July Newsletter

I’m often asked what have you been doing? Do you still do hair? Since closing the store front in 2016 I was a professor of Business Communication, I worked in IT for the government and I wrote a book. A few clients turned family have been able to find me when they need me.

Unfortunately, I’m having surgery on my arm July 27th, 2021 and I must fully transitioning out of hairstyling. As always I will continue to support my Hair Therapy family sharing referrals and information that is valuable to our community in relation to hair and beyond.

Please support my transition to e-commerce by purchasing my first product “Power Blend Hair Oil” or any items from the Hair Therapy online store. www.HairTherapybycandalada.com

Candalada Visits 24 States!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lake Michigan Waterfront, Chicago.

This month I travelled/visited 24 states (Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia) . I ate a lot of food and saw many things. To write in detail would lead to a book as thick as Harry Potter.

To summarize: Prince Issa was excited to see Micheal Jackson’s outfits. He was surprised to see Jimi Hendrix guitar looks just like his replica. The scariest routes I drove at night were in Wyoming, no lights and countless deer. The most heartbreaking living conditions and dangerous environment I visited was Detroit, Michigan. Minnesota the home of Prince and George Floyd forced me to reflect and feel deeply for Black Men an the nation. The best landscape I saw was in Utah.

The coldest city a foggiest city was San Francisco. San Francisco has the biggest pride flag I have ever seen . The most relaxing feeling, early mornings listening to the Pacific Ocean on Bruce Beach in California. The best food I ever tasted was in New Orleans at GWFins. The Kimpton hotel there was also lovely. Many of the streets in the neighborhoods of New Orleans were flooded and cars were almost 1/4 submerged. To me the welcome to Virginia sign on the Tennessee border was worth a picture even if it is home because that particular sign is 5 hours away from Northern Virginia.

Please enjoy my video….. for more coverage on the food reviews and additional pics please visit my Instagram @Candalada

June Newsletter

Are There Two Independence Days?

Juneteenth Outfit

Last year was the first year that I purposefully did nothing to celebrate or acknowledge July 4th. I celebrated Juneteenth by having a virtual discussion with community leaders.

This year is different than any other year in America because it is the first year that Juneteenth has been recognized as a national holiday.

Listening to the community I am hearing there are a few schools of thought.

1. Lets celebrate everything

2. Lets celebrate nothing because nothing has changed

3. Lets celebrate the Black one

Personally becoming more aware of history has taken the fun out of every holiday besides my birthday. I have gone with number 3. I still stand outside with Issa for a few minutes so he can see the neighbors fireworks.

For your reading pleasure I have linked 4 articles regarding the topic.

We can’t have two holidays

What Does It Mean To Celebrate Two Holidays

How are we supposed to celebrate July 4th after Juneteenth

Juneteenth and July 4th are complementary independence days that we should all celebrate

Prince Issa Goes To College!!!

Issa is not off to get his bachelors yet. He was invited on scholarship to attend Auburn University STEM Camp. The courses he is taking are, Protecting The Earth, Structures, Forces and Motion. He loves to build things using things around the house. He makes and destroys his creations so quickly sometimes I can’t even take a picture. The children have built bridges, wells and windmills thus far. They learning the scientific reasons for why things work.

I would like to thank Dr.Groff for recommending Issa. His Math tutor Mrs.Jackson and his teacher Ms.Bentley for pouring positivity into him. Issa finished out the year with straight A’s. I am so happy and proud of Issa.

Ms.Bentley and Prince Issa

Power Blend Oil Is Here!

Did you have a chance to try the Power Blend Oil? Looking forward to your feedback.

Thanks for Reading!!!

May Newsletter

Hair Therapy by Candalada Online Store!!!

I am proud to reveal the new Hair Therapy Online store which is centered around the culture of haircare and daily living. The summer 2021 collection is available on the Hair Therapy website, Instagram and Facebook. While browsing you may notice Hair Therapy has its own hair product.

Hair Therapy has launched its first hair product named Power Blend Hair Oil! Our Power Blend Hair Oil is a nutrient, intensive formula meant to address most hair concerns from soothing the scalp and healing scabs to nourishing follicles and protecting scalp from sun wind and smoke damage.

Available for pre-order starts shipping June 3rd, 2021.

Baby Halo for Hair Therapy!!!! Check out Halo’s debut on the Hair Therapy homepage.

THE BLACK HAIR EXPERIENCE

Described as the Black Girl Magic play ground “The Black Hair Experience” is an interactive selfie museum with several installations located at the National Harbor. My favorite was the kitchen and magazine corner exhibit.

The experience opened May 15th,2021. Tickets are also available for the Atlanta experience. I saw couples and girlfriends during my early am visit. It was a fun. The kids lounge although empty was spacious with games, jump ropes and ample seating.

