Bridal Shower Basics……From Me to You

Yesterday I went to my cousin’s bridal shower and although I didn’t win any games (or prizes for winning games), I had a great time.  Whenever I go to a bridal shower, I never know what to expect nor do I know how things will go.  I don’t know what games are going to played or if there will even be any games, but I hope for the best.  In hoping for the best it is so important to dress comfortably.  Why, you ask? because you never know if the games will be physical causing you to get on your knees or even play musical chairs. 

Second, go to the shower and be prepared to participate.  There is nothing more boring than a shower full of people who aren’t willing to participate.  It seems that as I get older, more and more women are not willing to participate in the games, especially older women.  It’s gotten so bad that I don’t even expect women over the age 50 to play the games, and while I understand, please feel free to shock me. 

Next, is the food.  Don’t be afraid to ask how something was made or what ingredients.  I’m allergic to nuts so I always ask what something was made with.  I promise, no one will be offended, in fact, they will probably appreciate you for speaking up.  Lucky for me, my cousin and her friends are nurses so if I needed any help, I would’ve been good.

Now, onto the gifts.  Opening up the gifts can be so much fun.  From the oohs and ahhs, the bride receiving edible undergarments or all the frilly gifts, this is probably the brides favorite time as well.  Some of the gifts can be a little offensive if you don’t have an open mind and it is very important to know that the guests are not aware of what makes you uncomfortable so if they give the bride a leather whip, don’t give them the gas face, just smile and nod. 

Last, just have fun.  It is very likely that you may not know anyone at shower and that’s okay but there is nothing wrong with socailizing with strangers.  Talking to people and being social will ensure that you have a memorable experience.

Black College Football Comes To Xbox 360 Aug. 24th

Normally we don’t talk about video games on Rhythmic Soul.  It’s not that we don’t like them, it’s just that we don’t get them.  Until I get my Nintendo Wii that I was promised last Christmas, I doubt if I will ever be extremely enthusiastic about video games, PS3 or XBox 360 (unless you count my Guitar Hero obsession).  However I come to you with good news today and yes it is video game related. 

Set to hit your local Gamestop on August 24th is the first ever Black College Football Game made for Xbox 360.  With 36 HBCU’s, video game players can play in games such as the Bayou Classic, the Labor Day Classic and others.  Expect to receive the same realistic feel of any other video game.  In an effort to add that HBCU flair, players even sway back and forth during the half-time show. 

I’m extremely satisfied because this gives young men and boys who have no idea of what the HBCU football experience is like, a glimpse into a rich history on a level that they understand. I love it!!!

Nikki Blonsky Joins Full Figured Fashion Week

Nikki Blonsky Joins The State of the Curvy Community Panel Discussion

This just in!

Full Figured Fashion Week and The Curvy Collective are proud to announce the addition of Ms. Nikki Blonsky to the panel discussion’s “The State of the Curvy Community.”

Best known for her roles in Hairspray and Queen Sized, Nikki Blonsky is a full figured singer and actress, making waves on the big screen; and now, she is a panelist for Full Figured Fashion Week!

Did you miss the first announcement of the panel?  No worries, here is a quick snapshot of the event: 

The Curvy Collective and Full Figured Fashion Week Presents an intimate discussion on “The State of the Curvy Community”

What: The State of the Curvy Community

Who: Plus Size industry experts including:

Host Sharon Quinn, “The Original Runway Diva”

•  Mia Amber- Actress, Model, Plus Model Magazine
•  K.L. Belvins- Author of “Man in Transition”
•  Nikki Blonsky- Actress and Singer (Just Added)
•  Glen Johnson- Full Figure Plus and Curvy Collective Member
•  Maddy Jones- Editor of Plus Model Magazine
• Cassy Jones- McBryde- US Director of the Fuller Woman Network
• Deb Malkin- Owner of Re/Dress NYC
• Susan Moses- Celebrity StylistWhen: Friday, June 26, 2009, 3:00 p.m. ~ 5:00 p.m.
  Where: Ripley Grier Studios Room 16U

  Make sure you stayed tuned into The Curvy Fashionista for more updates on our late breaking updates for Full Figured Fashion Week! 

