In My Solitude Boutique Blog

February 15-March 6, 2008

Let's Try Something New!

The Barack Obama campaign is infectious isn't it? His ability to galvanize Americans from all walks of life is simply incredible! When it's time to cast my vote in this historic election, I will walk arm in arm with my father to the polls. I know, it sounds so Ms. Jane Pittman, but I've got to do it because my dad like many people of his generation, never thought an African-American could be elected president in his lifetime.

But, Obama is more than just a black candidate, we finally have a leader who is tapping into a core desire that we all seem to have at this moment in our lives. A deep need for change! Not just in our country, but also within us. The metaphysicists say everyone and everything in our lives is a reflection of who we are and what we've chosen. If that's truly the case, it's not hard to see that it's time to raise the bar...but how?

Well, Eleanor Roosevelt said you should do one thing in your life everyday that scares you. I remember living that way somewhat unknowingly back in the day when I was a reporter. My heart was always pounding with excitement because I had to be "present" with people to get the news and connected to my own voice in order to write a compelling story. When you were "live" on the air it felt like anything could happen in that moment.. as long as it didn't involve the movement of my little bob. And can you believe that necklace? I look like I could play a young Condoleezza Rice in a made for TV movie!

Anyway, I've gotten the same feeling of engagement that I experienced during my reporter years following the Obama campaign on TV. For a long time, I thought it was the rush of working in broadcast news that I missed. But now, after starting In My Solitude and this blog, I know differently. What I longed for was the opportunity to express my voice and creativity in a way that is authentic to who I am now. And we all know authentic work is hard to come by, that's why Barack Obama's choice to run for president is resonating with so many people. He's living his truth and encouraging us to do the same and thereby play our position in the electoral process. By following his dream all the way to the white house, Barack Obama is living an authentic life. I'm sure making the decision to declare himself as a presidential candidate wasn't easy, but he did it any way.

I've learned that I can never get what I want if I'm not willing to live through the fear of not obtaining it. So, I ask you, what first step do you need to take in your life today? It's definitely scary and exhausting to think about every action required to make your dreams come true. But, I think Barack Obama sums it up best in his campaign speeches when he declares, "We are the change we've been seeking."

Abundantly yours,

Evolyn

A Lash That Lasts!
By Ev & Nichole

It's award show time in Los Angeles and I love to see everyone so "glammed" up! This year, I attended the NAACP Image Awards with my friend Nichole. Her show, Our World With Black Enterprise was nominated. It's my third time going and while I always have a lot of fun, my best memories so far are from 2004. That's when I actually won an Image Award and later that night I was laughing so hard with Nichole that my fake lash fell into my champagne glass.

This year, I vowed that there would be no makeup malfunctions on my watch. So, we called our friend Nicholas to stop by the villa to toast Nichole and glam us up for the show. Nicholas Whitehead is a fabulous makeup artist who has worked with many celebs and on fashion shoots with David LaChapelle, Interview and W magazine. He also made the fierce hat he's wearing in the photo, but we'll get to his menswear line down the road. All I can say is that his technique for applying false eyelashes is the "truth" because ours stayed on all night.

Ev: Why do you think my eyelash fell off at the Image Awards?

Nicholas: It was probably too big for your eye and wasn't glued on right. The lash should come close to your inner eye, but not extend further than your natural lash. Most of the time lashes come off from the inside.

Nichole: Why is the glue so hard to work with? It always ends up on my fingers and the fake lash.

Nicholas: When you apply the glue it should be tacky, not watery. Squeeze a little bit out of the tube onto a solid surface. Use a small makeup brush to apply a drop of glue to the inner, outer and middle of lash and then blend.

Ev: Okay, you're getting fancy with the brush. What's the best way to put the lash on?

Nicholas: First of all, not while drinking two glasses of red wine. No wonder your eyelash fell off! You probably forgot the glue. Anyway, you have to apply the fake lash in the corner where your natural lash starts then stick it to your outer eyelid and finally smooth out the middle. If you have to clip them trim the lash from the inner corner a little at a time.

Nichole: Wow! Who knew?

Ev: Thank you Nicholas for making us look fabulous and good luck Nichole!

30 Day Pass:Bag It Or Buy It?
By Derek

As you may recall, 30 days ago I did the unthinkable. I parted with twenty hard earn dollars sot that I could test whether the much Oooh-ed and Ah-ed Oligo 25 Yeux Eye Cooling Stick would eliminate my distracting eye bags. Well it’s Day 31 and my verdict is in! Drum roll please! The Oligo Eye Cooling Stick has left me with Chinese Eyes! Hey wait a second… I’m Chinese, so I’ve always had Chinese eyes! While the Oligo Eye Cooling Stick has softened the skin beneath my eyes and has lightened some of the darkness, it did not eliminate my bags. Sorry folks. If you are looking to lighten the skin beneath your eyes, this product is for you, otherwise, I would pass! I may be twenty dollars poorer but at least I don’t look like Jocelyn Wildenstein.

New At In My Solitude: I've Been Framed
By Evolyn

I love the way a picture can capture a moment, but it takes a great frame to create the perfect mood. Right before this shot was taken I was listening to Kanye West's latest CD. One of my favorite lines from the song Stronger is "Work It, Make It, Do it." So apropos, right? When I saw the picture I realized that I had no frame to reflect my "harder, better, faster" state of mind... so I bought an unfinished wood frame, got out my paint, some nails and washers from the tool chest and made one.

An Amazing Feet
By Evolyn

I love the California sunshine, but living in a warm climate does have its drawbacks. You must keep your pedicure up to par all year round and always carry a little Jane Carter Solution in your purse just to be safe. Why? Because when you least expect it you might find yourself in the home of someone who requires you to remove your shoes. I learned this the hard way when I accompanied a friend to a party a couple of years ago. I nearly had a panic attack when I saw the pile of shoes outside the door. I knew when I left home that I had a hole in my sock and a did-it-myself pedicure, but I threw caution to the wind because it was January.

Fortunately, I remembered the old "pull your sock off with your shoe" trick so no one ever peeped the hole. But, there was nothing I could do about the smushed polish on my big toe. Besides, I had bigger concerns... were my heels going to be so white that I could pass for Ashy Larry's sister from the Chappelle show? Would my skin be so dry that I could scratch the word "gotcha" on the side of my foot? Thankfully, I used my Jane Carter Solution that morning and my heels were hella smooth. The Nourish & Shine creme includes Shea butter, Kokum butter, Illippe butter, Mango butter, Vitamins A, D, & E, pear and grapefruit essential oils. It's a great product for your hair, but I use it everywhere... so I'm never caught out there!

How To Fool Your Bible Study Class
By Derek

There’s no denying that the bible has outsold The Secret, Jackie Collins, Harry Potter and that trashy new Tom Cruise tell-all that I’m dying to get… But how many people can actually claim that they’ve read the "Good Book" from cover to cover? To be completely honest with you, I can’t read through two paragraphs before my mind starts to go over what I need to get at Target. (FYI: Toilet paper, Market Place Pretzels and Lean Pockets) That’s why I was so elated when I stumbled across The 100-Minute Bible abridged by Michael Hinton. It’s literally Cliff Notes on the bible for $7.95! Now anyone who is able to comprehend Perez Hilton can get her wings or at least do a little better when watching Jeopardy.

February 1, 2008

Anything Is Possible!

It's just no longer attractive to watch The Secret as much as I did last year. I played the dvd so much that I knew what each expert was going to say without looking at the TV. Cue dramatic music..."The principle can be summed up in three simple words. Thoughts become things." Sometimes, when I needed to "attract" a better mood, I'd put on The Secret only to fast forward over the parts that irritated me. Other days, I'd childishly mimic the author's Australian accent and mock the opening line that says "A year ago, my life collapsed around me..."

But the truth is a year ago, my life did actually collapse around me and some of the principles in The Secret were really helpful as I tried to put it back together. My father has been suffering from prostrate cancer for about 8 years. Our darkest hour came in "07" when his disease metastized and his PSA reached 2000. He's 6'2" and dropped down to a scary 114 pounds. I was so stressed that I lost 25 pounds. Now I must admit, I thought I looked fabulous in my size 27 jeans until I saw a picture of myself that reminded me of a 5'10" hors d'oeuvre. Seriously, my head looked like a giant Teriyaki meatball and my body was the toothpick.

My dad isn't a big fan of western medicine, so basically my entire clan had to muscle him into getting hormone treatments. Miraculously, his PSA dropped from 2000 to 600 to 66 just one week ago and it's still going down. His doctors say the cancer is practically in remission and he's expected to live at least another two years. Isn't that just amazing? Throughout the year, I used the principles of the secret, albeit obsessively, as a tool to visualize my father's healing and express gratitude for every moment we had together. I also wrote down my wish for him and placed it in my Possibility Pillow.

Now, you would have to hold my dad hostage to make him actually watch the secret, but I believe he wanted his health to improve and by agreeing to undergo treatment it became his reality. What I experienced over the past year changed my life. Today, when I think about what's possible for each and every one of us, I know that we must hold fast to our heart's desire if our dreams are to truly manifest. Because it's no secret that "Whatever we think about and thank about we bring about."

Abundantly yours,

Evolyn

Are You In A Textual Relationship?

I love technology as much as the next person, but texting has just gotten out of hand. I know my own addiction to texting needs to be policed before I'm literally pulled over by the "PoPo." Thank God I have bad hand eye coordination because if I didn't, I have no doubt that I would be on the road risking my life to text the word, "OK" or "TTYL." I know I'm not alone because I got a lot of happy holiday wishes by text. While I appreciated the messages, I definitely missed the spirit of the season that comes with opening an unexpected card.

So, for Valentine's day I plan to do things differently and here's your chance to redeem yourself, too. Angela at Mielle Designs makes beautiful, handcrafted cards for all occasions and has created one that's perfect for Valentine's Day.

Angela is a mother of three who left corporate America and became a self-taught graphic designer. I met Angela before Thanksgiving at my cousin Yvette's incredible bake sale.

We bonded over her delicious desserts, especially the red velvet cupcakes. Yvette can make anything imaginable from pecan pie to flan, which incidentally was written up by The New York Times. She has a catering company called Root To The Fruit with her husband, Russell. Their food gets rave reviews, not unlike those Yvette received while acting with Al Pacino and other luminaries. Oh, I'm sorry... did I forget to tell you that she's a superb and highly trained actress? I digress. You'll be hearing more about the couple's sexy, food soirees in the future, but right now... Valentine's Day is upon us. So, why not order your sweet a homemade treat that's almost as yummy as well... you!

You can reach Yvette & Russell at Root To The Fruit or 818-241-5962

Dirty, Sexy, Store Brand Pancakes?
By Derek

Prada! Gucci! YSL! Ralphs grocery store? Sure designer brands are important when it comes to clothes, I mean just ask the Real Housewives of Orange County, but when it comes to food it means squat! Back in the day there was a real stigma when someone purchased a store brand food item. It was dirty and shameful like buying a dented can of tuna from the sale bin, but times have definitely changed! One of my favorite books, “Treasure Hunt: Inside the Mind of the New Consumer” talks about how more and more people are buying store brand items in order to have extra money to buy luxury goods. Sound familiar?

We all have a store brand product that we’ve come to love so why don’t you share yours with us in the comment section. One of my all time favorite products is Ralph’s Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle mix. It’s so good that even Aunt Jemima is scooping it up on the down low.

Guilt Free Chocolate
By Evolyn & Kim Mayhorn

I caught up with Kim Mayhorn by phone on her way to Atlanta to speak with the young women of Spelman College. As usual, she had a few new millennium munchies in her purse. You might think I'm kidding, but it's not unusual for security to scrutinize her snacks before she's allowed to enter the gate. If you recall, Kim is an artist, editor and vegetarian who’s diet is about 75% raw.

What did you eat on the plane?

A food bar. My favorite to date is the Spirulina & Cashew by Raw Revolution. It has no artificial ingredients or preservatives, and it’s gluten and dairy free. It's filled with cashews, dates, almonds, amaranth, spirulina, and sprouted flax. If you’re sensitive to nuts there are eight other flavors. The bars were created by a raw foods chef.

What is spirulina?

Spirulina is a superfood with many great health benefits. I also love the food bar because it only has 285 calories.

So, I guess I never have to worry about sharing my good chocolate with you?

Um no. I'm such a nutrition label junky. I never buy anything that has fructose corn syrup or trans-fats. However, I do eat Raw Revolution's chocolate bars. They make them with raisins, hazelnuts, and coconut.

That's great! But, let me just say for the record that if anyone buys me a Raw Revolution chocolate bar for Valentine's day there will be hell to pay! Are they sweet?

I think so. They use agave nectar, my favorite natural sweetener.

Where can I get a Raw Revolution Food Bar?

They can be found in most Whole Foods and healthy grocery stores. You can also order a pack of 24 on Amazon.com and save $12.

New At In My Solitude: Shoe Me Your Love
By Evolyn

I love to travel, but sometimes airports make me crazy. However, nothing makes me feel more pampered and pulled together than getting to my hotel, having a glass of wine and opening a well-organized suitcase. (Now, that’s assuming the airline can find my luggage.) My Seredipity shoe bags are key to staying calm on the road. They’re beautiful and festive and I use them to hold my shoes, delicate handbags, or even lingerie.

With a Serendipity shoe bag, you're guaranteed to have a colorful experience on your next trip abroad or to your closet. Each shoe bag is made of silk dupioni with a complementary cotton lining and drawstring. They can also be used to protect your favorite clutch or evening bag from unnecessary wear and tear. Each bag measures 15” H x 11” W and fit all women’s shoe sizes.

The Devil Wears Prada.. But Definitely Pays Less
By Derek

I’ve been posting dirt on myself like K-Fed selling out Britney, but I will NEVER admit to purchasing a counterfeit Damier canvas billfold wallet in a secret room behind a tee-shirt shop next to a chicken market on Canal Street in New York. (Talk about a run-on sentence!)

Oh and by the way, they have a carbon copy of that Botkier “Sasha” duffle that you’ve been wanting! Shhh!) We all know that buying counterfeits is wrong and that’s probably why I’m so obsessed with reading about them. You have to check out www.counterfeitchic.com for all of the latest news on lawsuits and arrests regarding knock-offs! If keeping up on the real deal is more your speed, then check out www.pursepage.com. This blogger is a girl after our own heart! She stays abreast of all of the “It Bags” so you can be of the moment without being maxed out.

Where's The Sweet Spot In Your City Or Online?

Aaeshah Robinson of Cleveland, Ohio says she got a great price on a refurbished camera at a website called Geeks.com She paid $59.99 plus $1.99 shipping for a digital samsung digimax U0CA505 with 5 megapixels and 5x zoom. The retail price of the camera was $199. Now that's a deal girls! If you have a favorite spot to shop...throw us a bone! I’m not asking for all of your goodies… just a little something for us to nibble on.

Ev

The In My Solitude Boutique Blog is updated on the 1st and 15th of every month. We love to read your thoughts so feel free to share them below in the comment section.