Brooklyn, NY Vegan Carry Out Tour

With so much uncertainty as we navigate Covid-19 eating food in the car has brought me great joy. If you are in New York looking for great places to eat, I visited the top vegan restaurants in Brooklyn according to multiple bloggers. I added in two discoveries of my own, American Vegan Cafe and Natural Blend. Full video reviews are on my Instagram @Candalada under the highlight “Food Reviews”. Some fun summary videos are also located under the “Reels” and “IG-TV” sections. To visit the photo gallery for both the NY and NC CarryOut Tour here.

Stand Out Items:

@greedikitchen || website Jerk Burger, Banana Pudding, Chilli Cauliflower

@champsdiner || website Philly Sandwich and Girl Scout Shake 🔥

@modernlovebrooklyn || website Strawberry Basil Pop Tart, Caesar Salad

For Meat Eaters:

@toptiercatering || website Oxtail, Macaroni and Yams

April Newsletter

The NC Waterfall and CarryOut Tour

The inspiration for this trip was Prince Issa. He was approaching age 9 and about to celebrate his second birthday during the pandemic. Issa is 100% virtual; he attends school, the doctor and guitar lessons online. His melt downs were increasing which reminded me of the side affects of solitary confinement I learned about.

Since Issa and I have seen all of Virginia’s notable waterfalls including the best voted Falling Spring Falls, I started shopping for waterfalls in neighboring states. I looked into West Virginia (Blackwater Falls) which is unfortunately closed for park renovation, MD (Muddy Creek Falls) and Tennessee (Ruby Falls) on my search for cool falls in the past.

North Carolina recently peaked my interest because it is home to over over 250 waterfalls and houses two amazing things. First, the only waterfall I came across that you can walk behind, Dry Falls in Highlands. Second, one of the best vegan restaurants in the country according to The Food Network, Plant in Asheville.

Learning lessons form the first waterfall tour in Virginia. I made sure to triple check the addresses. I was devastated to learn that Dry Falls was the furthest waterfall from my home. Basically falling out of North Carolina and a whopping 8 hours away if I drove there straight. I knew I wanted to see three falls minimum. I searched for drive by falls and falls with short hikes. I added Looking Glass, known for being very accessible and High Falls noted for its appearance in The Hunger Games.

With the waterfalls towards the end of North Carolina and Plant (vegan restaurant) hours away from the falls. I decided creating a loop so I don’t miss out on all NC had to offer made the most sense. It took hours of google maps to find points of interests, vegan carryouts and operation times. I used some backward math to calculate necessary departure times. I timed everything based on arriving at the opening time for each carry out and I was successfully the first customer for each carry out.

I was able to see every planned point of interest. In Dupont State Park, I switched out High Falls for Triple Falls. High Falls had a trail that led to the trail. Once we completed the first trail, we were greeted by two signs for High Falls Loop and we didn’t know which one to take. The map was at the front of the park and internet on the phone wasn’t working. Issa immediately said, “No, Mommy No”. Sometimes its okay to listen to the kids.

We also went to eat and recharge at Madisons in Old Edwards Inn before heading to Dry Falls. We were hungry and wet from getting rained on at Looking Glass and the camera battery died! Having lunch first gave us time to literally recharge while visiting the historic, posh and restored inn.

Asheville River Arts District had art on the walls so bold we had to pull over. Apparently, the BBQ spot there is so good former president Obama went to visit “12 Bones” twice. Click here to see the video. There was no quick way to leave Asheville, so we didn't. We explored and found an art shop where the owner was a Batman and Marvel enthusiast amongst other things.

In Asheville we also visited, The Biltmore Estate a tourist trap worth seeing. Getting to it is quite a production. It has a box office! It also has a trolley system. I had no interest in touring inside. I just needed my baby to see the biggest house in the U.S. He has an affinity for architecture.

My sole purpose for stopping in Greensboro was to show Issa the International Civil Rights Museum. It was informative and great to see the original stools where Greensboro Four pushed back on segregation and the 1960 sit-ins began. It was a chilling to see an actual colored fountain.

The Best Buy in Greensboro scored us more than the tripod I forgot at home. We received local intel about Gateway Gardens, a cool garden/oasis created for kids. I delayed departing Greensboro to make sure Issa was able to visit. We were both a little sad when our adventure over. The trip was a joy and Gateway Gardens was a great ending. We left during the golden hour.

Please enjoy this recap video which was my visual birthday gift to Issa and the official “NC Waterfall and Carryout Tour” picture story (sequential order).

THE ViDEO

THE PICTURE STORY

THE DEETS

Waterfall Review

Triple Falls trail felt like it was for professionals. The walk way is wide and open but to get the close to the falls you have to earn it. I read there is a away to access rocks in the middle of the stream at Triple Falls. We were cautious and uncertain of its location so we decided to stop at the .5 mile overlook and not to explore further to find them. We may have missed out on the full experience.

Looking Glass is like the warm up to Dry Falls. Truly a baby version. It was easy to see from the roadside and not difficult to access the base of it. Dry Falls was my best waterfall experience to date. Its so powerful. No confusing trails just a long set of steps leading straight to the natural wonder. The water is so loud. When I was standing underneath it I somehow couldn’t believe it. What a refreshing perspective.

Detailed Carryout Review

Click here.

Prince ISSA TURNS 9!!!!!!

We chose to stay local for the big day. The Craving’s vegan cup cake was average. The space and the aroma was more amazing than the cup cake. Issa loved the textured wall.

Local food news

I have been following the development of Epiq Food Hall since the closing of its neighbor, Habitat for Humanity Restore. Originally, when I visited the Epiq Food Hall website the vendors where not populated and there was no hint about what type of food to expect. I saw two ladies with Gucci belts taking a tour of the Habitat for Humanity Restore space in October 2020 and that was my first indication that something other than the hall or expansion of the hall was on the way.

Epiq Food Hall celebrated its grand opening April 1st, 2021. The decor is swanky. It has an edge on other food halls I’ve travelled to in Baltimore and Manhattan. I was delighted to have the opportunity to listen to Joseph Brotherton, Collin Chambers and Tyler Leak play live jazz music on April 17th from 6:30-7:30pm.

Piano: Collin Chambers, Drums: Tyler Leak, Trumpet: Joe Brotherton

According to a recent article the reason for choosing Woodbridge as the location for Epiq Food Hall was to appeal to Northern Virginia residents who do not want to travel to the city for atmosphere, music and diversity in food options. Phase two the project will be in the old Habitat for Humanity Restore space. It will host ax throwing, corn hole, and giant Jenga.

I tried tacos from two places:

Teddy’s Taco Shack

The Raw Chopped Cauliflower taco was very spicy. I couldn’t taste anything but heat. The Red Hook, a cooked taco made of mushrooms, brussel sprouts tossed in szechuan sauce, corn salsa, micro cilantro, green onions had a texture I didn’t like and a burnt flavor, although, the food wasn’t burnt. I didn’t like either of these tacos.

Harmony’s Pho and Grill

The Hawaiian Taco made with fresh pineapple, onion, carrot, tomato, cucumber and crispy tofu. I ordered it without the lime sauce which is mayo based. I enjoyed it. I haven’t had this combination of flavors before and I love pineapples.

Thank You for Reading :)

March Newsletter

Prince Issa’s Covid-19 Interview

In March 2020 life changed for everyone. Heavy governement restrictions were implemented and the future seemed uncertain. As March returned, some have returned to work, some have returned to school while others remain home. I used a Covid-19 interview recommended by Dr.Groff to see Issa’s perspective on Covid-19.

The Virtual Book Launch for “Beautiful Reject” opened some amazing dialog amongst attendees. I answered questions in relation to my personal journal, dating experience and the process of publishing on Amazon. Below are a few excerpts.

The group was diverse an included representation of various careers, and age groups. As a follow up to the launch I am holding a book club discussion where we continue to discuss topics from the post reading perspective.

Please join me Saturday April 3rd @7 P.M. to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click here to register and join the meeting.

TOP PICKS Movie and TV News

Judas and the Black Messiah is about a man named Bill O'Neal who infiltrates the Black Panther Party per FBI Agent Mitchell and J. Edgar Hoover. Bill gets close to the Party Chairman Fred Hampton and has internal conflict about what he is sent to do.

The main stars are Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons. The movie was directed by Shaka King. I watched this movie alone in the dark on a projector screen with surround sound. I felt every word of it.

In an interview with The Source Magazine LaKeith specifies he experienced panic attacks after playing the role of Bill. He especially had tough time with the poisoning scene and differentiating his reality from some scenes.

The United States VS Bille Holiday lights a fire of WTF inside of me. Drug usage was the charge but her real crime was “potential inspiration of African- Americans”.

For me the most frustrating thing about a movie based a true story is wishing I can change the facts while I watch. The way the government never let up on Billie and followed her around like a queen pen over a song was shameful.

Two scenes that really stood out to me:

1. The love scene between Billie and Jimmy (Andra Day and Trevante Rhodes). The fact that she was so uncomfortable being loved on showed how much trauma she suffered.

2. The final hospital sequence. Between her quotable sentences and creative profanity it was evident she was “unbreakable” and for the cause. I love that.