  Did you RSVP?  If so, I will see you there!  The list is closed now!  If you are not able to make it in, make sure you follow The Curvy Collective to stay abreast of all the happenings!

The Curvy Collective Presents the Ultimate Shopping Experience

In addition to all of the awesomeness planned to take place during the Full Figured Fashion Week, the members of The Curvy Collective are hosting a “Curves in The City Shopping Soiree”.  This inclusive shopping experience takes place on June 27th 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ripley Grier Studios
520 8th Avenue (bet. 36th and 37th Streets)
16th Floor, Room 17D
New York, NY
*** Must have I.D. to enter bldg.
Note: No tickets will be mailed, check in at the door –please bring photo I.D.

Tickets: $15 General Admission, $25 V.I.P with goodie bag

Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.fffweek.com.

All Hail The Queen……..of Everything

‘Ladies First’ pioneer MC Queen Latifah is a vision of beauty as she graces the cover of the July issue of Essence magazine.  Many may not recall the barriers that the Queen has broken over the years but I can recall every moment.  From winning a grammy for her controversial empowerment anthem, “U.N.I.T.Y.” to starring in her very own sitcom, “Living Single” to her multiple movie rolls then becoming a spokeswoman for Cover girl which utimately led to her getting a make-up line named after her…..The Queen Collection–Queen Latifah is the epitome of a woman doing it the right way. 

Once inside this issue of Essence Queen Latifah a.k.a. Dana Owens opens about her childhood, the passing of her brother and why she isn’t married yet.  Make sure you get this enjoyable magazine which will have you reading every page of it.

Celebrate At Full Figured Fashion Week

 

 

 

 

 

For all those ladies and men attending Full Figured Fashion Week thinking, “Is this only about fashion”? You’re wrong. Don’t feel bad, I was thinking the same thing too but we’re in luck. Thanks to Curvesity Entertainment, there will be not one but two after party affairs. If that’s not variety, I don’t know what is. On Friday Curvesity Entertainment will be hosting two events simultaneously.

The first event is “New York Sewn Up” which will take place at the Sage Theater 711 7th Ave. (between 47th and 48th) NYC from 10:30pm-1:00am. Party goers are in for a special treat. In addition to good times and great music, Queen Aishah (comedienne, actress, radio personality and philanthropist) will host a mini-concert/comedy show. Queen Aishah will be performing along with Crystal P (Detroit’s Queen of Comedy). Added to this Dynamic line up will be the Glamazons of America’s Got Talent fame. This fierce foursome plus size pop group will be blowing down the house with their vocal talents and whose mission is showing the world that talent comes in all sizes. This event will be open to the general public at a nominal fee check the official FFFWeek.com website for pricing.The second event will be “The Friday Night Dance Party” at Stitch Lounge 247 West 37^th Street (bet. 7^th and 8^th Ave) NYC. There you can dance, mix mingle, network, drink or grab a bite to eat, while celebrating this historical event. The music will consist of old and new school and we will have some of the hottest DJ’s in the house. Curvesity is going to show you how NY does it and why we are one of New York’s Premier Party Promotion Teams so check FFFWeek.com for pricing. You can come to one or if you can hang you can do both events.

 

 

As a prequel to the Friday night festivities, they are also hosting a Media Reception at the Taj Lounge from 6pm-10pm which will be the official FFFWeek Press Release Party and it will be for press, models as well as designers and this will be by invitation only.

 We at Curvesity Entertainment are just a small part of the big picture but we are a “Strong Link in a Mighty Chain!”

Check out their website

www.curvesity.com

 

What Do You Know About The Curvy Collective?

