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I’m very happy to announce that www.HeLLinAHandbag.me has launched and that you will find the latest content there. Please come on over to join us!

http://www.HellInAHandbag.me website officially launches

100 Things that Make Me Happy

This is an assignment for #31dayReset from Happy Black Woman.com – Day13

It took me over one month to develop this list, and that makes me kinda sad. I kept my journal close to record the joys that I found in each day. Somedays brought more revelations than others.

Nevertheless, here are the 100 things that make me happy.

1. Caking 
2. Being in love
3. Sunshine on my face
4. Days at the beach
5. Wearing sunglasses at the club
6. Kisses on the neck
7. Hersey Kisses with Almonds
8. The feeling I get when I complete a difficult task
9. The feeling I get when I achieve a far off goal
10. Spitting Jay-Z lyrics
11. Live music and concerts
12. Memories of Sade in Madison Square Garden
13. Being mistaken for a New Yorker
14. Laughter from babies
15. My mother's smile
16. Hugs from my daddy
17. Long passionate kisses
18. My Sorority
19. Writing letters
20. Writing poetry
21. Hot Chocolate on a cold day
22. Walks with the one I love
23. Recording music
24. Giving someone something they need
25. A good releasing cry
26. Discovering a new route
27. A fresh hairdo
28. Public speaking
29. Chillin by the pool
30. Laying out
31. Reading a good book
32. Orgasmic sex
33. A black man in a well fitted suit
34. Dancing
35. A good workout
36. Comfortable Uggs
37. A warm blanket on a cold day
38. Having an item that makes me stand out
39. Giving something to the one I love
40. Watching Seinfeld
41. Watching Track and Field
42. Being treated like a lady
43. Handbags
44. Singing
45. Spelman College
46. Smell of Egyptian musk
47. 600+ Thread count sheets
48. Opportunities to dress up and take cute pics
49. Puppies
50. Gerber daisies
51. Inspiring quotes
52. Learning about ancient cultures
53. Art and art appreciation
54. Calla Lilies
55. Connecting with new people
56. Getting love from the DJ
57. New technologies
58. Cocoa butter gel
59. Passion fruit (juice, scent, all of it)
60. Slow dancing
61. A scenic drive
62. Masquerade parties
63. Cinnamon gum, red hots, and disc candy
64. Rags to riches movies
65. Coming home to a made up bed
66. Comfortable cords
67. Creative craft projects
68. Crossing things off my to do list
69. An unexpected meal when I'm hungry
70. Dancing babies
71. Unexpected refunds
72. New jack swing music
73. "Happy Little Clouds" art teacher on WETA
74. Celebrtiy gossip from Wendy Williams and TMZ
75. Rechargable batteries
76. Punctual dates
77. Sitting with my grandmother
78. The MJ effect in the clubs (excitment when an MJ song comes on)
79. Traveling carnivals
80. Funnel cakes
81. Pizza with mushrooms
82. A new charm on my charm bracelet
83. Root beer
84. Snorkeling
85. Cookies and cream ice cream
86. Lemonade iced tea
87. Boiled peanuts
88. Memories of being a tomboy-climbing trees, riding bikes
89. Funny family stories
90. Symbols of my hometown, Charleston, SC
91. Memories of my CMF crew
92. Hair appointments that start on time
93. Mimosas
94. Sleeping late with no place to be
95. No car payments
96. A day without spending any money
97. Things that sparkle
98. Driving fast
99. Old episodes of dance shows like Soul Train and Dance Party USA
100. Social media

I didn’t watch The Game – all these people did

Take my black card. Sue me. I don’t care.

I was never uber excited about the return of the show. I wasn’t on it like that when it was on the CW. Maybe I could forecast that a run on BET would prove to be subpar, and from what I’m reading, it was.

So, instead of actually watching the show as it premiered Tuesday night, (1.11.11 meant so much to people because of the show’s return) I just watched my twitter feed for a bit, and waited until the morning, when the blogosphere would be overflowing with commentary about a show that we may soon see why they took it off in the first place.

