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May 4, 2012 

FRIDAY FUN: Fashionably Late Fridays @ Dazzling Lounge

Last summer, a few ambitious folks got together and thought, “What is the Toronto nightlife scene missing?” Events that are not full of posed-up “industry” folks, parties that aren’t geared to the “I stole my 21-year-old cousin’s ID” crowd, jams that don’t end with hotheads scrapping over perceived disrespect…kinda hard to come by in general, but seem to be few and far between in Toronto. I’ve lived here for 5 years, and some say I’ve missed the golden era of Toronto nightlife – but I have to say, the good parties I’ve been to in the city have been GOOD PARTIES. Thanks to those ambitious folks I mentioned (the good people of R Flavour, This Is Your Conscience, and Goddess Intellect), Toronto has another good party series to coincide with the return of the good weather – Fashionably Late!

Summer 2011 found me at Dazzling Lounge nearly every Friday. Dope Asian fusion cuisine, yummy drinks, good company and hype music (shout out to main DJ Kold Fusion) – I had quite the time. I ran into old friends, met new ones, danced to Poison with Robin Givens and got holla’d at by Clifton Powell (aka Pinky from the Friday movies). Let’s just say, every Friday night was an experience.

Starting tonight (yes – TONIGHT!), Fashionably Late will regain it’s position as the Friday night place to be for a cool, sexy, and fun affair. Dazzling Lounge has just revamped its patio space, so I’m excited to do some patio photo shoots with the Toronto skyline as my backdrop! The Fashionably Late team has a ton of tricks up their sleeve to add to your party experience. It’s not just about a drink and a two-step – Fashionably Late plans to fully entertain you with special nights and pre-party happy hour events.

Speaking of special nights – the 2nd Friday of each month will be the Timeline party. DJ Kold Fusion will take you on a musical journey with an old school groove, taking us from current time to the mid 80′s in hip hop, RnB, reggae, soca, house, and anything else he comes up with (people have broken heels to Nirvana thanks to DJ Kold Fusion, so wear your good shoes, ladies!). Next Friday, May 11th, will be the first Timeline jam, and it’ll also be my birthday party! I’m calling it my Bee-Day Party, and I want you (yes, YOU!) there!  My actual birthday is May 10th, but I’ll be ringing in my new year at Fashionably Late on the 11th. If you want to come sip a drink or dance on a table top with me, shoot me an email! Hit me up on Facebook! Tweet me on Twitter! You know how to reach me :) I may be doing my own little event at an upcoming Fashionably Late, so I’ll keep y’all posted on that too…

Catch up with the Fashionably Late news via their Facebook page and Twitter – come shake a leg!

April 27, 2012 

BEE ON THE SCENE: Malton Moms Workshops & How She Hustles Brunch

As this week comes to an end, I’m reflecting on just how busy and eventful the past few weeks have been. I was honoured to attend a few awesome events, and I wanted to let you all know about them!

First up: my very first speaking engagement! A couple of weeks ago, I was happily surprised to get an email in my inbox inviting me to speak at the Malton Moms group in the Mississauga area. Malton Moms is a networking and support group for mothers in the Malton region, but in reality, they’re so much more than that. Malton Moms provides an environment for mothers to be educated, entertained, supported, and heard. For their Creative Cafe’s “Telling Your Story” edition of special meetings, I was invited to speak about how to “tell your story” with blogging.

With Crystal and Nadine from Malton Moms

For the last two Wednesdays, I spent my evenings in Mississauga with the group and talked, laughed, and learned. For the first session, I covered topics to help the ladies start and maintain their own blogs. It was easy to drive my points home by sharing my own personal experiences, and the ladies were receptive and interactive, which was awesome! For my second session, we focused on the Malton Moms blog, and I helped the group come up with a game plan for updating and revamping their site. This was especially great – the Malton Moms group is doing so many amazing things that it only makes sense for their web presence to mirror all of that awesomeness. Are you in the Malton area and looking for a group of mothers to connect with? You definitely need to get in touch with Malton Moms – check their Facebook page to stay updated! I had a great time, and was humbled and honoured to be invited to speak to their group. I was also inspired – there were a TON of sexy mommies up in there! Go ‘head, ladies!

What comes to mind when you think of spending an afternoon with 100 women you don’t know? For an introvert like me, that’s a nerve-wracking experience, but it’s one I encountered this past Sunday – and I loved it. I was lucky enough to attend the 3rd Annual How She Hustles Brunch at the Courtyard Marriot in downtown Toronto, and I had an amazing time! Hosted by Emily Mills and her team, the brunch was an opportunity to mix, mingle, and make real connections with women excelling in their main hustles and side hustles. This was different from other networking events because it was intimate enough to allow us the opportunity to chat with nearly every woman there. Everyone seemed positive, kind, and genuine in wanting to share their skills and learn about others – no pretentious posing or nonchalant business card tossing here! I was also impressed with the How She Hustles team’s usage of social media – Emily and her team used Twitter and Facebook so effectively, and created a way for women not in attendance to still feel like a part of the event. Awesome gift bags, dope giveaways, the opportunity to meet Twitter-friends in real life, and the chance to connect with other beautiful and inspiring women – this event was a major win all around! Connect with How She Hustles on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube to stay up to date with future events, because I know I’ll never miss another one!