June 25-27th marks one of the biggest events in history for the Full Figured community and I will be there to get all of the scoop.  Thanks to Devoe Signature Events, the idea of a “Full Figured Fashion Week” is a reality. Many of you may not know this but in addition to my duties here with Rhythmic Soul, I am also the Arts & Entertainment Editor for Venus Diva Magazine–the premiere lifestyle magazine catering to Plus Size women.  So to those of you who think I just write about music, I must laugh at you because my talents are limitless.  With that being said, let me tell you about the Curvy Collective.

Started by Johara Tucker and Marie Leggette, The Curvy Collective is a group of jounalist who take pride in what they do.  They especially take pride in being the trailblazers to deliver you news and updates from their respective media outlets.  That pride will be very much present as the members of this elite and exclusive collective capture up to the minute news related to a week of style, creativity and the recognition of talented designers who cater to the 40 million women that represent the plus size consumer?

Comprised of some of the top plus size journalists and media outlets, The Curvy Collective will have exclusive access to Full Figured Fashion Week events and the public. Through social networking sites like Twitter and micro journaling, The Curvy Collective will give new meaning to “event coverage.”

In addition, The Curvy Collective will co-host some of the hottest events of Full Figured Fashion Week: “The State of the Curvy Community” at Ripley Grier Studios on Friday, June 26th, from 3 –5:00PM and “Curves in the City” Shopping Soiree, at Ripley Grier Studios on Saturday June 27th, from 11AM – 3PM.
The prestigious members of The Curvy Collective represent: Belle-Noir Communications, Fatshionista, Full Figure Plus, Luvin’ My Curves, Manik Magazine, Style IT Online, The Curvy Fashionista, Venus Divas Magazine, and Young Fat and Fabulous.

It is estimated that this long overdue and highly anticipated three-day fashion extravaganza (June 25-27, 2009) will debut before an audience of over 1500+ plus size fashion enthusiasts, style mavens, models, boutiques, vendors and the media.

The FFFWeek finale showcase, which will take place on Saturday, June 27th, 2009 at The Prince George Ballroom, will feature the runway collections of high-end plus size fashion boutiques, retail stores and local and out of state independent designers.

I am extremely excited to be apart of the Curvy Collective and I can’t wait to head to NYC!

Are you coming? If so I hope to see you there!

June Issue Of Essence Has So Much To Offer

This weekend I received the June issue of Essence magazine which had a very serene and beautiful picture of Jennifer Hudson on the cover.  I love Jennifer, I love Essence and I love the way the magazine embraces everything that women of color has to offer.  However, I have to agree with www.brownsista.com and voice my slight frustration with Essence for displaying the same brown beauties (Mary j. Blige or Beyonce) month after month.  I would love to see up and coming sisters like Jazimine Sullivan or Chrisette Michele on the cover.  It might even bring a younger, fresher perspective to the magazine.

Once inside expect great articles on a wide range of topics.  From the ‘Sexy Sister’s Summer Guide’ to ways to ‘Find A New Job Fast’, this issue keeps you engaged and entertained.  Expect to get your ear candy fix by reading the Summer Music Preview complete with a great article on MIA superstar Maxwell.  A standout for me was the piece on Jennifer Hudson in which her recent triumphs and trials are discussed with her and fiancee’ David aka Punk.  Before I was done reading this article, I was reaching for my box of kleenex.

Overall, Essence has put together a very enjoyable issue to help readers bring their summer in right.

Openly Married

Last night on the “For the Love of Ray J” reunion show, Stilts made it known that she was in an open marriage and was on the show to see if the grass is greener on the other side.  Her comments got me thinking.  How many people actually participate in an open marriage? Secondly, do I know anyone who practices this lifestyle?  If I do, they haven’t told me yet and I’m not sure if I would like to know the details of their openness.

An Open marriage typically refers to a marriage in which the partners agree that each may engage in extramarital sexual relationships, without this being regarded as infidelity. There are many different styles of open marriage, with the partners having varying levels of input on their spouse’s activities.

Researchers originally used the term starting in the 60’s to describe the ability to freely choose your marriage partner.  In 1972 that meaning was changed to describe the free love that many hippies had for each other. 

