Sunday, May 31, 2009

Summer Series: Boutique Buzz

One question that I have seen in more groups, message boards, etc. that I can count is "Where can I go to purchase plus size clothing outside of the major retailers (i.e. Lane Bryant, Ashley Stewart, etc.). Whether you consider yourself a fashionista or are just someone who doesn't want everyone to know where you got your outfit, one great place to grab some fashion finds are boutiques.

There are numerous online only boutiques. However, as I am sure most ladies can attest, knowing your size in a new designer/brand is difficult. As much as we might not want to shop at the major retailers, we go because we can try clothing on and figure out what size we are in what looks. A size 16 can vary not only from retailer to retailer, but more often than not, from clothing item to clothing item.

Therefore, Belle-Noir is on a quest to promote some of the great brick-and-mortar boutiques across the U.S. and abroad in our new column appropriately called "Boutique Buzz". The column will be a mix of shopping reviews (for the boutiques that we can visit) and Q&A sessions with boutique owners. What we hope is that you, our readers, will check some of these boutiques out and let us know what you think.

Are you a boutique owner looking for some press? Do you have a favorite brick-and-mortar boutique that you adore? Leave a comment & let us know who is out there! Especially if you are in the following cities:
  • Atlanta
  • Washington D.C.
  • Boston
  • Philadelphia


Look for our first Boutique Buzz review coming soon as part of Features Friday during our Summer Series!

Friday, May 29, 2009

Toast to the Weekend: Low Calorie Cocktails

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Is anyone else still feeling the effects of all of those hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, potato salad, cole slaw, chicken that were consumed over the Memorial Day Weekend? I know I am. But with the weekend here, what can a lady getting ready to mix and mingle with the ladies sip on to save some calories, but still enjoy something with a little kick?

Leave it to our new favorite website DrinkoftheWeek.com to provide us with the perfect solution. Check out this recipe for a low calorie Cooler and Iced Tea, and then head on over to their website for a few more.


Zen Cooler (150 Calories)
1 oz. Zen Green Tea Liqueur
Top with Fresca
Mix and serve over ice in a tall glass.


Zen Iced Tea (150 Calories)
1 oz. Zen Green Tea LiqueurTop with Crystal Light Iced Tea
Mix and serve over ice in a tall glass with a lemon wedge garnish.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Relationships: 3 Keys to Choosing the One

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3 Keys to Choosing the One
By Yvonne Chase

Think you’re ready for a relationship? Great! Your chances of choosing the right partner greatly increase when you know yourself, look deeply at what really matters to you and learn all you can about potential partners. Before you dive in head first, make sure you have the following three key ingredients:

1. Prerequisites
Simply stated, a prerequisite is a must; it’s a deal breaker. The relationship will not work if this is not present. There is no room for compromise. For example, either you want a child or you don’t want a child. If you are dating someone who doesn’t want any children but you think you can convince this person to change his or her mind, quit while you are ahead and find someone who wants what you want.

Here’s how you test a prerequisite. Ask yourself, “If everything else was wonderful in my relationship but my partner didn’t want to ever have children, would the relationship work for me? If the answer is no, then it is a prerequisite. If the answer is yes, then it is probably a need that can be negotiated.

2. Needs
Needs are those things that you would like to see happen in your relationship in order for you to remain happy and fulfilled. For example, keeping appointments and communicating when you can’t. You probably wouldn’t leave the relationship if your partner did not keep his word to meet you after work for dinner and a movie however it would upset you if he continued to take you for granted by not calling. Since needs can be negotiated, there is room for compromise. A quick phone call from him and flexibility from you solves that problem.

3. Wants
A want is the icing on the cake -- those things that keep the relationship exciting like leaving little notes in the car or surprising your mate with a weekend getaway. Wants normally don’t have to be negotiated, and the relationship would still work for you if they were not present.

In order to make the best selection for you, your choices must be in alignment with your prerequisites, needs and wants. You must also be the partner that you are seeking. If you want someone that keeps his word, keep your word. If you want someone that’s honest and trustworthy, be honest and trustworthy. Whatever you want put it out there and it will come back to you. Lastly, it comes down to living a fulfilled single life. Available and happy singles tend to make better partners and better partner choices because you are not desperate to be in a relationship. You can take the time to learn all that you need to know about potential partners because for you a relationship is the desert in your life not the main course.

As you take the time figure out your Prerequisites, Needs and Wants, remember this piece of advice from H. Jackson Brown, author of Life’s Little Instruction Book: “Choose your life’s mate carefully. From this one decision will come ninety percent of all your happiness and/or misery.” Now, that’s something to think about.
____________________________________________________________________
yvonne chase


Yvonne Chase is a dating and relationship coach based in Los Angeles, CA. She can be reached at http://www.availableandhappy.com/ or coachyvonne@availableandhappy.com.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The Scene: Events & Happenings

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Full Figured Fashion Week Announces A Partnership with Chartiable Organization Purses & Pocketbooks With A Purpose


We keep telling all of the curvy ladies that Full Figured Fashion Week is getting ready to descend on NYC from June 25-27, 2009.

The tickets for all of the events are selling out fast, and the third and LAST block of hotel rooms are filling up just as quickly.


Now, Full Figured Fashion Week has announced their partnership with Purses & Pocketbooks With A Purpose, which donates gently used purses and pcketbooks which will be bundled with personal care products and counseling services for women/children in Domestic Violence Shelters.


Join Full Figured Fashion Week at their Emerging Designers Showcase & Networking Event on Thursday, June 25, 2009 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm and get a chance to meet Tracey V. Bell (Chairman and President, PPWAP) and comedian and actress Kim Coles (Global Spokesperson, PPWAP). For all monetary donations of $25 or more, PPWAP will be gifting the donor with a free 100% orgnanic candle made with pure essential oils. We need your support. All major credit cards and debit cards with MC/Visa logo accepted.


We will have more news on Full Figured Fashion Week coming before the weekend is out, so stay tuned! Also, congrats to Plus Model Teslyn Butler, who won the spot of Cover Model on the Full Figured Fashion Week Program Cover, as announced last night on Plus Model Radio!

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Plus Model & Reginal Director Tiffany Braxton Belvin Announces The Miss Black Queens NY Pageant Open Call


Editor's Note: Belle-Noir Mag is so proud to support one of our own! Plus Model Tiffany Braxton Belvin, recently named as the Regional Director of the Miss Black Queens NY Pageant, is looking for young ladies who will compete for the title of Miss Black New York USA!



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"The race is on to find contestants ages 17-27 for the Miss Black Queens NY Pageant, taking place in St. Albans, NY September 2009."





OPEN CALL for young ladies 17-27.


Saturday June 13, 2009

Simply to Empower

189-28 Linden Blvd

St. Albans NY 11412

1pm-4pm

All ladies with the desire to enter the pageant must have a platform. This would be a social cause in the Black community that they have worked or would like to bring and or improve awareness of (e.g. Literacy, Financial Education, Domestic Violence, Healthcare, Homelessness,). All entrants must perform a talent (e.g. dance, sing, poetry, rap, instrument, soliloquy, magic, comedy). The winner of Miss Black Queens New York USA will be automatically entered as a contestant for Miss Black New York USA and will have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the national Miss Black USA Pageant.





http://www.missblackqueensnewyork.com/


email: missblackqueensregional@yahoo.com


The Miss Black Queens New York USA Pageant is being held Saturday September 26, 2009 at the elegant Thomasina Banquet Hall. For more details please visit our website. We look forward to seeing you.

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Good Food: Tropical Salad with Pineapple Vinaigrette

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While I know plenty of people who eat salads year round, salads are mostly a staple for me during the summer. With the right toppings & mix-ins, they are the perfect meal for a warm summer day. They can be filling, but are not as heavy as the burger & fries meals we consume during the winter months.


Here's a recipe for a Salad with a Pineapple Vinaigrette, courtesy of AllRecipes.com, that provides crunch, sweetness, and just a bit of tang.


Tropical Salad with Pineapple Vinaigrette
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Ready In: 30 Minutes
Servings: 6


Ingredients:
6 slices bacon
1/4 cup pineapple juice
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
freshly ground black pepper to taste
salt to taste
1 (10 ounce) package chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup diced fresh pineapple
1/2 cup chopped and toasted macadamia nuts
3 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup flaked coconut, toasted

Directions:
1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.

2. In a cruet or jar with a lid, combine pineapple juice, red wine vinegar, oil, pepper and salt. Cover and shake well.

3. In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, pineapple, macadamia nuts, green onions and bacon. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Garnish with toasted coconut.
Recipe courtesy allrecipes.com. All rights reserved.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Toast to the Weekend: Curvy Cocktails

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We just couldn't wait to reveal one of our new series for the Summer! And since Memorial Day Weekend is the "Unofficial" Start of the Summer Season, we though it would be a great time to introduce our new column, "Toast to the Weekend", which will feature a delicious cocktail for you to enjoy at that Cookout or while hosting brunch with the girls!

We are kicking things off with a hit from our recent Curves & Cocktails event in New York City, the Curvy Girl and the Curvytini, courtesy of ToMA Vodka!


Curvy Girl
1 1/2 oz ToMA vodka

1/2 oz peach schnapps

3 oz pineapple juice


Mix all and serve over ice.

Curytini
Toma Vodka
Triple Sec
Fresh Lime Juice
Cranberry Juice
Lime Garnish


Mix the first for ingredients and serve over ice. Garnish with a slice of lime.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Style File: Colorful Coral

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It's Beautiful You Monday on Belle-Noir Mag and we are continuing on our tour of hot colors for Spring/Summer 2009! Last week, we showed you some of our favorite items in Yellow. This week we are taking a look at a shade that is popping up everywhere in fashion: coral.

One of my favorite trend-spotting sites, ShoppingTheTrend.com, has this to say about coral:

"Coral stands out as a terrific transitional color, as it looks amazing with black (for spring evenings when nights are cool) and when summer whites kick in you won't find a more flattering combination than coral and white. If you want to add just a splash, consider a pretty little cardigan or asymmetric tuffle top."
There are also plenty of accessories this season in coral, for those who aren't ready for wearing bright colors. But ladies, there is no reason to fear this spring time pinkish-orange shade. It looks good on almost every skin tone, and whether you are big and bold by wearing a dress, or just want to add a punch of color with a cute dangline earring, you won't go wrong this summer with this tropical punch.

Here are some of our favorite pieces, courtesy of shopstyle.com:
Old Navy at ShopStyle

What do you think, ladies? Is coral a color you will be wearing this summer?

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Belle-Noir Radio: Sunday 5/17/09 @ 3:00pmEST

With Summer only a few weeks away, what better time is there to kick start a new healthy living initative to get yourself in fit and fabulous shape?

Join us as we talk with Darius Williams of EverydayCookin.com, as he shares with us his tips on creating healthy & satsfying meals with his 7 Day Healthy Eating Challenge. We will also be talking to Trenia Parham of FatGirlWeightLoss.com as she helps us get to the root of what is really weighing us down.

Plus, you know we always have some Hot Topics in store for you! Full Figured Fashion Week, Belle-Noir's Summer Series, Divas in the City News, and more! You don't want to miss it!


Belle-Noir Radio Sundays at 3:00pm EDT
www.blogtalkradio.com/BelleNoir

Call In & Join the Discussion! (646) 478-0842
Comments? Show topic suggestions?
Email us! radioshow@belle-noir.com

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Scene: Full Figured Fashion Week Update

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The Schedule of Events for NYC's Full Figured Fashion Week is officially up! The majority of events are open to the public, including a Welcome Event being hosted at ReDress NYC in Brooklyn, an Emerging Designers Showcase, a panel discussion "The State of the Curvy Community".
There is also a special Shopping Soiree that is taking place on Saturday Morning June 27, 2009 called Curves in the City that will feature some great vendors and a chance for all those visiting from out of town a chance to get some shopping in before the Grande Finale Showcase that evening!
For more information on the events and prices of tickets to each, check out the Full Figured Fashion Week website at www.fffweek.com.



Monday, May 11, 2009

Style File: Not-So-Mellow Yellow

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Not-So-Mellow Yellow



From left:
Donna Ricco Women's Plus Size Yellow Chiffon Dress ($59.99; Overstock.com)
PUMA Women's Roma PTFS ($59.95; zappos.com)
Zoya Nail Polish in Pippa ($6.00; artofbeauty.com)
Clutch Handbag ($29.62; thelimited.com)
Electro Yellow Eye Shadow highly pigmented pressed powders ($9.00; medusasmakeup.com)
Lacquered Hoop Earrings ($3.80; forever21.com)
Yellow Diamond Ring (lussori.com)
EROL Large Canvas Tote in Sun ($155.00; haydenharnett.com)
Gabriella Rocha Studio Cota Shoe ($85.00; zappos.com)
Prada Naplak Bowler ($1,695.00; neimanmarcus.com)
16GB iPod Nano ($229.00; apple.com)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Weekly Motivation 05.10.09




I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine
- she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights.
~Adabella Radici
Happy Mother's Day to the all of the women (and men)
who are fulfilling the role of "mom" in someone's life.
(Wanted to post the video, but this live performance is even better.)

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Wise: Andrea Amador

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Plus Size Women Can Love the Skin They're in - 50 Self Image Makeover Morsel Tips
By Andrea Amador

How many times have you sighed about the size of your thighs, moped about your muffin top or groaned about the junk in your trunk while trying desperately to avoid temptation and stick to your diet? If you're like 4 out of 5 women, you'd say that you hate some part of your body and being overweight is why you feel lousy. When you feel lousy, you eat more, when you eat more, you feel terrible about your body. It's a self perpetuating cycle.

As a professional coach, body image/self esteem expert and a curvy plus size gal, myself, I've learned that the answer is not dieting. Research now shows that up to 98% of all people who have lost weight on a diet, regain all the weight back, plus more, within 2-5 years. This is because diets don't teach you how to deal with your emotions. If you want to feel better about yourself, you don't have to change your body, you have to change the way you think about it.

How to embrace your curves in a skinny obsessed society
Food and weight obsession is the fall out that comes from living in a thin is beautiful, pluck and tuck, chop and drop, image-obsessed society. As a plus size woman, you're built with a wider frame and larger proportions. Despite the fact that up to 67% of women in the US wears a size 14, fashion still caters to thinness, making the larger woman feel fat and ugly.

If you want to end the war with your body once and for all and begin to make peace with food, you have to first start by learning to accept your body as it is, with all the fat, chunky, chubby, and wobbly bits intact. Wouldn't you agree it's high time that we widen the definition of beauty?

Here are 50 quick tips to get you started on the road to self acceptance to lovin' the skin you're in:

1. Pause and do some deep breathing.

2. Make the decision to say goodbye to dieting

3. Become aware of your internal dialog

4. Make a list of the buggin' you's in your life.

5. Seek out a great role model for body confidence

6. Look in the mirror and find things you like about yourself.

7. Develop a strengths based awareness. Know what makes you shine.

8. Spend time appreciating what you have and count your blessings.

9. Recognize your needs and know that they are important.

10. Assert yourself

11. Remind yourself often of your accomplishments.

12. Spend time with people who respect and value you as a person.

13. Appreciate your body for it's function.

14. Get rid of your scale

15. Wear clothes that really fit you

16. Buy some new lovely undergarments

17. Praise yourself - Focus on what you like about yourself

18. Watch body affirming television shows like Lifetime's "How to Look Good Naked"

19. Spend time alone to refuel your spirit.

20. Touch your body.

21. Get more sleep and take more breaks

22. Make a list of your favorite things.

23. Avoid all or nothing, black and white thinking.

24. Challenge yourself to speak up and say what's on your mind

25. Spend time laughing out loud

26. Ask yourself, "how do I feel about ...?"

27. Surround yourself with beauty

28. Listen to your body's wisdom

29. Avoid the body comparison game

30. Flaunt your individuality

31. Start each day with a smile

32. Ask yourself better questions

33. Forgive yourself

34. Make peace with your past

35. Plan something to look forward to each day

36. Accept your imperfections

37. Enjoy safe sex

38. Say "No" to others and "Yes" to yourself

39. Be sensitive to yourself when you're feeling down

40. Create opportunities to talk about what's bugging you

41. Avoid shame and guilt

42. Commit to being your own best friend

43. Don't make it personal. Recognize that people are only doing the best they can

44. Take 100% responsibility for your life

45. Spend time in nature

46. Learn how to meditate

47. Write down your goals.

48. See yourself from the eyes of one who loves you.

49. Don't take yourself too seriously.

50. Volunteer your time and give back to others

Now that you've got these 50 tips to get started, you'll soon notice that your perceptions will start to change. As you focus more on what you like about yourself, you'll find more to like. And that's the real secret to being a curvy and confident woman at any size.

