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Come and experience California's Hot Spot! A Salon and Shop mixed into one. Ego Extensions L.A. offers a Luxury Line of Remy Hair Extensions and Lace Wigs. Imagine beautiful, soft, luxurious hair that you can color, wash, straighten and style to your hearts desire. Our Lace Wigs and Extensions are made of 100% Premium Remy Hair.Ego Extensions L.A. caters to an elite group of clientele.Hollywood's A -Listing Actors, Singers, Dancers and Models.Our hair comes imported from India, Brazil and Russia with only the most beautiful strands being hand chosen. Take this opportunity to shop on-line for what people are calling the most "ELITE HAIR ON THE MARKET ". Have questions? Contact us at info@egoextensions.com. We are always here to service our valued customers. We pride ourselves in selling high-end, premium hair that everyone can afford. So go ahead and indulge yourself....in Ego Extensions.Feel Free to visit our Beautiful Salon located in Sherman Oaks,CAWe cater to all hair types offering services inLace Wig Consultation and ApplicationFlat Iron and StylingRelaxer and PermsHair WeavingHair Color CorrectionHighlights LowlightsHair ColoringHair Cut and StylingFusion Hair ExtensionsBonded Hair ExtensionsHook ExtensionsBrazilian Keratin TreatmentJapanese Hair StraighteningAppointments Only Please Call (805)426-5227Please Note: Salon carries limited amount of items displayed on websiteFeel free to call and confirm that products are In Stock.Information Regarding Cancer and Chemotherapy WigsThe Ego Extensions Los Angeles Staff wants to help you during this time.Please contact our main office at (818)287-9175.A Lace wig specialist will explain all of the options available to you.We offer a 15% discount on all Custom Lace wigs to clients suffering from Hair loss due to Chemotherapy and provide information in regards to Medical Coverage for your Unit.
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CareerBuilder Scam

Although I am in business for myself I continue to look for full time employment with benefits. So I have my resume posted on CareerBuilders. I am not saying that CareerBuilders is running a scam. However, someone is putting CareerBuilders name on the line. Well I received an email the other day stating that the company was very interested in me. The job description entailed me depositng checks into my account, taking money off the top, and forwarding the rest to the company. For a lot of people that have been let go from their jobs and can't seem to get on their feet, this job sounds really good. Times are hard and some people are getting desperate to have a nice income to bring home.The company stated they needed my address information. Please be leary and think before you give out your information. These people can probably look up any type of information on you once they have your address. This could lead to all types of trouble. You don't want to end up in court over something you didn't do or take the time to research before doing.Below is a copy of the letter that was sent to me. And remember if it sounds to good to be true or seems to easy then it is. Be careful.We are glad that you showed an interest in an opening in our company. My name is Diana Horn, and I am the HR Manager of AFI Development International. I would like to say a few words about our company and its area of activity.Our company was founded in 2007 in United Kingdom, AFI Development International is one of the largest equipment selling companies to millions of our customers - businesses, groups, hospitals individuals and processing payments. The AFI Development International logo is a trusted symbol of dependability. Naturally, you have great expectations regarding your career and that means you will need plenty of room - to grow, to explore your potential and to realize your goals. HR Manager of AFI Development International needs a responsible, honest, self motivated and reliable individual to work for the company as our Representative in US.JOB DESCRIPTION, TERMS AND CONDITIONSOur problem occurred when we had to receive the payments for our work. We cannot receive the payment in a timely manner due to high delay with U.K. based banks, check clearance and other forms of payment. As long as we need the money real fast we have agreed and came up with a solution. Our clients could pay us where we want by sending checks to an US Address. What we need you to do is to to provide us an address where we can receive our customer checks. We asked for feedback from our customers and they said this is safer and faster working directly with their bank by sending checks. We need someone who can receive the money through this method of payment. Regarding the check process all you have to do is to receive the checks our customers will send to your address, take them to your bank, cash them and send the remainder amount to us. All fees for transferring money will be supported from our share. Bonuses will apply for cashing checks in same day or within 24 hours. You will always take your percentage upfront.PAYMENT AND SALARY:1. 10% from all our sales if you agree to receive our customer’s checks. Percentage will be raised to 17% within 2 months, if you will provide good feedback with us and you will manage to cash checks in a timely manner. An estimate salary per week will be between $900-$1,000 receiving checks from our customers.PLEASE NOTE: It should take up to 10 business days for you to receive the first payment as we need to forward all customers to use this method of payment.Every month bonuses and benefits will apply to your salary.1. Within one month after receiving the first check you will get an extra $1,000 if you will manage to cash checks in a timely manner, also this bonus includes internet bill, phone bill, gas/bus tickets. We will support all bills you have to pay for your internet and cell phone. PLEASE NOTE: This bonus will apply after one month starting the day you will receive the first check.2. After two months of working with us, a secondary bonus will apply. You will get 15% from all our sales. If everything works as we will expect and it will, you will be able to do up to $1200 - $1300 per week + the bonus of $1,000 every month.3. Bonuses regarding cashing checks are as follow:a) Cash the check same day and you will receive a bonus of $150 for each check cashed.b) Cash the check within 24 hours and you will receive a bonus of $100.c) Cash the check within 48 hours and you will receive a bonus of $50New offices will be opened in United States, as we recently launched our products to the US Market and most of our customers and we had a big impact working with US Customers. The estimated time frame for opening the new offices is between 2 to 4 months. This is why we are trying to find someone capable to help us administrate all the US Area.JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:- Communication is one of our main goals, so what we need from you is to check your email more often than usual when we announce you that a payment has been confirmed as we will send further instructions to you as soon as they hit your account, also provide a phone number where you can always be reached so we can hit base in case of any urgent matters we have to solve regarding payments- Trying to find better ideas for the best of the Company, this will help us maintain good relationship between us and our customers and also new ideas are always appreciated from a self motivated person eager to grow incomes for the Company and themselves.