Franklin Saint!!!!!!!!!!!

Snow Fall created by John Singleton has been out since 2017. I started it and caught up in March, 2021. The show has been recently renewed for another season (5). Damson Idris plays Franklin Saint. A young man that gets turned onto the drug game and works his way to the top. Damson is British and has created the best accent for Franklin. He has become popular for his impersonations when being interviewed. His most recent viral interview includes sharing his embarrassing experience on a zoom call with Jay-Z.

BEAUTY NEWS

CEO of Rising Beauty Brand Found Dead

The creator of The Ordinary Brand was found dead at 40. This happened after he was ousted from the company. It is suspected to be a suicide, however, not being ruled as one. This article caught my attention and it was through this article that I learned of The Ordinary beauty brand.

SKIN

While looking on the internet for a professional that could explain how to properly use the popular acids on the market. I found a video by April Basi, a chemist: 5 best products from The Ordinary to use for dark skin After viewing it.I purchased them all.

1. Retinol 0.2% in Squalane https://theordinary.deciem.com/produc...​

2. Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% https://theordinary.deciem.com/produc...​

3. Lactic Acid 5% + HA https://theordinary.deciem.com/produc...

4. Salicylic Acid 2% Masque https://theordinary.deciem.com/produc...​

5. 100% Plant-Derived Squalane https://theordinary.deciem.com/produc...​

To be more informed I also looked at her video about the 5 worst products for dark skin from The Ordinary and took note of why. I learned from the video bigger molecules are applied last. The line is extensive which could confuse of overwhelm new customers.

Thus far I have used the squaline and the hyloraunic acid. I was impressed by how thick the consistency is for the price.I am practicing using less to ensure I don’t clog my pores. I used way too much and woke up with small bumps. My best experience has been with the ascorbic acid. My skin is very sensitive the slightest change brings new acne. This item fit flawlessly into my routine creating no new bumps.

My face has been so juicy. It's not dry and flaky anymore. Looking forward to trying the other items. Especially the blemish control masque.

Urban Skin RX sells the sponges seperatly

I was excited to see that RX sponges are sold separately on the website. You don’t have to by their face wash to have access to these amazing sponges. I started using Urban Skin RX last year. I did a few videos about my quest to acquire acne free even skin again.

For now the Urban RX even tone cleansing bar, witch hazel from Target (they recently came out with a witch hazel toner, guess I was onto something) and RX hydra balance moisturizer is my regimen when I am not trying new products. The face wash comes with two thin round sponges the inflate when wet. Although they hold up well. I like to use a new sponge each week now that I have found the five pack.

NAILS:

I had a chance to visit the Instagram famous Vicky. Owner of Sunshine Nails. It is so tough to book with her through the online system. Its best to try to message them on Instagram because she runs the IG page. Try to book with her on a weekend day or call and ask to receptionist to notify you of any cancellations on the weekend. Techs Linda and Kathy also popular techs but owner Vicky is hailed the design queen.

THANKS FOR READING

February Newsletter

Candalada Wrote A Book!

To register for the Virtual Book Launch Party March 6th at 1pm click here.

Photo: Kevin Marable

I am excited to share that I have completed my first book. I started writing it in 2016 vowing to finish it every year since. It wasn’t until December of 2020 I made the conscious decision that 2021 would be the year it leaves word document format or I would scrap the idea completely.

Please enjoy this video of the top questions about, “Beautiful Reject”.

I was holding the paper back in my hand a few days ago and I said to myself, “Girl, I am so proud of you.” I turned my trauma and relationship failures into a body of work that I am proud of. In my opinion, there is nothing better than telling your own story. While there many that keep their “business” to themselves. I have always found healing and closure in being honest about my experiences and what I have learned from them.

The video marketing was conceptualized and edited by myself and can be viewed primarily on Instagram @Candalada. Pre-publication the promo videos depict the sexiest available version of myself with a variety of background music. Promo videos post publication are informative with a classic commercial tone and no background music.

The cover was shot by my trusted partner in creativity Kevin Marable.

My book is available on Amazon.

The Michael B. Jordan Take Over

Micheal B. Jordon’s new relationship and new Alexa commercial have taken over the internet, reaping in 78 million views on YouTube.

After a month of wearing the extra thick mustache, he has been making appearances, topless on boats with his new heart throb credited as the picture taker and burning down timelines with his new Alexa commercial. If that wasn’t enough Michael’s new coach commercial to the Shaft theme song is comical.

TV Show News

Bridgerton has the people walking around saying, “Your Grace” as a greeting. I didn’t read the books so I didn’t know what to expect. The things I enjoyed seeing were the outfits, visualization of Black royalty and the complex relationship between the Duke of Hastings and the Daphne Bridgerton, the princess.