Sorry Tia Mowry. I really dugg you growing up, and even in your last Lifetime Movie with your sister.

The New York Times covered the return, and the challenges that the show, and Executive Producers Salim and Mara Brock Akil will face going forward on BET.

The show left viewers with questions, as posed by Awesomely Luvvie, Southern Girl in the City, and one of my new favorite blogs, Magnet for Foolishness.

Blogger Mahoganie Jade, writer of Mahoganie: Musings East of the Anacostia River touched on the show before pointing readers to Tigger 500’s Season Four Premiere Review, which does a great character study and Mediastrut’s The Game Makes A Sloppy Return to Television, pointing out the character’s disconnectedness and suggests, with hope, that the show will rise beyond this rocky beginning in future episodes.

Of what I’ve read that has concerned me is that the Akil’s are in danger of losing much of the base of supporters that lobbied so strongly to resuscitate this show. As one blogger wrote, it’s more of a late night soap opera, no longer the dramedy with lovable characters that viewers were drawn to.

Not to mention we’re still discussing “the color issue” (i.e. a change in the actress that plays Britney, Jason and Kelly’s daughter.) The 10 year mixed child with bronze skin and blondish hair has been replaced with a brown skinned dark haired older actress. I’m not sure what the true issue is here. I recognize that actors/actresses become unavailable, especially after a two year hiatus. But usually, we’re causing a ruckus when the color lines go the other way. Perhaps it was the attitude that seemed to come with the new actress, which, might not be present in a 12 year-old, just yet.

I guess the bigger color issue was the “that boy is yellow” and Derwin and Janay are not situation. Wow, I mean, it’s really real out here in our community, and apparently African American parents rely on their kids skin tone to indicate paternity. In this hypothetical case, I guess it made sense. But two years later? Hmm….

I will tune in to future episodes of the Game, but I’m in no rush. You all keep me plenty entertained with your tweets and blog posts. Keep ’em coming.

Fam, have you read anything else that I should see related to the premiere of The Game? Post your comments and other links.

You’ll Wear that Dress ONE time – Bridal Gowns

Calling all brides – DC Bridal Sample Sale

It’s here–the event you engaged ladies have been waiting for is here! January 7th-13th, Chevy Chase Bridal (5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW) will hold its Semi-Annual Sample Sale. Receive up to 80% off dozens of sample gowns from Justin Alexander, Romona Keveza, Simone Carvalli and many more!

Ladies, if you have no idea, gowns can cost in the thousands of dollars. I was personally there when a friend of mine spent $1500 on a dress. A dress. Now yes, it is THEE dress, but it’s a dress. You’ll wear it TWICE if you’re lucky – once for pictures before the wedding and then the day of. And let me tell you that every dollar counts in a wedding budget. That $1500 or at least part of it, could have been spent on another element that you really wanted but wasn’t part of the budget (for me, it was the chocolate fountain.)

So let me share another Soulcialite tip. Please ladies, if you have the good sense, and especially if you DON’T have the budget, consider a Sample Sale for your one time wear gown.

Now personally, I participated in the Filene’s Running of the Brides for my Bridal Gown. It was a fantastic experience. So much so that I encouraged my best friend and a co-worker to go and they both found their gowns too.

My point: while it may be one of the most important elements of your wedding (aside from the pesky love thing) you will wear your bridal gown one time, two times TOPS (if you take engagement photos). You can save a nice chunk of change by looking at Sample sales or participating in the Running of the Brides, where you can buy a gown that would have normally been outside of your price range.

Blog Knowledge

Since I’ve been blogging a good number of people have been asking me for resources. In addition I’m committed to providing better and more consistent content to you, my readers.
Wordpress is challenging bloggers to post everyday, and if you’ve noticed, I’ve hit you off with a post each day this week. I don’t want Friday night to be any different, so….here’s a quickie.
I’m instituting a new “category” called Blog Knowledge, where I share info for folks who come to me about blogging.
The first tip, Rosetta Thurman’s Blogging For Branding.
If you want to publish a blog, check out her 31days to a brand new blog at http://www.bloggingforbranding.com