Big thanks to the homie Ajua Dee for snapping so many great pics!

And the events don’t stop! May is my birthday month, and I have a few cool events planned to celebrate! Like the Facebook page and follow me on Twitter for more details! If you were at the Malton Moms workshops or at the How She Hustles brunch, say hello! I’d love to keep in touch!

March 28, 2012 

Artsy Fartsy: Natural Hair Overload

When I started this blog, the impetus was to have a medium of discussion on natural hair, especially for my Canadian ladies. My second thought was that I would get bored of talking solely about hair all day, every day (I have a tragically short attention span), and therefore the entire vision of ’83 To Infinity was fleshed out. However, I spent pretty much this entire past weekend talking about/being about natural hair, and I had way too much fun!

First up was my radio interview with Emily, a Masters of Journalism student at Ryerson University here in Toronto. Emily had reached out to an online group that I am a member of, seeking to speak with Black women for her Radio Documentary class project. The topic? Discussing our hair history, hair choices, and how those choices have affected or been influenced by current beauty standards. Inspired by a friend of hers who admitted to wanting to wear her hair naturally, but having no idea how to go about it, Emily wanted to both help her friend and educate herself on a world she didn’t even know about. Unfortunately, after a vetting process that I personally didn’t understand or agree with, it was determined that the group would not be taking part in Emily’s project. I decided to reach out to her on my own, and we scheduled a taping date for Saturday afternoon.

My homegirl Mariah joined us, and I think we ended up giving Emily WAY more material than she needed! Emily engaged us with very insightful questions – she was intrigued to learn that my HomieLoverFriend was not a fan of my natural look when I debuted it, and she drew a lot of truth out of Mariah when she discussed the message of self-love that she was sending to her young daughter. We were lucky in that Emily didn’t fire question after question at us – she would put a topic out there, or frame a loose question, and then we’d go to town on it! She’ll have the difficult task now of mincing all of her material down into a 10 minute project, but I got the feeling that she learned a LOT more than she expected to, and we all had a great time sharing our personal stories. Sounds cliché to say, but if this helps even one person (Emily’s friend who’s thinking of going natural – I’m lookin’ at you!), then it was time well spent.

Once Emily and Mariah headed home, I focused on my hair in another arena – getting prepped for a photo shoot! I had been invited to the iHeartmyhair photo shoot with Sean Anthony Photography, and had to finally do something about this tired-ass bun I’d been dragging around all week. I shampooed, conditioned, and twisted my hair into approx. 15 twists (using Earthtones Naturals products), then decided to step it up a notch by curling the twists around some flexi-rods. Sat under my hooded dryer for about 30 minutes, then hit the sack in order to be ready for the early morning call time.

Sunday morning, bright and early, I headed out to Dundas West and got ready for some photo-shoot fun. My twist/curl-out came out fabulously (sorry – was too rushed to take a pic), so I was looking forward to what would be next. Añya, the super-sweet and super-focused lady of iHeartmyhair hooked my hair up into a fly side-swept look. Rita of Salon Beauty Mark did the damn thing with the makeup, then I was sent off to Sean to put the vision together.

It was my first time working with Sean, and he was AMAZING. He wanted me to be the “crazy one” – so he had me growling and scowling and silent screaming like nobody’s business! Every once in a while, he’d look at the camera shots and let out a “Wooooooo!!” At first, I thought he was just gassing me up and trying to boost my confidence, but when he showed me a few of the raw shots, I was like, “Damn! Who’s that girl?” I was giving some fierce Grace Jones, y’all. Didn’t think I had it in me, but the camera said otherwise.

The best part of the shoot was connecting with new and not-so-new faces (big up Kim, Marsha, and Shereen!), and talking about all things hair and beyond. It was awesome seeing so much beautiful hair in one spot – and in great contrast to my previous guest post about natural hair and fashion, I was so happy to be in a zone that not only was embracing natural hair, but – ahem – actually knew how to style it. Lol. Accessory queens Toni Daley and Ashley Alexis McFarlane came through with some awesome pieces, and so far, the shots I’ve seen have been GORGEOUS! Here’s a sneak peek courtesy of Sean Anthony Photography:

 Aren’t these pictures EVERYTHING? Añya and her team caught some other great shots from the day as well:

Me and the man with the master plan - the size of my mouth shows you how geeked I was!

I was in some DEEP convo here...LOL!

The lovely Añya and I...after I tried to make myself a bit more "normal looking" for the drive home!

All in all, I had a great weekend full of natural hair love. Emily ended up catching up with a few models at the shoot as well – that girl is a hustla! I’m hoping to get a copy of her project and share it with y’all, so keep an eye out for that! I guess there are ways to talk one subject to death in a way that’s enlightening and entertaining – this weekend taught me that!