- We prefer the cashing method to be faster, just chosen the best way to have the funds cleared same day you receive them. We will support all fees and commissions if any.WORKING HOURSThis depends of how many checks you will receive but it won't take more than 2 hours to deposit the check and send an email as soon as the check arrives to you. Also as soon as checks are cleared we will send you further instructions and all details in order to complete the process with Western Union. All we need from you is to deposit the check immediately after you get it and let us know the time frame regarding the clearance of the check.JOB OPPORTUNITIES:- Working with our company can be done from home too. If you have an internet connection until new offices will be opened over there.- Learning new techniques was always a challenge for us and we hope that will be for you too. Our specialists will be able to teach you everything they know if you have time and patience as soon as our offices will be opened there. Two of our best specialists will be sent in order to provide new skills to the future employees our company will have and also to maintain our productivity line in shape. This will not affect your Manager Position for US area will just help you learn something new.QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS1. Q: Why don't you receive checks directly to your address and you need me?A: Because within three months all our customers will forward US payments to our US headquarters and we decided to find a person who can handle all our business over there. Cashing US checks over here might take up to 30 days and some of our customers will chose to make this kind of payment and we can't afford to lose so much time.2. Q: When do I get my share when I cash a check?A: You will take your share instantly, as soon as you have cash in hand, you take your percentage and then send the rest of the funds to us. You will take your share as soon as you will manage to get the check cashed.3. Q: Do I have to pay for the Western Union fees?A: No. Western union fees will be taken from the reminder amount after you will take your share from checks or withdrawals4. Q: Where will I be sending the money after a check gets cleared?A: As soon as you will have cash in hand all you have to do is to notify us via e-mail and we will provide you all the instructions needed in order to complete the Western Union process.5. Q: What information do you need from me so we can start work together?A: We will need your address, email and phone numbers where you can be reached. The address is needed so we can let our customers know where to send the checks.6. Q: What name will appear on checks at PAYABLE TO field?A: Checks will be made payable to you so you can cash them. This will be done until we will be able to come over there establish our business and open a business account with the company's name on it. Making checks payable to you will not make you liable for paying any taxes to the IRS. Every year we will provide forms and papers proving that you have to pay the income taxes only on the funds you will earn percentage from this and NOT THE TOTAL AMOUNT you will receive.7. Q: Who will be my main contact until one of your representatives will come over here to open new offices?A: I, Diana Horn, I will be your main contact and you can e-mail me at any time with any questions you might have.8. Q: How long does it takes for the first payment from your customers to arrive to me?A: First payment will come within 10 business days after you will provide us your contact information. We will let our customers know where to send the checks. It takes within 3 to 7 business days for the check to arrive with USPS.9. Q: What are the amounts on the checks I will receive?A: Check amounts are between $1,000-$3,500/each.10. Q: Do I have to pay any taxes for the amount of the checks I will receive?A: NO. You will only pay taxes for the money you will earn (10% from total amount). At the end of the year we will provide you all forms and papers to prove that you sent the money to us like we said.11. Q: Will I be doing anything illegal according to the US LAWS?A: NO! Our company is a respectable one and we just want to launch our products to the US MARKET not defrauding our employees and customers so you can rest assured that nothing is illegal.12. Q: If I would like to be paid once a month can I do that?A: As soon as we will arrive over there and if you will get good feedback with us we will re-negotiate your contract and set up a monthly salary for you if this is what you want. We will also add benefits as soon as the offices are opened over there. All we have to tell you is that you will earn up to $85,000/year in any way you will choose. It will be a little harder until we will start rolling all this process but from what we estimate from our sales this will be the highest you will get in a year.13. Q: Will your company ask me any sensitive information such as, Bank Account Numbers, Credit Card Numbers, SSN, etc.?A: We will never ask or need any of your private information, such as SSN, Mother's Maiden Name or anything. We do not want you to believe that this is a trick in order to get your personal banking information or credit card information. We are just trying to get along and extend our services and this is why we need someone who can take care of this thing!14. Q: Can you please explain how the entire process works does?A: Of course, I will use a simple example for a check of $1,000. Let's say you agree to work with us and you email us your name and address where you can receive the payments from our customers. As soon as we will receive the contract filled and signed from you and will have CONFIRMATION that you agree all our terms and conditions we forward your address to our customers in order to make the payments. The checks will be made of in your name so be careful when you send your name. The name must correspond with your bank account name where you want to cash the check. Our customers will let me know as soon as payments have been sent. Most of them will use USPS as a shipping and handling and this is why it might take a little until you will receive the first check, and we won't be able to track it, so we just have to wait. As soon as I get the confirmation from my customer that the payment has been sent I will also email you and let you know that a payment is on its way. As soon as you will get the check you have to let me know that you received it so i can also update my customer. If you will manage to get the check cleared same day this will be great and you will apply for the bonuses mentioned. Now, as soon as you have cash in hand you have to email us and we will send you an email with full instructions regarding the transfer of the funds. As soon as you will get our email, you will take your share from the total amount UP FRONT (E.G.: Check value is $1,000 you will take your share immediately ($100)) and then take all other fees for transferring the funds along with the bonus from our share that will remain. Basically all you have to do is to check your email daily as we will keep you updated from time to time and also as soon as payments will start to come we will let you know. You can also continue with your other job if you want to along as you can handle ours too.15. Q: I am interested. Can we setup an interview regarding this position?A: If you still have further questions try to see if you can find your answer within these ones if not please email us. Unfortunately we cannot setup any interviews now as we do not have any representatives in US. We will be able to come and meet within the next few months when the new offices will be opened in you area!16. Q: I agree with all terms and conditions, what is the next step?A: Email us using reply to this email your Name and Address where you can receive checks with the following subject:I AGREE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS - PLEASE SEND CONTRACT.Also include phone numbers and email address where you can be reached. Within 24 hours after we will receive this information we will forward you a copy of the contract you have to fill in, sign and email back to us.IMPORTANT:AS SOON AS YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CONTRACT YOU HAVE TO EMAIL US BACK AND LET US KNOW AN ESTIMATE TIME WHEN THE CONTRACT WILL BE SEND NY EMAIL.WE PREFER THAT THE CONTRACT TO BE SENT WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER YOU WILL RECEIVE IT. WE CANNOT LOSE TIME AND WE WON'T FORWARD YOUR DETAILS TO OUR CUSTOMERS UNTIL WE WILL HAVE THE SIGNED CONTRACT EMAILED BACK!If you want to work for AFI Development International, please reply to this email and answer a couple of questions:1. Did you work for a company over the internet in the past? If yes, why did you quit?2. Did you ever cash out on a check using your bank account?3. How old is your account?We wait for your answers and if you meet our requirements and you are still interested, in the next email we will send you the contract.Diana HornAFI Development International3 More London Riverside, London, SE1United KingdomFAX 011-44-258-654-3526FAX 011-44-110-256-0778
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BY THY FAITH

BY THY FAITH‘AND I WAS AFRAID AND WENT AND HID THY TALENT IN THE EARTH LO, THERE THOU HAST THAT IS THINE’‘his lord answered and said unto him, thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed’. Matthew 25:25&26In this walk, a servant must know it’s gifts and talents because all belongs to God and he gives freely as He pleases. Having faith in God as the size of a mustard seed we all should reap great and mighty blessings. God sees all and knows all. He answers those who seek his face and walk by faith. I CHOOSE TO WALK BY FAITH, I CHOOSE TO SEEK HIS FACE. Lord let us not be afraid or hide our talents, lets us sow and labor in your vineyard and be of a right and faithful spirit. “HIS LORD SAID UNTO HIM, WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT: THOU HAST BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS, I WILL MAKE YOU THEE RULER OVER MANY THINGS ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD”Matthew 25:21I claim victory in my community here in the city of Lima, Ohio and on the street corner of Elm and Nye. I claim this building across the street from my home to be used to help restore our community, I claim salvation and prosperity to all those who work in God’s ministry. I claim victory and success to all Business and God’s people here online on I’m Still Blessed and to the people of God worldwide. My father is rich in House and Land , so be of good courage, stir up your own spirit and use your gift which was given to you freely. God’s grace and mercy is sufficient nothing is to hard for God. Plant your good seed and reap a harvest of plenty Blessings. For they good and faithful servant your work is pleasing unto the Lord….amen
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Broken Voices

Broken voices can regain a strength and beauty unknown before. What is a broken voice you might ask. It's a woman or a family who live inside the silence of domestic violence and abuse.I have had the chance to live all over the world and it still hits me hard when I talk to women who live inside the quiet of their own broken voices. I talked to one of my customers today who said she needed some cover stick or camouflage creme. I made a joke about her running through those little tubes like they were free.Then I felt stupid and ashamed. No, I didn't know - haven't known in all these years - that she was one of the many broken voices. Her non-answer filled the silence on the phone. Hers is a broken voice. More broken than anyone I have heard in a long time. Why? Because she is an African-American sister who holds a professional job, has a degree and all the information and knowledge at her fingertips about domestic violence.Black women more often than any other group - refuse to talk about domestic abuse. We are ashamed. So we get up and go to work everyday, get the kids ready for school, help with homework, cook dinner, shop and a whole lot of other things in our "Camouflage Creme."Perhaps many years ago we were taught, "What happens in this house, stays in this house." I wish our grandmothers could see a part of what their strength training did. I wish their grandmothers could hear their broken voices. Women's shelters are often filled to capacity. But even more so when families are growing through economic crisis like we face now. Money or the lack there of can create Broken Voices.A tear rolled from my eye as I thought about this customer today using our Camouflage Creme to conceal her wounds. I was moved to action. I quickly began to work to provide the necessary resources for the E'LON Center for Women. A non-profit arm of E'LON Couture Cosmetics in order to become a voice for those women of color suffering in silence - suffering with Broken Voices.Did you know that African-American women experience domestic abuse/violence at rates 35% higher than their white counterparts? Did you know that domestic violence homicide is the leading cause of death for African-American women ages 15 to 45?When you reflect and pray tonight think of those with Broken Voices in our communities. Some women may not have tomorrow, all they have is NOW. All they have is you and I. If you hear their silence...Act. Because E'LON Couture will act we hope Broken Voices will regain their strength and their beauty.
