Cool Down With A $10 Tank!

Stay cool with Goddess Zuri's 100% Natural tank for only $10 thru Sunday, July 30th! Reg. $22.

100% Natural: 100% Natural. No artificial ingredients. No additives. This 100% cotton, slim-fitting tank was made specifically for women who are rocking what God gave them. Real hair. Real nails. Real eyes. Real assets. Color- red.

Looks great on the authentic.

Should I Go Back To School?

I've been toying with the idea of going back to school for a while. About once a year, I have this "what am I doing with my life?" internal conversation that leads me to graduate school considerations. I've thought about a MBA and various master's programs, but I've never been really sure.

Then I had a conversation with one of my mentors about my dilemma, and he gave me one simple piece of advice that changed the dialogue of my internal struggles. "Don't go back to school unless you know what you're going for."

"Well, I'm going back to school to gain more knowledge, get more credentials and become more attractive to employers," was my natural response. But my mentor wasn't convinced. And actually, neither was I. His concern was that many people go back to school without good reason. He challenged me to think about what I really wanted to do and be and analyze which degree, if any, would help me get there.

The truth was, I didn't know explicitly how a MBA or other master's degree could help me in figuring out my life's purpose or reaching my career goals. I wasn't even sure what my career goals were. So, my mentor was right. I needed to ask myself more questions before deciding to pay out $60,000 to a university without knowing what I would get in return.

This year, when the "what am I doing with my life" conversation surfaced and school, once again, became a consideration, I was ready. I had done enough introspection and trial and error over the past year to know what program I wanted to investigate and why.

So, here's what I learned.

Going back to school is a common consideration for people when they question the course or purpose of their lives, but sinking tens of thousands of dollars into a degree without a clear understanding of how it relates to career aspirations is misguided.

Eating Well On A Dime: Tips from Coco

Of all the things we come across in life, money, or the lack of money proves to be the most stressful. The cliché is that “money is the root of all evil”, but for many, not having money leaves them stressed, frustrated, and sometimes miserable. Marriages and relationships succumb to battles over money management and spending. I have witnessed instances where spouses maintain “secret” bank accounts, others have their lawyers craft detailed and complex prenuptial agreements, and I have joked with many sista-friends about waiting for our significant others to be occupied, or ideally not home, so that we may smuggle our shopping bags out of the car trunk and into the house.

While the Obama administration is trying to grapple with a post-Bush American economy, the populace is forced to deal with the daily pressures of the recession. Unemployment is steadily increasing and under-employment is commonplace. Individuals with Master’s degrees are forced to work entry-level clerical positions, and they do so simply because, $1 an hour, is better than $0 an hour. Sadly, it is an Employer’s Market. It is common to see job descriptions posted on career sites and job boards that list requirements such as:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• A number of years of experience required
• Proficiency of an array of computer programs and software – MAC Office Suite, MS Office, FMP, QuickBooks, Raiser Edge, MAS 90, ACT!, Lotus Notes, Bentos, and the list goes on.
• Other certifications and licenses required
• Bilingual required (Spanish, Mandarin, etc.) despite the fact that the official language of this country is English

After all these requirements and an extensive description of expected job duties are made, these employer’s have the audacity to list a salary, that would hardly allow this qualified & educated applicant the ability to afford shelter, to feed themselves, as well as pay their student loans. The entire situation is deplorable, and for more and more Americans, it is difficult and depressing.

Unfortunately, many have foolishly bought into the idea of the “American Dream”, and now they are finding themselves shut out; even after they did the “right things” in life, that they were told would guarantee success.

Still, one of the most basic human needs that must be fulfilled is food consumption. Without food and the nutrients that we obtain from eating, our bodies will be unable to sustain themselves. The need to feed is innate. A baby doesn’t have to be taught to want to suckle on its mother’s breast.

This action is performed instinctively. Times are hard and learning the tools of discount dining or eating on a budget is essential. Spending a little time planning menus prior to a trip to the market can result in savings. Having a menu in mind, makes it easier to utilize coupons. Also, there are a plethora of websites that one may access to print coupons. Just goggle the terms “printable coupons” or “coupons”. Flip over your old receipts – Ta Da!! – there are often coupons on the back. Before discarding “junk mail”, check the local flyers to see if there is a sale on any goods that you may need. I encourage you to take advantage of farmer’s markets, as well as supermarket sales; such as Winn Dixie’s BOGO (Buy One Get One Free), which I recently discovered and absolutely love!

Buying items on a BOGO promotion may lead you to have to select a different brand than you regularly use, but make the sacrifice, experiment, and collect the savings. The best items to pick up during a BOGO promotion are those that have a longer shelf life, and may be used at a later time. Those on the West Coast should certainly pick up items at the 99C Store chain before they visit the supermarket. This chain often carries name brand items, as well as many basic pantry items, breads, spices, and produce all for 99 cents!

I would suggest that those who want to dine-on-a-discount, to expand their horizons and select generic items at the supermarket. Of course, some items should be viewed with skepticism, especially certain generic cereals, but most generic items are exactly the same taste and quality as the name brand. So why pay for more? My cabinet is filled with Wal-Mart’s “Great Choice” products. With an average savings of $0.50 to $2.00 an item, selecting these products is really a great choice.

Last, to truly dine-on-a-discount one must be willing to cook. Fast food expenses add up quickly and microwavable and frozen entrees can become costly. Be sure to stock you kitchen with the basics – flour, rice, seasonings, pasts, and potatoes. Add to the basics depending on your personal and cultural cuisine choices. These basic items should be feasible to use in a variety of dishes.

For instance, I can transform a bag of potatoes into several dishes:

Scalloped potatoes
Mashed potatoes
Baked potatoes
Potato salad
French fried potatoes
Potato stuffing – a traditional Virgin Islands dish
Or use them in a stew

The same strategy may be applied to other food items. Discount dining is simple, taking a small amount of consideration and planning. The current economy has made the strategy very important, and any family or individual who drastically needs to save money and create a spending budget, should adopt the methods of discount dining.

Here’s to Good & Affordable Eating!
(copyright) Eclectic Life Books

Popular Sale Returns: Spirituali-tees for 5 Bucks!

A popular sale returns: Goddess Zuri's Spirituali-tees are on sale for $5 thru Sunday, June 26th! Reg. $12.

Abraham's Heiress: The story of Abraham is one of faith, obedience, promise and prosperity and serves as an inspiration for this shirt.

Praying hands: Quite simply, there is power in prayer. Prayer changes things. This 100% cotton, slim fitting tee is an outward reflection of that truth.

Get them before the sale ends!!!!

God Bless The Child

by Hero With A Thousand Faces

“Momma may have, poppa may have, but God bless the child that's got his own...”- lyrics from God Bless the Child by Billy Holiday

Billy Holiday’s sentiment shared in her rendition of God Bless the Child is an anthem for independence. The origins of these lyrics allegedly stem from an argument a then struggling Billy Holiday had with her parents after they declined to loan her money. Holiday laments that it doesn’t matter how well off your mom or dad might be; real financial security comes when a person has his or her own assets.

Solid advice. However, these lyrics take on a slightly different meaning for me. I interpreted them in a way that leans more towards spiritual maturity and independence. As I reflect on my own spiritual journey, I recognize how the theme of these lyrics is interwoven throughout it.

I was raised in the South and followed the traditional Southern Baptist Christian narrative. And like many denominations and religious bodies, many Baptists claim sole legitimacy on truths about God and living. Even as a child, I felt a bit uneasy with religious figures who stood on blind faith and operated under the notion that their religion or God was above all others. I felt, and still feel, compelled to seek knowledge and truth using a balance of openness, humility, and critical thinking. My mind and heart reason that geography, where people live, has a bigger impact on their chosen religious practices than any other factor. With this line of thinking, I could make the argument that had I been born in Orissa, India, I may have grown to become a pious Hindu. If I were born in Guadalajara, Mexico, I may have grown up practicing Catholicism.

True spiritual growth occurs in our life’s journey when we come to undeniable personal understandings of our beliefs and principles. This personal understanding is attuned with our true selves and resonates in our soul. This level of understanding is usually acquired when our souls go through the hero journey. A hero journey is the age old story of one facing challenging times and situations that thrust the hero into the pits of his or her soul. The reward is true possession of that soul. It is a journey open to all and different for all.

As Billie Holiday reminds us, “God bless the child that’s got his own...” So how do you go about cultivating your own spiritual understanding?

Listen. When something resonates with your soul, there is often an “amen” affirmation that takes place within. I believe this is the higher self harmonizing with the seemingly contradictory elements and variables of the worldly self. Listen for it, acknowledge and build from it.

Eat Well, Be Beautiful

There is no universal definition of beauty. No rules on how long your hair should be, how tall you should stand, how much weight you should carry nor how much melanin you should possess.

In fact, my personal definition of beauty only requires two things, both of which are related to eating well. Confidence and good health.

What we eat can play a big role in determining our weight, the clarity of our skin, the shininess of our hair and the strength of our nails. All of which are common factors that can affect our confidence; so, it’s no stretch to say the effects of what we eat can build up or deflate the way we feel about ourselves; and there’s no doubt that what we eat is directly related to how we feel. Beauty is about taking care of ourselves, not necessarily about keeping ourselves up. The latter deals primarily with attention to the exterior. Developing healthy habits like eating small, regular, wholesome meals help cultivate beauty from the inside out. Eating healthy, in concert with exercise, can elevate our confidence, energy, strength of mind and body and help us maintain a healthy attitude.

Real beauty requires confidence and good health and starts with eating well.

Here are a few suggestions:

* Increase Metabolism: hot peppers, whole grains, broccoli, green tea, salmon, tuna
* Healthy Skin: salmon, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, spinach, turkey
* Shiny Hair: carrots, cantaloupe, wild salmon, tuna, walnuts, beets, berries, flaxseed
* Strong Nails: garlic, apples, onion, gelatin

Be Fearless

Be fearless. This simple two-word sentence sums up my personal mission statement. I've made a commitment to myself to be fearless in love, life, work and play.

Because of these two words, I've embarked upon some equally challenging and rewarding experiences. I moved to Chicago immediately after college, a place where I knew nothing and no one, to start my career. I bought a house when I was 24. I started Goddess Zuri when I was 26, having no previous knowledge about designing, constructing garments, importing materials, or running an online store. In 2008, I traveled to Indonesia alone after reading and being inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's novel, Eat Pray Love. I started blogging two years ago despite my time-management concerns. And most recently, I tried out for the Carolina Panthers TopCats cheerleading team.

I don't have any formal dance training or experience, but I love dancing and movement. So, I went for it. In a little under a month, I challenged myself to learn four routines and their accompanying formations. I continually worked to improve my flexibility, posture and technique throughout the process to advance to the next round of competition. I made it all the way to the final audition where I left everything on the floor. Though I didn't make the squad, I am proud of myself for being fearless, pushing back my limitations, and building character.