Today is the perfect day for this post – still reminiscing about the weekend past, but looking forward to the weekend to come! What do you guys think of the photo shoot shots? Major thanks to Emily, Añya, Sean, Rita, and all the lovely ladies at the shoot! 

March 16, 2012 

Artsy Fartsy: VAWK/VAWKKIN Show At Toronto Fashion Week

The tents - and a big screen that flashed fashion world sexiness on King St. West

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 will go down in history as one of my favourite days of life. We all have goals, dreams, things we woulda/coulda/shoulda done, and aspirations that hold value for us even if they mean nothing to anyone else. This past Wednesday, I was able to fulfill one of those aspirations when I hit the runway for the VAWKKIN show at Toronto Fashion Week!

I’ll give y’all a little background. When I was young, I was obsessed with all things beautiful, glamorous, and luxurious (a typical Taurus). While my classmates were spending weeknights at Girl Guides and weekends at gymnastics tournaments, I watched Jeanne Beker every Sunday on Fashion Television and spent afternoons perfecting my model walk. First, my mom got me involved in weekend acting classes, then she started researching modeling schools and agencies on our hometown. I can’t even begin to tell you how many Saturdays we spent at mass casting calls and sitting in agency waiting rooms…my parents paid a lot of money, we learned a wealth of information, and I was fed a ton of empty promises. Getting caught up in scams and dead ends discouraged me from my dream of modeling, and while I didn’t give up, I set it aside for a bit.

With a move to Toronto, I figured I’d have a much easier time breaking into the industry. I met a few agencies, did a few photo shoots and shows, then life got in the way and modeling took another backseat. So, how did I go from that to strutting my stuff for the movers and shakers at Toronto Fashion Week? Well, check here for my initial post. And now I’ll tell you how the day went! Consider this your backstage pass!

Call time was 1pm – I headed out of work and down to King St. West to David Pecault Square, where the Fashion Week tent was erected. The fashionista in me was drooling at the runway show happening outside the tent – everyone came dressed to impress, and I realized this wasn’t a damn game.

World MasterCard Fashion Week Toronto

I headed inside, checked in, and found my other VAWKKIN ladies ready and waiting for hair and makeup. As Fashion Week staff dashed left and right, I was constantly stopped and asked, “Are you a real model or a real woman?” I didn’t even know how to answer that. Turns out that for the sake of clarity, the staff had designated the VAWK show models (who were the agency pros) as the “real models”, and us VAWKKIN show models as the “real women.”  A million thoughts went through my head. First: They think I’m a real model! Then: Are real models not also real women? Followed by: Sheeeit. I may not be with an agency, but today I’m a real model, dammit! Anyways, I obliged and told them I was a “real woman” and was carted off to my designated area to prep for hair. Here’s where it got funny.

We were instructed to show up with blowdried hair sans product, and zero makeup. When the head stylist (hair was sponsored by Redken) asked me to take my hair out of its loose bun, it pretty much exploded off my head. His facial expression pretty much said, “Yeeeeeah. Not sure what we’re doing with YOU.” The look for the hair was pretty simple – side part and slicked back into a low bun, but I could tell my lioness mane was a bit overwhelming. I saw a few of the other Black models getting done up with varying success, and I just hoped and prayed I’d get someone who could handle my ‘do without damaging it. Enter Kiki from Koi Salon in Brampton.

Bee: before the glam squad

Kiki took my hair and handled it like a pro! She said to me “Girl, I’ve gotta make the curly girls look just as good as everyone else!” and that she did. Kiki and her hubby brushed and sprayed and gelled and pinned my hair into the required style, and I thanked all possible deities that she was my hair stylist.

While I was getting my hurr did, I heard a voice to my left say “Hello, pretty lady!” I turned and saw a CTV microphone, cameraman, and Andria Case right in my face! I was a bit star struck, then had to pull it together for an impromptu interview. I love Andria Case – it’s a good feeling to see representation of someone who looks like me on the nightly news, so it was an honour to have her pick me of all people to interview!

Kiki and her hubby working their magic

Andria Case from CTV and I - this woman is a TRUE professional

Once hair was done, it was time for makeup – Vanessa from Maybelline (who reminded me of a darker haired Taylor Swift) beat my face to the GAWDS, hunty! She had me slaying effortlessly with my smoky eye, flushed cheek, and nude lip. We had a laugh when she came at my eye with the eyelash curler, and I was like – “whatchu gon’ do with that?” I loves the makeups but I keep my tools to a minimum…like, I use my fingers to apply eyeshadow. That’s how minimum. Lol.

Hair snatched. Face beat. Slaying heaux.

Hair was finished, makeup was done. I had gotten a manicure from a sweet girl who was running around backstage with bottles of polish in a fanny pack, and I took a minute to take it all in while the paint dried. I felt exhilarated to be a part of all the madness! So many creative people in one area gave me an energy jolt, and yet so many contrived people reminded me to always walk with sincerity. Luckily, I have to say that most folk I encountered were friendly and funny, which made me enjoy the day even more. A big part of me felt totally in my element, and I could just imagine the younger me being thoroughly in love with the entire moment.

Backstage madness

Next thing I know, it was almost show time! We met the show producers, had a quick run through of our walk, then met with our stylists to get dressed. Let me just say I loved ALL of the pieces in the VAWWKIN collection – clean cuts, smooth fabrics, and accomplishes Sunny Fong’s goal of creating a line that can go from the office to the happy hour spot. Getting dressed was the first time I laid my eyes on my outfit – a sexy fitted black trench and pencil skirt, with black tights, heels, and hot teal leather gloves to finish the look. I was ready for the runway!

As I mentioned before, Sunny Fong showed two lines: VAWK, which is a high-end, super sexy line, and VAWKKIN, the more accessible and versatile line. For the VAWK line, Sunny hired professional models who did the damn thing. We all watched backstage on a flat screen as they went out and started the show…and realized this was really real. The house was PACKED. And we were up next. In the blink of an eye, the VAWK session was over, and we were treated to a short video that showed Sunny introducing the VAWKKIN line. Next thing I know, Liz the backstage producer said, “Ok Bee…GO!”

Rockin' VAWKKIN

And go I did! I remembered all of the key runway tips: stay centred, shoulders back, don’t swing arms too much, look dead straight, smile with the eyes, give a lil sexiness with the hips, don’t be too posy, stay at the end long enough for a good shot but not too long, don’t slide, don’t trip, don’t fall…then it was over. Next thing I know, I was backstage getting ready for the finale walk. I wanted to go again! I wanted another outfit! I wanted more of the limelight! I don’t know what happened while I was out on that stage, but I felt GREAT. Not one person could tell me a damn thing – in that moment, I was the ultimate sh*t. No room for discussion or contradiction. Lol! It was such a rush, and I loved it.

It felt amazing to put myself out there and live my modeling dream for a day. I loved adding to the diversity of the event, and shaking things up a bit by being a “regular woman” (even though I never feel regular) out on the runway! Many, many, many thanks to Sunny Fong, Jentzen and the whole VAWK/VAWKKIN crew – Ben Barry and Liis Windischmann of Ben Barry Agency - stylist extraordinaire Tricia Campbell Hall - Kiki, Vanessa, Jen (the best dresser ever), Liz, the 2 photog sistas backstage, and all of the other VAWKKIN models. I was a happy girl :)

Before I end this hella-long post (thanks for making it this far!), I’ll leave y’all with the video clip of my chat with Andria Case – you’ll get to see me with absolutely no makeup, me on the catwalk, and a couple of the other awesome VAWKKIN models!

And here is the full show!

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So, that was my experience! Have any of you been to Fashion Week (Toronto or elsewhere) or modeled before? I’m keeping my fingers crossed and phone close waiting for the call to be shipped off to Europe for a Maison Martin Margiela show or something…I’m about to blowuptuate (word to Jamie Foxx)!

 

March 12, 2012 

Bee Rips The Runway: World MasterCard Fashion Week Toronto Style

Photo source

Well, it’s been a pretty eventful week in my world. I spread the news via the ’83 To Infinity Facebook page, but in case you didn’t know, yours truly will be modeling in Toronto Fashion Week! Yes, yes, just like Caribana, TFW has undergone an official name change (from LG Fashion Week to World MasterCard Fashion Week Toronto), but I ain’t sayin’ all that. Caribana and Toronto Fashion Week. I keeps it simple.

Anyways – I was told of a casting call for a line called VAWKKIN, and thought, “What the hell? Let’s see what’ll happen…” I submitted my photos, and a few days later was happy to receive an email that I was invited to the official casting call. I busted out my favourite heels, perfected my walk all up and through my apartment hallway, and headed downtown for the casting. 5 minutes after I arrived, I was finished – all that was left was to see if I was lucky enough to get a follow up email. When I checked my inbox just before bed, I saw the “Congratulations Bee…” and I went OFF. I was going to be in Toronto Fashion Week!

It’s been a whirlwind since then. Meetings, rehearsals, fittings…all for what will end up being a 15 minute show AND the experience of a lifetime. The other models are AWESOME. The model coaches are AMAZING. And the designer? Chiiiiiile…Sunny Fong, winner of Project Runway Canada’s 2nd season, creator of the gorgeous line VAWK and now its sister line VAWKKIN – he’s an artistic genius, hilarious, and forward thinking. He’s entrusted the launch of his newest line to a bunch of model newbies (and a diverse group at that), and we’re all ready to make him proud!

I’m a total introvert, but sometimes magic happens when you get me on a stage with a spotlight. That inner Sasha Fierce comes out, and I’m ready to do my THING! We’ll see how much fierceness I bring to the show – and if you want to check it out for yourself, I’ll tell you how you can!