I loved hearing the modern songs played as instrumentals in the background. There is an escalation of passionate sex scenes as you get deeper into the season. I enjoyed that also.

I struggled a bit through the first episode but I had faith in Shonda. Six episodes later, the sun was rising and my eye balls were cracking from sleep deprivation. Mentally, I assumed the roll of the Daphne and needed to know my fate.

Watching the show excited some anger because in these times to have sex before marriage deemed you worthless. Many of the conflicts derived from trying to uphold that expectation which men did not have to worry about.

Black History Months Affect on Movies

There seems be to a hard split between showcasing Black love and Black History this year. Movies that received major chatter in the Black community are Malcom and Marie, Sylvie’s Love, One Night in Miami and American Skin.

I didn’t feel the inclination to rate them. Mainly because I do not want to deter anyone from watching them.They all have different take aways. The only one I would watch again is Sylvie’s Love.

In my opinion:

Malcom and Marie was made to make us think about why we do and say things to the person we love. Why we omit certain speech, get fed up and try again. It challenges the audience to question what makes us feel strong, weak and happy in a relationship. Question will we stay or leave the one we “love”.

Sylvie’s love was made to tug on our heart. To encourage us to be patient for love and break the rules for love.

One Night in Miami was created to make you want to go do some research. The film has many characters based on real people that lived lives with a long list of accomplishments outside of what is discussed in the film.

American Skin was made to remind Black people we are not crazy and show White people that even without hard evidence we know when their actions are egregious because of our skin color.

CANDALADA MOVIE REVIEW CONTINUED

Malcom and Marie has the longest on-screen relationship argument I have ever seen as the centerpiece of the movie. I thought Malcom (John David Washington) was overly animated at times. His dancing, some mannerisms and screaming were over the top. Marie (Zendaya) was perfect. Perfect! I was especially fond of her verbiage. The way she cursed the phrases she used sounded like things I would say. This made her character feel more relatable to me.

Loved the vintage style in Sylvie’s Love. There was much attention given to the Chanel dress in the cover photo. My favorite outfit was the black fit she wore in a pivotal break up scene. This was a beautiful love story. Something I would watch again and again.

I enjoyed the temperament of Robert Halloway through out the film. His character was relaxed, smooth, talented and believable. Sylvie dealt with pressures of being “high society” amongst other things. Their love remind me that the journey to happiness can be long but worth it.

One Night in Miami directed by Regina King was given all the glory by reviewers. It took me some time to adjust to Kingsley Ben-Adir who played Malcom X. I have seen Macolm X portrayed so many times, the previous actors that played the role kept coming to mind. Eli Goree as Mahammed was entertaining. Aldis Hodge (Jim Brown) and Leslie Odom (Sam Cooke) were good supporting characters.

The scene that was the most important was probably the scene I had the hardest time being fully vested in. A large portion of the movie took place in a hotel room. I have a hard time watching movies in the same setting for a long time. There were times when the characters were so frustrated it was hard to believe they would all really stay a room, angry with each other for that long.

Wow.Wow.Wow. This movie hits directly on the nerve of racial issues. I really liked this movie. Despite most of the movie taking place in a police precent, the intensity of story helped me forget about my same setting phobia. This movie needs to be mandatory watch for all races.

IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

I wanted share this article that dives into the specifics of how Black History Week turned into Black History month. I hear jokes every year about it being the shortest month in the year and I never find the jokes to be funny.

PRINCE ISSA PLAYS AMAZING GRACE

Food News

Valentines’s weekend had many looking for exotic food options. Dining out is still potentially risky and local chef options are on the rise. There are the three local chefs that we tried on Valentine’s weekend.

IG: @Sassychefkitchen delivers in the Woodbridge, Virginia area

IG: @touches_yasoul pick up meet up in Lorton

IG @gfksoulcuisine23 pick up meet up is Stonebridge Town Center

Crab Cakes on Friday, Salmon Alfredo with a side of Garlic Shrimp on Saturday, Steak, Rose and Bailey Cream cup cakes on Sunday.

I was able to try the Vegan Cauliflower by GFK. I enjoyed them. Really well seasoned and not too salty.

IG: @Sassychefkitchen delivers in the Woodbridge, Virginia area

IG: @touches_yasoul pick up meet up in Lorton

IG @gfksoulcuisine23 pick up meet up is Stonebridge Town Center

IG @gfksoulcuisine23 pick up meet up is Stonebridge Town Center

Vegan Cauliflower Mambo Wings

IG @gfksoulcuisine23 pick up meet up is Stonebridge Town Center

VISITINg Spice Suite : DC’s SPICE SHOP

Spice Suite is a Black Owned business with lots of Instagram buzz. The owner Angel tells her story often. She encourages new business owners to stop telling the story of struggle and focus on the processes they need to put in place become successful. I had my first visit to the intimate space last week.