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The Beauty of Strength

Economic indicators, economic bailouts, economic bad news. Everyday we get up now we hear more stories of how bad the economy is and how bad people are suffering - and they are. When I got up yesterday I heard from an old friend. Someone I had not spoken with in at least two years. Back in the day this sister had it going on...House in the suburbs and a summer home on Martha's Vineyard.She was living the American dream. But two years ago she woke up to the American Nightmare. Her husband of nearly twenty-five years passed away suddenly and she was left to carry on. What she found out about living the 'high life' and the 'buy now, pay later' life was that both homes were mortgaged to the hilt and her husband had amassed a fortune in debt - while they tried to keep up with the "Jones" or should I say the, "Browns, the Washington's" and the rest of the elite social circles they belonged to.She called to tell me she said, "because you are the only one I know who won't judge me." My friend had filed bankruptcy and moved into a tiny one bedroom apartment in Chicago. And after nearly a decade of not working - she had to take the one talent she knew she had an get a J.O.B in an upscale boutique in Chicago.I didn't judge her - she was right about that- but I did ask her a question. A question I told her not so much for me...but for her to answer for herself. "Why?" I asked, did it matter for ten years how others saw her, and why did she try so hard to keep up with others?" And did that define her and give her a sense of identity?She was silent for a while on the other end of the phone. Then she spoke. "Girl I thought it gave me strength and power," she said almost in a whisper.We said our goodbyes and our "I love you's and promised to keep in touch and not let another two years go by before we talked again.I thought about my friend today. She will bounce back... we always do. And she has a strong support network of true friends and family. She's a beautiful black sister so in no time she will be remarried, probably to another powerful brother - because those are they type of men attracted to her.But, I wondered if she would remember her own words..."I thought it gave me strength and power."Why do we as black women look at our strength and power as something external to who we are? Are you not powerful if you don't have on a Dolce & Gabbana or Prada outfit? Are you not strong and powerful if you don't have a man with a six figure income?STOP! Get off that insane merry-go-round. If my friend rides that train again - well let's just say it becomes the definition of insantiy.Life (God) has a way of equalizing itself to show us that we are not the one's in control. That we go through in order to learn our lessons - and when we don't. Well you know the rest. We are stripped bare, left barren so that we finally hear that voice within.Next time you find yourself in one of those places like my friend (now it dosen't have to be bankruptcy, it can be anything that puts you in a place where you are crying out, "LORD what am I gonna do!?"), stop and look in a mirror. I mean it...in that moment pull a mirror from your purse, go to the bathroom, pull down the sun visor in your car, or look in that mirror on the building you're walking next to), and say out loud, "I am strong, courageous, powerful and purposeful. I came here to fill a mission and I can and I will succeed."You will feel the tension leave your shoulders and the tightness leave your chest (but you really have to be looking in a mirror when you do this - look at yourself and don't look away).Now as you breathe look around and see that it wasn't anyone from any designer house, any social organization, zipcode, or address that made you strong and powerful and able to do what you need to do.It was you...the girl in the mirror.Choose today! Are you powerful or pitiful? Remember, "We Are More Than Enough."E'LON (strength) and You...making you all you can be.
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Remembering Courage

I remember the first time I went into a meeting with the President/CEO of a major department store chain (Macy's) - where my cosmetics line was soon to be launched.I sat in my car outside the building with tears streaming down my face, a letter (tattered and yellowed) clutched in my right hand. It was a chilly March day - we had successfully completed two trials for Macy's in February and March and we would soon be going 'live' at counters in their Midwest Region.The letter was from my dad...the only letter he had ever written me (some twenty years earlier). I read it before going into the meeting. In it he reminded me of how smart, pretty, funny and kind I was. He told me in that letter how proud of me he was (I was a new mom at the time in a country - Tokyo, Japan - where I couldn't speak the language) trying to carve out a career and a life for myself.As I sat in the car that day I thought about the many women and men for that matter that I knew who had overcome tremendous obstacles in their lives. I thought about my parents and how they had left a little town in Alabama to move their family to the North for a better life. I thought about what their lives looked like and the challenges they had faced to get me where I was (about to go into a meeting with the President/CEO of one of our countries largest retailers) and I thought about the courage they had to overcome those obstacles.I owed them alot! I was the first person in my family to ever own a business (my dad was a high school principal and my mom a social worker).As I sat there in my car I remembered driving home the week before that big meeting to tell my folks about the big meeting and the contract with Macy's. My dad was living in a nursing home then..he had been stricken by throat cancer a few years earlier and also had one of his legs amputated due to diabetes. But he was still sharp as ever even though facing a number of challenges.I took pictures to him to see and the all important letter from Macy's stating they wanted me to join the Macy's family to test the brands potential. I knew he would be proud. He listened as I sat and animately told him about my 'business'...As I begin to pack up for the four hour drive back to Cincinnati he gave me a thumbs up that day (he had no voice to speak with) and then wrote on a torn piece of paper from his bed side table - "I knew you could do anything Loni - keep going you have God, me and all the courage you will ever need!"My dad died one month after i launched in Macy's. His voice silent, I would never hear it again.As I sat in the car that day, in my left hand I held the torn piece of paper with his words on them. He encourage me to do and be my best self. As I got out of the car I looked up and smiled because I knew he was there and I realized then as I do today that it was and is people like my dad who give us - their daughters- the courage to excel, to recognize our strengths and to see our own beauty.I encourage you today to be strong and hold onto your faith. Spirit is always with us and so is the encouragement of our ancestors. Live in the now, the present moment of life. For that is where God is. Rainbows follow rain, light follows dark, oceans follow deserts and resurrection follows the wilderness.E'LON means strength. You have the strength and courage to follow your dreams. Remember, "We Are More Than Enough."