To get you fashionistas in the mood, check out the Toronto Fashion Week teaser:

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Subscribe to the Toronto Fashion Week Youtube channel, and you’ll be able to watch all of the runway shows, plus enjoy other fashion world tidbits!

If you’re lookin’ for ya girl, you can catch me on the runway for the VAWK/VAWKKIN show on Wednesday, March 14th at 4pm EST! I’ll be documenting as the day goes on, and I’ll give you guys a backstage pass after the show!

January 31, 2012 

Call Me Baby Oprah: My Earthtones Naturals Interview

Photo via http://www.shallownation.com

Did you see yesterday’s review of Earthtones Naturals? I’m still sitting here, fluffing up and twirling my hair in all its glorious softness. I’ve gotten great multiple day wear out of the products, so my hair is happy!

Last week, I was able to get in touch with Susan Walker, ND, owner and creator of Earthtones Naturals. I had a few questions for her about the line, Naturopathic medicine, and entrepreneurship, and she was gracious enough to oblige me! She had some great answers, y’all. Take a look below, and get to know Susan and Earthtones Naturals a bit better.

Photo via uweightloss.com

Introduce yourself to the ’83 To Infinity readers! Tell us three interesting facts about yourself.

My name is Susan McDonald and I was born in Barbados 30-some odd years ago! I have 2 beautiful daughters who inspire me everyday to pursue my purpose and build a legacy for them. As hard as I try to resist I LOVE Aero Bubbles which will probably get in the way of one of my goals of entering a fitness competition this year.

What was the impetus behind the creation of Earthtones Naturals? Who or what inspired you?

Earthtones was conceptualized about 5 years ago in 2007. I love makeup and, while not a makeup artist, I am into playing around with different products creating different looks on myself. I was having some trouble finding a foundation or powder that matched my complexion properly. They were either too red or too yellow and it didn’t look natural. Additionally I found that there weren’t a lot of makeup lines for women of colour. Then I started looking into the ingredients in the makeup that I did find and discovered that many of them can be toxic to the body. I was inspired at this point to create a make-up line for women of colour that was actually beneficial for the skin. I chose women of colour because being someone of this demographic I’ve noticed that we are often an under-serviced and overlooked population; hence the reason I wasn’t able to find a lot of makeup specifically for us.

I discussed this idea with my husband and tried to think of a name of the line. It was he who thought of the name Earthtones and I loved it! It encompassed everything about the product line including the demographic – the skin tone of the women using it and the “earthiness” of the line. The line remained in its conceptual stage for a few years due to various reasons. And then the real inspiration to take it to completion came after the birth of my first child. I’m adopted and have no knowledge of my birth parents or family. When my daughter was born it was an unbelievable experience and I was just in awe at this baby that had my DNA. She was the only person in the world I knew of that looked like me. What really had me curious is where she got her hair from! She was born with a lot of it and we were told by many people that it would fall out and grow back again. Her hair was beautiful and unlike my texture or my husband’s. When her hair didn’t fall out and actually started to grow longer I realized that I had to teach her to love her beautiful hair, and that the only way to do that was to be an example to her. I tried products that were made “just for her” hair and they absolutely did not work. They would moisturize her hair initially and then her hair would become dry soon after. I knew about the negatives of good old fashioned hair grease and was not really able to find a product for her. And the Earthtones Naturals product line was born.

You’re also a Naturopathic Doctor. Could you give us a crash course in Naturopathic medicine? Did that background help you with the creation of Earthtones Naturals?

A Naturopathic Doctor is considered to be a general practitioner of natural medicine. Naturopathic doctors are guided by six fundamental healing principles:

  • First, to do no harm, by using methods and medicines that minimize the risk of harmful side effects.
  • To treat the causes of disease, by identifying and removing the underlying causes of illness, rather than suppressing symptoms.
  • To teach the principles of healthy living and preventative medicine, by sharing knowledge with patients and encouraging individual responsibility for health.
  • To heal the whole person through individualized treatment, by understanding the unique physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors that contribute to illness, and customizing treatment protocols to the patient.
  • To emphasize prevention, by partnering with the patient to assess risk factors and recommend appropriate naturopathic interventions to maintain health and prevent illness.
  • To support the healing power of the body, by recognizing and removing obstacles to the body’s inherent self-healing process.
As naturopathic doctors we are taught to address underlying dysfunctions that can lead to physical illnesses, and be vigilant of what we put into our bodies, as well as on our bodies in order to minimize toxin exposure. The Environmental Working Group has a database called Skin Deep which outlines potentially toxic, allergenic and problematic ingredients and the products they’re in. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Some of these dangerous ingredients are linked to hormonal conditions such as low thyroid function and infertility, and certain cancers. As a result, we need to be concerned with the use of certain chemicals and ingredients in our cosmetics. With this in mind it was my goal to create products that work with ingredients that are actually beneficial and nourishing to the hair and body, instead of being harmful.
It seems that many natural hair care lines available in Canada have high price mark-ups. What factors help you to keep Earthtones Naturals cost effective?

This is a great question. When I was looking for natural hair product lines to use on myself and my daughter, I found that same thing. One product that was my favourite for wash n’ go hair for a short time period was available for about $22 online from the U.S. That same product was selling here for $34! Even when I purchased the products in bulk and paid for shipping, it was still cheaper to order the products from the company in the U.S. than to purchase the same amount of that product here. I thought it was absolutely ridiculous and way too expensive. I would go into a store and by the time I purchased a shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer I was looking at spending over $70! The mark-ups are just too much. I feel very strongly about supplying quality products at reasonable prices. Now don’t get me wrong – you’re not getting poor quality products with inferior ingredients. You’re getting products with extremely high quality ingredients that actually work. I just don’t believe they need to cost an arm and a leg.

And while making a profit is always important in business, I believe that first and foremost, providing extremely effective products that are affordable for everyone is equally as important. As much as possible I try to source my raw materials from Canadian suppliers. In the event that I can’t and I think the ingredient will be extremely beneficial in a product and there is no substitute, I’ll purchase raw materials from the U.S. Buying from Canadian suppliers really helps to keep my costs down. And for my customers, buying from a Canadian company will keep more money in their pocket. It gets expensive for boutiques and stores to import products in from the U.S. and this cost is passed onto the consumer. On top of this they need to make a profit. This is why a lot of natural products cost a fortune in Canada as it’s costly for them to be imported.

What is your personal hair story?

My natural hair journey began and was put on pause in 2002. I went to a popular salon in Toronto to get a wash n’ wear relaxer which was a texturizer. My hair started breaking after the texturizer and I went through a period of braiding before finally doing the Big Chop a few months later. After my hair was cut the stylist said to me “Is your hair normally this dry?” I was devastated! She gave me no advice on how to care for my hair and I didn’t know what to do or what products to use. I promptly made an appointment to get my hair texturized and did that for about 7 years. I experienced a lot of growth (past my shoulders) and it was the longest my hair had ever been.

My natural hair journey started again in 2009 after the birth of my first daughter Nyssa. I was becoming unhappy with the way my texturized hair was looking. My hairdresser over processed some sections and I ended up having straight and curly sections to my hair. After Nyssa was born my hair started falling out in clumps. This is typically normal since during pregnancy the shedding phase is put on hold and the hair can grow quite a bit. I decided to do the Big Chop for good this time in December 2009, motivated by the desire for my daughter to love her own hair when she got older. I was definitely scared! I didn’t really know what my natural hair texture was like, nor did I know how to care for it.

After my Big Chop my hair was so short! I started to look for various products to “define my curls”. The only thing is that I didn’t see any! So through Youtube videos I became aware of specific products and tried many of them. I spent a fortune and most of them didn’t work. I finally found a curl defining gelly that did work for me that wasn’t one of the popular ones. My hair started growing out and the curls started becoming more apparent. I would get so many compliments on my hair and people would constantly stop me to ask me what I was putting on my hair. In November 2010, almost a year after my big chop I hosted my first Natural Hair Party. The response was incredible and I educated my guests on what I had researched about hair care and beneficial ingredients for hair. I showed which products I used in my hair and how to use them. As my hair started to grow longer and the weather became colder, the product I used for my wash n’ go style no longer worked. My hair felt dry and I didn’t like it. I made the decision to create my own product and I really started to diligently research ingredients and began to formulate the products for the Earthtones Naturals line. The first product took 10 months to perfect. Originally the products were for myself and my daughter; however I started using them on other people with phenomenal results. And the rest is, as they say, history.


What advice do you have for others who want to take the plunge into entrepreneurship?

Like the Nike slogan, Just Do It. Don’t get me wrong it’s scary to start a business. There is a huge fear of failure. However, you need to get out what is IN you. When I come to the end of my life I don’t want to have any regrets about not pursuing something because I was scared. It’s hard work but extremely rewarding. There will be times of failure but that fear of it shouldn’t stop us from pursuing our purpose. We always ask the question, “what if I fail?” However the most important question we don’t think to ask is “what if I succeed?” You’ll never know unless you do it.

What’s next for Earthtones Naturals? If you look 5 years into the future, where do you see the line?

To be quite honest and extremely confident I want Earthtones Naturals to be the top-selling natural hair product line in Canada! I know this is extremely ambitious but I’m dreaming very big. I am also working to add body care and makeup to our product line up.


Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I think it’s great that so many women of colour are embracing their natural hair texture. I’m approached very often by women whose hair is natural but they don’t wear their hair in its textured style because they don’t know how to or which products to use. We need to be proud of our God-given hair, understand our texture and how to care for our hair. It’s great to be able to develop these products and I’m humbled by the comments I receive from people when they’ve tried them and realize that they work really well for their hair or their childrens’ hair.

This is what Earthtones Naturals is all about; allowing women to be able to embrace who they truly are by providing products that enhance their natural beauty with ingredients that are actually beneficial and nourishing to their bodies. It’s my hope that everyone who tries the Earthtones Naturals product will truly be inspired to experience the freedom of rocking their curls and coils, and truly love their hair.

Many thanks to Susan for providing such amazing insight! If you can tell me that you a) didn’t learn something new, b) couldn’t relate to Susan’s personal story, or c) weren’t inspired by her drive and determination, I’ll give you a cookie. And conclude that you are devoid of human emotion.

My first mini-interview, y’all! I tried to come up with interesting questions, and questions that you all might want answers to – what did you think? Is there something you want to ask Susan that I didn’t think of? Hit up the comments section or get in touch with her at susan at earthtonesnaturals dot com!

Have you “liked” the ’83 To Infinity Facebook page? Check it out!

January 12, 2012 

Keepin’ It Fresh: Upcoming Events In The T-Dot

Looking for something to do in the city that won’t cost you an arm and a leg? Lately, my email inbox has been filling up with some interesting upcoming events, so Bee’s got you covered:

Photo via Harbourfrontcentre.com

Kuumba @ Harbourfront

As per Harbourfront’s site, “Join Harbourfront Centre for an exploration of African roots through a 21st-century perspective. This year’s festival also highlights the incredible role women have played in shaping the history of black culture and pushing it to new frontiers.” The waterside arts centre will be putting on a number of events (most of them FREE!) from Feb. 3rd – 5th.

Hit up the Honey Jam reunion and catch talent like Saidah Baba Talibah, Kim Davis, Eternia and DJ MelBoogie! Get on bad at the DJ Skate Night, soca style, featuring Dr. Jay! Preview some fresh Toronto talent at The Known (Un)known w/ Tika Simone featuring two of my favourite vocalists right now, Rochelle Jordan and Shi Wisdom! Short films, drumming exhibits, dance workshops and more – check out Kuumba for more details.

Photo via pommeisfrenchforapple.com

Pomme Is French For Apple

A two-woman show put on by Bahia Watson and Liza Paul, Pomme is “a fresh, funny, irreverent look at womanhood in all its glory: its perils, its pleasures, and all kinda madness in between.” I’ve been hearing great reviews from previous runs of this show, so I’ll definitely be making my way to the Tranzac (22 Brunswick Ave, Toronto) sometime between Feb. 13th – 18th. Check the official Pomme site and their Facebook page for more deets!

Photo via newcaribbeancinema.wordpress.com

 

 

Better Mus’ Come

A love story embedded in the framework of political turmoil in 1970s Jamaica, Better Mus’ Come is coming to the TIFF Bell Lightbox on Feb. 5th! I became obsessed with Jamaican politics in the 1970s and ’80s after watching a documentary that aired on MuchMusic wayyyyy back in the day (so far back that it was the days I used to tape X-Tendamix - co-starring Roxie – on VHS), so I’m pretty intrigued by this film, directed by Jamaica’s own Storm Saulter. Check the official site, and go here for more ticket details.

Photo via IFreeCan.com

IFreeCan: Relaunch feat. Warsan Shire

So, I’ve been following this amazing poet on Twitter named Warsan Shire. If you’re not familiar with this Kenyan-born, Somali-Brit, you need to catch up. She’ll be in Toronto on Jan. 14th for the relaunch of the IFreeCan initiative, which “is a platform that welcomes anyone that wants the alternative of the society’s expectations.” This event (being held at the Centre for Social Innovation – 720 Bathurst Ave.) looks to be a great night featuring music by DJ Jake d’ Snake, poetry from Warsan Shire, Keisha Monique and more, and photography from Kassandra T, Allen Agostino, and others. They’ve posted videos on Facebook from A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, and Kardinal Offishall to get us in the mood for the event, so I’m hooked. Official site here.

Don’t say I never gave y’all nothing! Hit me up if you’ll be attending any of these events…maybe we’ll meet up!

January 9, 2012 

TORONTO: Say Goodbye To The Real Jerk (For Now)

Photo via BlogTO.com

A lot of distressing things flitted across my computer screen today. First, I was CAPS LOCK attacked by a Facebook friend who was upset that I didn’t believe that Blue Ivy = Eulb Yvi = the bastard child of Satan. Then, I had to create a classy response to a not-so-classy email sent by a colleague – being “the bigger person” when you really just want to drop kick someone takes STRENF. But the most distressing of all? Reading a tweet from BlogTO (@blogTO) that Toronto landmark The Real Jerk will be closing its doors on January 31st.

As per the message from TRJ’s owner Edward Pottinger:

“It is with heavy hearts that we send this message to all of you. Our building has unexpectedly been sold on Dec 30, 2011 and the new owner has issued an order to move as of Jan 31, 2012. We would have hoped to stay longer, long enough for us to secure a new location but this will not be feasible. While we fight the unfair order we sadly must prepare for the real possibility that our days are numbered at the corner of Queen & Broadview, a location we have very much loved for 22 years.”

