Afrobella

2024 brought unimaginable challenges, from being diagnosed with cancer to spending weeks in the hospital, stem cell harvest and transplant, learning to walk again basically…when I look back, I can’t quite believe everything I’ve been through. All 2024, I saved my empty product bottles as a reminder of the things that carried me through.

For years I felt pressured to write a substantial holiday gift guide. You know, the kind intended to advise you, dear reader, on what to buy for your partner, your kids, your parents. The kind of list you’ll find on every major publication and retailer’s home page. Instead of gifts for him, her and them, this year I offer a special gift guide. This one’s for you. That’s right — after the year you’ve had, I’m thinking you deserve a gift or three.

I love a good lip balm. Maybe too much — at any point, my purse is overflowing with far too many tubes and tubs. Right now several of the clear lip treatments in my regular rotation are by the same brand, and I realize that I’m addicted, in love, a little obsessed. If I had to put a lip balm in your holiday stocking, it would be by EOS. Let me be specific cause they’ve got so many options! EOS stands for Evolution of Smooth and the brand began with shaving creams and lotions.

Jackie Jackie Jackie Jackie Jackie! I’ve been a fan of Jackie Aina since the days of LilPumpkinPie05. We go BACK. She began as a YouTube beauty pioneer doing makeup tutorials and reviews, and watching her ascension to mogul and founder of her own brand, FORVR Mood has been nothing short of inspirational. Jackie Aina is a force and she has proven her value in the beauty world time and time again. I love seeing her rise to the stratosphere. She has earned and deserves all the success.

True story. Recently I was walking into my apartment building and ran into a neighbor. It was a hot day and I was carrying a bag of groceries. After a brief moment of chatting, they asked me — hey, are you crying? No, friend. This is sweat. I was sweating. And apparently I was sweating so profusely, they assumed I was in tears. Yikes! What I didn’t explain to them, is that I’m in the chapter of life where my body temperature can be unpredictable at best. Maybe you’re here with me, in menopause world.

This post is sponsored by PATTERN Beauty but the opinions are all my own. When I first started Afrobella in 2006, I couldn’t have imagined the growth the natural hair industry would have. I couldn’t have imagined the wonderful changes to come. If someone told me in 2006 that celebrities I liked and looked up to would have their own natural hair product lines, I would have laughed.

Here it is, the post I’ve contemplated a thousand times. The thing I have to share that I haven’t wanted to type or say aloud. I have cancer. I have multiple myeloma. Here’s my story, in summary. I was diagnosed in January, but my symptoms first really appeared in October 2023, when hitting a pothole left me with several spinal compression fractures. I can think of earlier symptoms, but October marks a significant anniversary for me and it made sense to share this now.

I lost a friend at the end of March and I would like to pay an overdue tribute to him here on Afrobella. I featured him and his recipes so often in this space. He showed up for me time and time again. I want to pay homage to Chef Julius Russell as the man that I knew.

When you’ve lived somewhere long enough, it can be easy to take things for granted. For example, here’s a slightly embarrassing confession – I’ve lived in Chicago since 2009 and I didn’t make it to the top of Willis Tower until this year. 2023. I know! It’s ridiculous. I’d been to the top of the Hancock Building several times (RIP, Signature Room). So why not Willis? First, I’ve got a little fear of heights. And second, I live here.

This week I’m going to a concert that I’m so excited about, one that I honestly didn’t think would happen – they’ve been broken up for 25 years! Raphael Saadiq and Tony! Toni! Toné! are back together and on the road. And from the reviews I’m reading, this tour is a must-see experience that’s leading the Tonies back to the studio with promises of new music to come. Dreams do come true! I’ve been a fan since the 80’s.