Ikuzi Dolls: Representing the Diversity of Black Beauty

May 12, 2016

Like many little girls who were born in the 1980s, I was obsessed with Cabbage Patch dolls. I remember writing letters to Santa Claus pleading that he’d leave one of the yarn-haired dolls under my Christmas tree.

Fast forward 30 years and now I have the pleasure of watching my 6-year-old daughter obsess over her gorgeous Ikuzi Dolls.

Ikuzi Dolls

Ikuzi Dolls are available here, $80

Unlike the dolls of my era, Ikuzi Dolls come in a variety of shades to reflect and celebrate diverse skin tones. The beautifully crafted dolls are also decked out in designer African-inspired outfits that serve as a stylish nod to our rich heritage. Plus, the dolls’ facial features, hair texture and eye colors have all been thoughtfully crafted with us BGs in mind.

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Ava holding her “Dark Brown” Ikuzi doll.

Founded by Ozi Okaro, a mom of four who was inspired to create dolls that looked like her daughters, the collection is a lovely representation of black beauty.

It’s so important for our young girls to see beautiful images of themselves and these dolls provide just that. Plus, Ozi aims to add more  skin tones and hair textures to reflect the world’s growing diversity. Wondering if the dolls have names? They don’t. Ozi encourages children to use their imaginations and name their dolls as they see fit. Traveling this summer? Don’t worry, Ikuzi dolls come with a super cute pink carrying case that makes transporting easy.

If you have a little girl in your life, these dolls would make the perfect gift for her birthday, kindergarten graduation or simply as a “just because” present. You’ll bring her joy while supporting a black-owned business. Now that’s a win-win!

**Use the code: KARLA at check-out and you can get $10 off your purchase! 

What was your favorite doll growing up?

Category: Gumbo Mix, Misc., Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment

3 Things I’ve Learned Since Becoming a Full-Time Working Mom

April 4, 2016

Since I started blogging back in 2007, I’ve rarely missed more than a week of writing on BGG. Even after the birth of both of my children, I somehow managed to squeeze in time for my blog. However, now that I’m a mom of two small kids (ages 6 and 2) and working full-time, I’ve found keeping my blog current more challenging than ever.

After working from home for years and being thrust back into the outside professional world has been a huge adjustment. From finding a reputable nanny to scheduling extra-curricular activities, my mommy duties have shifted into high gear. Plus, the fact that I’ve only been on my new job for three months, is a challenge in of itself.

Even with the full support of my husband, being a working mother is one of the hardest, most fulfilling aspects of my life. I know my struggle with balancing it all isn’t unique, which is why I applaud all of my fellow mothers and the mothers before me, including my own.

This first quarter has definitely had its ups and downs, but I’m looking forward to what’s to come. Here’s how I plan to make the rest of the year better than ever!

  1. Schedule some “me” time. If my batteries aren’t charged, I can’t be my best as a wife, mother or as an employee. Frankly, if I don’t allow time to relax and do things that I enjoy, I am doing everyone in my life a disservice.
  2. Time Management. We all know that time is our most precious commodity. If we waste it on unproductive activities, we’re cheating ourselves out of time that could go towards tackling something of substance from your to-do list. I often fall victim to the swiping and scrolling rabbit hole of social media.
  3. Accept that there’s no perfect balance. Acknowledging that there is no special formula to balancing it all is the best thing that we can do for ourselves. Sure, some things will suffer while other things flourish, but that’s just how life goes. The sooner we realize that no one has super powers—we just make the best out of our situations the better off we’ll all be!

Now that we’re a quarter of the way into the new year, what practices do you plan on implementing to ensure that the rest of 2016 is as great as possible? 

Category: Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | 1 Comment

5 Things I Learned from the Burlington & WomenHeart Panel

February 8, 2016

If you’re a BG and haven’t had your heart checked in the past six months, keep reading.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend an eye-opening panel discussion on heart health and how it affects women, especially us African-Americans. Presented by Burlington in partnership with WomenHeart, the esteemed group of speakers included popular TV talk show host and personality, Wendy Williams; four heart disease survivors and a renowned cardiologist.

While Wendy Williams doesn’t personally suffer from heart disease, she aims to use her platform – “The Wendy Williams Show,” to help educate women about the illness. She provided some hilarious sound bites throughout the discussion that served as a bit of comic relief for a very serious topic. “Eating shrimp can give you ‘the heart’ right, doc?” she jokingly asked. Although heart disease is no laughing matter, Wendy’s humor and candor opened the conversation to some troubling facts.

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Here are some of the top five things I learned from the panel:

1. Heart disease doesn’t discriminate. It kills more women than breast and lung cancer combined. In fact, one in four women will die from heart disease.

2. Thin doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. You can be thin and exercise and STILL be faced with heart disease. One of the panelists, Essence Harris-Banks was a dancer and very active prior to being diagnosed with coronary artery disease.

3. Watch your weight. The more you weigh, the more your heart has to work pump. Even losing 5 pounds can make a big difference.

4. Don’t Stress. We all know stress is a killer. Meditation, yoga and deep breathing can help relieve stress, ultimately reducing your chance of heart disease.

5. We BGs have a higher risk. Women with diabetes have a 2.5-fold higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease. African-Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes, which contributes to the 81.9% higher risk of developing heart disease .

Even though National Wear Red Day for heart disease is behind us, the fight against this disease is ongoing! That’s why Burlington customers have the opportunity to donate $1 or more at a checkout and their funds will support WomenHeart. The contributions will go toward further educating women about heart disease and their health.

Want to learn more and help the cause? Throughout February, tune in to the Wendy Williams Show to get fun and easy daily healthy heart tips. If you’re a Wendy-watcher, simply snap a photo of how you are using that tip or show what heart health means to you be posting a #HealthyHeartSelfie. For every photo posted with that hashtag, Burlington will donate $1, up to $25,000, to benefit WomenHeart.

In the words of Wendy, “Don’t talk so loud and breathe. Love yourself now, tomorrow may be too late.”

How do you take of your heart? 

Category: Featured, Features, Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment

Get Cupid-Approved Clothing from The Children’s Place

February 7, 2016

This Valentine’s Day I’m outfitting my two sweethearts in the hottest fashions from my favorite kids’ clothing store—The Children’s Place!

They have some of the most adorable and always affordable finds that you and your children will love. From red frilly dresses to plaid shirts, you’re sure to discover quality clothing that will set your heart aflutter. Plus, they have a bevy of darling accessories to top off any ensemble.

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MJ is wearing the Long Sleeve Plaid Shirt ($6.80) and Ava is modeling the Sleeveless Ruffle Lace Floral Mesh Dress ($20). 

While these outfits are undeniably cute and Cupid-approved, they can certainly be worn throughout the spring season. Ava has already made plans to wear her dress for Easter!

My children have been wearing items from The Children’s Place since they were infants and will continue until they outgrow it. They should really consider expanding their brand to the “Teen” and “Adult” Place, hey, they’d have a customer in me!

Are you planning to get festive and dress your kids up for Valentine’s Day?

Category: Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | 1 Comment

Big Fun at Big Apple Circus

December 28, 2015

If you’re looking for an afternoon or evening of family fun, look no further than the Big Apple Circus!

The can’t-miss show has been entertaining circus-goers for decades and this year is no different. I recently schlepped my two little ones to the Lincoln Center for a day under the big top. At first I was nervous that my temperamental two-year-old son wouldn’t sit through the hour and a half show, but I couldn’t have been more wrong—he had the time of his life! In fact, they were both completely captivated from the beginning to the end.

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Ava and MJ enjoying the Big Apple Circus. For date and ticket information, click here!

Jam-packed with crowd-pleasing clowns and amazing acrobatic acts, it’s no surprise the show commanded their full attention. While they enjoyed the entire circus, they especially liked the galloping horses portion of the show. Plus, the audience participation made the experience even better. And to top things off, there’s even a pony-riding opportunity for the children during the intermission and after the show!

If you’re in the New York City area between now and January 10th, round up your family and head to the Big Apple Circus. Trust me, it will be a treat for the entire family!

Do you and your family go to the circus annually?

Category: Arts and Entertainment, Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment

Peapod and Barilla Make Mealtime Easy

December 9, 2015

As a busy mom of two, there are many days when I just don’t have the time or energy to make a healthy, delicious dinner for my family. On those days, I’m embarrassed to admit, but it’s the usual—boring mac-and-cheese.

That’s why I’m so excited about Peapod and Barilla’s partnership! The delivery company and pasta powerhouse have teamed up to make meal planning for families easy.

They’ve created nutritious meal kits that are simple to prepare and delivered right to your doorstep! Super convenient and inexpensive, each recipe averages about $5.00 per serving, which we parents can appreciate.

Plus, the prep is already done—no need to worry about messing up measurements or serving sizes. Since the ingredients are already portioned, it makes it even easier to get the kids involved. I have my children pour the fixings right into the bowl or pot, which I’ve learned makes them more inclined to eat dinner if they’ve helped in its preparation.

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Farfelle withButternut Squash (Photo: BusinessWire)

With delicious options like Farfelle with Butternut Squash and Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Spaghetti, it won’t take much coaxing to get them to consume these tasty meals. Oh and did I mention, each meal can be on your dinner table in under 30 minutes! The only think you’ll have to figure out is what to do with all of that extra time.

Currently Peapod delivers throughout 24 U.S markets including New York, Illinois, Washington, D.C. Click here to see if it offers service in your neighborhood.

Do you ever use grocery delivery services?

Category: Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment

Actor Taye Diggs Releases New Children’s Book “Mixed Me!”

November 17, 2015

Last week I had the opportunity to take the kids to a private reading of actor/author Taye Diggs’ new children’s book, “Mixed Me!”

Hosted by The Moms Network, the event was held at Aeropostale, a popular clothing store in the heart of Times Square. Prior to the reading and meet-and-greet, attendees were encouraged to donate gently used plastic toys to Second Chance Toys for the holidays. We were also treated to cupcakes and light refreshments.

Once the moms and kids were settled in, Taye Diggs and the book’s illustrator Shane W. Evans (also one of Taye’s closest friends) began to read the well-written tale. Inspired by Taye’s son, the book is about a little boy named Mike whose mom is described as being “rich cream and honey” and his dad as “deep brown.” His hue falls somewhere in between, which his parents explains to him as being “mixed just right!” 

The story encourages children to be confident and celebrate their physical differences. While the title suggests the story’s about being bi-racial, it’s truly a universal story about embracing and accepting individuality. 

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Ava and MJ look on as actor/author Taye Diggs and illustrator Shane W. Evans sign copies of their new book, “Mixed Me!”

Shane, the illustrator spoke eloquently about how important it was for him to get the pictures just right. He told the audience that he specifically chose each complexion and every curl meticulously to give credence to children whose hair and skin tone might stand out from the crowd.

Surprisingly, both Ava and MJ sat attentively while the story was being read and seemed to be quite entertained.

Overall, it was a fun afternoon for the kids and me. I plan on reading the book at Ava’s school next month.

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“Mixed Me!” by Taye Diggs and illustrated by Shane W. Evans is available here, $13

If you’re a parent to a young child, how do you encourage them to be confident? Please share your thoughts!

Category: Arts and Entertainment, Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment