Breaking Through!

by contributing writer Nicole M. Stevenson

It gives me(N.S) extreme pleasure to introduce Gospel Singer Natalie Wilson(NW) who has proven that she has staying power! From the time I first met Ms. Wilson she appeared to be a positive individual and gracious. Seven-Time Stellar Award Nominees Natalie and SOP's latest release aptly titled Good Life, is a CD that ministers to the soul and worth collecting! After the group's self-titled, hit debut in late 2000, which yielded two songs that have already become modern gospel staples ("Calvary" and "Act Like You Know"), Natalie reports that Good Life offers up healthy doses of the group's instantly distinctive and classic sound, as well as growth and changes that will continue to keep Natalie Wilson & S.O.P. fresh, vibrant, and innovative.

N.S.How long have you been singing professionally? NW: I've been singing for over 20 years.

N.S.Has it taken away from your personal life? NW: No, Not at all, in fact it has added to my life tremendously. It has been a blessing to be able to express my inner voice to minister to God and His people.

N.S.Do you feel that as a singer you have a responsibility to the youth? NW: Yes, I think the moment that God gives you a platform as such, you are responsible to use that influence to encourage others to achieve goals and move towards their purpose.

N.S.What is the over all message you want to convey to your listeners? NW: That living a Christian life, is not boring, but it is fulfilling and rewarding to be a child of God.

N.S.Your song He's On Your Side from a Good Life was awesome it really touched my soul, do you get a lot of positive feed back about your works? NW: Definitely, I have received major testimonies about Liquid Prayers, and other heart touching songs that has encouraged many people in their valley experiences.

N.S.Do you feel your music has changed in any way? NW: No, but my message increases daily as I experience God in all of His facets.

N.S.As a Minster of music do you feel there is an urgency where the children are concerned ... is this one of the reasons you decided to change? NW: There is a major concern that I'm unsure we will ever be able to change, our Hip Hop culture has a great influence over our youth. I will continue to provide alternatives in my music however, until the finances become as great in the gospel industry for marketing, I'm unsure what others changes are necessary.

N.S.What would be the advice you would offer to the people who are now entering the music industry? NW: To stay prayerful and focused with the right motives.

N. S Do you have a favorite song, and what makes it so special to you? NW: Liquid Prayers is a my favorite song, because it is a song of comfort and assurance that God hears our prayers through our tears.

N. S. What are your up coming projects? NW: I'm a little unsure what direction is next for me....I'm still waiting and seeking God.

NW: I want to thank you for taking time out of your schedule, it was a pleasure meeting you and continue to walk humbly!

Staying Power!

by contributing writer Nicole M. Stevenson

It is a delight to introduce Makeda Smith President and sole owner of Jazzmyne Public Relations. Who definitely knows her business her client list expands wide and with some of the top names in the business. Smith has been instrumental in launching, establishing and maintaining several highly visible publicity campaigns over the years.

Let's go back you had a position as Associate Director of West Coast Publicity at Hervey & Company, a public relations firm and left with no savings or financial backing...what made you leave? While working at Hervey & Company, I found myself putting in long hours, sometimes staying at the office until 11:00 p.m. at night. My oldest daughter was about 3 years old at the time, and I remember thinking I was going to miss her childhood. My father had run his own business for years, and he always told us it was best to work for yourself. So I figured it was about time to work hard for myself not somebody else.

What is Jazzmyne Productions? Jazzmyne Public Relations is a boutique style agency that specializes in publicity within the realm of urban entertainment. I used to say in a nutshell " We make you mo' famous !" That said, we coordinate media exposure for our vast array of clients.

How much time and effort did it take? Well, I've been in business for over 18 years now. When you work for yourself, you pretty much work around the clock ... there is no such thing as 9 to 5.

Tell us about your services? We angle and brand you within the media, and thereby the public at large.

As an entrepreneur has it been easy? It has been hard work and still is - but its good hard work because you are in charge and control of your destiny.

How long have you been in the business? Since 1988 officially, but I really started the company in 1887.

In print you have handled clients such as (list below) what exactly does this process entail? We don't really "handle" the print you mentioned below, but we do place clients in those media outlets. PRINT L.A. TIMES USA TODAY BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE PEOPLE ESSENCE MAGAZINE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

What is your secret for maintaining staying power for over a decade? My secret is duo-fold, its about keeping the faith and at the same time honoring those who came before you ( our ancestors) and making them proud.

In one word can you describe yourself? Other than Fabulous :-* ! .... I'd say Blessed !

What advice would you offer to the next entrepreneur? Work hard, work good, always be about your best. Putting forth your best will keep you in business a very long time.

I want to thank you so much Makeda for taking time out of your very hectic schedule and for being a person of inspiration! Thank you so much .... also folks can visit my website at < www.jazzmynepr.com> And thank you so much again !

Get Serious About Your Finances.

by Monique Bruner and Yolanda M. Johnson

Identity theft, buying a Home, getting a new job, insurance. For all of these reasons, you need to know what is on your credit report. Before June 1, 2005 consumers had to pay to receive a copy of their credit report from the three major reporting companies. Recent legislation has changed that fact. Finally, the government is looking out for your best interest. The key to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act is giving every consumer the right to their credit report free of charge every year. This will enable you to check your credit once a year to make sure your identity has not been stolen. Many companies are selling insurance for identity theft but you can check your own records for FREE. Empower yourself check out http://www.factact.us/.

Ordering your FREE, that's right FREE, credit report from all three of the major credit bureau's to make sure your credit report is accurate, is a win win result for you. Keep in mind that there is still a charge for an all in one credit report that calculates your Beacon or FICA score. For your free credit report, click on the link below and browse the site for instructions on how to order your FREE credit report. It is FREE, so there should be no excuses not to take advantage of this opportunity that may help you in the future.

Summer Hair Smarts: Quick Tips To Avoid Sun-Damaged Locks

courtesy of hairboutique.com

Have you ever noticed what happens to a bathing suit at the end of summer, after it's soaked up chlorine, been exposed to daily sunlight and blasted with heat in the clothes dryer? Well hair is fiber, too, and color fadage, loss of elasticity and eventual un-wearability can occur for the same reasons bathing suits wear out. Good thing that unlike bathing suits, hair re-grows. But what can you do about sun-damage in the meantime? These tips help you seal gaps in the fiber, put back the color and avoid further damage.

Deep condition Exposure to sunlight and the elements can dry hair out, particularly if your hair is chemically treated. Put back the moisture with a deep conditioner that contains keratin, jojoba oil, and other hair strengtheners and moisturizes. For deep conditioning, use a shower cap and cover hair with a towel; this uses the heat from your head to help products penetrate. You can also give locks a quick pick-me-up with a specialized hot oil treatment. Of course, leave-in conditioners also give tresses a boost and help protect against thermal damage when heat styling.

Get out the green If you've been swimming in chlorine, chances are your hair color is taking on a green cast. Check out beauty supply stores for products that remove chlorine or ask your hairdresser for help. Avoid using hair color products that contain metallic salts (most of these are for covering gray and are for guys). Two preventive tricks: wet hair before swimming--it'll absorb less chlorine. Since chlorine is a copper-rich bleach, rinsing with Club soda after a dip helps eliminate it.

Put back the color You might love those sun-kissed highlights, but if you color your hair, the sun fades haircolor. After summer, visit your salon for a color fix or re-do your color at home. Some women use the old trick of applying lemon juice or honey before sunning to intentionally get highlights. This dries hair out and should be avoided. If your hair is very dry and porous, it can really "grab" color and come out lots darker, so if you're coloring at home, do a test strand first. If your hair or ends grab color fast, choose a lighter product shade or deep condition for a few weeks before coloring and strand test again.

Boost the shine Because the sun removes color and dries locks, it can also make hair look dull. For a fast shine boost, condition well to seal the cuticle and rinse with a mixture of vinegar and water. You can also apply a clear glosser, which boosts shine without changing your haircolor. Avoid neutral henna-it dries hair and some henna products create a green cast, even if they're neutral, because they contain metallic salts. Check out finishing products that add shine, such as pomades and silicone sprays.

Increase Elasticity. To put back the bounce, feed your head with protein. Use shampoos and conditioners that contain wheat germ protein, or keratin. Avoid pulling and tugging on hair when styling. Some salons offer special reconstructing treatments that make hair look and feel better instantly. If your hair is relaxed, don't over-use protein or it'll make hair more brittle. Opt for moisturizers instead. Take a break from heat styling and let your hair dry naturally whenever possible. When you do blow dry, dry on high heat. While it may seem this does more damage, it's actually better to use high heat because you expose your hair to heat for a shorter period of time than you would if you used medium heat. Of course, never hold hair dryers too close to your head and keep them moving as you dry. Skip the concentrator attachment!

Free the ends The end of any season is always a great time for a trim. Not only do you get rid of "older" dry ends and split ends, you'll but the shape back in your cut.

Protect the surface Get in the habit of using styling aids that contain UV protectors and anti-oxidants. They'll help prevent damage and keep your haircolor looking fresher longer. Opt for sun hats at the beach or coat your hair with a protective oil, like Phyto-Plage, which is formulated for sun protection. Finally, while it is true that nothing completely repairs hair or split ends, many newer products temporarily fill in internal gaps and boost hair from the inside out, so it looks lots better, until real damage grows out. Check out the latest hair treatments to reverse damage such as PhytoKarite Intensive Treatment, Phytocitrus Mask and related nourishing masks and see what they do for you.

Introducing Vanessa A. Johnson

by Yolanda M. Johnson

If you've ever had the chance to meet, speak with or chat with Vanessa A. Johnson, (my big sister in spirit of course), then you have been had the privilege of being in the presence of a beautiful, warm, loving and selfless woman of God. And if you didn't know her, you would not believe that she has endured the death and the loss of loved ones seven fold. Even in her grief, Mrs. Johnson found the time to journal her thoughts, experiences and found them as a way to heal and in the process wrote, "When Death Comes A Knockin". Her goal is to help others who are going through and those who will go through. Her book is sad, yet refreshing and gives hope to others. If you have not gotten your copy yet, please do so. I guarantee that it will leave you enlightened and refreshed.

Please give the readers a brief bio on you the person and the writer. My name is Vanessa A. Johnson. I'm a 911 Dispatch Supervisor for my local Sheriff's Department where I live in Louisiana. I have been on the job for over 28 years and anticipates retirement in early 2007. My husband and I have been married nearly twenty-seven years and have three children, Haven, Alexis and Johnnel, and Jalen, deceased ten years, and one grandchild, Jalen 3 weeks old. I didn't start writing until after the untimely deaths of my mother and son in August and September of 1994.

Tell us about your current book? My current book, When Death Comes a Knockin', is a self-help, inspirational book about loss and grief. I share my many experiences with loss and my journey through the grief process by chronically each loss. The book is also filled with Scriptures, grief resources, book resources as well as some poetry written by me and dedicated to my loved ones.

What would you like your readers to take away from your book? With my book, I would like to help people through one of life's most horrific events, the loss of a love one, to let them know they are not alone, and to let them know that what they are going through, all of the emotions are normal and part of the grief process.

Tell us about some of your other writing ventures and things that you are working on? Currently, I'm working on my first fiction novel, Sacrifices In The Name of Love. It is the story of interracial teenagers who are forbidden to be together. They are together and must learn that life's choices has consequences and the sacrifices they are willing to make. I'm also a contributing author in several upcoming anthologies, namely, a short story in The Second Chance Anthology, a gumbo recipe in the Gumbo For The Soul Anthology, Help, I've Turned Into My Mother by Essence Best Selling Author ReShonda Tate-Billingsley, a short story in The Purple Pen Anthology, and a poem in Black Expressions 2005 Poetry Anthology. I am also working on completing my book of poetry, tentatively titled, Expressions in Black and Life, and a short story collection, Stumbling Blocks.

What is some of the feedback that you've gotten on your work? I have received nothing but positive responses from my book, people saying how much my book have helped them to recognize the emotions they're experiencing with loss, how much the book has helped them to come to terms (acceptance) of their loss. Many have said the book was therapeutic. in that it helped them to release much needed tears that they'd been unable to release before. I have not heard one negative word since publishing the book.

Do you think that literacy is important in today's society? Why or why not? Literacy is important in today's society. With today being such a technological world, how can one function and survive not know how to read and write. So I think today you have to know more than just being able to read and write. You have to become technologically smart as well and that begins with knowing how to read and write.

What are the joys and sorrows of writing? The joys are being able to inspire and up lift others with my words, seeing my family filled with pride over seeing my words in print, and having a legacy to leave to my children when my time here is no more.The sorrows of writing are trying to get the right people to notice my work and getting traditionally published.

Do you have any marketing tips that work? Always carry some books with you. That way when people ask for it, you'll have it.

What is something readers would be surprised you do? I think the readers that I have would be surprised if I wrote erotica. My first book is non-fiction and I think that would be a far stretch from that genre.

Do you have any advice for those aspiring writers? Believe in yourself and your work don't let anyone deter you from fulfilling your dream of whatever it might be.

What inspired you to write? My writing was inspired by the loss of my mother and son in 1994. There wasn't much on the market at the time from someone who wasn't in the medical field or the clergy. I yearned to read from someone who had walked the path I was no, not from people who wrote about helping others.

What inspires you to write? I am inspired by people who say I inspire them. If you could have dinner with 3 authors to talk with about their writing (living or deceased), who would you invite and why? Parry "Ebony Satin" Brown - I love her down to earth personality and her writing style. Her books portrays us in a positive light and there are lessons to be learned in them; Evelyn Palfrey - Her books are for the marvelously mature. I haven't seen anyone write a sex scene with so few words, that leaves you with such a powerful imagery of love-making without the use of cursing, or naming every body part there is; and Tupac - that young man was deep, so prophetic for someone his age. How can readers get in contact with you? (mail, email, website) I can be reached through my publishing company, Book Haven Publishing at P O Box 9 Ama, LA 70031, or through email at vjohns1@bellsouth.net or my website at http://clik.to/vanessaajohnson. Can you us give us a sneak peek of your next book? My next book centers around the main characters Tessa Phillips a Caucasian female, Tessa is raised in a racist home and is forbidden to have any type of relationship with her African American, namely her new neighbor Trey Martin. Despite the stern warnings, Tessa becomes pregnant by Trey. Surrounded by lies and false pretenses, she has the baby, but when she is no longer able to hide the paternity, she panics, gives the baby to the father and runs away. Several years later, Tessa returns home to try to make things right. But so much has changed from the life she left behind The book shows us that there are consequences for our actions and the sacrifices we have to make under the guise of love.

Rize (2005)

How do these guys dance like that? Rize ain't no Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. It's a real-life look at a high-energy dance style from L.A. called "krumping." Photographer and filmmaker David LaChapelle examines "krumping," an aggressive, athletic dance style emerging from the streets of South Central Los Angeles.

The 2005 NBA Playoffs

by Yolanda M. Johnson (an avid Los Angeles Lakers fan)

Will it be the Pistons? or the Spurs? Makes no difference to me. The Lakers didn't make it. And I'm so glad that the Mavericks didn't make it. So I guess I'll just give you all the schedule and pull my Dallas Cowboys jersey out of storage and pray that they do something this season. THEN pray that the Lakers do better NEXT season. Geesh!!

Highlights from game one (courtsey of nba.com):

SAN ANTONIO, June 9 (Ticker) -- Manu Ginobili helped the San Antonio Spurs shake off the rust and leave the defending world champions in the dust.

Ginobili scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to complement a huge game by Tim Duncan as the Spurs got the jump in the NBA Finals with a methodical 84-69 victory over the sputtering Detroit Pistons.

Having been idle for a week, the Spurs looked weak. However, they regrouped behind their three D's - defense, depth and Duncan, who had 24 points and 17 rebounds. And San Antonio managed to pull away in the fourth quarter, which is usually when the Pistons go to work.

Leading the charge was Ginobili, who is making a career of winning. The Argentine All-Star, already with a championship ring and an Olympic gold medal, got to work on his second NBA title by taking over in the final period. He scored eight points in a decisive 12-2 surge that gave the Spurs a 67-55 lead, then throttled a push by the Pistons with a swooping dunk, 3-pointer and running hook for an 81-67 advantage with less than two minutes to go.

"When I started feeling that everything was going so good for me and I was being able to finish or hit a three - the one I got in the fourth quarter - I just felt I was great, couldn't feel better," said Ginobili, who made 9-of-10 shots in the second half.

"Unbelievable. He was great," Duncan said. "We got a little stagnant there because he was amazing. We just stood around and kind of looked at him and he made big shots."

The matchup of the last two champions appeared to be turning into a duel between the last two Finals MVPs in Duncan and Chauncey Billups, who scored 25 points. However, Duncan eventually got some help, while Billups was left to go it alone.

Rasheed Wallace scored just six points, all in the first eight minutes. Richard Hamilton scored 14 points but also missed 14 shots as he was hounded by Spurs defensive demon Bruce Bowen. Reserve Antonio McDyess had two points on 1-of-8 shooting. "We don't have that kind of personnel to go 1-on-1 and break people down and get baskets all night," Billups said. "I thought we reverted to that a little bit." Duncan kept the Spurs afloat in the first half with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Ginobili had just four points and three turnovers before halftime but began to come alive with seven points in the third quarter, when San Antonio regained the lead for good. "I was very upset at halftime and I tried to calm down, play at a little slower pace and things started to get better," Ginobili said.

"Frustration isn't part of (Ginobili's) personality. He just goes," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. Tony Parker scored 15 points and Nazr Mohammed added 10 for the Spurs, who livened up what had been a plodding game with a spirited fourth quarter. As they did during the season, they pounded the Pistons on the boards, 49-35. "I don't think we - other than the first seven, eight minutes - matched their energy," Pistons coach Larry Brown said. "Their effort was phenomenal the whole game." "We boarded well, so we put ourselves in a position where we could win a basketball game," Popovich said. "But offensively, it was Manu Ginobili. He was something else." Game 2 is here Sunday. The Pistons were within two points early in the fourth quarter when Ginobili crashed into Ben Wallace, who was called for a block - and a technical foul for arguing. Ginobili turned into a whirling dervish thereafter with three driving layups, including a three-point play where the lefthander came across the lane, took a bump from Hamilton and made a righthanded shot. "Manu got mad after that and didn't stop penetrating," Parker said. "He kept attacking." "They were switching and collapsing a lot in the paint, so I was always going against two or even three guys," Ginobili said. "So I know I'm going to expect that, so I don't care."

Consecutive hoops by Duncan helped build the lead to 17 points before the Pistons rallied with a three-guard lineup, scoring 10 straight points to close to 74-67 with 3:20 to go. Ginobili re-emerged with a personal 8-0 run to seal matters. "No doubt that my confidence has been built up a lot," said Ginobili, a three-year veteran who made the All-Star team for the first time this season. "Now I know that even if I don't play well in the beginning, I'm going to be on the court. And probably in the fourth quarter, I'm going to have the ball in my hands." "He got some trick shots in his book so that's why I say you got to keep him out of the paint," said Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince, whose reputation as a stopper took a serious hit. The league's two best defensive teams were executing "Operation Shutdown," but the coaches' knowledge of each other's schemes also made the basket seem smaller, and the shooting wasn't great, either. There were a handful of missed layups and airballs, including one on a free throw by Ben Wallace. All that nearly led to a dubious entry in the record book. The 155 combined points approached the all-time Finals low of 145 by Syracuse and Fort Wayne in 1955 - the first season of the shot clock. Early on, not even the searing humidity outside the SBC Center could heat up the Spurs, who clearly showed the effects of seven days off. In the first seven minutes, they had four points and four turnovers while going scoreless for more than three minutes - twice. That helped the Pistons open a 17-4 lead and quieted the crowd. "I think I had to shake that off a little bit there and I think I was as big of a culprit as anyone," said Duncan, who missed a dunk. "Maybe sitting around before the game, maybe the hype, maybe everybody was nervous or maybe they were rusty from the layoff," Popovich said. "I don't know. I don't care, I don't think about things like that." Popovich went deep into his bench, calling on Devin Brown and Glenn Robinson, neither of whom played in the conference finals. Duncan's solid play and a flurry of fouls on the Pistons helped the Spurs withstand 11 points by Billups in the second quarter and close to 37-35 at halftime.

Game 2: Sun, June 12 | Detroit at San Antonio | 9 p.m. ET, ABC Game 3: Tues, June 14 | San Antonio at Detroit | 9 p.m. ET, ABC Game 4: Thurs, June 16 | San Antonio at Detroit | 9 p.m. ET, ABC Game 5*: Sun, June 19 | San Antonio at Detroit | 9 p.m. ET, ABC Game 6*: Tues, June 21 | Detroit at San Antonio | 9 p.m. ET, ABC Game 7*: Thurs, June 23 | Detroit at San Antonio | 9 p.m. ET, ABC

The Soul of A Woman Would Like To Take Time Out To Say.....

Happy Father's Day to All The Fathers and Single Mothers Around The World!

5 Tips On Turning Negative Into Positive

courtesy of Sistah Talk

Tip #1. Don't look for the negative when it isn't present. A lot of us always enter a situation "looking" for the negative. Woman--this is for you. Ever entered into a relationship with the belief that "all men are dogs?" So, you half expect your partner/spouse to cheat on you because you have the belief, that all men are dogs. Even though there is no evidence of him cheating, you search his pockets for phone numbers, follow him in an unmarked cars to see what he is doing when he claims to be out with "the boyz." Or, you might hear there is going to be lay-offs on your job. You automatically believe that you are on the list of "pink slips." You spend your day, watching your boss out the corner of your eye. S/he goes behind closed doors and you are convinced they are plotting to get rid of you. Or, you walk in a room of your "friends" and they stop talking. You automatically assume they were talking about you, because why else would they stop talking. STOP! Don't look for the negative when it isn't a definite fact, because when you seek the negative, you often find it more than not.

Tip #2. Look for the positive. No matter what the situation is, there is always a negative and a positive side of it. Sometimes, the positive may not be easy to see right off the bat, but if you look deep enough it is there. Let's say, for instance, you are terminated from your job. At first glance, there may not be anything positive you can see in this. But, was this job the best job you've ever had. Was this job "your purposeful career?" Most likely not. Because, generally, when you are working on a career that supports your purpose, you will be so good at it, that you will never be terminated. So, since the job wasn't "the be all to end all" look on the positive side. This is an opportunity for you to find your purpose, an opportunity to make more money, a job closer to your home, a job that gets you excited. Now, due to your termination from that other job, you have your days free to spend time focused on creating the best life of your life.

Tip #3. Stop negative thoughts in their tracks. Whenever you hear yourself "thinking" a negative thought--STOP and replace it with a positive thought. Instead of saying to yourself, "I'm no good at this." Stop yourself and say, "I am getting better, each and every day."

Tip #4. Change the company you keep. If you find that most of your friends are negative people, find new friends. Birds of a feather flock together. So, if, right now, you are a negative person, chances are most of your friends will be negative too. If you find most of your conversations are gossiping about others, kicking other people's back's in, looking and discussing the negative about every subject, not sharing in the happiness and good fortune of others, then change your friends. Have you ever noticed that when you hear of someone that you know who is doing good, you automatically look for the negative? "Girl, did you hear that so-and-so just bought a million dollar home out there in Short Hills?" "Oh, yeah, what does her husband do? He's probably a drug dealer or something?" Or if you hear that so-and-so got a promotion and is now making $350,000 a year. The first thing you say is, "I know she slept her way to the top. She was as dumb as a box of rocks when we were in school." Then, you are a negative person and need to find new friends. Because if you and your friends are positive people, these thoughts would never come up in your conversations.

Tip #5. Pray. Pray to God to remove the negative thinking from your life. Pray that you always see the positive in every situation. Pray that you become more positive each and every day. Then, thank God, in advance, for taking away your negative thinking. Thank Him for the positive that is entering into your life. Thank God for the flow of positive things that is happening for you. Thank God for the goodness and positive things that happen to others as well. Now, make the decision to be a positive person and work at it each and every day, until it becomes so much of a habit, that you won't even have to think about it again.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 KJV

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity.