OF - Blogs - Black Business Women Online

75 years of Age Artist, Lejon finishes walk across America

Posted by Rickey on July 17, 2009 at 7:32pm

Rickey Johnson, Juniques Multi Cultural Connections member, is so very pleased to provide thisInterview with Leonard Johnson, Artist Extranoire.Leonard is doing well!!!! I am so honored to share his legacy.Leonard is professionally know as Lejon.He is a true example of Acting on Faith and What it can do.Leonard, demonstrates in the most profound way, that action speaks louder than words.Yes, at 75 years of age walking across the US of A, with no corporate or agency sponsors, speaks volume to acting on your faith.Leonard will be 79 years of age this August 2009. He travels the US of A,still sharing his faith and great company.He is a gentleman you would definitely want to meet andshare your fellowship with.Now I ask you , what is your challenge? What is stopping your Breakthrough????Age, Money, Support, Faith, Opportunity, Education, What????To contact him emailjuniques@yahoo.comTo view his art work visit www.lejonarts.comHave a most productive day,Networkingly yours,Rickey623 455 6364www.jusmcc.com

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Read this if you’re starting a Home Based Internet Business.

Posted by Bridget on July 19, 2009 at 2:30pm

Let me start off by saying that this is not an easy task. If you don't work hard you won't get results. There is no such thing as an overnight success; so don't believe the ads that tell you I made over $40,000 in one day. The question you should ask them is; how long did it take before you made over $40,000 in one day? It's all about advertising and getting people to buy the product. We live in a "must have it now" society and these advertisers know this.I say all this to say don't give up because you tried something and didn't make money as soon as you hoped. Just be patient and it will happen for you. When you do the right thing you will see results. The results may not be when you want them but when the time is right. I believe we have to put in every ounce of sweat into our business to appreciate the success. So don't worry keep working and you will get there. Always remember anything worth having is worth waiting for.Bridget Harriswww.9-5freedom.comLearn how to start a Home Based Internet BusinessFind drop shippers. Wholeslaers. Light Bulk Wholesaler.Specials for your business needs

Mother of pearl

Posted by Naima on July 25, 2009 at 11:55am

A woman named Norma wrote to me and complimented me on a mother of pearl necklace I have for sale to snatch up tis incredible bargain click here http://lilnono.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4865630.She wanted to know if i had any larger ones ,at the time i didn't but now i do. I have mother of pearl, pearls sea shells and jade. I will soon be adding hematite.turquoise,tiger eye ,obsidian ,jasper, and many more semi precious stones.

Passion Between the Sheets of Life, Book One: “An Open Heart” Book One: ”An Open Heart” of my trilogy, Passion Between the Sheets of Life, is now available as an eBook for purchase on my website: ww

Posted by Irene Brautigam on June 29, 2009 at 4:48pm

Passion Between the Sheets of Life, Book One: “An Open Heart”

Book One: ”An Open Heart” of my trilogy, Passion Between the Sheets of Life, is now available as an eBook for purchase on my website: www.passionbetweenthesheetsoflife.com, the book is now also available in hardcover!

E-Book - Guide To Making Big Money On The Internet

Posted by Teresa on June 3, 2009 at 1:18am

With the economy being in a state of turmoil and with so many people losing their jobs, people are looking for other means to make money. There are so many opportunities that we receive to take a look at on a daily basis, it can sometimes be overwhelming. One thing that I would recommend that you look at is your "passion". What is it that you enjoy doing, and would do even if you did not get paid for it? Many people just jump into opportunity to make fast money. They want or need the money right now, today! That is not the best way to go, especially if you truly want to make money.Over the years, I have made some mistakes about joining opportunities that were not really for me. I just wanted to make money. My thinking has changed a great deal because now I know that it's not all about the opportunity, but about my passion. You too can find your passion by writing down what it is you enjoy and then looking for opportunities that fit your criteria.I have found that I cannot sit around waiting for someone to "save" me. The government in the USA is in debt billions of dollars. Even though President Obama is giving breaks to a select few, it does not take one out of their current debt situation. If you want to survive and make it in this economy, you must take it upon yourself and make it happen. Not trying to dampen your day, but give you insight on our current state and how you can help yourself.I just recently noticed that gas prices are starting to increase. Of course, it always happens when summer hits. No one really has a good reason for this increase. Last year, we were told that gas prices increased due to the drilling of more well holes. So, I guess this only occurs during the summer months(lol).If you are serious about making some money, start with getting a grasp on steps needed for this to happen. I wanted to learn more about making money on-line, so I picked up an E-Book that keeps me on track daily. It's called "The Black Folks Guide To Making Big Money On The Internet". No, you do not have to be black to get the benefits of what this E-Book offers. The title was created based on the mission of the Black Business Builders Club. Which is to uplift and support black businesses.This E-Book is packed with information on how to make money on the Internet. I have my own personal copy of this E-Book and must say it's awesome. It's packed with 300 pages of content on how to start, market and grow your existing businesses. I mainly use it as a daily reference to keep me on track with my marketing efforts for my businesses. This E-Book is for you if your making money or not on the internet. Start, grow or market your business today!To learn more, check out the audio postcardhttp://www.blackbusinessaffiliate.com/members/nbbta/postcard/GCVUBZ2QEN.htmlTo get the E-Book at a discounted rate, use code BBBBFG.Get E-Book Here - http://budurl.com/makemoneyguideHave a GREAT week!

DJ SMALLZ & NINA ROSS - QUEEN OF THE SOUTH MIXTAPE OUT NOW

Posted by NINA ROSS on May 23, 2009 at 4:40pm

Chapter One from my debut Novel Diary of a Sex Addict

Posted by Soul on Fire Publishing on April 15, 2009 at 5:35pm

“911 what’s your emergency?” the operator asked.“It’s my daughter Tiffany! I just came over and found her unconscious in her bed! Please send someone over here right away! She can’t die!” Tiffany’s mother cried hysterically.“Ma’am, I need you to calm down. What’s the address there?”“Hold on, let me find something with the address on it.” Tiffany’s mother ran into the kitchen and found a letter with her address on it. “Okay, I found it. The address is 2792 Edgewater Way, Apt 2.”“Okay, now is your daughter breathing?” Tiffany’s mother placed her hand over her mouth and nose to feel for air. Nothing...“No! She’s not breathing! Oh Lord, she’s not breathing! You have to hurry! She can’t die! Please hurry!”“Ma’am, we are getting there as fast as we can. I need you to calm down. Do you know CPR?”“No!”“That’s okay, I can walk you through it. Tilt your daughter’s head back and lift her chin.”“Okay.”“Now check and make sure nothing is blocking her airway. If there’s nothing there, hold her nose shut, cover her mouth with yours, and give two breaths.”“Okay, I have to put you on speaker phone.” Tiffany’s mother put the phone on speaker and placed it on the bed next to her. She put her mouth over hers and gave her two full breaths. “Now what else do I do?” she asked.“Place your hands one on top of the other on her chest between her breasts. Push down thirty times to a depth of about two inches, at the rate of about two seconds.” Her mother counted aloud until she reached thirty. “Now give her two breaths again and thirty more chest compressions.” Tiffany’s mother continued to perform CPR until the paramedics arrived, then she stepped to the side and let them take over. She continued to cry and pray as the paramedics tried to revive Tiffany.“Lord, I know my daughter has done some things that were wrong but she is trying to change. Lord, please don’t let her leave this Earth without the opportunity to show You that she can do better. Lord, please save Tiffany, don’t let her die. Give her another chance to show You that she will put You first and will overcome this addiction she has. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.”*****Before I went to bed my mother called me into her bedroom. At first I was scared she found out I was in her make up earlier that day when she left me alone to go to the store. When I didn’t see the belt sitting next to her on the bed, I knew she hadn’t figured it out and I prayed she never would. My mother had already warned me on more than one occasion that if she ever found out that I went in her stuff without asking, she would beat the black off me. I didn’t understand how you could do that, but I wasn’t about to find out so I made sure I put everything back exactly as I had found it so she wouldn’t suspect anything.My mother was lying in her bed with her favorite black nightdress on. It was long and sheer. She wore her matching bra and panty set underneath. Her hair was neatly combed straight and reached the middle of her back. Her skin was a few shades lighter than mine and her eyes were light brown. She had freckles placed perfectly on her cheeks, giving her an innocent look. My mother was beautiful. One of my mother’s men friends must have been coming over later because that was the only time she put on one of her most revealing nightdresses and wore her hair down.“Yes, mommy, you called me?” I asked, as I stood at the foot of her bed.“Tomorrow Ms. Yvette is bringing her boys, Tony and Wade, over to stay while we go out. I know you haven’t met them before but I want you to be on your best behavior. Be nice and make sure you share your toys,” she said, while getting up to light the candles around her bedroom.“Yes ma’am, I will,” I said. I really wasn’t up to sharing my stuff. I was the only child and never had to share any of my things except for when my aunt Kelly came over. She was my aunt but I am ten months older than she is. She always tried to steal my dolls so I hated when she came over to visit.“Tony is eight, the same age as you, so ya’ll should have a lot in common. You know the rule. Don’t let them get you in trouble. You understand me?” she said.“Yes ma’am, I promise I will be on my best behavior,” I said with a fake smile on my face. I really wasn’t up for entertaining Ms. Yvette’s sons, but who knew; maybe they would be fun to play with.“Okay, go on and go to bed. I have company coming over in a little bit,” she said as she sprayed some perfume on her body and around the room.The next day when Ms. Yvette arrived with her sons, part of me was excited; it wasn’t often that I had someone to play with. I always looked forward to Saturdays because it was the day Mother and Ms. Yvette would leave and I’d be home alone until almost midnight. But, I’d often be afraid to be left alone because I would hear noises all throughout the house. Every squeak and crack would cause me to run into my bedroom and hide under the covers until they came back.One Saturday I asked my mother why she couldn’t get my aunt to watch me while she went out.“Mommy, why can’t Aunt Susan watch me when you go out?” I asked one Saturday, as she was getting dressed.“Because your auntie won’t watch you for free and I don’t want to pay her. That’s my club money. Plus, you’re a big girl. You can watch yourself.” She had a point, I was a big girl and I never got into any trouble while she was away.When the boys arrived, I saw that Tony was much taller than me. He was very skinny, like the poor kids you see on TV in Africa. I wanted to fix him a grilled cheese sandwich as soon as he walked through the door. I could tell he had been playing outside before he came over because he had dirt all over his clothes. I couldn’t tell the last time he combed his hair because his little afro was matted to his head. Wade, who was five, was a chubby little thing. He reminded me of the Pillsbury Dough Boy.Tony and Wade seemed to be shy at first, but as soon as our parents left they began arguing over what cartoon we were going to watch. Wade wanted to watch Bugs Bunny and Tony wanted to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I didn’t care for neither of the cartoons they wanted to watch and since it was my house, I turned to Strawberry Shortcake. Both of the boys whined about how they didn’t want to watch a girly cartoon, but I didn’t care.While we sat on the floor watching cartoons, Tony began rub-bing on my hand. I wasn’t sure if that’s what kids did when they watched TV together, but I noticed he wasn’t rubbing Wade’s hand. When I moved my hand back, he reached over and started rubbing on it again. I pulled my hand away again, but this time I placed it in my lap. After Strawberry Shortcake went off Tony suggested that we go play hide and seek.“Not it,” I said before anyone else did.“Not it,” Tony shouted, leaving Wade to be the one to find us.Tony and I whispered to each other about places to hide. I told him that we could hide in the laundry room, my mom’s closet, or in my room under the bed. Tony told me that he wanted to hide in my mom’s closet and I told him I was going to hide in the laundry room. I really wanted to hide in my mother’s closet because I could cover myself with the pile of clothes that she always kept in there, but I didn’t want to hide in there. I knew that if Wade did look in there, we both would be caught.I told Wade to close his eyes and count to a hundred but being only five years old, he could only count to ten. I just told him to count until he couldn’t count any more. Wade went to the far corner of the living room and began counting. As I headed for the laundry room, Tony grabbed my arm and led me to my mother’s bedroom closet. I tried to pull away but he kept insisting that I come in there with him so I did. It was really dark in the closet when Tony shut the door so I cracked it so we could get some light. As I stood in the nearly dark closet waiting for Wade to try to find us, I couldn’t help but wonder why Tony wanted me to go in there with him. Something about him was a little weird to me but I just brushed it off.When I wasn’t paying attention, Tony snuck up on me and kissed me on my lips. My initial reaction was to slap the crap out of him but instead, I just pushed him away. I had never been kissed before and wasn’t sure if I wanted Tony to be first to do it. Tony pulled me close to him and kissed me again. When I tried to pull away he held me tighter. I stopped fighting and just let him kiss me. His lips were soft but I didn’t see what the big deal was about kissing. I heard Wade crying so I pulled away from Tony and ran to see what was wrong. Wade was standing in the living room crying because he got scared. Tony teased him for being such a crybaby. I went to the kitchen, got Wade some cookies, and calmed him down. I let Wade pick the next cartoon we watched on TV. Tony didn’t like that but I didn’t like how he picked on Wade, so he could go to hell for all I cared.Wade began drifting off to sleep about ten minutes into the show. Tony went to go change the channel but I grabbed him by the arm before he could reach the TV.“What do you think you are doing?” I said, as I yanked on Tony’s arm, pulling him down to the floor.“I’m turning the TV. I don’t want to watch this crap,” he said, as he tried to get back up to turn the TV. Again I pulled him back down, but this time I pulled him much harder than before.“Ouch! You’re going to pull my arm off. Let me go, Tiffany,” he said, trying to free him self from my grip.“No. I’m watching this so you better just sit down and watch it too. You’re not turning my TV,” I told him. Tony just looked at me and smiled.I was really beginning to think this boy was getting weirder and weirder. I let go of his arm. As soon as I did, he jumped on top of me and we began to wrestle. I wasn’t in the mood to play with him but he kept laughing and wrestling me. Eventually, I gave in and gave him a run for his money. We rolled around on the living room floor until we grew tired. Wade somehow managed to sleep through all the noise. I pushed Tony off me and sat up to catch my breath.“Hey, Tiffany, I have another game we can play,” Tony said, getting up from the floor.“What game?” I asked. I got up and went into the kitchen to fix me something to drink. Tony followed me.“I don’t know what it’s called, but I know you will like it,” he said, with a huge grin on his face.“Okay, show me,” I said, finishing the last of my juice. I placed my glass in the sink and headed back toward the living room and Tony followed.“Let’s go in the room ‘cause I don’t want to wake Wade up,” he said. He grabbed me by the hand and led me into my bedroom. Tony closed the door behind us and told me to get in my bed.“What I need to get in the bed for?” I asked him.“Because that’s where the game is played,” he said. I followed his instructions and got in the bed. Once I was in all the way he joined me. He told me to lay flat on my back and I did. Tony climbed on top of me and began rubbing his body on mine.“What are you doing?” I asked.“This is the game. I saw it on TV last night and the people seemed to really like it,” he said. He continued to move his body up and down on mine. I could feel his pee pee on my private through our clothes and it felt weird. I didn’t understand the game but since it wasn’t hurting me, I didn’t see any harm in playing.As Tony rubbed himself on me, he kissed me as he had earlier in my mother’s bedroom closet. His kiss was nice and I didn’t want him to stop. I heard my bedroom door squeak and I quickly pushed Tony off me. I thought that maybe my mother had came home early and I didn’t want her to see what we were doing. I knew he said it was only a game but I wasn’t sure if it was a game I was allowed to play.Wade walked into my bedroom rubbing his eyes. You could tell he had just woke up by how slow he was moving. Tony and I got out of the bed and led Wade back into the living room. I turned on cartoons and all three of us sat directly in front of the TV. I felt Tony watching me but I was too scared to give him eye contact. The game he had introduced me to was different and made me feel weird. I wasn’t sure what to think of it but I knew I wanted to play it again.At some point, we all fell asleep while watching cartoons. I woke up when I heard my mother’s key unlocking the door. I woke Tony and Wade up to let them know their mother was there to get them. They both grabbed their shoes and headed toward the door. My mother and I walked Ms. Yvette and her sons out to the car and said our goodbyes, then headed back into our house. Mama instructed me to go take a bath and get ready for bed. I obeyed her orders and got right to it.As I lay in bed, I began to think about the game Tony and I played. I had never seen anyone on TV play such a game and I was beginning to wonder what the purpose of the game was. Tony’s pee pee felt weird rubbing up against my privates, but it was a good weird. I had never felt anything like that before. When I wiped myself as I bathe or used the bathroom, I never got that kind of feeling. Maybe only he could make me feel that way?Saturday came again and my mother announced that Tony and Wade wouldn’t be coming over that weekend; I would be going to their house. Gathering my things, I prepared myself for the long car ride over. Ms. Yvette lived on the other side of town. My mother always teased me about falling asleep. Whenever we took long car rides I would fall asleep like I use to do when I was younger.We arrived at Ms. Yvette’s house thirty minutes later. My mother walked right into the apartment without knocking. Ms. Yvette stood in the kitchen drinking a glass of water. She wore a pretty purple dress with shoes to match. Her hair was pulled back into a neat bun with soft curls in the front.“Yvette, I’m going to go change in your bathroom, is that okay?” my mother asked. She held up her duffel bag of clothes.‘Yeah, girl, go ahead,” Ms. Yvette told her. Mama went into the bathroom to get dressed.Tony and Wade sat on the living room floor in front of the TV. I took a seat on the floor next to Tony and put my bag filled with dolls next to me. Ms. Yvette brought us some snacks to eat while we watched cartoons.“Now don’t make a mess ‘cause I just vacuumed the floorearlier,” she said.“Yes ma’am,” we all said in unison.There was a knock at the door and Ms. Yvette went to answer it. When she opened the door, two men entered and she told them to take a seat at the dining room table.My mother came out of the bathroom looking like a movie star. She wore a tight, black dress with black and gold heels. Her make- up and hair was flawless. She had twisted it into a neat French roll with spirals in the front. Just the day before she’d gotten her nails manicured. They were painted red with black rhinestones and her toes matched. My mother was fierce and no one could tell her otherwise.One of the men at the table said, “Damn, you look good enough to eat!”The other guy sitting next to him burst out laughing. I really didn’t understand what was so funny. If that man dared try to eat my mother I was going to kick him in his knees.My mother politely smiled, walked over to him, and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. The men rose from the table and walked toward the door. My mother and Ms. Yvette followed. Before Ms. Yvette closed the door she stopped and looked back at us.“There’s some fried chicken in the kitchen if ya’ll get hungry. Don’t answer the door for anyone, not even the police, you hear me?”“Yes ma’am,” we said in unison again. Ms. Yvette blew her boys some kisses and closed the door behind her.Once our parents left, Tony suggested we go into their room so that we could play video games. Wade was the first to hop up and run in the room. We entered the room more slowly. Tony and I sat on the bed and Wade sat on the floor. Tony took his cover from behind us and put it on our laps. I wasn’t cold and wasn’t sure why we needed cover, but I let it stay. As Wade started to play the video game, I watched as Tony rubbed on my thigh. I nervously looked over at Wade. He didn’t see anything that Tony was doing because he was so into the game. Tony continued to rub on my leg for a while.“I have to use the bathroom,” Tony said. He removed the cover and stood up. He left the room, heading in the direction of the bathroom.After Tony didn’t come back for a while I went in search of him. I wondered what was taking him so long. When I opened the bathroom door Tony grabbed me and pulled me in.“Hey, what’s going on?” I said, slightly startled.“Nothing, I’ve been waiting for you. I knew you would come looking for me sooner or later,” he said, closing and locking the door behind me.“Well, yeah I did. You were taking forever. I came looking to see if you fell in the toilet or something,” I said, knowing that wasn’t the real reason I went looking for him. I wanted to play the game again.“Come here,” he said, holding his arms out. I walked into his arms and he wrapped them around me, and kissed me. This time, he put his tongue in my mouth so I backed away.“Why did you put your tongue in my mouth? That’s gross,” I said, while wiping my lips.“That’s what the people were doing on TV. What’s wrong? You didn’t like it?” he asked.“No, it was nasty. I don’t want your tongue in my mouth. Are you crazy?” I said with a look of disgust on my face. I knew the boy was weird but that took the cake.“Come on, Tiffany, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” he promised. He walked towards me. Before he reached me we heard a knock on the door.“Hey, what are ya’ll doing in there? I have to pee really bad,” Wade said from outside the door. I quickly opened the door letting him in.Tony and I gave him his privacy and went back into the bedroom. I hopped on the bed and Tony did the same. He reached on the floor and picked up the cover we had on our laps earlier and covered us again. Wade came back from the bathroom and sat in front of the TV. He didn’t waste any time before he started playing video games again. Tony continued to rub on my thigh under the cover without Wade noticing.By the time our parents came back that night we were already asleep in the boys’ room. My mother woke me up and told me to get my things so that we could go home. I grabbed my book bag full of dolls and my sandals and headed out the room. I looked back and saw Wade asleep in front of the video game while it was still on. Tony was lying on the floor next to him under the cover that he had used earlier to rub on my thigh. Half asleep, I walked to the door as my mother and Ms. Yvette said their goodbyes. I hopped in the backseat of the car and lay down to go to sleep on the long ride home.For the next three years I spent time with Tony and Wade while our parents hung out. Tony and I continued to play our game. At some point, I found out that what we were doing was called “hunching”. Whenever we were alone, we would start to kiss one another and hunch. We hunched outside, in my mother’s room, in Ms. Yvette’s room, and in the laundry room of my house.On one occasion in particular, Tony told me that he wanted to hunch but this time he wanted to do it differently. Tony told me how he had been watching some movies on TV late at night. He said the men and women in the movies didn’t have any clothes. He said we shouldn’t wear any either. I went along with it. Tony and I got undressed but left on our underwear. Pressing up against him, I could feel his pee pee getting hard as it rubbed up against my private area. It wasn’t the first time that I felt his pee pee, but it felt much different than before. I guess since we didn’t have the layers of clothes between us I could really feel him. I liked the way his pee pee felt on my private so much that I didn’t want him to stop, but we knew Wade would be coming in from outside at any moment so we quickly got dressed.Tony told me that the next time we hunched that he wanted to do it completely naked. I was nervous because I knew how good it felt when we just had on our underwear, so being completely naked had to be even better.Since Tony watched people on TV doing the things he did to me, I was curious to see for myself. Late at night, when my mother was out with one of her men friends, I found a sex channel on TV. I watched men and women having sex with each other. There were also women having sex with other women, too. As I watched the two women together, it made me feel really good. They both looked as if they really enjoyed each other. Some of the things they did grossed me out, but I couldn’t stop watching it. At the end of every scene the people would make a really loud noise and would get an ugly look on their face. For some reason, that was funny to me. There was no way I was going to look as silly as they did so I knew I had to practice because I didn’t want Tony picking on me.After watching the sex shows on TV, I practiced how I would groan when Tony and I hunched again. I wanted to really get it right so I grinded on the pillows from my bed. I couldn’t get that feeling in my private like I would get when Tony rubbed his pee pee on me. I needed something firm that I could hunch on so I decided to get the pillows off the couch in the living room. Those pillows had hard edges and I knew it would do the job. Taking the hard end of the pillow, I rubbed it up against my private area. I kept rubbing it until I felt an explosion inside my stomach. I had never felt anything like that before, not even with Tony. I knew what I felt was what the people on TV had felt when they were groaning and screaming.For months I continued to use the pillows to make myself get the good feeling. I used the pillows so much that the end began to get soft and they weren’t doing the job anymore. I knew I had to figure out something else before I lost my mind. I desperately needed that good feeling.One day while I was in the bathroom, the toilet seat lid came off and I noticed that the two pieces that snapped the lid on the toilet were hard. I began to think about the hard ends on the toilet seat, how I could put something soft over them and use that to rub up against myself so I could get that feeling again.I took the lid off and lay it on the bathroom floor. I ran into my room, took a pillow off my bed, and returned to the bathroom. I placed the pillow over the lid and positioning my private part on the hard piece of the lid as I lay on my stomach. The pillow was to keep the rough part of the lid from hurting me. In an up and down motion, I rubbed my private part on the pillow that was over the lid until I had that good feeling that I liked so much. Afterwards, I lay on the bathroom floor until the feeling left.After a while, I couldn’t use the toilet seat anymore because it started to hurt my private. I would also get sore because I used it too much. Not being able to use the pillows or the toilet seat, I started using my hands. Taking all my fingers, I rubbed in a circular motion until I got that good feeling. I would stay up late at night and watch sex movies on TV while rubbing my private parts until I got that good feeling. When I watched the movies I focused really hard on the women’s bodies. I liked to look at their breasts and private areas. I liked to watch the women strippers on the adult channel as they took off their clothes. If I wasn’t watching the movies I wasn’t able to get that good feeling as quick as I would when I did watch them.Tony and I never hunched again and my mother and Ms. Yvette saw each other less and less. Ms. Yvette ended up getting engaged to a man she met at the bar and didn’t hang out with my mother anymore.For months I used my hands to get that good feeling. It became obvious to me that it was something I needed, because I couldn’t stop. I began to think that something was wrong with me. Sitting in my room at night, I would cry because I feared that I was going to go to hell. I knew the feeling had something to do with sex. I thought I was the only person that had this feeling. Something about it had to be wrong.Whenever I went to church on Sundays with my mom, I made sure that I stayed away from the pastor. I didn’t want to get close to him. I felt that somehow, he would know about the feeling that I was having and would go around telling everybody. Knowing that I would probably go to hell for having this feeling, I couldn’t risk anyone else finding out about it.I kept my head down most of the time while I was in church. I didn’t want other people to look into my eyes and be able to tell what I was thinking. I thought they’d figure out what I was doing when I wasn’t in church. My mother would kill me if she ever found out.Every night I prayed that God would make me stop but I just couldn’t. I often wondered what was wrong with me. Was the devil making me do it or was what I was doing even a sin?

The Essence of A Woman

Posted by Alesica on March 10, 2009 at 2:28pm

The Essence of A WomanThe essence of a woman is to nurture her soulTo cleanse her mind to become the independentWoman that she can be.To take the necessary steps that need beTo accomplish any and everything that comes her wayLet no barriers become unbreakable because there isAlways a way to make end to end meet.Listen when I sayI know what it's like to make it to a better day.When I look in the mirror and see what I seeI am beautifulStrong and independently unique.So the next woman who seems to have her head downLook up I tell you and see what I seeAnd tell yourself every single day simplyI love being meEver so faithfully and watch yourself riseFrom out of that empty shell that used to be.

My poetry

Posted by Alesica on March 10, 2009 at 2:00pm

Hi everyone!!It's been quite a while since I last posted here. I've been trying to keep up with all the sites that I've been networking on and it's overwhelming sometimes. I am going to post several of my poems from my book Exhale wordz from tha' soul in honor of Women's History Month. I hope you all like my work and please take a moment to visit my website at . I'm also running a special price for my book for the month of March which includes no shipping charges!!. Don't hestitate to leave me a comment or two here to let me know what you think of the poems I've posted here!!.~Alesica

Jazz Goes Green Local Businessmen Collaborate To Preserve Jazz And Develop Green Opportunities

Posted by Edwina on March 20, 2009 at 1:00pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 16 , 2009
PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Darrly Bundridge
(909) 466-4848
info@ultimatejazzfestival.com
www.ultimatejazzfestival.com

Jazz Goes Green Local Businessmen Collaborate To Preserve Jazz And Develop Green Opportunities

Riverside, CA - Two long-time local businessmen, Darryl Bundridge, proprietor of several business, and Sean Jones, CEO of SLJ Pro Audio Services, have joined together to create “Jazz to be Green”, a non-profit public benefit corporation, to help educate businesses and consumers about energy efficiency, green environment and green jobs opportunities while preserving the art form and legacy of jazz.

JAZZ TO BE GREEN presents its first inaugural Ultimate Jazz Festival in Riverside at Fairmount Park, August 22-23, 2009. The event will host a variety of jazz greats and emerging artists representing all genres of jazz from swing to classic, to be-bop to smooth jazz. The inaugural event includes a Go Green Fair with vendors, speakers, and activities that educate and bring awareness to the community about using energy wisely, environmental opportunities and responsibilities, and green jobs.

The City of Riverside was chosen as the best location for this event. Riverside’s rapidly growing community, cultural diversity, strategic and innovative commitment to high standards of “green” living, strong economic growth, and its Riverside Renaissance initiative makes the City of Riverside the perfect place for The Ultimate Jazz Festival.

Strategic partnerships with local businesses is a strategy JAZZ TO BE GREEN has employed to ensure a beneficial outcome for the City of Riverside. Local jazz enthusiast and CEO of eBiz Marketing, The Inland Empire’s emerging premier email marketing service provider, states, “Our media sponsorship of Jazz To Be Green Ultimate Jazz Festival was a no-brainer. Combining the overarching need for our world, and especially our state to be actively environmentally conscious and creating solutions with the need to preserve, share, and celebrate the precious art of jazz, is a win-win scenario for all.”

The Ultimate Jazz Festival missions to provide the Inland Empire with an Ultimate experience in Jazz entertainment by celebrating aspiring, new, and world-renowned artists while cultivating the region’s rapidly growing cultural diversity and educational and economical opportunities through the Art of Jazz. For more information or to get involved, please contact Darrly Bundridge (909) 466-4848, info@ultimatejazzfestival.com, or visit online at www.ultimatejazzfestival.com.

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OBAMA PRINTS FOR 30 -bucks go to str8uptalented.com/obama

Posted by Addonis on January 26, 2009 at 4:51am

Portrait watermarked for artists protectionAddonis ParkerBIOGRAPHYMiami artist and studio owner, Addonis Parker, is, at the very least, an accomplished man of many talents. Nicknamed "Giant" as a child for his now 6’5" frame, he is just as kind and gentle an artist as he is a father and community man. Addonis Parker was well known in Central Florida, Atlanta, Georgia art circles before coming to Miami. He has been recognized for his artistic ability since the age of 4. He is an accomplished portrait painter, muralist and collage painter. After high school, Addonis attended Brevard Community College in Florida majoring in Art and Computer Science until 1995. In 1996, he attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia obtaining continuing education credits in Art History & Music, and started an AUC Center art group there from 1997 to 1998. It was then that Addonis became involved in after-school and community based art programs as the Program Director for recreation, art and science classes at the YMCA.His love of, and talent for, art is almost innate. Inspired by family, life experiences, and his own struggles with life in the inner city even being homeless himself for a while, Addonis made the decision to give back to the inner city by teaching art and establishing art programs for inner city kids in Miami. From the YMCA to group homes for boys and the juvenile justice system to his own Art Forever Studio in Miami, Addonis is striving to reach the hearts and artistic minds of at-risk youths. The titles he has held in that regard have almost been as many as the awards he’s received and pieces he has done for several city and state governments, major corporations, and educational facilities.Addonis has to numerous EXHIBITIONS under his belt , US and International.PUBLIC MURAL INSTALLATIONS• “I Cry”, Haitian Play Stage Backdrop, Miami, FL 2006• Restoration of the historical mural “Prince of Peace,” 2006• “William English Plantation” Historical Mural, 2004• New Day Mural “Art in the Park,” 2002• “Diminishing Africa” Allapattah Middle School, 2002• Cocoa High School “Tiger Pride,” 1989• Georgia Military College “Military Minded,” 1991• “River of Life” for client Earnest Parker, 2007• MTV for Source Awards “Real Vibes,” 2005• Edison Middle School, Miami, FL, “Free World,” 2005• “A Step Up in the Game,” Range Park, Miami, FL, 2003• “Elaine the Mystic,” for client Elaine Johnson, 1997• “Jesus” St.John Church of God in Christ, 1989• “Pool Time” Joe Lee Smith Center, Cocoa, FL• “Art of Harmony” project for Coca Cola involving 11 Murals in the Miami Area• “United World,” Drug Free Youth in Town, Miami, FL• “Victory Park” Victory Park, Miami, FL• “Faces of Miami” Martin Luther King Business Center• Mary McLeod Bethune CAA (Pre-K), Miami, FL “Children’s Wall”, 2007• Brentwood Park Pavilion, Miami Gardens, FL “Diversity and Peace Mural”, 2008• Pennacle Housing Group – “Sugarcane Alley” Oct.10, 2008AWARDS• 2007 Van Guard Award, Presented by Dade County Parks and Recreation• 2007 People Choice Award, Presented by the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center• Community Icon Award, 2005, Presented by Mayor Manny Diaz for Community Involvement• “Artist of the Year” Miami Dade, 2003, Presented by Liberty City Cultural Affairs• “Artist of the Year” Atlanta Artist Club, 1998• “Best of Show” (Art) in AUC Center, 1997• “Who’s Who in ART,” Presented by Who’s Who, 1991--------------------------------------------------------------------------------It’s the same Hotmail®. If by “same” you mean up to 70% faster. Get your account now.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------image001.jpg image002.jpg image003.jpg image004.jpg

How to Attract More People To Your Profile Page on Social Networking Sites- Pt. 1

Posted by Thedy B on December 30, 2008 at 12:49am

If you are spending more time on social networking sites and not seeing enough results, this series of blogs and my upcoming ebook is for you!(c) 2008 Hits A Million, LLC all rights reserved. Please do hit the "share button" to send or email this to your friends but only I can copy and paste this.First impressions matter!! It's hard to overcome a first impression! People will quickly sum up their impression of you in less than 7 seconds. First impressions also stick. You will be quickly labeled, good or bad: Oh yeah, that's the girl or guy who had _______ on his profile. Or a visitor to your page might even forget your profile! You want exposure! You want people to talk about you! You want people to tell others about you!How do you do that? Give people an experience when they come to your page! They will stay longer. They will tell their friends to check out your profile. They will tell others to listen to your music if your music is available and something that they like. They will offer to collaborate with you if they are in the music business. They will ask you questions and the like. In other words, your visitors will become fans of you and your music. To do that you have to make the most of your profile.But many people believe that merely joining a social networking site is the magic key to winning and getting noticed on social networking sites. It isn't. Putting up several profiles on various networks will make you more googleable. You do want/have to be googleable!However, you will only be googleable if someone simply searches for your name in Google. You want people to be able to find you by searching other generic terms like "music artist" "recording artist" and the like. Additionally, people will find YOU only if your name is distinguishable enough. I'll talk about that more in a later blog. But you want to set up GREAT profiles on the social networking sites that you’re on.And when visitors get to your profile, what do they see?No profile pic.No activity.Hardly any comments.For musicians, a music player up with no music (which makes NO sense).For musicians, music that is not goodNo professional looking pictureLittle or no friendsFor musicians, nothing showing people like your musicNo insight into who you are through blogs, pictures, or videosNothing showing you value personal/professional development such as professional affiliations with PROs, groups, and the likeNothing showing you like peopleNothing demonstrating that you want people to talk to youNo graphics whatsoeverAn ugly backgroundOr here's the overboard king/queen:Too many gadgets on your pageToo many pictures of yourself that all look alike, e.g. all head shotsMaking all 5 of your music players and your videos auto play.An about me page with toooooo many paragraphs about yourself on it.Profile colors which make the words on your profile unreadable.These are mistakes because again first impressions matter, because you want to engage people, you want people to want to engage you, you want repeat visitors, you want referrals, you want respect in the industry, and you want to appear professional yet approachable. Having nothing up on your profile won’t cause repeat visitors. Having too much on your profile won’t make visitors stay because it takes forever to load your profile page. Make your profile interesting. With all of the great things out now that you can simply copy and paste, there’s no excuse for a boring profile. Just don’t overdo the bling!Continue reading my other blog posts on this topic and get ready for my upcoming ebook on attracting people to your profile page.

My 2009 Plan of Action

Posted by Alease on December 30, 2008 at 12:38am

Here we go again, another year and another commitment plan. It is time to make new commitment plans to ourselves in the hopes of becoming a better person or/and a better business professional. For those of you who remember my 2008 commitment plan, you know that ,typically my plan consist of 4 parts - Business- Professional Development- Health - and Personal Finances. Well this year I going to keep it to one general plan, which will include all things that are important to me. Read More...

Allowing Success in 2009

Posted by Zhana on January 6, 2009 at 2:30pm

How can African American people achieve our goals in 2009? The more we dwell on our successes, the more successful we become. The Law of Attraction says that in order to achieve success, we need to vibrate at the level of success.Can you talk about your successes openly, freely? Or are you afraid people will think you are 'big-headed'?Often, we do not own our successes. We say, 'Anyone could have given that presentation/solved that problem/written that paper/prepared that meal'.Can you talk about your successes openly, freely? Or are you afraid people will think you are 'big-headed'?Often, we do not own our successes. We say, 'Anyone could have given that presentation/solved that problem/written that paper/prepared that meal'.To read the rest of this article, visit: Allowing SuccessI would very much appreciate your feedback on this article. Click here to join my Nurture Success group.Wishing you all the best for 2009!

Ring in the New Year with a Wonderful Wedding!

Posted by Y. Cauthen on January 2, 2009 at 5:10pm

Originally Posted Dec. 29, 2008Hello, everyone! We at Yazzie & Co. hope that your holiday season is going extremely well. Since the end of the year is less than two weeks away, we think that having a New Year’s wedding is the perfect way to celebrate new possibilities in a way that will be symbolic and enjoyable to everyone involved. Exchanging heartfelt vows as your guests pledge to carry out their resolutions will inspire all to gain a new perspective on life and love together. So, how to put together this sensational celebration of new life on one of the most memorable occasions of the year? Read on for some great tips on how to pull off a fabulous New Year’s wedding!You can begin by thoroughly compiling your guest list. After narrowing it down to those that you’d love to share your big day with, send out your invitations at least three months in advance to allow your guests to mark their calendars for the special occasion. While almost any location can be transformed into a glamorous wedding setting, we think that a reception hall or a heated rooftop space would make for great picks for a New Year’s wedding. Whatever locale that you decide to choose, you should reserve the space for the night allow for an evening wedding and the customary ball-drop at midnight. Not only will your guests share in the love that the New Year promises, you’ll also be free to carry on throughout the night without having to acquiesce to the next wedding-party-in-waiting.A New Year’s wedding is also a great chance to go full-scale on the elegance and sophistication by adopting a glamorous black-tie theme. While many weddings have been planned as such on any day of the year, there’s something magical about the anticipation of a new beginning amid the glitz and style. You can demonstrate that by decorating your space with bold black, gorgeous gold, and splendid silver while including radiant red roses and wonderful white roses. The groom and his groomsmen will look splendid in debonair black tuxes, while the bride and her bridesmaids are guaranteed to glow in long satin gowns and glittering jewels. To cap off the overall cosmopolitan look of the evening, include tasty hors d'œuvres and sparkling gold wine as a part of your New Year’s wedding menu.In turn, you can present your guests with some of the most sumptuous party favors in honor of your new life together and the New Year. While small champagne bottles are always a winner, you can also be creative by gifting your guests with chocolate fortune cookies that include New Year’s wishes or little silver or gold bells that are emblazoned with your new married name and husband’s name to ring in the New Year. If you’d like to show your bridesmaids your gratitude, you definitely can’t go wrong with hooking them up with one our Yazzie & Co. bridal tees. One thing is for sure in having a New Year’s wedding: you’ll surely be blessed with a night to remember!Happy New Year,The Yazzie BloggerFor past blogs please visit us at http://yazzieco.blogspot.com/, Facebook or Myspace

Why, Its Your Time

Posted by LaVerne Adekunle on December 21, 2008 at 3:00am

At a point and time so many people are hurting for so many reasons. Now more than ever everything looks absolutely dismal. However, I’m here to tell you “Its Your Time”.It is not the time to fold up the tent. It is not the time to give up! Stand in the “power” of your being!It feels good to always know someone genuinely cares. In spite of your disappointments be happy you are on the brink of abundant success. Why, the timing is impeccable!By now you’ve heard about the famous Book, and DVD called “The SecretRegardless if you think it’s a “law” or a facade, The Secret will make you consider what’s truly possible for your life and business. Maybe, just maybe, you haven’t been expanding your thinking.In business, when you have an idea that really excites you, you'll begin to get more ideas. Then the only problem will be choosing which one. Don't over analyze it though, because you'll procrastinate and do nothing.When it comes to following your passions, is it true if you do what you love the money will come? This is usually true, but when it's not true it's usually because people bring their reluctance when approaching their business or new relationships - even if they are doing something they love. Stop procrastinating “Its Your Time”Getting where you want to go is letting go and taking decisive action without second guessing yourself. You definitely have to take action; you can't just set your “eventually” and wait for it to happen. Take action now while you are motivated and start making things happen!When a team of friends wrote the testimonies in the book “Who Said it is as Easy to be rich as it is to be poor” Its Your time, wrote it to share it is not easy when you have so much against you, before you even began to dream. However, perseverance, determination and timing will bring us and others to success. IT IS OUR TIME, www.itsyourx.ning.comwww.itsyourx.comNote:The Universal Law of Attraction is the underlying principal that governs what becomes your reality. It states that what you focus on you receive more of. It makes no difference to the law of attraction weather you are focusing on the outcome that you do not want or focusing on the outcome you want - whatever you focus on, especially if it's over an extended time becomes your reality.http://www.squidoo.com/the-universal-laws-of-attraction

A Delightful December with Author Monica Marie Jones

Posted by Monica Marie Jones on December 3, 2008 at 8:23pm

Hello Everyone,Recently I posted a status message saying that I was so excited about all of the magazines, websites and radio shows that I will be doing in December. One of my dear Facebook friends left a comment asking me to list everything so her it goes....Wednesday December 3rd -Howie Bell's Comedy Show- Book Signing at Bert's Marketplace Theatre @8pmThursday December 4th - I will be signing up to read for the open mic at They Say Jazz Club @9pmSaturday December 6th- Soul Lounge at 1515 Broadway - I will be signing and selling books and I may do a reading :) (I have tickets for sale for $25)Sunday December 7th - The John Oakwood Interviews with Push Nevahda on readersrooms.comDecember 8th -12th I will be facilitating a training of trainers in Kentucky (so if you live in that area and want a book just let me know :)December 11th -Victorious Voice Radio Show with Brooks J Youngwww.BlogTalkRadio.com/VictoriousVoiceDecember 13th - Motown Writer's Network Holiday Gathering at the Wayne State Barnes and NoblesDecember 14th -24th I will be going on the cruise of my dreams and I will get to see my father for the first time in 15 years! I will be making stops in Florida, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize. If you live in any of those areas let me know :)Websites and Magazines in the Month of DecemberSister Divas Magazine- www.sisterdivasmagazine.netTabu Thick and Sassy Magazine- www.thicknsassy.com/Urban Reviews (Featured Review and Interview)- www.urban-reviews.com5 Minutes 5 Questions Author Series - joeypinkney.comExpressions Literary and Fine Arts Magazinehttp://woman2womanlounge.infoFor more informations visit my website at www.monicamariejones.com

Stop trying so hard.... Boost self esteem and confidence

Posted by Robin Tramble on December 10, 2008 at 2:30am

Power point~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~(c) 2002 Robin TrambleStop trying so hard!Are you trying desperately to live right and still find yourselffailing? I was too until I realized that I can't do it aloneI am destined to make mistakes or miss the mark,however, Father, God has provided grace so that ifI should he covers me. What I need to do is repentand start again. He is at work in me helping me todo what I need to do.An important question to consider is who are you comparing yourself to?Sometimes we set ourselves up for failure becausewe don't align ourselves with God's view of us, but rathersociety's view or our relatives' view. Stop trying so hard!Relax and enjoy life. Yield yourself to the potter's touch as Hemolds you and shapes you into the beautiful vessel He hasdesigned you to be.Low self esteem can affect your productivity, a lack of confidence can negativelyimpact your business and personal relationships which as a result impede your success in life.I want to share this power-packed eBook with you to demonstrate the effectiveness ofboosting your self esteem and confidence.You will realize measurable results as you implement some,if not all of the tips and information included.Simply visit the site below to gain access to this powerful resource.http://tinyurl.com/6b4v2pYour empowering Mentor/Trainer/Coach,Robin G. Tramble

Networking with Your Key Target Audience

Posted by Joyce Oladipo on December 9, 2008 at 9:26pm

What I’ve learnt over the years is that networking the traditional way is one of the non profitable ways of growing a business. So why do people go to networking events? I guess it’s to get more clients, but that’s not what’s actually happening is it?I’m not saying networking is a bad thing but the way we do our networking is. Here are effective ways to massively increase your networking results WITHOUT ever having to waste your time at networking events!There is a lot of information out there that talks about how to network effectively. They talk about creating a powerful elevation speech, listening to potential clients and doing all the right things but they don’t mentioning the real reason why most people fail to gain anything worthwhile from their networking efforts!Why networking events hasn’t work for meMost of the networking events I go to like the chamber of commerce is full of people that are not really interested in my products and services, they are there to secure deals for themselves, which makes it a waste of time and money for me. There are a few qualified, potential clients and LOTS of competitors!You need to network where there is no competition.As a service professional, we find ourselves sharing the networking room with numerous competitors. All these competitors are there to get the same limited business that we are there for. Most of the peoples at networking events are all sellers not buyersBig companies tend to send their sales staff to networking events to help them win more business. Most of these people are not the decision makers and those that are decision makers are there to make money not to spend it. So the really potential clients are limited.I have also noticed over the past few years that these networking events are full of the same people, just a handful of them are new and that doesn’t mean that these new people are still not my direct competitors.Networking events can cost you a lot of money. You will not know how much you have wasted until you take the cost of the annual membership and ADD the cost of attending the event to the cost of your time maybe 2 hours or more to the hour you spend traveling to figure out the real value.What would €4,000 investment in a direct mail campaign win you in new clients? I just sent out 50 letters that cost me €60.47 to potential accountant that brought in a total of €60,990. Taking about investment huh.How to Network Effectively and Get ResultsI have been able to work well with accountants over the years, so I make it a priority to be where they are. I subscribed to a free Accountant ezines or magazines. These ezines or magazine always list where the next local events are held, so I don’t miss any networking event. I go there on a regular basis.When I network with my ideal clients, I tend to lookout for ways I can help solve their problems. Most of the time, they are there just to discuss problems they are facing in their businesses. In this kind of setting I know that I have access to my ideal clients with no competition. So whenever I give a solution to a well known problem, I get the attention. So when these prospective clients find out that I am there to learn more about their challenges; so that I can serve them better, they want to discuss their issues with me. People in these networking events are not there to sell. They are there to listen - making them perfect for anyone, like myself, with a valuable message. You could use this approach with just about any industry or profession.So if you are going to go to any networking event, be where there are no competitors and where the event is filled with ideal, prospective clients.~ Joyce OladipoJoyce Oladipo, The Business Growth & Marketing Mentor, is creator of the Profit Building system, the proven step-by-step program that shows you exactly how to grow your business fast without spending extra money on marketing. To Add $1,000's In Pure Profit To Your Business and receive her weekly marketing articles on dramatically increasing your income, visit www.BeAWealthyEntrepreneur.com.

THROUGH THE FIRE

Posted by Andrea Fields on November 15, 2008 at 4:09pm

Do you remember the book Iyanla VanZant wrote titled Faith in the Valley? That best selling book, which I believe was her catharsis, inspired and motivated countless people. Consider the founder of MADD – a woman who used her grief as a catalyst to save the lives of an incalculable amount of people. These are just two of a myriad of examples of people who used misfortune and personal tragedy to benefit mankind.Many of us have learned early in life that no one likes to be around people who make a habit of verbalizing their worries and complaints “no one likes a worry wart” is the adage that I best remember. A few of the other adages that have shaped my life’s conversational patterns are: “Keep a stiff upper lip”, “Silence is Golden”, “Successful people know how to keep private matters private” and one that I believe is universal: “Keep your business to yourself”.My cherished readers, I believe that our growth and success in life is a direct reflection of the lessons we’ve learned from people who were not too proud or afraid to share their personal triumphs. Information is a key proponent of growth. Be it intellectual, spiritual, physical, psychological . . . information is a stimulus, a catalyst, an activator. There will ALWAYS be nay Sayers in the world. No matter what you do or how you do it, there will be people who criticize, minimize, and ridicule not only your actions but your intents as well. We are always sharing information either with our words and actions or our silence and inaction. I herewith encourage each and every person reading this message to share with others the transformational lessons you’ve learned during the fires in your life. Your teachings may not only help someone through their personal fires, they may also save others from enduring needless fires.Being our brother’s keeper requires us to share information – not necessarily tangible goods. Remember teaching a person to fish is infinitely more valuable than giving them fish.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.