Her spices can not be purchased individually online and can be purchased individually at the store. As of a few days ago (Feb 23rd, 20201). Her customers decided to create a personal shopping system. DC natives that live nearby are going to the store on behalf of you and shipping to you direct. The Spice Suite is not responsible for mishaps directly connected to this personal shopping, shipping system. However, Angel did somewhat endorse this movement by following the new page and publicly saying thank you for the visible increase of in-store shoppers.

The instagram for the personal shopping system is @weshopthespicesuite

The Facebook community for the personal shopping system is www.facebook.com/groups/weshopthespicesuite

I was curious about the electric grinder she just released. It was in the top of my purchase list. I also purchased, Thai Vibes, a berry lime bourbon lollipop, and strawberry basil syrup. The grinder is 25 dollars. Once the spice runs out you can refill it with any spice.

Senbeb Cafe -Vegan Soul Food

Senbeb in located in NW D.C. Walking in and seeing such a comprehensive menu was refreshing. Cakes, soups, crab cakes, teriyaki salmon all within my dietary restrictions. I tried so many things.

Vegan Steak and Cheese: Yummy, so well seasoned, sooo good. I do not even like green peppers and I ate them all. This was my favorite lunch dish and the crab cakes were my favorite dinner item.

Cajun Chicken: My sandwich had mayo. I just couldn’t get over it. I don’t like mayo, even in the vegan version. I will have to try this again without the sauce.

Vegan Teriyaki Salmon and Rice, Plantains and Macaroni: The macaroni alone was bland. I put some sauce from the main dish on it. The seasoning and sauce from the main course was delicious. Smells exactly like salmon.

Vegan Crab Cakes, Yams and Plantains: These crab cakes look underwhelming and taste excellent. They are by far the best vegan seafood like dish I ever had. The yams and plantains are average. Eaten all together the flavors are tasty and satisfying.

Sweet Potato Cake: This cake is wonderful because it is moist and it smells good. It is a great breakfast cake. Goes well with tea and coffee. Good for all pallets. A new family favorite.

Peaches in DC

Peaches is located doors down from Senbeb. This is great if you have friends and family with different dietary needs.

Oxtail, Rice and Peas : My cousin said the oxtail and rice was good. The macaroni was terrible. The main concern was the type of cheese used. The banana pudding (not pictured) was good.

Thanks for Reading

January Newsletter

Kamala Harris is Officially the First Female Vice President of the United States

Today brought tears to many peoples eyes for different reasons. The series of events over the past four years, compounded by the visible rage expressed during the passed few weeks makes a moment like this even sweeter. Time stood still today. During the wake of destruction, hatred and difference of opinion, a significant number of Black women organized the way in which they wanted to be seen and heard through what has become known as the fight for “democracy”.

Madam Vice President stepped in to her new role wearing Black designers Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson.

Former President Barack Obama was reportedly heard saying the words, “ I am so proud of you” before this picture was taken.

Amanda Gorman stole the show with her poem, “The Hill We Climb”. Asking Americans "Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?" Undoubtably, there was much to take away from her message and the poem will be quoted for years to come.

Former First Lady, Michelle Obama’s presence drew instant obsession with her plum outfit also designed by Sergio Hudson and bouncing hair by stylist Yene Damtew who has been receiving lots of praise via Instagram for the look.

Quarantine Cooking

Yellow rice made with vegan butter, turmeric and himalayan salt. Fried chicken using spices, oat milk and almond flour.

Annie’s Sweet and Spicy BBQ sauce is giving Sweet Baby Ray’s Sauce a run for the money. Try this sauce the next time you bake some wings.

I combined Tessamae’s lemon garlic dressing with a bit of chopped cilantro as a marinade. Once baked I added a dash of garlic salt with parsley dry seasoning. My cousin said they were delicious.

Tried the new Nasoya vegan wraps for making your own spring rolls. I did not drain the cabbage enough. Oil was flying everywhere. I almost killed myself cooking these. They tasted very good. I seasoned the veggies using Badia Complete Seasoning. First, I pan fried them. Then, I cooked them in the oven until brown. Served with Wegan’s brand sweet chili sauce.

WHATS NEW IN HAIR CARE?

Babyliss Pro Prima 3000. I have upgraded my Babyliss flatiron to the newest model. The Prima 3000, straightens and curls. I enjoyed using the new tool, however, pre-fixed heat settings take some getting used to.

Soft Curls made with the Prima3000

Mielle Product Overload

Mielle is my favorite hair care line. I mainly use some of the Pomegranate Honey line (shampoo, conditioner, leave-in). Over the past few months I have been exploring the brand and these are my findings.

Voted the worst product Mielle ever made.

This butter is heavily perfumed. Leaves the hair feeling hard and dry no matter what you try to combine it with. I hated it.

One Out of Three

Of the three products I tried in the rice collection I would purchase the hair milk again. The clay mask is heavily perfumed and doesn’t leave the hair soft. The shine mist is wet and left my hair sticky and dry.

Cute Combo Discovery

I was in the beauty store and I saw that they bundled the rosemary oil with the horrid hair butter for Christmas and they didn’t see well. Mielle should have paired these two together. The milk detangles and oil adds much needed shine with a scalp tingle. Great combo for styling children’s hair and natural wash and go hair.

NEW NEW!!!!

I tested the curl defining mousse and the edge gel. I am still exploring the almond oil blend.

The edge gel does not spread much. After taking this pic I had to get a bigger brush and distribute the gel some more. Overall I like it. It did not turn my hair white and my two braids looked decent for a few days.

The curl defining mousse is a yes for me. It is a little firm but not too crunchy, It held my curls until I washed them out. The curls also looked good when I separated them.

Thanks For Reading

December Newsletter

TV Shows

I have been excited to use this winter break to catch up on shows. The show that blew me away was RAMY. I am a bit late to the party seeing that season one of this show aired April 19th, 2019. I eased into the show with no expectations.

I identify most with Ramy’s struggle to be a true to his faith and still wanting to indulge in everything! Low key Ramy is a POS (piece of shit) because he repeatedly makes terrible decisions and hurts others. The language in the show is wild.

Several groups are represented in this series, first generation Egyptians, African-American Muslims, disabled persons, White males and veterans. Pressures represented in the series include societal, religious, martial, and sexual. Issues represented; double standards, porn, incest, racism.

Left: Sheikh Malik || Right: Ramy

My favorite character in the show is Sheikh Malik played by Mahershala Ali. The first time I heard him pray I had to investigate why the prayer rolled so eloquently off his tongue. The results include an article I found. The article is of the interview by Ramy Youssef (show creator) of Mr.Ali. Click the picture to learn more. Now it all makes sense. The power of authenticity!

TV Movie Reviews

The ratings below reflect how good the movie is for the genre it’s in. I am using a scale of 1-5. Five (5) representing excellence, three (3) okay and one (1) trash.  The category legend is as follows:

(S) Superhero 

(L) Love or Comedy 

(ST) Story/Biopic

(A) Action/Thriller or Mystery 

Soul (ST) : Rating 4 - Soul reminded me of Onward specifically because it was a movie that address aspects of death that was marketed to children. On a broader spectrum one could say Coco was made with Latino children in mind; Onward targeted Caucasian children and Soul targeted African American children.

The best things about Soul are the visual explanation for how personality is created, how the living become lost, who is accountable for all souls and the duality of life and the spiritual world.

The design of the characters and the music was enjoyable. The conversation and verbiage of the African American female characters were believable. The supporting character being a soul forced me to think about my own soul and the quality of my life. The title of the movie “Soul” is a clever pun from a marketing aspect.

For me the great debate/ controversy in the film revolve around the opportunities and chances we have in life. My son said aloud during the movie that he wanted to cry. In my opinion the movie should have ended right there to make the message more impactful. One could argue that is not the Disney way. I say, we already jumped out the window so let’s go all the way.

Jingle Jangle (ST) : Rating 4.7 - Jingle Jangle was magical and fun. I’m never tired of seeing Phylicia Rashad on screen. She feels like a relative at this point. I loved Journey’s (main character) hair style and clothing. Forest Witaker delivered as expected for the role of Jeronicas. The real entertainment came from Ms.Johnston played by Lisa Phillip. Boy did she have the hots for Jeronicas.

The musical numbers were well coordinated; this movie gave me Broadway’s 1998 Ragtime vibes. A movie I would watch with kids annually.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (ST) : Rating 4.2 - The acting in the movie is good. That fat suit and bad make up Viola Davis had to wear was something else. The goal was to depict that Ma was hot and uncomfortable and they did that.

My least favorite thing about the movie were the portions where the setting didn’t change. I have a hard time watching movies where the setting doesn’t change. I know it was based off the 1984 play and I could feel that. I didn’t like that. There is also a lot of messaging in the movie. Directly towards the black community. One must be prepared for that.

I most enjoyed Ma Rainey’s fuck you attitude and her total understanding of how to yield music producers to her will. I also had affinity for Levee’s (Chadwick Boseman) confidence in himself and his talent. Lastly, if there is a standing record for the most times the N word is used, they may have a broken it in this film.

