Brown Sista

Happy Monday Brown Sistas.

Everyone around the way has been saying that money is tight and that gift lists will be short this year. And GT understands. Only one person is getting a “gift gift” this year and that’ll be my mama. But for the most part the money crunch is real; so no Plasma TV’s, costly designer bags, and most definitely not another sweater. As promised GT delivers you gift ideas that are no cost or low cost, and this will be the final word on gifting. The best gifts and the most remembered gifts are gifts from the heart…so here are my top five….

1. Give a coupon for a service performed by you. You can make the coupon up on your home computer, add some holiday graphics to make it pretty, sprinkle it with glue and glitter and shazam!  Coupons could be good for, baby sitting, house keeping, mowing the lawn, house sitting, pet sitting, snow shoveling, help in the garden, massage, laundry, ironing, shopping or errand running. The coupons will only cost you your time, and everyone receiving it appreciates a gift of quality time. Plus they help take the load off.

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Here is someone we haven’t seen posted on BrownSista in a while. Rihanna seems to be keeping a very low profile as of late. However, the sista did come out of hiding over the weekend to perform at the 2008 KIIS FM Jingle Ball Concert. Rihanna was actually just a special guest and chose to skip the red carpet- taking to the stage only briefly to perform the remake of her hit single, Umbrella, with singer Chris Brown. Rihanna also made news recently, nabbing three Grammy nominations for herself and already being confirmed as a performer at next year’s show.
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R n’ B diva Keyshia Cole flexed her vocal muscle over the weekend- performing the National Anthem at the De la Hoya- Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. Keyshia, never the one to do anything on a small scale, debuted her new look at the fight and quickly got the public’s- or at least bloggers- attention. Wearing a sequined gold colored body baring outfit and a brand new auburn wig, Keyshia was a site to behold while belting out her soulful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. And though the sista is getting a thumbs down from most other bloggers- she gets a thumbs up from me. I loved the outfit and the new hair. Yes it was “unique”- but so is Keyshia. The colors complimented her skin beautifully and I’m glad she chose to do her own thing her own way.
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Photographers clamored for a shot of Naomi Campbell on the red carpet Thursday night, a fitting opening to a retrospective of photos from her two-decade modeling career. The show, which features photos from top photographers such as Arthur Elgort and Steven Meisel, was organized by Art Photo Expo Miami. It is part of a larger exhibit called In Fashion Photo, which ends on Dec. 7. The show coincides with the international art fair Art Basel Miami Beach, running from Dec. 4-7. “I feel very honored and flattered,” Campbell said as she was bombarded by screams of photographers wanting her to pose.
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The latest edition of Black Men Magazine features a stunning photo shoot from Ashanti. The singer, whose most recent album hasn’t faired very well on the charts, continues to promote herself and even picked up an award recently. Her “The Way That I Love You” video won for Best Break Up Video at the Music Choice Most Demanded Video Awards. The singer is also out on the road promoting her new material with small club dates and continues to also work with other artists, most recently the rapper Plies. Word is Ashanti is also in talks to reprise her role as Heather in the second installment of the teen film, John Tucker Must Die.
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Beyonce and her alter ego, Sasha Fierce, are once again gracing the cover of a national magazine. January 2009 will see the singer on the cover of Elle Magazine and two different covers have been shot. One is for the newsstands and the other (right) will be sent to subscribers. As with her most recent interviews, Beyonce continues to give the public small bits of information about her marriage to rapper Jay-Z. A “power struggle” is how the singer describes her marriage but goes on to say “If I didn’t respect someone and they didn’t have that strength, then I would be bored. I wouldn’t be attracted to them.” As for retiring and having children by the age of 30, something she said she would do years ago, Beyonce now tells the magazine she is “terrified” of having children and though she wants a “couple”, plans to hold off on getting pregnant for a few more years.
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R n’ B newcomer Jazmine Sullivan is poised to have a breakout year. The 21 year old singer, who signed her first record deal at the age of 16 only to be subsequently dropped, has been nominated for five Grammys- the most for any female artist this year. Jazmine’s first single, Need You Bad, went to #1 on the R n’ B charts, but the singer has still struggled for name recognition in an industry that no longer rewards artists who can actually sing and write their own music. However, like India Arie a few years back, Jazmine is about to discover that just being nominated for a Grammy can turn one’s career around. Being nominated for 5 can instantly make you a household name and most of all, send your album flying up the charts. Jazmine has been nominated for Best New Artist, the most coveted award for a new singer. She also recieved nods for Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best Female R&B Vocal, Best Traditional R&B Vocal, and Best R&B Song for Bust Your Windows.

Actress Gabrielle Union and X-Files writer/producer Frank Spotnitz are reteaming to develop a new series for NBC. The duo, which worked together on ABC’s short-lived Night Stalker during the 2005-2006 TV season, is developing a procedural for the Peacock, according to Variety. Spontitz will write the show and Gabrielle, best known for her role in Bring It On, will star as a detective who must race to save someone’s life before it’s too late. The project is a collaboration by Union and Spotnitz and will be produced by Universal Media Studios. Right now however Gabrielle can be seen starring in Cadillac Records, which opens in theaters nationwide this Friday, December 5th.
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