teaches acting to budding stars. But it is her commitment to her spirituality, she says, that is responsible for much of her success. The kinds of books she reads enhances and reinforces her values; in fact in a recent interview Smith revealed "A lot of the books that I have been reading have been spiritually based. I like Kenneth Hagin's 'Mountain Moving Faith' and Creflo Dollar's '8 Steps to Create the Life You Want.' These are two books that I continue to go back to. And, of course, I read my bible, because I need to stay grounded in the word. That's my foundation.

"John C. Maxwell's books on leadership. My favorite is 'Becoming a Person of Influence.' I love John C. Maxwell; he's always blending great leadership skills with biblical principles without preaching to you. He's not giving you so much scripture so that you get lost. Kenneth Hagin is another inspirational author. His teaching is so easy and powerful. He delivers his message so that everyone can understand it. "A lot of people got caught up in 'The Secret,' but I prefer to go back to the basics, the true foundation of faith. You can have all of those laws, but I prefer the universal law: 'Whatsoever a man soweth, he shall reap.'"

Jill Scott Expecting First Child

2009-02-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

Having given up all hope that she’d ever be a mother, songstress Jill Scott is savoring every moment of her first pregnancy. The 36-year-old actress and songstress — who expects a son April 25th, despite being told by doctors it was impossible for her to conceive a baby – feels that miracles do indeed happen. “It’s so hard to believe, it’s hard to have faith, especially when things aren’t working out,” she admits. “It’s difficult and a challenge when you continuously ask for what you want and need in your life or at least what you think you want and need in your life, but that’s when you have to believe and have faith the most.” She adds,“We didn’t plan for this, but God obviously had other plans.”

Cravings aren’t an issue for Jill, who instead suffers from an aversion to food in general! ”I don’t want anything,” she explains. “I’m having a hard time building an appetite…I have to force myself to eat.” Ever cognizant of the life growing inside her, Jill says that taking care of herself has taken on new-found importance. “For so long I’ve been able to be carefree — frolicking in my life. I didn’t have to be responsible for anyone else but myself, my mother and my grandmother,” she says. “I’ve been free to do what I want, when I want.” “Now I have to watch what I eat, how I eat, make sure I get enough rest. Before I was just running and now, I’m so much more responsible and thoughtful and that’s a good thing.”

Asked whether she thinks she’ll be a good mom, Jill replies “I hope so…it might sound odd but I’m parenting now even though my son hasn’t arrived yet.” Staying aware of her “energy” and her “attitude” are key, she says. “I don’t want to be the funky, pregnant lady just because I can. I really have to make an effort to be conscious of everything about me because it’s no longer about me, but my child. I don’t feel like talking or anything now. I just want to be silent and experience all of this.”

As Jill and her fiancé Lil Jon Roberts adjust to the notion of impending parenthood, they’re looking forward to “starting a family” — though marriage is not necessarily part of the equation. Noting that “there’s just so much happening,” Jill says that things are good as-is. “It’s funny because I remember one day I was feeling a little down and I said to my girlfriend, ‘I guess I’ve missed my opportunity to be a mom,’ and she responded, ‘No, you just haven’t met the right man yet,’” she recalls. “I’ve always believed that everything on this earth has a rightful key that fits and he was mine.”

Fans of Jill’s Grammy Award-winning music will be pleased to learn that pregnancy has provided a creative spark. ”I’ve been writing,” she shares. “A lot of things are on my mind…As a woman, I hear better, I smell better, my taste buds are different and I feel so much more like a sexual being than I ever have.” She adds, “I’ve learned a lot about men and mothers. I’ve never appreciated mothers this much, or even my mother, until now as I sit in a room with my grandmother, my mother and now my son. It’s truly amazing what’s happened to me and there’s a lot to say and I can’t wait to say it.” Jill can next be seen in HBO’s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, airing in March. Showers of Blessings Jill, we wish you much happiness!
Source: Essence.com

Oprah' Gift

2009-02-03T17:17:00.001-08:00

Oprah Winfrey has donated more than $1.5 million to improve the education system in the most populated city in New Jersey. Winfrey's donation will be used to fund scholarships and programmes benefiting students in Newark, New Jersey, with $500,000 in grants going to at least three local education and community groups. In a statement released by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, he says, "Oprah Winfrey is a powerful agent of change in our nation and she is a phenomenal friend to Newark. Her gifts will directly empower hundreds and hundreds of Newark families and help source our city's success. We rejoice in Oprah's generosity and celebrate her life commitment to serving others." St. Benedict's Preparatory School, the North Ward Center and the Integrity House were among several grant recipients. The donation comes nearly two years after Winfrey donated $40 million to build an elite girls school in South Africa.

Dedicated to all my "Chocolate Pearls"

2009-02-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

In the life of an Black Woman Black History is every However we are given us a mere month to showcase all of our greatness -- Impossible! Yet we somehow find a way to put it all together and give it all we have to show the world just how far we have come by faith and everything else it takes to go through the kinds of things we had to endure and still come out as world class cultured rare"Chocolate Pearls". This poem is a dedication to all the pearls who paved a way for us today.

Phenomenal Woman
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies.

I say, It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, That's me.

I walk into a room Just as cool as you please,

And to a man, The fellows stand or fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees.

I say, It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,That's me.

Men themselves have wondered what they see in me.

They try so much but they can't touch my inner mystery.

When I try to show them, They say they still can't see.

I say, It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,That's me.

Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing It ought to make you proud.

I say, It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

The palm of my hand,

The need for my care,'

Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, That's me.

A Certain Kind of "Pearl" Lady

2009-02-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

First Lady Michelle Obama's predecessors have carved out enough different roles as first lady that she is now free to fashion the job in a way that suits her. The first lady will take her time defining her new role, but already she's dropping clues. Sit in on Cabinet meetings like Rosalynn Carter? No thanks. Mrs. Obama says she doesn't like "the process stuff." Has she Picked a pet issue yet? She's identified a few favorites, including supporting military families; although her priority always will be "mom-in-chief" first. Based on what Mrs. Obama has said, her role is unlikely to evolve fully until she's assured that her 10- and 7-year-old daughters are comfortably settled in at the White House after moving from Chicago, the only other place the girls have ever called home. The thing we know for sure that the first lady will be continuing to do (and we love her for this) is be one of President Barack Obama's closest advisers. After all, their relationship began that way some 20 years ago when she was a corporate lawyer in Chicago and was assigned to be his mentor after the firm hired him as a summer intern. Ahhhh do we ever get tired of their story....... nope -- this "Pearl" will be one of our cherished role models for years to come.