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Saturday, October 27, 2007

Breast Cancer Survivor Has "Somethin' to Shout About!"

By Donna Green-Goodman
[Breast cancer survivor]
I
t was really a normal day for me. I was a 37 year old educated woman working in a professional job and taking care of my husband and son. I went for my annual May gynecological exam and my gynecologist suggested that we do a mammogram on a lump that we had been following for years. I had a history of fibrocystic breast disease and had had a fibroadenoma mass removed previously. This lump grew back in the same place and had the same characteristics. I had the mammogram and went on vacation with my husband. Upon return, I was called by the doctor’s office and told I needed another more definitive mammo because they found something that looked suspicious. Had another one and went on another vacation with my husband. Upon return from this trip, I was referred to a specialist who explained that there might be a chance I had cancer. We could watch for about three months or have the mass removed.

I immediately got a second opinion from a breast specialist and the rest happened very quickly. [I] [h]ad a biopsy, then a lumpectomy and was told it was cancer and I needed to have an axillary dissection to see if there was any spread to the lymph nodes. There was – 6 of 17 were positive. My cancer was both metastatic and aggressive. I am African-American. And that made my prognosis quite poor. 2-5 years was all I was offered with chemo, stem cell, more chemo, radiation and tamoxifen. It was the eve of the Peachtree Road Race, July 3, 1996. My husband was planning to run……………..we were in shock!!

As I went from doctor to doctor exploring my options, one thing was clear, I was going to die and no one offered me much hope. Finally, after not getting any good news, I decided to stand on what I know….my knowledge as a health professional, my understanding of how lifestyle affects your health and my faith in God. I decided to be anointed, as the Bible says in James and went to Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital in wildwood, GA for their lifestyle improvement program. It was there that I was convicted abut making significant lifestyle changes in my life, and to only take the radiation for as long as my body could handle it.

I changed my eating, sleeping, working and socializing patterns, getting rid of anything that was wearing me out……..including some relationships!!!!! I became a true vegetarian, and began a journey of creativity and discovery of delicious plant foods!!!! I discovered the wonderful world of phytochemicals and their benefits for cancer and a whole lot of other health issues that I wasfacing. Gone were the animal products,(milk, cheese, eggs, ice cream, yogurt) highly processed foods, caffeine containing beverages, etc!!!

In six months, my health had improved remarkably, and by nine months, even more so. Nearly twelve years later, I am still grateful to God for his mercy to me and am practicing the lifestyle that I believe is disease-preventing and health-enhancing. I call it BEST WAY:

  • Bedtime Regularity
  • Exercise
  • Sunlight
  • Simple Diet
  • Temperance
  • Water
  • Air
  • Yielding to Divine Power

I would advise every woman to practice preventive medicine/lifestyle habits; do regular screening exams, and to be proactive about their health. We would no more buy the first item we saw in a store !!!!!!!! We should SHOP around for health professionals who support our belief systems and not PUT ANY MONEY/INSURANCE DOWN until we are satisfied. Save your breasts and the rest of your life/health and the life/health of someone you love!!!!!!!!!!!! It will really be Somethin’ To Shout About!!!

BIO: "Donna Green-Goodman, MPH graduated from Oakwood College with a degree in Home Economics-emphasis in nutrition. She received the Master of Public Health in Health Education and Promotion from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health. Donna's professional career includes working for the GA Extension Service, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morris College, SC-Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the GA Division of Public Health-Office of Nutrition. Donna believes that lifestyle changes are vital for health and well being and that people are more likely to change when they see us praticing what we preach. When not conducting health seminars or cooking classes, Donna spends time with her first love-her-family-husband Eddie and son Edward IV, [Ivey]."

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Here's to Your Health! Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The fact that October is breast cancer month has not been lost on us here at Ladybrille. Not at all! Indeed I recall in 1996 when I did a self examination and found a lump on my left breast. Was I worried? You bet. I'm a fix it kind of woman. I immediately had a breast biopsy and thankfully the lump/cyst was benign. Since then, I have lost an aunt to breast cancer and have a few friends in my life who have lost loved ones to breast cancer.


Therefore, for breast cancer month, it was extremely important to me to not just encourage you to do your regular self examination and get your mammograms, especially if you are over 40 or have a high risk for the disease. I really wanted you to understand the importance of attitude and lifestyle change even if you have just been diagnosed. There is HOPE and you can be HAPPY whether you are currently going through it or whether your mother, grandmother, sister, sister in-law, cousin, aunty or girlfriend is going through or has gone through it.


As luck will have it, I spoke with a Liberian-American acquaintance of mine, Cynthia, and she recommended Donna Green-Goodman. Goodman is a breast cancer survivor, a health professional and the author of "Somethin' to Shout About." Her story was published in the August 1999 issue of Essence Magazine and remains highly relevant for us all. I read through her book and was impressed by her honesty and candidness about the disease she had and how she got the victory over it. So here is to your health! Be inspired by Donna's experience. But after the inspiration, tears e.t.c. GET UP AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE! The power is in your hands.




Remain Blessed!




Uduak
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Friday, October 26, 2007

What do you Call a Bustier that Takes 280hours to Make?


What do you call a bustier that takes up to 280 hours to make, consists of around 3000 individual items, is linked individually by hand with all crystals and is also glued individually by hand? Wearable art. "These are actually works of art, not items of clothing, but they can be worn, as long as the wearer takes care," says Michael Wilson the artist responsible for these bustiers. Wilson who is from Capetown, South Africa, is the owner of the brand Michael Wilson Designs [MWD].

Wilson designs sexy, unique, beautiful high-end one of a kind pieces that range from $2500 to $8000. "I make each and every item myself, by hand," says Wilson. "For example, the top that [model] Bar [wore in the SA Sports Illustrated shoot] consists of around 3600 pieces, each linked individually by hand with a pair of pliers using very small links [3x2mm]. The crystals are placed and glued one at a time, a process that takes an enormous amount of time and concentration."

Wilson, 45 years old, has been making metal jewellery for about four years. His focus was making jewellery with an unusual twist that includes earrings, bracelets, necklaces, belts and clip on jewellery belts until an incident that helped him expand his line. "I started making the tops around three years ago after Liza, my wife, turned one of my belts upside down, held it to her chest and said “oh look, a bra,” explains Wilson. It was obviously meant as a joke but it triggered the artistic instinct in Wilson; and ultimately a birth of bustiers made out of metals and Swarovski crystals. "The [bustiers] have evolved . [I] added the crystals just over two years ago to give a “bling” effect to a classic look."

The artist purchases his crystals from the local SA market. The crystals are genuine Swarovski crystals which are originally manufactured in Austria by Swarovski. Indeed, the uniqueness of Michael's work caught Leonard Klocker's attention, the regional director for Swarovski for Africa and the Middle East. Klocker saw one of Wilson's top and insisted that Wilson get preferential treatment from the local agents for his orders. "This was fantastic for me! There is normally a minimum order that would be way out of my capacity as a single artist," says Wilson. "Normally only the large wholesalers can afford to stock them. The metal pieces are antique brass and are bought from our local bead wholesaler."

Ladybrille of course wanted to know why anyone would spend 280 hours creating a bustier! "I have considered getting help, but that would be the same as a painter artist asking someone to color in his paintings after he did the outline," explains Wilson. "My work is actually art that can be worn and falls in the intersection between art, jewellery and fashion, which is what makes it unique."
Fashion Model Wendy in one of MWD's pieces

Liza, the wife who inspired 280 hours work, in a MWD top, back view
Liza in a MWD top, front view
To purchase, learn or see more of Wilson's work, contact him at:

MWD Studios: 10 Bow Bend,
Blouberg Sands
7441,
Cape Town,
South Africa.

Telephone details:27 21 554 5189 studio
27 83 708 2085 mobile;
27 86 610 2558 facsimile.
E-mail:mwd@kingsley.co.za

[All photos provided courtesy of MWD. Click image to enlarge]. Fashion Model Bar Refaeli in MWD, SA Sports Illustrated Swimwear shoot.
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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The Future Awards + Upcoming Events

I hope your week is going pretty well so far! Some upcoming events you should know about but before we get into it, Ladybrille was recently featured on the reputable Fashion Tribes as the place to learn about "fab fashion in Africa." A BIG thank you to Lesley Scott and the rest of the Fashion Tribes team for recognizing us. Fashion Tribes is a leading online fashion magazine with a strong authority on what's hot in the fashion world.
CONGRATS TO ADEOLA SONUBI who tells Ladybrille via e-mail, " [I] just want to sieze the opportunity to introduce my clothing line DELABIQUE. [I] Just launched [the] label this September by participating in the Nigerian Television Fashion Show in Lagos where I showcased a few of my designs." You go Adeola! Welcome to the world of entrepreneurship. Now get to gettin' with a website so we can all see your work in this part of the world!
If you have a fashion event, announcement of a new fashion label or job vacancies you want Ladybrille to know about, send to info@ladybrille.com.
SAVE JANUARY 13TH, 2008 FOR THE FUTURE AWARDS IN NIGERIA:
"every year, The Future… Awards is the BIGGEST gathering of the brightest and best young [m]inds that Nigeria has, and together, they prove that they have come of age – and are ready to move Nigeria to the next level! " Click here to nominate "young Nigerian achievers aged 18 to 31 who are crashing ceilings, and breaking boundaries in different sectors." Also note, "The new 15 categories unveiled: Artist of the Year, Professional of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year (Beauty & Style), Music Producer of the Year, Screen Producer of the Year, On-Air Personality of the Year, Actor of the Year, Musician of the Year, Magazine of the Year, Journalist of the Year, Best Use of Technology, Best Use of Advocacy, Best Use of Goodwill, and Young Person of the Year. Nominations close on the 31st of October 2007."
Wharton African Business Forum 2007:
"Africa Rising: The New Dawn of Trade and Investment "
UPenn Africa Business Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 8:00am to
Sunday, November 11, 2007 at 1:30pm. Location:
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 3730 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA. Website: http://www.whartonglobal.com/africa/index.html
Premier of Laviva.
ONE NIGHT ONLY.
Hosted by ALL MEDIA INTERNATIONAL.
Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2007.
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm .
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
TASTE OF AFRICA.
"DISPELLING THE MYTH: The writings on the wall... "
Hosted by: The Organization of African Students
Date: Friday, November 9, 2007.
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm.
Location: Grand Ballroom, 3rd Floor Marvin centre,
800 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC.
E-mail: oas@gwu.edu
ad:tech New York. "
The Art of Conversation: Building Great Brands in the Digital Age"
Hosted by ad:tech.
Date: Monday, November 5, 2007 at 9:30am to
Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 6:00pm.
Location: Hilton New York,
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY.
Contact: 415.464.8514; info@ad-tech.com
The Sensational Miss Africa USA Pageant
"A Weekend You Will Never Forget"
Miss Africa USA
Date: Friday, November 2, 2007 at 10:00pm
to Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 4:00am .
Location: The Ashok International Center
5900 Brook Hollow Parkway,
Atlanta, GA .
Contact: 678.663.5892; missafrica2006@aol.com
Trunk Show Event
Preview the Fall 2008 Collection Amsale Flagship Salon
Date: New York, NY October 26-28, 2007
Personal Appearance by Amsale,
Saturday October 27th, 2007
Contact: http://www.amsale.com/
Design Academy of Fashion, Annual Fashion Show.
Date: Thursday, November 15, 2007.
Time: 7:00am - 10:30am.
Location: The Old Biscuit Mill
Albert Road
Woodstock, South Africa.
info@daf-academy.co.za

UNITED KINGDOM:

Fashion Show
Date: Saturday, October 27, 2007 11:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Barking Learning Centre
opposite Barking town hall
Dagenham, United Kingdom
email: mailto:mKingdomoyindaokusanya@yahoo.com
Fiber Hair Spa Breast Cancer Benefit.

100% of proceeds going to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Hosted by RICHPR & Fiber Hair Spa
Date: Friday, October 26, 2007.
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm .
Location: Fiber Hair Spa, 789 Lexington, 2nd Floor (between 61st & 62nd)
New York, NY.
Email: rich.lauren@gmail.com

Shop & Mingle: Manhattan
Savings. Style. Connections. At Your Service.
Hosted by Val Idehen with the lovely Chanelle Diane Dumas.
Date: Saturday, October 27, 2007.
Time: 12:00pm - 5:00pm .
Location: Central Harlem
New York, NY.
Contact: 203.606.8922,
Email: valstyleshopping@gmail.com

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Monday, October 22, 2007

Lucky Dube + Jim Watson + Ladybrille African Fashion News #28

[Kevan Hall -Africa Spring 2008]
This past week was off the hook with incidents around the world. First and foremost the death of reggae legend Lucky Dube in front of his children. Highly disturbing and unfortunate.

The other was the world-renowned geneticist Jim Watson who commented that blacks were not as intelligent as whites and by Thursday, had withdrawn his statement.
"World-renowned geneticist James Watson, 79, who shared the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his role in helping break the DNA code, is being widely criticized after telling
The Sunday Times of London that he's "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours--whereas all the testing says not really." He went on, reports the newspaper, to say that "people who have to deal with black employees find...it is not true" that all humans are equal." [Excerpt from Scientific American.com]
He said other ridiculous things about other groups including Latinas/Latinos and people with autism. I initially did not want to dignifiy this with a post. But, I think it is important to point out that most times we place too much emphasis on how smart people are so that they are elevated to a little 'god' status. Just because Watson or anyone out there is smart and have won numerous awards or degrees from here to Mars; does not confer on them a supernatural power or even common sense where they can be so convenient as to utter supidity about other people. Plus, how are we measuring intelligence? I am fatigued with the comparisons of blacks or African intelligence to whites especially when most of the comparisons has more to do with the ability to build certain technologies centered on destroying other human beings i.e. Weapons of Mass Destruction [WMD]. Do the Masai, a peaceful people in a very harmonius environment with nature, need to go build WMDs? Does the lack of sophisticated ammunitions make them less intelligent or inferior? We beg to differ. Point is, we all need to check the oshi [foolishness] that people throw at us and hold them accountable for their oshi, especially when they want to make it the rule of the day.
On a lighter note, AfricaNe.ws just went mobile while Kevan Hall in the recently completed L.A. fashion week was all about Africa for his Spring collection. Kevan Hall by the way is just an all around cool guy. His designs are really fabulous and he is just real, no faking, despite his huge success. On to the rest of our African/African fashion news.
  1. Shock and anger
  2. Ethiopia - Fashion & Style Marcus Samuelsson
  3. Low-slung trouser laws hit young blacks below the belt: experts
  4. JDA sizes up South African retailer
  5. Snapping Out of Stereotypes into Africa's Reality
  6. Zimbabwe: Designers to Converge for Fashion Week
  7. 'Africa: A Safari' themed Kevan Hall show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion ...
  8. African Heritage Week planned Oct. 22-27
Have a brilliant day!
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Sunday, October 21, 2007

Hair Stylist Edie Fungula + JTON Magazine Review

We have featured Congolese Edie Fungula in the past. She is just very driven and has overcome great adversity to be where she is. I spent the weekend modeling in one of her events and indeed her show was beautiful consisting of African fashions and beautiful hairstyles. This woman is determined to put the Democratic Republic of Congo on the fashion map so I say PUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSH Lady! Meanwhile, I must say that in a previous article, we covered the launch of Toni Payne store in Los Angeles and we informed you that, yours truly left L.A. with a custom blend Element 5 mineral makeup. Can I tell you I'm LUVIN' it! It is what I am wearing in the pictures from Edie's event below. Toni Payne, I am an official fan not just of the positees but now the makeup!

[Uduak with Edie Fungula. Edie is responsible for the hair in these pictures. The ankara dress is by Colleen Quen Couture]

[Trynidee, Uduak and Savannah-my new fans :)]

JTON Magazine Review


In another news, there is a new kid on the block when it comes to the niche market of African magazines. The name is JTON. “JTON Magazine” to be exact. I received my copy in the mail and my thoughts were, "not bad. Not bad at all!" JTON is a high-quality glossy magazine that is determined to be the "Ebony of Africa" for Africans in the West and in Africa. The publication targets both African men and women as it captures the luxury world of fashion and beauty products, travels, technology as in the latest gadgets and gizmos, interviews with Africa's celebrities and personalities, health and African cuisine, to name a few of the categories.

In its premier issue, the exclusive interview with Dr. Iroh, a former Director of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and the feature on Africa’s take on Global warming is quite interesting. In the entertainment world and particularly music, it is cool to see all three members of the Plantashun Boiz on the cover of JTON. In case you do not know who the Plantashun Boiz are, they are a R &B/Hip-Hop group that reigned in the mid to late 90s in Nigeria. Consisting of the now incredibly popular Innocent Ujia Idibia aka Tuface, Ahmadu Augustine Obiabo aka Blackface and the equally popular Richard Chibuzor Orji aka Faze, they did some serious musical damage with their vocals and talent. As with anything, especially in the world of entertainment, good things do come to an end. The trio had a falling out, went their different ways and have frankly done really well solo. Nevertheless, they are regrouping for a comeback which is what makes their indepth interview in JTON magazine really cool.


Also, another interesting feature in JTON which had me cracking up is Gollywood! Golly who? This is the name for Ghana's Movie Industry. What’s with everyone wanting to get with the woods? Hollywood, Bollywood [India], Nollywood [Nigeria], Tollywood [Telugu film industry], Kollywood [Tamil film industry] and now Gollywood? What next?Pollywood, Lollywood, Sollywood?? Can I just say I hate the sound of “Golly”? It’s like saying, “Golly! Do you have to name your industry Gollywood?!” Beyond the "Golly!" name, they appear to have their industry together at least in the angle of production quality which is, arguably, much better than many of the Nollywood productions I have seen. JTON, for the “Gollywood” fans out there has interesting features on “Gollywood” stars such as Jackie Appiah, Van Vicker and Nadia Buari aka Beyonce.


Should you Purchase or Advertise in JTON?

In case you are wondering what criticisms, if any, and whether it is worth spending your hard end dollars/pounds to purchase a copy or advertise in one. My response, if you are American, European, Nigerian or Ghanian this is a strong publication to purchase. It is an initimate, entertaining and exciting coverage of the hip, trendy and exciting happenings in the above countries and their entertainment industries. It also has a little sprinkle of coverage about the USA celebrity-dom & politics, maybe about 10%. If you are from other African countries and you are keen on a magazine that reflects some aspect of your culture, then JTON might not be for you; as the coverage is not diverse to include other African groups beyond Nigerians and Ghanians. It is the "Ebony of Africa," after all, isn't it? Nevertheless, it is JTON's premier issue so it is worth an investment to see the direction they go and whether that diversity will be included down the line. Better yet, you can tell them how to include you!

For advertisers, especially Ladybrille established and emerging fashion business owners targeting the West & Africa, it doesn't get better than this. Nigerians remain one of the most dominant groups worldwide, especially when it comes to African immigrants. In the USA, last time I checked and according to the US Census Bureau, they accounted for 39% of the population of African immigrants with Ethiopians following closely at 26%. Beyond the fact that they are quite educated, have the disposable & discretionary incomes and are savvy shoppers, there is a big and current following of their own stars i.e. Nigerian designers, Nollywood and Nigeria's music industry, especially among the 18-28 age group which translates to lots of purchases of fashion,beauty and music products. So, this would be good place to advertise. To find out more about JTON and how you can obtain your own free copy of the premier issue, visit their website at http://www.jtonproductions.com/.

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