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The Souls of Black Girls

How long do we let other people define us? How long do we delete the blogs, throw out the newsletter or articles, or change the channel when the message is about us?How long do we keep trying to conform to the world's standard of beauty...while at the same time damaging our girls that can't fit into that standard and then turning around and criticizing or victimizing them when they act out, are promiscuous or do all kinds of things to their God-given beauty and end up pregnant, in jail or on welfare.Where are we (Black Women of the burbs and Middle Class) when we shake our heads sitting on pews in church while wearing our weaves and designer clothes.Now don't misunderstand I am not hating on my middle class sisters ( for I am one of them and write this blog to myself just as much as to anyone), what I am saying is simple..when do we show up? At what expense (the cost of future generations of confident black women from all walks of life is at stake) are we willing to let the statistics continue to speak for the fact that we are comfortable sitting back and doing nothing.Where did our souls go? Where did the souls of Mama and Big Mama go? We looked out for and told them they were beautiful, worthy, talented and expected to succeed in who they were...not in trying to be or become the media images they see on tv.Filmmaker Daphne Valerius takes a look at the relationship between self-esteem and media images of African American Women in her documentary...The Souls of Black Girls, "I think this piece resonates across race and gender because it is a piece that is the voice of the victim and not the voice of the victimizer of spokeman, its our hurts, our pains, our insecurities, our story that no one else can tell but us, " she says.http://www.soulsofblackgirls.com/Dr. Dorothy Height says of the film, "Too often our girls do not rise too their full potential because they are so affected by the image others project of them."According to a new study on the lives of teenage Black girls,... they benefit most from a strong sense of racial identity. Girls who thought being black (in all its blackness, hair, eye color, lips, hips, etc) did better in shcool and were more likely to practice safer sex.The study commissioned by The Black women for Black Girls Giving Circle in NYC and researched and written by Dr. Avis A. Jones-DeWeever found striking differences between girls who self-identified as afrocentric and girls who didn't. Afrocentric girls received higher grades, had strong familia, spiritual and romantic relationships and were three times more likely to believe that they would achieve goals such as college or careers.Take the time today help mentor, motivate or save the Soul of a Black Girl. E'LON and YOU redefining our own image. We Are More Than Enough!Yolanda
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Make Your Life Over - Tell A New Story!

When we see women like Coretta Scott King and Michelle Obama what do we really 'hear'. Well for one..we hear their stories. Most often in their own words. But we never hear the drama, the pain, the victim (and believe me both of these ladies had/have enough to bemoan). Coretta lost her husband and was left as a single mother. Michelle has to hear stories and worries about her husband as the first African American President.But how do they rise above that victim status and have successful, peace filled lives? I believe its because they live a different story. Not different (based on money, status or income) but different in how they choose to tell their own story.We all tell our stories everyday. We all do it! We do it to anyone who will listen (family, friends, children). What is it? IT of course is our story. Our.."Lord, I just don't know what I'm going to do!" story. We tell people 'our' story.But first we tell ourselves 'our' story. We tell ourselves to remind us that we have been once again made a victim. We tell others to hear agreement or comforting words about 'our' lot in life. Often we do it because there is so much going on in our lives (especially black women) that we are in a constant fight or flight mode and the unrelenting onslaught of tense situations have convinced us that there is 'no way out'.Many sisters are dealing with more than one issue at a time. We are the ongoing 'victims' of our own story. "But"...I can hear you saying that But right now..."You don't know my situation".Yes I do. Because its life's situation. The first step to taking back your life is to recognize that in telling your 'story' to anyone who will listen, you are keeping that 'victim story' going. On and on it keeps going.Ask yourself one question. "Do I really want a better life?" Do I want to take back my life and live out a different story? Now fully understand that this is not about having more of anything. More money does not solve one problem. Let's look at it honestly...Michael had all the money any one person could have but he lived a victim story. He kept telling of all the things that ever happened to him as to the reasons he was who he was. Victim.If you answered yes to the question and you really want to take back your life...take back your story. Take back the thoughts and words you use to perpetuate your victim story.But one thing before we move forward....this is NOT a one-time shot, it took you more than one shot to get this victim story...so let's make the second half of your storybook have a different ending. So put these simple ideas to work every day and see yourself move from poverty to purpose and from victim to victor:1. Breathe. The world will not fall apart nor will it crumble if...He dosen't call...the lights got cut off...the rent is due...or any of a number of bad things happen. Look around and you will see all these things happen to other people and people keep on living. Everyday. Honestly it may not look like it but they are facing the same challenges as you.2. Stay in the Present Moment...stop "what if' ing' yourself and everyone around you..."what if they,"...When you really think about it more often than not, the 'what if', never comes. When you are in the present moment of life the solution you need comes quickly to solve any problem.3. Practice Your Faith - The most stressed filled women I know and those with the most 'victim' stories to tell....are Church women. Faith IS the substance of that which is hoped for...the evidence of that not seen. Know that you know everything will be alright...and guess what, it will be and you won't have a victim story to tell.4. Talk to someone who won't let you be a victim. This is not the time to talk to other STORY VICTIMS who will commiserate. I tried that with my mother once (who by the way has never been anyone's victim) and her response to me was..."Well you have two choices - you can figure it out and keep on living, or we can bury you in a box), harsh maybe, healing - You Betcha!!!5. If Someone Hurt You...Let it go! Yes easier said than done..but if you think about it, they have moved on with their life and you, well you're the victim and are wallowing in it. When you think about it they have taken YOUR power and they will have many more peace filled days added to their life. While you are shortening your's with your 'story'.6. Trust the one person in the world who can begin to tell a new story. YOU. Get up in the morning with a new story...today is a great day and I am going to do (fix whatever the situation is even if you don't have all the answers right now).Look at yourself anew everyday and watch what begins to happen in your life. You can take back your life no matter what life has thrown at you. You have to. Guess why. It's the only one you will ever have. There are no do overs.The word E'LON means strength. Get up and put on your E'LON. Change your story and change your life.Remember..."We are more than enough!"Yolanda
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Black Barbie - Progression or Regression

Last year, Italian Vogue shook the fashion world with its “All Black issue, which sold out on many newsstands. This year, the July issue features Kristen McMenamy on the cover, but comes with a delightful supplement devoted to black Barbies.Well, it is Barbie’s 50th birthday (Barbie and I are excatly the same age...but I'm not sure they would put me on the cover of any Vogue!) and Mattel does have those new black Barbies to promote. And while this supplement is not full-sized like a regular magazine (it’s about 6 inches wide; 7.5 inches long) somehow the doll scale makes sense.I remember when I was about six years old my sister and I both got Black Chatty Cathy dolls for Christmas. Now remember, this was about forty years ago and my sister and I were totally taken aback by our fortune (or misfortune as I remember I wanted to instantly remake her face with my Barbie makeup kit I also got for Christmas).While it was great to have a doll that looked like me (Chatty Cathy was quite plump), the reality was that it was the only doll I ever had that looked like a real sister. When my daughter was born twenty five years ago I remember one Christmas going in every toy store to find a Black Barbie for her (we ended up starting a collectors to die-for collection which she still has today for her daughter). But that Barbie was based on a very European idea of what women (not even close to most Black Women) should look like.Barbie black or white gives little girls dangerous ideas about what a woman’s body should look like, and what was/is considered beautiful. Before writing this post, I asked my daughter about her Barbies when she was little. Her response shocked me. As tall and thin and chocolate as my daughter is she simply said..."mom did you realize that I never even played with those dolls. No she wasn't a tomboy..she said, "they simply didn't look like her or any of her friends,"I was amazed. Here I am concerned about what it taught my little girl about having a positive self-image and she was taking her cues not from Barbie but...you guessed it...from ME. She said her play dress up and how she wanted to look was not as a result of those Barbies but of watching me get up every morning, dress, fix my hair and handle my business as a single working motherr.As a result, she makes it her responsibility to teach her daughter about how special and beautiful she is as a black girl. She will become the role model for her own daughter...who will want to dress, walk, talk and be like Mommy!So, no I don't agree with Mattel or Vogue about the images and messages they send to our girls, but there is no substitute for showing our girls the "REAL" us by modeling YOUR positive, self-affirming, beautiful self before your daughter every morning and telling her "SHE" is Beautiful because she looks like Mommy and that more than anything she is and always will be... "More Than Enough"
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Sister Spirit

Sister SpiritStep into the world of E'LON Couture Cosmetics and discover the natural beauty in every sister. In this post we begin to redefine our own beauty. What does that mean? I think to understand that we have to go back about ten years. In September of 1990 these words appeared in an article written in Ebony Magazine, "Black Beauty Is In.." From beauty queens to fashion magazines, women of color reign supreme."We were being celebrated fro the first time by the mainstream media. But what exactly was being celebrated? If you look closely it wasn't the diverse beauty that makes us who we are...but rather a closely held 'look' that fashion and beauty editors knew white readers would find 'ACCEPTABLE."Not surprisingly here in 2009 nearly ten years later we are trying to redefine what Black Beauty is. We are now almost non-existent on the covers of fashion magazines and nearly nowhere in entertainment. Why? I suspect it is because a generation ago "WE" helped the mainstream media define what was acceptable beauty for us. Gone were our afros, afro puffs, big hips and full lips or any sign that we really liked ourselves.Well here we are with a culture that has misappropriated the images of our young people for their own econoic gain and we are locked out once again from defining our own beauty. Perhaps its now time for us to redefine for ourselves what our beauty is all about.Black is beautiful. Short and natural hair can be a sisters crowning glory. Big, luscious lips are sexually appealing. And the various shades of brown-black skin provide a beautiful showcase for any woman's assets. What's also beautiful are our sisters over forty. We age gracefully and we should began to celebrate that.Today, I challenge you to step up to that mirror and see yourself the way our mothers and grandmothers saw themselves...Beautiful, Bold, Courageous Black Sisters.The Word E'LON means strength and that's what we bring to you....the strength to see your beautiful self.So join the E'LON Community and show the world that we can come together for all the right reasons. We are building one million strong, powerful, confident sisters the world over. Become one of the many today....Step into the world of E'LON Couture and discover the natural beauty in every sister.Yolanda
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At age 50, I am part of a fast growing movement in America - black women who are launching their own businesses.Between 2002 and 2008, the number of firms owned by African American women increased by 19 percent - twice as fast as all other firms, according to the Center for Women's Business Research. And they generated $29 billion in sales nationwide.What's driving us into entrepreneurship?I know for me I was personally tired of being stuck. Stuck in a job where other people were being celebrated and promoted for the same talents I had. They just happened to be white. I also wanted to at age 42 when I started my company leave a dream for my children. Now both have been bitten by the entreprenuer bug and though they have full-time jobs are trying their hands at owning something of their own.But its not easy. Black women look supisciously at other black women who don't want to follow the norm and work in areas everybody else is working in.This is not just about 'buying black' although that's nice. Its about teaching our children and grandchildren lessons for the future. Look around the WHOLE World is changing and if we don't have our own and own our own we will become a distant third or fourth in terms of ecomomic power in this country.We came from civilizations where we were the builder, the baker and the candlestick maker. Why have we gotten so comfortable bringing home a paycheck that has somebody elses name on it - and come to think of it a paycheck that they can take away from you on any given Friday afternoon when they hand you your downsized pink slip.No, its not easy to do what we do as Black Women Business Owners - The average annual revenue for black women business-owners is $37,787, far behind their male counterparts, who earn $107,720 a year - and white women, at $155,000.But we do it because it has even greater rewards for us. Black women in business have a dual bottom line: gaining market share - and giving back. E'LON Couture for example has the E'LON Center where we are focused on helping improve the lives of women of color all over the world.E'LON is new and growing in different directions. But Yolanda says she wouldn't trade it and go back to that six figure income she was making ever.Why you might ask? Simple, I can look in the mirror every morning and smile and know when I say I'm going to do my absolute best today - I'm thinking generations ahead to my granddaughters daughter who may someday look in a mirror and say - look at what WE did.We were more than enough!
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Local Non-Profit Launches New Program To Provide Meals And Assistance To Local HomelessAtlanta, GA, August 20, 2009-----In partnership with H.J. Russell Enterprises and Publix Super Markets, the S.O.A.P. Box program will begin feeding the homeless the first Sunday of every month at McDaniels and Peters Street in the historic Castleberry Hill Art District. “Speaking Out Against Poverty” aka S.O.A.P. Box will launch September 6th 2009 from 12 noon to 5pm and will run until December 6th 2009. In addition to meals, the program is slated to provide clothing, toiletries and employment assistance to homeless residents in the Atlanta area. With a goal to eradicate poverty, the program aims to assist those in dire need.There is a new face to Atlanta’s poor and homeless, many of whom have witnessed their circumstances change drastically over the last year. The unemployment rate in Georgia has risen to 10.3%. Foreclosures and high interest mortgages are still plaguing Atlanta residents. On top of their current monthly obligations, many are now faced with increasing property taxes. With fewer resources and options available, Atlanta’s growing population of displaced and homeless need help more than ever.Bruce Marigny, Executive Director and Founder of The Brothers of Better Business, created S.O.A.P. Box to unite the community in an effort to meet the need of Atlanta’s homeless. This program was developed to inspire and empower communities to fight for the impoverished in and around Atlanta. “We are devoted to raising awareness and supporting citizens in taking action locally to end extreme poverty,” said Bruce Marigny. “The key goal is to help people move beyond their need and into becoming self-sufficient members of their community. Through long-term, self-help development programs funded by grants and individual donors, hundreds of people in Atlanta will increase their ability to be self-sufficient by learning and applying new, marketable skills.” In addition to Publix and H.J. Russell Enterprises; former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, Atlanta Councilman Ceasar C. Mitchell, and Atlanta Police Chief Richard J. Pennington have dedicated their time and resources to ensure the success of this endeavor.For more information, please contact Belinda Vickerson email: belinda@blackstoneconsultant.com
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New Gallery & Office

Hello everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that my new photography gallery/ office is open! Would love for you all to visit if you're in the area. Check it out on my blog. It's about 2-3 blog entries back. Let me know what you think!!Thanks,Jae' MadisonBusiness Manager/ PhotographerExodus Photographywww.exodusphoto.comwww.exodusphoto.com/blog478.845.0006
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Supportive people may not always be around to offer support at the exact moment when you may need it. Sometimes YOU may need to be the source of your own support. If that is the case, and frankly, it usually is the case, it helps to get out a journal and write down when you need support most of all.

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Richelle’s 100 Day Challenge is Genius!

Only $19: My 7 Day eCourse How to Find Customers Online is now only $19. Offer expires 8/28/09
When I come across a good plan I like to share it and of course give credit where credit is due, so when my partner Richelle Shaw told me about her 100 Day Challenge, I thought it was genius. If you don’t already know her, Richelle Shaw is a multi-million dollar Mompreneur and she and I partnered up to create the Women of Color Coaching Program. Long story short, every year Richelle does her own ‘end of year 100 Day Challenge’. It’s a personal challenge in which she sets a series of short-term business goals that she can accomplish in 100 Days and every year she aims to beat her results from the year before! As an entrepreneur, I think this is an absolute genius plan because you always need to motivate yourself to do better, evaluate your business, and try new things. Richelle believes that in September the kids shouldn’t be the only ones to go back to school. While other entrepreneurs remain stuck and stagnant, Richelle takes the last 100 days of the year as an opportunity to create new products, make more money, and plan for the new year. I consider Richelle to be more than my partner, but a true marketing expert, so I am eager to follow in her footsteps and start my own 100 Day Challenge. For the next three months I will be directing all my energy and focus on tapping into passive streams of income. My two core projects are building my new affiliate program and doubling my Adsense revenue. I will keep my Sistasense.com blog readers up-to-date with my progress, so be sure to subscribe to my blog for updates. If you would like to develop your own 100 day challenge, think about what short term goals you can accomplish in 100 Days. Would you like me to create a Sistasense 100 Day challenge? (let me know if you would be interested in that). What I do know is that quite a few of my online followers really want to improve their web skills, which is why I’ve been developing my own extensive series of 7 Day eCourses filled with training videos and eBooks for Newbie entrepreneurs. Add my eCourses to your 100 Day Challenge and commit to improving your online marketing skills so you can discover new ways to increase your online sales.
Only $19: My 7 Day eCourse How to Find Customers Online is now only $19. Offer expires 8/28/09
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Welcome to Remy Hair 101As more and more people are introduced to the lace wig and remy hair extensions craze the more the terminology and understanding of what remy hair is has changed. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the question of the day. What is remy hair?First, the cuticle is the outer layer of the hair and is responsible for the protection of the hair. It is made up of several layers of cells that lay on top of each other like shingles, as shown under a microscope in the picture below. Cuticles are directional pointing out from the scalp toward the end. You cannot see them with the naked eye but you can feel them as you run your finger from the bottom of a long hair toward the scalp. It is this layer that is removed or not removed that determines the quality of the hair.Remy Hair also know as cuticle hair is hair that has been collected from a single donor/person. The hair is gathered into a pony tail, tied off and then cut. This method of hair collection keeps all of the hairs cuticles running in the same direction. All of the hairs cuticles running in the same direction is what makes this hair remy hair. The hair is then gently processed for color, waves and curls. This hair is matt free and can last for 12 months or more depending on personal maintenance and wear.Virgin Remy Hair is hair that is collected in the same manner as explained above thus making it remy, however this hair does not undergo any type of chemical processing for color, waves and curls. This hair has been left in it's natural state. Virgin remy hair depending on the origin, typically comes in only dark colors such as a natural 1B/2 as this is the natural hair color of the donor. This hair is matt free and can last up to 18 months or more depending on personal maintenance and wear. It's the creme of the crop, it doesn't get any better than this.Non-Remy Human Hair is the most abundant human hair on the market therefore the cheapest. It is also referred to as fallen hair. It is collected from multiple sources, collected in piles therefore the hairs cuticles are not kept running in the same direction. If left this way the hair would be totally unusable, it could not be used for extensions and hair pieces. The hair has to then be put through a process called an acid bath of which removes the cuticles/cuticle layer of the hair. Once this is done the hair is then dipped into a silicone coating to give it a smooth, shiny, and healthy feel and appearance. Once the silicon layer wears off this hair will eventually start to tangle or matt and will then be in need of "restoration services" to bring it back to life.Non-Remy hair does not last nearly as long as remy hair. After several washings the silicon wears away exposing the dry, dull medulla. Non-Remy hair looks fantastic for a while, this type of hair is recommended if your looking for a more natural, economic alternative to synthetic hair or even a starter full lace unit. Non-Remy hair can last for 3 to 6 months or more depending on personal maintenance and wear. Non-Remy is often passed off as remy, since without really knowing your hair, it is hard to tell. One way to tell is to run your finger from the bottom of a hair to the root. Cuticle hair will feel rough as you go against the cuticles, silicone dipped hair will be smooth in both directions. You may have to close your eyes and run your fingers past the hair several times to notice the difference.In Conclusion, each of the different quality levels of hair can all be great options for use in hairpieces of all kinds. This informational page was created so that you can make an informed decision based off of your personal needs and expectations.

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HeyYou've heard of Mark Victor Hansen ("ChickenSoup for the Soul")...And you've heard of Robert G. Allen ("NothingDown")...And you probably know that together theywrote "The One-Minute Millionaire".The two of them have more New York TimesBest-Sellers than 99% of all other authorsout there.That's why it's exciting when they come outwith new material - you know it's good stuff.And right now, they're GIVING AWAY free videotraining here:http://www.cashinaflashsecrets.com/launch/?thankyou-page=51450The training is all about "Cash In a Flash",which shows you how to get "fast money inslow times".You have to see it to believe it - it's thatgood.And it's free - nothing for sale at thispage.Check it out:http://www.cashinaflashsecrets.com/launch/?thankyou-page=51450Let me know what you think!Alyce
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