Ground Rules

Couples involved in open marriages or relationships typically adopt a set of ground rules to guide their activities. Ground rules in relationships allow partners to coordinate their behaviors so they achieve shared goals with fewer conflicts. Some ground rules are universal in the sense they apply to virtually all relationships in a particular culture. Other ground rules apply to specific kinds of relationships, such as friendships or marriages. Still other ground rules are designed to manage romantic rivalry and jealousy. The ground rules adopted by sexually monogamous couples tend to prohibit behaviors that are viewed as acts of infidelity. The ground rules adopted by sexually open couples tend to prohibit behaviors that provoke jealousy. Partners may change the ground rules of their relationships over time.

Open Marriage Styles

Couples in open marriages may prefer different kinds of extramarital relationships. Couples who prefer extramarital relationships emphasizing love and emotional involvement have a polyamorous style of open marriage. Couples who prefer extramarital relationships emphasizing sexual gratification and recreational friendships have a swinging style of open marriage. These distinctions may depend on psychological factors such as sociosexuality and may contribute to the formation of separate Polyamory and Swinging communities. Despite their distinctions, however, all open marriages share common issues: the lack of social acceptance, the need to maintain the health of their relationship and avoid neglect, and the need to manage jealous rivalry.

Jealousy Issues

Couples in open marriage expose themselves to situations that can potentially provoke jealousy. Most couples in open marriages report experiencing jealousy at some point during their marriage. Ground rules are one way to help manage jealousy in open relationships. However, ground rules may not be sufficient. Couples in open marriages may benefit from a general understanding of jealousy and how to cope with it.

I don’t know about you but this is too heavy for me.  I deal with ground rules and a bunch of issues in a regular marriage so I’m really trying to understand why anyone would want to deal with these things in a completely different relationship.  Many even believe that open marriages are more successful because mates are able to live freely without worrying about infedelity or mistrust.  Either way, do whatever it is that makes you happy.  Bottom Line.

Robin Thicke, Jennifer Hudson, Rain & SWV

 

Hey Yall,

What a weekend I’ve had.  Friday I went to the Detroit Opera House and saw Robin Thicke and J Hud perform.  What an experience that was.  If you’ve never seen these two perform live, you are definitely missing out.  It’s no secret that Robin Thicke exudes a certain sexiness….the type of sexiness that even my 60 year old mother is well aware of.  When I told her that I saw him perform, her reply was “Oh yeah, that sexy white guy, and he likes the sista’s, so that makes him even more sexy”.  It takes a momma to tell it like it is.  As for Jennifer Hudson……that girl can sang!! During her set, I can’t count the amount of times I received chills.  A voice like that has to be a gift from god because that’s the only explanation for it.  As a special treat, I got to go backstage and meet Robin Thicke.  Apparently, I won a contest and my prize was two nose bleed tickets and two backstage passes.  Once I finally figured out what “backstage” meant (a room on the 2nd floor), I was greeted by a line of others waiting to meet him also.  For some reason I thought I was the only winner but I was sadly mistaken.  Once I got to the front of the line I realized how tall he was.  He had to be at least 6 feet 3 inches.  When we got to the front of the line, Robin insisted that I be placed in the middle of him and Moe making me the focal point of the picture.  In true Stephanie form, I didn’t have my camera with me (the ticket said no cameras) but the girl in front of me let me use her camera so as soon as she emails me the picture, I will post it. 

Saturday night I went to Seldom Blues in the Ren Cen for dinner to celebrate Teresa’s birthday.  I always knew Seldom blues was expensive, but expensive is an understatement.  The food was decent but the music is what had my attention. 

As you can see my weekend was great, at least in my eyes but no weekend is complete without Michigan weather playing a mind game on you.  Throughout the weekend Mother Nature teased us.  One minute the sun was out and just as your getting ready to head to the park, the rain interrupted your ideas.  Since I can’t change the weather, I guess I’ll embrace it the way SWV has. 

Have A Great Week!