Lifestyle – Running Erins

4 Black-Women Owned Brands to Shop on Amazon

Erin — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

*This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please review our disclosure policy.

Supporting Black-owned businesses is a lifestyle. It’s very important for us to show support when they are stocked at retailers like Target, Walmart, and Amazon. Not only does it bring in sales but it shows retailers that customers will buy the products if they are available. Whether you choose to shop these items for yourself or for others is your business. Here are 4 of my favorite Black-Women Owned Brands that you can find on Amazon.

Vicky Cakes

No more Aunt Jemima! Vicky Cakes is a dairy-free, vegan friendly pancake and waffle mix. While the brand makes it clear that they are not the average “Just Add Water” mix, it has easily become my favorite to use. It comes in 4 different flavors: original, blueberry, pecan, and chocolate chip. They also offer a gluten-free version!

Play Pits

I recently made the switch over to natural deodorant. Finding Play Pits made it an easy switch. I noticed a lot of moms in the DMV were talking about the brand for their children. And because I have super sensitive skin I decided this would be a great alternative. Little did I know they offer products for adults too! I purchased a multi-pack directly from the site (Amazon was unavailable at the time) and so far Queen has been my favorite scent.

Capital City Co.

Speaking of the DMV….y’all know we love our Mumbo Sauce. Whether you like yours from a specific carryout or you like to make your own. Capital City Mambo Sauce is made right here in the DMV by a BLACK woman and her family. And I put that sh*t on everything.

TGIN (Thank God It’s Natural)

If you know me, then you know I love TGIN. I have worked with the brand in the past on many campaigns. And although our contract has ended, I still willingly spend my money on them! My favorite products are the Honey Miracle Mask and the Butter Cream Moisturizer.

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Non-Traditional Ways to Celebrate the Holidays

Erin — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 08:00:19 +0000

This post contains sponsored content. Read our Disclosure Policy here.

The rush of Thanksgiving and Black Friday have cleared. We’ve stuffed our faces, spent time with loved ones, and emptied our pockets. And just as everything is calming down, it’s time to prepare for Christmas/Hannukkah/Kwanzaa.

The holidays are a special time for some but can be difficult for those who have lost or do not have family. If this is you, or someone in your circle, it’s important to find other ways to celebrate the holidays. Celebrating the holidays in non-traditional ways can be a great way to avoid seasonal depression or the Grinch Syndrome. Even if you’re just looking to switch things up, consider adding one (or all) of the following activities to your holiday schedule.

Wine & Dine Somewhere New

One of my favorite things about the holidays is food! If you’re having a non-traditional holiday celebration, consider going out for a nice meal somewhere new. This holiday season, I visited Texas De Brazil for the first time. Texas De Brazil is a Brazilian steakhouse where the meat is presented to you and carved table side. The restaurant also features a salad bar that includes charcuterie, fruit, and their famous lobster bisque! From lamb to steak to chicken, the meal was definitely great and presented a new experience. My favorite part was their homemade limeade! I had the passionfruit flavor while my boyfriend order coconut. Extremely refreshing and tasty! The restaurant in DC has great ambiance so it’s a nice spot for a celebration.

Party with Friends

A big trend I noticed this year was people hosting “Friendsgiving” celebrations. Similar to a traditional Thanksgiving celebration, a group of friends get together to eat, drink, and be merry! This often includes dinner, games, and of course drinks. Consider hosting a holiday game night or ugly sweater party with some of your closest friends. Being around those you love is a great way to avoid depression and catching the Ba humbug! If you don’t want to stay in plan a happy hour. The options are limitless. Have fun with it!

Give Back

The holidays are all about giving. Finding a shelter to volunteer with or organizing a toy drive is a great tradition to add to your non-traditional holiday. Many are less fortunate during this time of year and there are tons of ways you can give back. Some shelters are open on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day for volunteers to help provide meals. You could also organize a drive for clothes, toys, or toiletries. Whatever you like! Your gift and your time are plenty to someone who may be struggling this holiday. And you’ll feel great afterwards!

Get Away

A trip is always great to clear your mind. While holiday airfare may be expense this time of year there’s always roundtrips! Find a cabin or lake house for a quick get weekend getaway. You may even be able to find a good deal on a cruise or be able to spring for a flight. However you choose to vacation make it happen! Alone or with a group of friends. I had a wonderful time on my trip to Deep Creek Lake last month and would definitely recommend it if you’ve never been!

What traditions have you added to your holiday celebrations? Let me know in the comments!

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7 Things They Don’t Tell You About Miscarriage

Erin — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:00:18 +0000

After posting about my miscarriage, it became clear to me how much the subject isn’t talked about. So many people responded with their own stories and I started to see just how common they were. Everyone talks about the joys of pregnancy and motherhood. But we never talk about some of the harsh realities. For weeks, I searched the internet for answers. For months, I’ve been dealing with the emotions that come along with the grieving process. It becomes a never-ending cycle of what’s next? How do I move on? And now I want to share so that other women don’t feel ashamed or like a burden. Here are 7 things that no one told me about miscarriage.

The grieving process is never-ending

It’s been about 8 months since I lost my seed. I watched my due date come and go. I’ve had to celebrate Mother’s Day, pregnancy announcements, and baby showers. There’s what feels like a constant influx in pregnancies popping up online. To say that grief strikes randomly is an understatement. For a long time, I just assumed that I would get to a point where it no longer affected me. I’ve been to therapy and I’ve talked about it so what more do I need? In reality, that’s the wrong mindset. The grieving process is never-ending. You will have good days and you will have bad. But as long as you still have days to count you’re winning.

Beware when utilizing miscarriage support groups

I was in search of women who would understand what I was going through. I needed to vent and feel understood. I didn’t want to be told to “just pray about it” or that “you can try again.” I wanted to hear from people who had been where I was. But some of the “support groups” I found had more people hurting than giving hope. Remember everyone’s experience is different. It’s easy to sink into negativity in a group where everyone is discouraged. Look for groups with balance; those who can relate because they’re going through and those who can relate because they’ve been there. The two groups I found very helpful are “Sisters in Loss” by Erica McAfee and “Black Angel Moms” by Jeanae Hopgood.

It’s okay to cancel plans

I made a lot of plans before my loss and suddenly I didn’t want to do them anymore. I needed time to get back to myself and find balance. I am already an introverted extrovert so leaving the house became even more difficult. There were times when I would make a bunch of plans and then find myself in a mood. Or I would leave the house and end up being triggered by something. The more I tried to force myself to go out, the higher my anxiety went. I had to learn that it’s okay to cancel plans when you’re still healing. After talking with friends and family, I was encouraged to talk to them when I was having those moments because it was understandable. Talk about a sigh of relief!

You can be happy for others and sad for yourself

After my miscarriage, it seemed like pregnancy was everywhere. I had to delete social media for a few days because the sight of babies and pregnant women made me cry. I would try to avoid conversations about pregnancy, I definitely avoided baby showers, and I honestly didn’t want to be around newborns. It wasn’t that I was jealous or unhappy for them…I was just sad for myself. It created a trigger in my mind that was a reminder of my loss. After a while, I started to feel bad but explaining to people what I was going through mentally helped me feel better. I learned that you can both be happy for someone and sad for yourself. Now I’ve started creating escape plans that way if I become overwhelmed I can make a smooth exit.

It’s common to blame yourself. Don’t!

I spent a lot of time blaming myself even though I knew I did nothing wrong. I mean, there’s no way I could possibly get my little blueberry of a baby stuck in my fallopian tubes. But understanding that 1 in 5 women will experience a miscarriage helped. In hard situations, your mind will wander and create scenarios. Don’t let it! Most miscarriages terminate themselves due to chromosome abnormalities. More than likely, your body knew something was wrong before you did. When a negative thought arises, counter it with a positive one.