The Real Jerk has been open for over 25 years, and spent 22 at their current location at Queen and Broadview. I heard about this restaurant before I even moved to Toronto, and was NOT disappointed the first time I ate there. The ambiance is INCREDIBLE. The exterior is beautiful, and the interior transports you to a diner in the heart of Mo’ Bay. And where else in the city can you spend a night doing karaoke Irie-Oke with the liquid courage of a Red Stripe or two? Sigh. My heart is heavy, y’all.

Belly full and having fun

Once the shock subsided, my next thought was: we need to own our sh*t. Straight up. Own as much as possible so that no one can take anything away from you. It’s a lesson that I find a lot of entrepreneurs in the Black community (which is much broader than you think) are still learning. We need to go full throttle with our ownership so that we can be in full control of the growth of our businesses. I’ll be the first to admit: I don’t know anything about building and restaurant ownership, and I have no idea as to the business arrangements that The Real Jerk had with their building owner. Regardless, it’s heartbreaking and unfair that they have been given such short notice, and I hope they come back bigger and better.

So, folks – take these next few weeks to patron The Real Jerk and show them your love and support. Stay tuned to their website and their Facebook page to follow up on any updates, and keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they move through this transition.

Stay up, TRJ! The community will come through for you. 

December 16, 2011 

Open Call: Are You The Next MuchMusic VJ?

Who out there remembers MuchMusic VJs like Monika Deol, Master T, and Namugenyi Kiwanuka from back in the day? If you ever wanted to follow in their footsteps, your time is now! Well, technically it’s tomorrow:

“SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17TH @ 10AM to 5PM ET MuchMusic is holding an open casting call to find the next MuchMusic VJ!  Come on down to 299 Queen Street West in Toronto, be yourself, chill out and show us why you’re the person we’ve been looking for.

‘Cause we know you’re out there.  We even know a little bit about you already.  We know you have:

A love of music and youth culture: Your calendar’s littered with Nicki Minaj’s new album release date, the premiere of the The Dark Knight Rises, Rihanna’s Talk That Talk tour dates, Beyonce’s next video premiere, etc. An addiction to pop culture: It’s your poison. You’re such a pop junkie you’ll know the minute Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez break up. An active social media profile: You’re literally a cyborg – constantly tweeting, instagraming, flip caming and stuff not even discovered yet A love to meet and talk to new people: You can chat the pants off people Great style: You look, breathe, talk, walk, laugh, dress and smile LIKE YOU! High Energy and enthusiasm: you don’t need a Redbull to have a good time

AND, most importantly, you know so much about music that you just have to share it with others. Impress us!

Please remember to bring a recent photo of yourself and a resume.  Also, you’ve gotta be 18+.

Don’t forget to bring YOU - your personality, your charisma, your smile – that’s who we want to get to know!”

~ MuchMusic

Does this sound like you? If so, head here to read the details, then get yourself ready for tomorrow’s open call! Good luck!

December 15, 2011 

Namaste: Do You Want To “Yoga While You Work”?

I’m definitely feeling that end-of-year crunch. Finding meaningful Xmas gifts for family and friends without pandering to the commercialism of the season; being inundated with work functions (how many holiday parties, baking days, potlucks, and Kris Kringle events can we do in one week?); and putting the finishing touches on my final term paper have me exhausted. I often have to remember to literally stop for a moment and just breathe…otherwise, I might just lose it.

Are you feeling like me? Do you wish you just had a moment to press pause on life and do something for yourself? Well, I may have just the thing…

Thanks to Twitter, I’ve been acquainted with some cool people like Georgette Dunn (@RdySetFlow) :

“Georgette Dunn is a 200-Hour Certified Power Vinyasa Yoga Teacher, Personal Trainer and Health & Wellness lover. Her appreciation for yoga began in 2005 and since then it has transformed her life and allowed her to be more at home in her body and at peace in her mind.

With her intimate knowledge of anatomy and physiology, Georgette feels privileged to be able to empower students with practices that are educational while still engaging and accessible. Through purpose-driven classes, she aims to provide students with the tools to pursue a strengthening, confident practice where asanas (poses), pranayama (breathing), and meditation interact collectively to rejuvenate the body and mind.”

Even better? She’s a homegrown Torontonian doing big things!

On December 19th at noon, she’ll be hosting a FREE webinar entitled “Yoga While You Work”  - a 30 minute yoga session that you can do in the privacy of your home or office! I’ll definitely be shutting my door and getting my stretch on. As per the program description, these will be exercises that you can do right at your desk! That means no worries of being in your downward dog when Bob from Marketing busts in to ask you to for your year-end report.

How do you get in on this good stuff? Head here and click on the “Register” tab. From there, you can log in, or create a free account with Association Intelligence, an awesome webinar platform. My homegirl Ro wrote about another webinar we did recently with AI – go here to read her post. Once you’ve registered, you’ll get an email reminder for the session, with all the instructions you need to launch the webinar on the 19th at noon. It’s a simple process, but will yield some great results!

Will you be joining Georgette and I on Monday? What tips do you have for finding time for wellness at work? If you’re chained to a desk in front of a computer all day, what do you do to relieve that tension?

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