In the Spot Light: Spaghetti n Lipgloss

So what's the first thing you think of when you hear "Spaghetti N LIPgloss?" I'm sure your mind goes crazy trying to think of how the two could possibly be connected. When I caught up with Designer/Owner LeighAnne Boyd...lets just say it all came together :-).

NAME: LeighAnne Boyd
TITLE: Head Designer/Stylist/Creative Concept/Director of Sales & Events

LOCATION: Chesapeake, Va

This has to be my first question, how did you come up with the name!?

Well Spaghetti N LIPgloss derives from my whole being. As much as I'm well liked by most, I feel I don't have a place in a certain group. Everyone loves spaghetti and everyone loves lipgloss, but they don't fit in the same categories. That's me.

How would you describe your sense of fashion? What inspires you?

I would just describe my style as blind and all over the place. I don't watch videos and listen to much radio (mainstream) so my inspiration comes from what I like mostly. The rest is from my mother way back in the days. She had a different sense of style and I often mocked her vision.

How long have you been designing? Was it difficult for you to get started?

I've been designing for a few short years. It wasn't really hard to remember what I learned in middle school. I bought my first sewing machine 11 years ago and returned it months later because I felt discouraged. People thought my style was weird and at 19 I cared what people thought. It took time to not care and realize that I had something special. Indifference.

If you had to pick something you LOVE and something you HATE ind this area of business, what would they be?

I love the support and compliments. It's cool to look online or walk around and see someone wearing my pieces!!! I hate the jealousy from the girls and boys who want to be designers but lack creativity, so they bite. It's really annoying to see posers profit from anothers designs.

What can all the ladies out here expect when they shop Spaghetti N LIPgloss???

The ladies and boys (yes I have some divas too) can expect quality handmade (assisted by my machines), dope, originality...exclusive pieces!!! I follow no seasons, just dress how I feel...There will probably be only a few people with similar pieces and that's it.

To see alot more of her work and purchase some exclusive pieces, be sure to visit her website!

http://www.spaghettinlipgloss.com/

Thank You!

CHEATING...Who's Really to Blame??

OK, this subject is probably one of the most common amongst all. It happens everyday, every hour, minute so on and so on. Men cheating on women and women cheating on men. Now, the most usual scenario consists of the man cheating, his significant other finding out, she confronts the "mistress" dislikes her forever, and stays with her man. My question to you is...WHO is REALLY the blame? I really want to hear your comments, and of course I have my views too.

First of all, I personally always thought it was crazy for people to go straight after the "other woman/man," (unless it's a family member or best friend :-0) But seriously, do you really think "the other person" is concerned about you?..especially seeing how your significant other doesn't seem to be..? Ummmm...NO! And that's IF they even know about you. Then we have your significant other who "loves and cares for you" and "would never hurt you." So you tell me who you should really be going in on! No matter what the situation, shouldn't real love overpower mere lust?

And as far as the ones that are so accepting of being the "other person," instead of confronting them or chasing them down and catching a charge, just pray for them. It's obviously a lack of something there, if they are willing to settle, I mean who wants to be on the side...no special treatment, no benefits...just a here and there fling. But hey if you like it I love it!

What do you think?

Natural Hair vs. Society (response)

While writing out my topic on natural hair & society, i decided to ask other naturals about their journey. One particular person, Nakita, really inspired me, and i was literally lost in the words she wrote! I'm sure you will enjoy as much as I did..."My main reason for returning to my natural and original form of hair was because I felt that I didn't have to conform to societal views of what a beautiful black woman is. Many black people feel that you are ugly if you wear your hair in its natural state, or they either say "I don't have that good hair to not be able to get a relaxer." There is no such thing as good hair in my world, there is only healthy and unhealthy hair and different types of curl patterns within hair."

"Surprisingly, I figured out what the real meaning behind saying "I have to relax these roots" meant. It meant that we needed to kill the very thing that would always show up within our hair to remind us of our true heritage, kill what had made us feel ugly and less of women since we didn't have flowy, straight hair. I came to the conclusion that we had truly been brainwashed by society to hate ourselves, to chemically alter one of the very things that make us unique. My natural journey is definitely more about a soul searching purpose rather than a fashion fad. I embrace all that is supposed to be ugly, and I make it beautiful. I nurture my hair and I care for it, I own who I am as a black woman...free from chemical bondage and stereotypical chains."

Natural Hair vs. Society

So, it's been a little over a year since i said NO to the creamy crack, (yay me!), and it's been about five months since I did the Big Chop =). I must say I really love my natural hair...it's healthy, curly, soft...and MINE.

As with all things, you have your pros & cons, ups, downs etc. BUT I have to say, what i dislike the most has nothing to do with my hair in particular, its the comments about my hair. Now for the most part people love it, and regardless of what, I'm not changing...it just gets a tad bit annoying sometimes :-/. What I'm referring to are statements like "you need to go back to your regular hair," "your hair used to be long and pretty" or "why would you wanna do that?"UGH!!! I mean, clearly it's a lack of understanding, because this is actually my "regular" hair, straight from the root, NO alterations, just MY HAIR!

And why not rock my own natural hair??? If anything I should be asking "Why don't you wear the hair you were blessed with? because i'm sure you weren't born with that bone straight hair"...and by no means am I against relaxers but hey! they ask me, so I should be able to do the same right?

Long story short, I honestly believe that there are so many people who disregard the fact that straight, flowing hair is not what we all were born with, and its not a necessity to be BEAUTIFUL!

BEFORE & AFTER