It’s more likely for you to have a successful next pregnancy

Over time, worry and fear took over my mind. The fear of not being able to carry children becomes so real. While other women who miscarried were scared to get pregnant again, I wanted to get pregnant again to prove to myself that I could do it. Once I came out of my depression a lot of that doubt subsided. I learned that 85% of women who have had one miscarriage will have a successful next pregnancy, which is a huge percentage. Worry only makes things harder.

Ignore questions about when you will have children

I spent many nights crying after being asked, “So when are you having children?” “Do you have kids?” And truth is, most people just don’t know. They don’t know the pain and reality of women who have miscarried. They don’t understand the fear that comes along with the idea of having another miscarriage. And they definitely don’t understand that some women just don’t want children. It’s just common practice to assume all women will procreate. Feel free to educate them. But also know that you don’t have to give a response.

Above all, remember that some days will be good and some will be bad. But there are people around to help you through. You’re not alone.

The post 7 Things They Don’t Tell You About Miscarriage appeared first on Running Erins.

Attending a Bridal Shower: What You Should Know

Erin — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 09:00:24 +0000

Until recently, I had never attended a bridal shower. Sure I’ve been to weddings and baby showers but never a bridal shower. And little did I know I was NOT prepared! There were a few things that I didn’t consider until days before which left me rushing. After talking to a few friends, I realized how many of us had yet to attend one. So here’s what I learned from my experience:

What to Wear

It’s a no brainer that you should ALWAYS follow the dress code when one is provided. The hostess of the bridal shower I attended made it simple by requesting floral dress. But what happens when one isn’t provided? First, consider the setting. Will the event be inside or outside? Was the invitation semi-formal or informal? In any situation, a casual dress in a pastel color is a great choice. If ever in doubt just simply ask the hostess!

What to Gift

Now here is where things got tricky for me. Originally, I decided to gift the bride an item from the wedding registry as it was listed on the bridal shower invitation. But after talking to my mom and a few other women, I was told the bridal shower gift should specifically be for the bride. Makes sense right? Well pulling something together at the last minute is a headache. I ended up getting a personalized set of Mr. & Mrs. stemless wine glasses from Things Remembered. Then I threw in a few spa time items like lavender castile soap, body scrub, body butter, and a candle. My tip here is to think about the bride. Is her style extravagant or more minimal? Does she have a separate bridal registry? In the end, other people still gifted items from the registry so my first plan would have worked out. But now I know to prepare in advance.

What to Wish

Most events have a guestbook or frame for you to sign. At a bridal shower or wedding, you may get the opportunity to leave more than a simple “congratulations.” Prepare your words! You never want to be caught off-guard if you’re asked to make a statement for a video or to sign a book. The last thing you want to do is hold up the line thinking of what to say. Depending on how well you know the couple will determine what you should wish. Something as simple as “Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness” is quick, simple and sweet!

Remember, a wedding is the start of a new journey for the couple. Whether you go simple or more thoughtful being apart of the moment is what matters most! Have any bridal shower tips? Leave them in a comment below.

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Hey Sis! Packing Social Recap

Erin — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 12:00:33 +0000

One thing that I’ve always enjoyed doing is volunteering and giving back. Since elementary school, I’ve participated in activities that taught me the importance of helping your community. I’ve been considering starting a non-profit organization for a while now but there are a lot of steps to take in the meantime. So my business partner and I decided to start off by hosting small social events that focus on philanthropy.

This weekend, we hosted our first event titled “Hey Sis!: Women Empowerment + Packing Social.” Packing socials are events where a group of people get together to pack items to donate. The bags we packed were given to Goodie Girl Bags, a non-profit organization who delivers them to homeless shelter throughout the DMV. Each bag includes 1 bra, feminine hygiene products like pads & tampons, breast cancer exam cards, and a hand written note for encouragement. In planning our event, we set a goal to pack 150 bags. Little did we know that we set the vision a little too small as we collected over 80 bras before the event.

Both of us have a passion for helping other women so it was important for this event to embody that. Not only in the items we packed for the homeless but by making sure we spoke to the women in the room too. The 2 of us shared a bit of our backgrounds along with one other woman. All with the theme that everyone struggles but it matters how you push past it. Our hope is that we continue to inspire and improve the lives of those around us. Whether it is through a non-profit our hosting other social events like this one. Either way, we know we can make a difference.

Each attendee left the event with a bag of items from our sponsors. We were also able to supply desserts and drinks during the event. My business partner and I are extremely grateful to each and every person who saw our vision and made it come true.

We would like to give a special thanks to all of our sponsors:

Ardell Beauty
Eden BodyWorks
Essentia Water
Jamaican Mango & Lime
This Is L.
OhMazing Food
LiquidJoy Beverages
Sweet Sticky Thing Bakery
Blessed Vessels
Faye Smith Realtor

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My Ectopic Pregnancy Story

Erin — Sat, 26 May 2018 12:00:58 +0000

I’ve always said I wanted to have all of my kids before the age of 30. For multiple reasons; being younger and more active, less complications, building a family and career. But little did I know, at the age of 25, I would find myself having a miscarriage; an ectopic pregnancy. No prior health problems. No prior pregnancies. And on the first try, I lost what I never knew I needed. And I can’t really say it was a try because we weren’t trying to have a baby. It just kinda happened but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. I became the 1 in 4 women who experience a miscarriage.

It was the week of my first doctor’s appointment. We went in thinking that we would find out more; a better timeline than what the blood test had given. But when blood was found in my cervix, things took a turn for the worst. They said I was having a “threatened miscarriage.” Meaning it’s not confirmed but that’s what it seems like. I became more nervous and anxiety took over my body. I had dreams the previous week about miscarrying but I just wrote it off as being worried. And now the thought of it becoming a reality brought tears to my eyes. The next afternoon we went for an emergency sonogram. From looking at the monitor, I could already tell what the nurse saw. My baby was stuck in my fallopian tube; I was having an ectopic pregnancy.

They told me to go straight to the hospital. A same day emergency surgery to was needed to ensure nothing would rupture or be damaged. I remember getting in the car and all I wanted to do was cry. I wanted to curl up in a ball and pretend this wasn’t happening. Mentally, I could not wrap my mind around the fact that I was loosing my baby. Just like that. Nothing could be done to fix this. I literally sat in the waiting room completely numb to what was going on. Every so often I would cry and a nurse would tell me everything is going to be okay. But it definitely didn’t feel like it.

The days following the surgery I spent at home. Not ready to leave the house. Barely wanting to leave my bed. In certain moments, I felt the need to be nestled up under my boyfriend for a sense of strength and protection. In others, I felt like I need to be strong for the both of us because I know he had emotions he didn’t want to share. My body literally felt like it was run over from the pain of the surgery and my heart felt, and still feels, like it’s been yanked out of my chest. At one point, I deleted all my social media apps because seeing kids or pregnant women made me cry. And it seemed like my FBI agent was torturing me because every ad I saw was something for babies or pregnant women. I deleted the pregnancy app off of my phone and couldn’t bring myself to save the pictures. People around me constantly asking how are you. And I constantly said I’m okay when in actuality I was more broken than I think I’ve ever been. I didn’t want to tell them that because I didn’t feel like they would understand. How can you feel this empty? Like you’re missing something you never got to know? In some moments, I felt like I was expected to get up and get over it. At other times, I reached for my belly wishing to feel pregnant again. And yet every time I did I was left with disappointment.

Talking to people was another reason I didn’t want to leave my room. I was trying to find the space between people who were concerned and people who I felt wanted me to just push past things. This was the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with emotionally and I couldn’t find someone who I felt got it. People who have been through miscarriages were telling me everything would be okay. I even looked into a Facebook support group but it was very depressing. I did not know where to find middle ground. And the things people say? Tons of stuff you don’t want to hear after a miscarriage like:

“At least you weren’t that far along.”

“Were you trying to get pregnant?”

“I thought you weren’t ready for kids.”

And I wasn’t that far along, trying, or maybe even “ready” for a child. But that doesn’t stop me from being excited for the experience, in love with knowing that it was coming or sad for my loss. Even being asked “Are you a mom?” around Mother’s Day was a hard pill to swallow. Do I say yes or no?

The first time I looked at my scars I cried. I cried because it will forever be a memory of what I lost. I have moments where I think to myself I must get pregnant again to fill this void. Replace this emptiness in my chest. And yet the thought of losing another life scares me half to death. Then I go through the cycle of what did I do to deserve this? And the thoughts start flooding. From the moment I found out I was pregnant I took care of my body. No alcohol. No smoking. Took my pre-natals. Ate breakfast even when I wasn’t hungry. So what did I do to cause this? What do you do in a time like this? I just wanted things to go back to how they were. Like I was living in a bad dream but it was my reality.

I carried my seed for 8 weeks. 4 of which I knew it was there. That’s a month of loving something you can’t see unconditionally. A month of talking to it. Nurturing it. Figuring out what WE wanted for lunch. Calling it “lil peanut” or “lil blueberry” based on the size depicted in the pregnancy app. I prayed for it. I imagined what my maternity shoot would be like. What we would name him or her. Cried every time someone said what if it’s twins. Pretty much had our life planned out. And now it’s gone and moving on is harder than expected.

Everyone knows I have a love for makeup. But it was probably a week after the surgery that I actually put on makeup again. I couldn’t do a full face. Just foundation. It made me feel a little more like myself. It hid the bags from days of crying and brung a little more life to my outward appearance. I also left the house for the second time that same week. Although the first time probably doesn’t count since all I did was go for a drive. I had to wait until it got dark outside because the thought of seeing people gave me anxiety. And the craziest part…..I drove to work. The place I didn’t want to go back to. The place I hated even before I found out I was pregnant. But I guess I needed something to feel normal. This time, my love was forcing me to leave and wouldn’t say where we we’re going. Something he’s famous for. And with all honestly once I got dressed, I didn’t want go. Anxiety hit me once again. But I knew he wasn’t having that so there was no point in me even saying I no longer wanted to go. Once we got to the restaurant it felt like old times. And that’s when I started to feel better. The 2 of us enjoying each other’s company. Eating food like we love to do. No cares in the world. I started to feel lighter. Like I wasn’t carrying as much baggage. And though we lost the seed we both wanted, I knew we would be okay. I knew we would have another opportunity to be parents. We spent the rest of the night watching tv, laughing, and nibbling on snacks. And for the first time in days things felt somewhat normal again.

2 days later, I was crying again. Not a long ugly cry. Just a few tears shed. Because as I listened to the words in Lauryn Hill’s “Zion” in the middle of Sally’s, it reminded me how happy I was to be pregnant….and also how quickly that feeling left. I got to a point where I wanted to talk to someone about it but I didn’t think anyone would get it. People around me seemed to take it so lightly. They don’t want me to be depressed so they change the subject forcing me to hold it in. I also had to deal with the people who didn’t know. Asking when I’ll have kids or implying that it was time. But my body didn’t feel the same way.

A few months later and I still don’t feel like I’m back to myself. And honestly I don’t know if I’ll ever be. This loss changed me. Changed my perspective on a lot of things. Slowly but surely things are starting to turn around but this is still in the back of my mind. Some days I’m anti-social and don’t want to be bothered. I avoid places or events where there will be a lot of babies or children. And on other days I find myself trying to laugh and make peace with the situation. I’ve had weeks where I cried everyday. I’ve had weeks where I don’t cry at all. It’s a healing process and you have to be in touch with your emotions in order to heal.

Sharing this is also a part of my healing journey. 1 in 4 women experience miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies and stillbirths included. Before it happened to me, I didn’t know how many other women were effected. Especially young women like me. Yea, I’ve heard women say they’ve had a miscarriage but it doesn’t have the same impact. It’s not something that we talk about until it happens to someone we know.

So many women in my circle had gone through similar experiences and I either didn’t know or couldn’t understand the severity. So in sharing this, I hope more women feel comfortable enough to tell their stories and that we create a support system because we’re not alone. If you’re dealing with a loss or have dealt with a loss please reach out to me. Let’s start the conversation.

XOXO,

The post My Ectopic Pregnancy Story appeared first on Running Erins.

Why I Decided to See a Therapist

Erin — Sat, 26 May 2018 12:00:45 +0000

May is mental health awareness month so I figured what better way to celebrate than by telling my own story. Often times, mental health carries a very negative connotation, especially in the Black community. Many of our parents/grandparents will suggest that depression isn’t real. Or that we can “pray away” the issues we’re dealing with. And while prayer and church can definitely be a part of the healing process, they aren’t the only part. Seeing a therapist has a lot of benefits.

I started seeing a therapist towards the end of March after struggling with a pregnancy loss. On the outside, you couldn’t tell that I was still struggling most days. I was back into my normal routine and trying to leave the house with a smile daily. But I also found myself crying everyday. Sometimes several times a day. Things happened so fast and I didn’t know what to do but fake it til I made it. I knew I was taking on too much emotionally but I couldn’t even bring myself search for a therapist. No matter how much I knew I needed it. Life kept moving and so did I.

While I was at the Brave Summit, I heard a lot about mental health and why it was important. Things I already knew but had yet to apply to myself. I was so used to giving other people advice and helping them work through their problems that I couldn’t see the need to take my own advice. And still, at a time when I needed support, I felt myself still giving the small bit of energy I had to others. But when Amanda Seales said “Therapy is like a gym membership for your brain” it sparked something in me.

“Erin, how can you preach about better for everyone else but not seek it for yourself?”

While talking to a few girls at BRAVE I learned (or was reminded) about therapyforblackgirls.com, an online directory to help Black women find Black therapists. I knew this was my sign to stop BSing and get the help I needed. Truthfully, I wasn’t ashamed or discouraged about getting help. I just didn’t know where to find it and how comfortable I would be with the person I found. When it comes to doctors and specialist, I am very picky in what I am looking for. I like to have Black, female doctors because they can understand me as a young Black woman. So when looking for a therapist, I wanted a younger Black woman; someone who mirrored me. I felt she would relate to me better. Through the website, I was able to find therapists in my area and review their profiles in one place before making a selection.

Searching for a doctor or therapist can be a stressful process. Therapy For Black Girls took away a lot of the anxiety in the process. The first meeting with my therapist, I cried as soon as I sat down. There was so much weight I was carrying and so much I couldn’t wait to get off of my chest. Of course she couldn’t help me work through all of my problems in one meeting. But I literally felt lighter when I left. I was able to unload some of the things that I had bottled up. I also discovered a few things that I didn’t realize were bothering me.

Benefits of Seeking Mental Healthcare

Before I decided to see a therapist I did try talking to people in my circle. But I couldn’t find the balance between people who acted like nothing happened and those who treated me like I was an inch away from being sent to the nearest psych ward. It was honestly a relief to speak to someone who was outside of my situation and without judgement. Although I was speaking to a mental health professional, I felt very comfortable. I didn’t feel “crazy” or like I was on the edge of self-destruction. I was able to have someone listen to me as I talk and give advice that was valuable. Even though I feel I have a better handle on things now, I’ve still been seeing her consistently because I know healing doesn’t happen overnight. And truthfully, it is an eye opening process.

Mental health is something that we tend to ignore. But we should all take it more seriously. Depression and anxiety are real things that effect us daily. If you run from them you could start to suffer from long term effects like stress and heart attacks. I encourage everyone to see a licensed therapist. Whether you’re dealing with a tramautic event, stressed with work, or looking to learn more about self care. Mental health care should not be a negative thing.

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BRAVE Summit with Amanda Seales

Erin — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 12:30:51 +0000

One thing you will hear me say it over and over again: Never stop learning! At a recent blogger meet-up I learned about a summit at Georgetown titled B.R.A.V.E.

Black
Resilient
Artisitic
Vigilent
Enough

BRAVE is an annual event that was started 3 years ago by black women at Georgetown. The event seeks to “honor the eclectic narrative of Black women/femmes” by “combating the pervasive media coverage and replacing it with the truth.” Just by the title I knew this would be an event for me. I was even more sold when I found out that Amanda Seales, from Insecure on HBO, would be the keynote speaker. What I will say is that I did expect the event to be full of empowered women empowering women. What I did not expect was to leave feeling inspired and overwhelmed by the joy in the room.

The first panel featured Erika Totten, a spiritual life coach, and Deshauna Barber, Miss USA 2016. They spoke about Black Girl Joy and what it truly means when you tap into your magic. One of the key gems that I took away was about self-love.

“You have to learn to break the chains of what people have told you. Only then will you truly love and know yourself.” – Erika Totten, To Live Unchained

Deshauna told us how she felt the need to wear wigs during the Miss USA pageant. But she reflected by saying that embracing her natural hair opened the door for

another black woman with natural hair from DC to win Miss USA the following year. My favorite part of this panel was Erika encouraging us all to get up and twerk! She said twerking 10 minutes a day helps open your root chakra and I can’t argue with that!

After the opening panel, we split into breakout sessions. The first one I attended was “Black Women in Public Relations.” I am currently studying for my Master’s in PR so it’s a perfect fit. The ladies on the panel stressed how important it is to determine what you want your image to be.

“Be authentic to who you are.” – Brittany Carter, B. Carter Solutions

Lunch was catered by Florida Avenue Grill, the oldest soul food spot in the world. And it did not disappoint. I’m talking fried chicken, greens, mac & cheese, yams. They even had a vegan option for those with dietary restrictions. For dessert, there was a variety of cake jars provided by Cakelove.

The next breakout session I went to was “Black Women in Media/Entertainment.” This one definitely wasn’t what I expected but I definitely got a lot of useful information. It featured music producer Trakgirl, talent manager Paris Cole, and actress Candice Macfarlane. These ladies talked about having confidence in yourself and your brand. As women in a male dominated field, they stressed the importance of knowing all the roles of your team. And they mentioned my favorite phrase, “never stop learning.” One of the biggest takeaways was that you don’t have to feel like you have it all together.

“Remember everybody is a mess. Every moment is meant for you. Just align yourself.” – @Paris_Cole

The last panel was all about developing your career. Shelby Hall, of Under Armour, and Ericka Pittman, of Combs Enterprises, spoke on making your passion work for you. They said their biggest advice for young professionals is to send “Thank You” cards because it makes you stand out. They also expressed that you have to take your time to get where you want to be in life. Ericka has had 7 jobs in the 9 years that she has worked with Diddy. But it took her 22 years to get to where she is. She is now the Chief Marketing Officer at Aquahydrate, one of Diddy’s brands.

“One thing that Diddy told me is ‘You don’t always have to be the smartest person in the room. Sometimes you just have to shut the f*ck up.'” – Ericka Pittman, Combs Ent.

Of course the day ran long but I couldn’t leave without seeing Amanda Seales. Her Instagram stories are filled with great gems about black culture and feminism. In speaking with us, she was very clear that black women run shit. But she also said that there has to be an effort to build each other up because too often we consider constructive criticism a drag. Amanda expressed the need for people of color to create our own spaces and not just our own content. She also spoke a lot about mental health saying that therapy is like a gym membership for your brain. Her information was insightful and relatable. She also kept the crowd laughing.

“If you’re trying to find a wife, come to an Amanda Seales show. There’s women with degrees and regular pap smears. The Dashiki chic!” – Amanda Seales

Amanda will be back in DC on July 21 with “Smart, Funny, & Black” at the Kennedy Center. I also suggest keep up with BRAVE! Although the event was pretty long, the information was well worth it!

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3 Inspirational Women You Should Follow on Instagram

Erin — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 12:00:21 +0000

March is Women’s History Month. Although we should celebrate girl power daily, it is always nice to take a moment and pay homage to those who inspire you. Whether it is someone you know, just met or follow on social media; showing someone that you appreciate and notice their hard work is always a nice to gesture. You should always aspire to inspire! To celebrate, this post will highlight women who I follow and find inspirational.

Dayna Bolden – Blogger/Entrepreneur

A friend of mine told me about Dayna and I’ve been following her ever since! She has such a down to earth personality and is genuinely interested in helping others win. Her story about going from 9-5 to entrepreneur is definitely relatable and inspiring. Her Insta-stories and IG lives are full of gems on topics from social media branding to being focused on your craft. Dayna’s tagline is “Do everything with love, passion, and style.” And that’s exactly what she does! Her love for her craft along with her go-getter attitude is what inspires me. She is also very down to earth when replying on social media!

Alex Elle – Author/Wellness Consultant

If you’ve never seen a post from DMV Native Alexandra Elle you have to be living under a rock! Her poetry and story-telling piece are all over social media. She uses her words to encourage self-love and self-care. She also hosts a podcast and teaches workshops focused on wellness. Alex has 4 books available for purchase on on Amazon. She also has an upcoming book signing at Politics and Prose in DC.

Mattie James – Lifestyle Blogger/Influencer

I stumbled across Mattie randomly on social media. Her tweets immediately spoke to me so I signed up for her newsletter, MattieMinute. These short, daily emails focus on becoming better at work and simply in life. I often share snippets from the newsletter on my Instagram story and get a lot of positive reactions. I always recommend signing up for it if you’re looking for a little daily encouragement. She also shares a lot of tips and tricks on branding and blogging via her website http://www.mattiejames.com/.

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Beyond A Niche: What to do if You’re Good at More than One Thing

Erin — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 04:30:50 +0000

When I tell people I’m a blogger their first question is always, “What do you blog about?” or “What’s your niche?” At one point, I hated this question. I felt like people wouldn’t take me seriously once I told them I did not have one. I didn’t think they would understand that having a niche made me feel limited, which gave me anxiety. And on the flip-side, I felt like if I didn’t have one I wouldn’t fit in with other bloggers.

When I started looking to rebrand my website, I did a lot of research. I studied blogging (and I still study blogging) because I wanted to be good at it. I used my knowledge of public relations to refresh my memory on marketing/pitching. I wanted to create something for me but I still wanted it to be something that people would connect with. So many people told me:

“Well you like makeup so you should be a beauty blogger.”

“Well you like food so you should be a food blogger.”

“You’re always at events, you should write about those.”

I appreciated their input but it proved my exact point! You can be good at more than one thing. And people can look to you for advice on more than one thing. I read so many articles and blog post that talked about why you need a niche. I started to question if I really wanted to keep going without one. Then I randomly came across an article about nicheless blogging and I am so happy I did. That assured me that I did not need a niche. I could blog beyond the limitations that are set for bloggers. And some of these same limitations effect other entrepreneurs.

Know Your Lane

When people ask me, “What’s your niche?” I used to say, “I believe in nicheless blogging so I don’t have one.” But that caused a lot of blank stares so I changed my answer to “I’m a lifestyle blogger with a focus on beauty, food, and travel.” This goes over easier because people who don’t blog can relate to it. They can decide if my content will be something they are interested in. More often than not, if they can relate to you and feel that you are personable they will check out your content anyway. You have to find your lane and perfect your elevator pitch. What you say in those first minutes of describing your business will be how people remember you.

We always hear, “Don’t be afraid to be different.” And that phrase should stick with you through your journey as an entrepreneur. With the power of social media everyone has something to sell. It could be a book, a t-shirt, or beauty products. And there will always be room for one person in the same industry. You just have to find what works for you. Let your personality shine through your business and your audience will come; with or without a niche. Remember the average millionaire has at least 7 streams of income. People will support based on how your brand makes them feel. So what do you want to convey to a future supporter and/or customer?

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