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Andrea Amador, CEC, M.NLP is The Juicy Woman. As a certified professional coach and Body Image/Self Esteem expert, she teaches women who are emotional eaters how to overcome emotional eating, make peace with foods like french fries and pies and love their thighs at any size! Sign up to get her free Lovin' the Skin You're In Sampler: Self Image Makeover Morsels at http://www.thejuicywoman.com/



Article Source: Ezinearticles.com

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Good Food: Comfort Food Made Healthy

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It feels like it has been raining for days upon end here in NYC, and I have found myself asking the question: "If April showers bring May flowers, then what do all of these May showers bring?"


My simple answer: a craving for comfort food. After all, something has to cure us from our Soggy Springtime Blues.

We all know that most comfort food is filled with all sorts of warm, gooey goodness and, unfortunately, loads of fat and calories. Fortunately, the good folks over at EatingWell.com have a wonderful selection of classic comfort food recipes that have been trimmed down and made more healthy.


My selection for the day will be the following New England Clam Chowder recipe. What are some of your favorite comfort foods? Do you think that by making comfort food recipes healthy, it can no longer be considered comfort food?


New England Clam Chowder
Makes 6 servings, generous 1 cup each

Ingredients
2 teaspoons canola oil

4 slices bacon, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried

1 medium red potato, diced

1 8-ounce bottle clam juice (see Makeover Tip)

1 bay leaf

3 cups low-fat milk

½ cup heavy cream

⅓ cup all-purpose flour

¾ teaspoon salt

12 ounces fresh clam strips (see Shopping Tip), chopped, or 3 6-ounce cans chopped baby clams, rinsed

2 scallions, thinly sliced



Instructions
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crispy, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer half of the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon. Add onion, celery and thyme to the pan; cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add potato, clam juice and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the vegetables are just tender, 8 to 10 minutes.


2. Whisk milk, cream, flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add to the pan and return to a simmer, stirring, over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Add clams and cook, stirring occasionally, until the clams are just cooked through, about 3 minutes more.


3. To serve, discard bay leaf. Ladle into bowls and top each serving with some of the reserved bacon and scallions.



New England Clam Chowder Tips
Makeover tip: Check sodium carefully when using clam juice because the amount of sodium can vary dramatically between brands. We use Bar Harbor clam juice with only 120 mg sodium per 2-ounce serving.


Shopping tip: Look for fresh clam strips at the seafood counter.

New England Clam Chowder Nutrition Information
Per serving: 253 calories; 13 g fat (6 g sat, 4 g mono); 59 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrate; 16 g protein; 1 g fiber; 585 mg sodium; 392 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Iron (50% daily value), Vitamin C (23% dv), Calcium (21% dv), Vitamin A (17% dv).1 Carbohydrate Serving Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 low-fat milk, 1 lean meat, 2 fat

Recipe & Photo courtesy EatingWell.com. All Rights Reserved.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Full Figured Fashion Week Cover Model Search



A couple of weeks ago, we joined in the excitement with other plus bloggers over the big announcement of Full Figured Fashion Week, being produced by DeVoe Signature Events June 25-27, 2009 in New York City. FFFW is now looking for a Cover Model for the event's souvenir journal.

Contestants must wear at least a dress size 14 and submit one (1) full-length photo and one (1) headshot. Both photos must be high resolution and professionally edited. Photos must be submitted along with application and $25 application fee (via Pay Pal) to be considered for the contest. The contest ends on Sunday, May 24th, 2009.

Besides winning a spot on the coveted journal cover, the winner will receive two VIP, all-access passes to the social events being held during FFFWeek, which includes the semi-formal finale event on Saturday, June 27th, and a complimentary training session at the Plus Academy in New York City or Chicago, IL.

To sign up, and for more information, visit the Full Figured Fashion Week website at http://www.fffweek.com/ and click on the Cover Model Banner in the top right hand corner.

Best of luck to all of the ladies who enter!