A Diva State of Mind

I hadn’t thought about mentioning my feature in Because I Am Fabulous until a friend asked this weekend “when are you posting the feature on your site?”  I thought emailing the link to a few friends and sharing via twitter was enough. So please forgive me for not sharing this with all of you sooner! 

Three weeks ago, the fabulous folks at Because I Am Fabulous (s/o to the Editor-in-Chief Sai Sankoh) featured me for this month’s blogger shine. Because I Am Fabulous is great site on all things fashion, beauty, street and celebrity style.

Check out a few excerpts from the feature:

What inspired you to start blogging?

When I started my blog, I was working retail and off two weekdays per week .I was bored because all of my friends were at working during the day while I was home.  A friend suggested I start blogging.  I didn’t think I had much to blog about, but I decided to give it a try anyway.

Who do you think is the most influential personality in fashion world and why? 

I don’t think there is one personality that is the most influential in the fashion world. I think there is enough room in the industry for everyone to make their own individual impact.

If you could give one piece of style advice, what would it be?

Great style begins with confidence! It’s important that women are comfortable in their own bodies.

Where do you see your blog headed in a few years?

I see the blog shifting in the direction of providing more styling advice. In the past year, I have used the site to launch my personal styling business.  In a few years, people will not only think of A Diva State of Mind as a lifestyle blog but a place they can go to for personal styling services.

Read the full feature at Because I Am Fabulous

Shonda Rhimes is killing the television game right now!  You may not be familiar with her, but I’m sure you have heard of her very popular television shows!

Rhimes is the creator of one my favorite Thursday night TV lineup, Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice.  And she is not slowing down!   She recently sold three shows to various networks.  Her new show Scandal, which will premiere next year, is the one I’m looking forward to the most.  The show stars Kerry Washington and is based around a crisis management firm in Washington, DC.  After looking at the trailer, the show looks like it’s going to be another success for Rhimes!

Along with being named Time Magazine’s 100 Top 100 people who help shape the world in 2007, Rhimes has received a number of awards including:

• Won four NAACP Image Awards
• Rhimes was nominated for an Emmy in 2006 and 2007 for a dramatic series and writing a dramatic series.
• Rhimes was nominated by PGA awards for the “Television Producer of the Year Award in Episodic” for Drama in Grey’s Anatomy in 2006, 2007 and 2008; she won in 2007.
• Rhimes and fellow co-workers were nominated in 2006 and 2007 by the Writers Guild of America, USA for the WGA Award (TV); she won in 2006.
• In 2007, Rhimes, along with the cast of Grey’s Anatomy, was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.

 Source: Clutch Magazine & Wikipedia

Photo by Vmiramontes

Today marks the two year anniversary of my blog! That’s right, on this day in 2009, I wrote my first blog post, Diva Must Haves.  Since then, A Diva State of Mind has come a LONG way!

What started out as something to do just for fun and to keep me entertained while I worked an unstable retail schedule has turned into not only a great blog site (2011 Black Weblog Award Best Lifestyle Blog Winner) but also a business.   I have you, the readers, to thank for the success of my site and the brand.

I wanted to thank everyone who has ever read a post, especially those of you who have been here since the beginning. If it wasn’t for my friend, Stephanie Allen, who encouraged me to start blogging, A Diva State of Mind would not be where it is today.

As many of you know, this is not what I had planned two years ago. While I had shifted my interest from sports marketing to fashion marketing, I didn’t have blogging on my radar. I had entertained the idea of styling, even researched a few training opportunities but never pursued them. And to think that now, A Diva State of Mind, is slowly but surely becoming more recognized and I am now able to use that as a platform to pursue a styling career is a true test that we do not know what God has in store for us.  What I do know is that when you feel called to do something, just do it! You never know what will happen.

I know you’re wondering, “what are you doing to celebrate?” Surprisingly, I am not doing much.   I know it’s a shock considering I love to attend a great happy hour after work or a party.  I’ll be at The Park at Fourteenth tonight to see Musiq Soulchild perform, so if you’re there, hit me up via phone or twitter! But other than that, I’m keeping the celebration to a minimum. Instead, I will reflect on the past two years, be thankful for how far the blog has come and develop a plan for the future.  I am quite anxious to see how the brand will continue to grow over the next few years.

So again, I want to say thank you for your continuous support of the site. Thank you for supporting me as I continue to work to use the blog as a great platform to build a styling business.  Remember, if you or anyone you know is seeking styling services, check out the services page and contact me (did you really think I was going to end the post without promoting the business?!).

I have also expanded the media platform of A Diva State of Mind. Not only can you follow on Facebook & Twitter, but you can find me on Tumblr and on Instagram under the name divastatemind. Tumblr and Instagram will feature various pictures and quotes I come across that I absolutely love and think others will enjoy too!

Stef Woods aka City Girl is a very popular blogger in DC. Her blog, City Girl Blogs, was created three years ago and follows Stef on her various dating adventures. Let me just say, she has some interesting stories to tell!!  Honestly when I first started reading, it reminded me of Sex and the City.

Last year in the midst of blogging about her relationships, things changed and so did some of her blog posts.  In June 2010, Stef was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She was sometimes sad, tired and sick while going though chemo, but she didn’t let that keep her down. Instead, she used her blog to raise awareness and share her experience with her readers.  As a reader I can attest to how enlightening it was to follow her on the journey to living cancer free.   I applaud any woman who has to go through that experience because it is extremely challenging and it isn’t easy sharing how you are feeling during that time with others.

Breast cancer is a life changing experience and it has brought Stef to where she is in her life today.  Since her diagnosis, a lot of positive things have happened.  Ms. Woods is not only a blogger, but she is now teaching courses at American University and continues to write sexual health and wellness articles for Fascinations, the premier educational romance retailer.  As you would expect, she is a strong breast cancer advocate. She speaks and writes about prevention, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hair loss, etc and has donated time to and raised money for a number of breast cancer organizations in the DC area.

I am happy to announce that on September 14, 2011, Stef Woods will be receiving her last cancer IV.  After that, she will be done with treatment!!! And that can mean only one thing, it’ll be time to celebrate!

Please check out Stef’s blog to learn more about her end of treatment celebration and fundraiser for Pink Jams! a Washington, DC area non-profit promoting early detection and breast cancer awareness to young men and women.

Congratulations Stef!!

We haven’t really seen Jennifer Lopez aka J.Lo since 2007, when she left the limelight to focus on her twins.  Before the hiatus, J. Lo was EVERYWHERE. She was featured in multiple movies and released six studio albums; selling an estimated 55 million records worldwide.  She launched a successful clothing company in 2003, “JLO by Jennifer Lopez” and created her own perfume “Glow by J.LO,” setting a trend we would later see followed by Rihanna, Beyonce and Mariah Carey.

The announcement in 2010 that J. Lo would be a new judge on “American Idol” solidified her presence back into the entertainment business.  She was named People Magazine’s Most Beautiful Person in 2011, she is the spokesperson for L’Oreal EverSleek and Gillette Venus and has been featured in Gucci advertisements with her twins. She stole the red carpet in her fabulous short silver Emilo Pucci dress at the Grammys 2011 (to me, she was the best dressed for the Grammys) and released a new album yesterday entitled Love?

Now, as many of you know, not only is a diva great at her craft, she is also working to make an impact on the world. Jennifer Lopez is an avid supporter of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and was presented with the Children’s Humanitarian Award at the hospital’s inaugural Noche de Niños Gala. She produced and starred in the film Bordertown, a film exposing the ongoing murders of hundreds of women in the border city of Juárez, Mexico.  She is working with Sounds of Pertussis and March of Dimes to raise awareness about whooping cough and encourage vaccination of adults to prevent spread of disease to infants.

J.Lo is definitely a force to be reckoned with and I’m glad to see her back on the scene!

Check out her latest video “I’m Into You” featuring Lil Wayne. Honestly, I don’t think she has aged since releasing her first album in 1999; she looks FABULOUS! I hope I look that good when I’m 41 years old!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgLcQmlN2Xg&feature=player_embedded

WORK DIVA!

Each month I highlight an amazing woman or women and up until now, all of the women featured have been chosen by me. So this time I thought I’d try something different; I want to hear from YOU!!  Who would you like to see highlighted in this month’s Diva Spotlight??

Please submit your Diva Spotlight post to adivastateofmind {at} gmail.com. Yes, your submission will be the guest Diva Spotlight post for this month!!  Make sure you also include your twitter handle and website name and link if you have one so I can include that in your post.

Check out previous posts (the link is located under the categories section in the right sidebar) for an idea of what the Diva Spotlight looks like. 

I look forward to reading your submissions!

Jovonne & Jackie

Traveling on a mission trip is truly a calling so I was extremely proud when I found out two of my friends had been called to travel to the Dominican Republic in March.

On March 13, 2011, Jackie Dillon and Jovonne Williams will travel with the National Community Church to rehabilitate and improve Las Palmas church and community center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The center is very active in the community providing feeding programs, vocational skill courses, and community youth programs.

Funds are needed to build walls and support the purchase of other building related materials. These ladies and the National Community Church need our help to raise $35,000 to fund this trip.  To show your support, Jackie and Jovonne are seeking your donation through the purchase of blocks.

Each block is $10 and includes all necessary materials for construction.  Suggested donation amounts are $10 (1 block), $50 (5 blocks) or $100 (10 blocks), however donations of any amount will be accepted; every dollar amount will make a huge impact!! Any additional funds raised will go to vocational scholarships for local residents.

As I have stressed so often,  we should all give back to our community whether that community is near or far.  If you’re interested in learning more about this Dominican Republic mission trip and would like to show your support, please visit www.DCtoDR.com.

This month’s Diva Spotlight is provided by J. Bennings!

Singer/songwriter Katrina Bello is an up and coming R&B artist.  A native of the D.C. Metropolitan area, this DIVA has been singing for as long as she can remember and has one of the most soulful voices I’ve ever heard.

After attending the University of Pittsburgh for 2 years in pursuit of a nursing degree, she boldly decided to follow her dreams of being an artist and transferred to Berklee School of Music in Boston where she studies Music Business/Management. Her ultimate goal is to become a recording artist and she’s making positive strides by recording both original music as well as covers of popular songs. She recently released a mix tape titled The Boiling Point which features some of her original music.

Raised by Nigerian parents, music was a major part of her upbringing. It was at the age of 12 or 13 that she realized she wanted to pursue music. When asked what artist she admires or looks up to she says “old school artists such as Prince, Chaka Khan, Tracy Chapman, and Eric Clapton.”  Some of her current favorites include Miguel, Jazmine Sullivan, Keri Hilson, and Melanie Fiona. She adds “I could go on forever because I can usually find something to appreciate in most artists. As long as they are doing what is true and unique to them to the best of their ability, I respect them.  We all have something unique to share!” She is a huge fan of who she calls “Beyzus” (Beyonce) and admits that Lauryn Hill is her by far her favorite artist.

When it comes to writing music, she finds her inspiration from life experiences. “I’m just passionate about experiencing things on my own and observing experiences of others. Maxwell said live first, create later.” She views songwriting as storytelling, and wants people to take real life stories away from her music.

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to watch her grow not just as an artist but as a true friend. Her songs really do tell a story. Her unique voice draws listeners in and we can all relate to the stories her lyrics tell. So this month, let’s shine the DIVA Spotlight on Ms. Katrina Bello. 

Check out 2 of her original songs below:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPLEXcTe1BY

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOeZSx5MRwc&feature=related

You can follow her at @KBello, and watch her videos at youtube.com/katrinabello. You can also find her mixtape The Boiling Point at katrinabello.bandcamp.com

Thanks J. Bennings for your Diva Spotlight.  I hope Katrina’s story will inspire others to have faith and follow their dreams. You only live once so you might as well live on purpose!

Marie Lucie Mentor

January will mark the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that shattered Haiti.  Since then, the road to recovery has been extremely slow.   Thousands of people are still living in tent cities where violence and rape against women is unfortunately very common.

I was moved by the January 2011 ESSENCE article titled “Fighting Back” that discussed the women of the camps and how they are helping each other fight back against violence and rape; honestly it made me uncomfortable to read these women’s stories. It was also unsettling to know that many times, courts would negotiate financial agreements between rapist and the victim’s family instead of the criminal going to jail.

One woman who is making a difference in the lives of these women is Marie Lucie Mentor. She is the founder of KALMI (creole acronym for Haitian Committee for a Better Life) and provides financial, medical and other assistance to other 2,000 people infected with HIV.  While she does the best she can to support women and children of Haiti, her resources are incredibly limited.

The women of Haiti are the focus of this month’s Diva Spotlight because they are survivors. They have not allowed the horror they experience to define them and stop them from living their lives.  Marie Lucie Mentor and other women organizations are vocal and present in their community, changing the way women cope with the aftermath of violence.

Many people made donations to Haiti after the earthquake, but those who need it the most have yet to receive the resources.  ESSENCE magazine list three ways YOU can help numerous women like Marie Lucie Mentor who are doing the best they can to help the women of Haiti:

1. FONKOZE USA:  501(c)3 organization offering microloans and educational services to rural Haitian women. Go to DONATE NOW at fonkoze.org and in the restriction box type “Marie Lucie Mentor’s program, KALMI” to send make a donation.

2. MADRE: An organization focusing on saving women in Haiti by providing humanitarian aid, whistles and flashlights through its Helping Hands program and other resources to support those who are victims of violence.  Log on to madre.org to donate.

 3. PARTNERS IN HEALTH:  Provides medical supplies required for cholera, HIV/AIDS, and other illnesses to those in need on a consistent basis. Visit pih.org to donate.

I know many of you made a donation last January to help the country, but please think about helping these women. Through the organizations listed above, your generous donations will reach the hands of those who are in desperate need of help while the country continues to wait for recovery efforts to begin.

The January 2011 issue of ESSENCE is on stands today.

Only a true diva would have a Barbie created in her image.  Toy maker Mattel has created a new Janet Jackson Barbie doll, inspired by her 2010 American Idol performance.

Mattel designer Jackeline Gonzalez didn’t miss one detail! From Janet’s new short haircut to the black gown and body-hugging cat-suit she revealed during her second performance, this doll is fabulous! Mattel went one step further by adding Swarovski crystals to the gown and mic.

“Divinely Janet” was created to help benefit Project Angel Food, a charity working with those living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. “Divinely Janet” is definitely a collectors item. The current bid for the new Barbie doll is $1,050 (the doll is valued at $15,000). Bidding will end next Wednesday, December 15^th.

This is an innovative way to raise money for a non-profit. After all, when was the last time we saw a Barbie like this?  Would you purchase this doll or any item of premium value to support a great cause?