Gifting Food: Tips and Tricks

I give baskets and well packaged gifts but this year was my first time sharing a dish as a gift. I just love presentation I think it makes gifts more exciting.

Transparent containers are more intising

Colored foil can be used to show different types of food. Silver foil for chocolate chip almond cookies. Gold foil for peanut butter chocolate chip walnut cookies.

Mini pies fit in cookie containers

Bake and share pie dishes are handy

Swap Out Tissue Paper for Cloth

BEST HAIR OF 2020

Crochet : Virtual Class Reunion

Two braids: Interstate Snake Branding Shoot

Twist Out: Graduation Photo Shoot

HAPPY NEW YEAR

November Newsletter

Pancakes and Sweet Potato Pies

Tasting the vegan pistachio, blueberry pancakes at Silver Diner inspired me to create my own.

Candalada Pancakes

Walnut Banana Pancakes

Left: Walnut Banana Right: Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip Banana

Walnut Banana

Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Grilled Banana

Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes and Coconut Whip Cream

Candalada Sweet Potato Pies

Fall Vegan Meals

16 Bean Soup

10 hour simmered bean soup, crisped kale with almond and cranberries, twice baked sweet potatoes brown sugar and vegan marshmallow, Abes cornbread.

Pizza

Pan fried/ baked Beyond meatballs, Agave sweet and savory biscuits with Kelly’s smokey parm seasoning.

VEGAN DESSERT

S’MORES

When I say these smack lol. They are so good. Everyone that likes s’mores will like these. Thinking about making a distributing kits next month.

I had a few options to choose from. I chose the chocolate made with oat milk because I figured it would cut some of the bitter flavor of dark chocolate.

I was excited to learn more about this chocolate when I opened the wrapper.

Nikk Rich Photographs V.P. Elect Kamala Harris

The following photos were taken by my sister NikkRich during the VP election campaign. To see Nikky’s recent work please visit her website.

Nikky currently overseas a team of retouchers in LA, California and is the lead photographer of a budding black owned LA boutique.

Photo by NikkRich

Photo by NikkRich

Photo by NikkRich

Photo by NikkRich

Thanks for reading!

October Newsletter

Breast Cancer Awareness

Photo by IG: @kmarablephoto

This month my friend (a year younger than I) told me she had stage 3 breast cancer in the middle of a conversation about sunflowers on a Sunday. I guess there is no easy way to deliver such shocking information. My friend was 7 months pregnant with her first baby. I had no words. For the remainder of the day I had a somber feeling and I was unsure of how to process the information for several reasons.

I wondered what happened to the days when cancer was something you heard about in the news. What happened to the days when causes were represented by ribbon colors on the internet and I didn’t know anyone that actually had the disease? How and when did cancer awareness go from pink socks on football games, to instagram influencers, to a friends mom, to my mom, my aunt, my grandmother and now my good friend? How long will it be until it’s me?

Each time that I hear about a new case of cancer from a loved one it incites fear and sadness simultaneously.

1. How can I be supportive and positive when I am scared shitless about the journey to recovery or the possibility of losing them?

2. How do I fight through the trauma of my moms loss to be present for the people that need me now?

The response is simpler than I imagined. Just do it. Thinking about it is paralyzing. I missed out on a few opportunities to be supportive lamenting on the “what ifs” and the “how to”.

Currently, we FaceTime and we text but most importantly I listen. I listen to her feelings and thoughts. I learned it is okay to not speak and be present. I am grateful that her baby has made it to earth and she is healthy and beautiful. I am inspired by the strength of my friend. Watching her rise above the disease to and step into motherhood really melts my heart. I know it is difficult and she does it with such grace.

After the arrival of baby Halo my friend asked me to take some photos so she can share her story. I saw her vision and felt it was beyond me and I called on my creative professional kindred spirit, Kevin. In a very intimate session we curated a series to capture this moment in time.

Here she is ……..Wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, warrior!

Please conduct self examinations and ask your doctor about any masses that you discover.

The Uncaged CheF

BRAND New Location and Vegan Monday’s

The new home of Uncaged Chefs: 6027 Marlboro Pike, District Heights Maryland

This is my third write up on The Uncaged Chefs. My last update was in the September 2019 Newsletter. I wrote about my first exposure to the Uncaged experience was when it was a pop up being held inside of another restaurant on Sundays. Since then the following has grown and the location has changed twice.

The Uncaged Chefs moved from a pop-up to a space within a food hall in Brentwood before the pandemic. They had endless lines from open to close. During the pandemic after a short period of closure to respect the safety of staff and the community they transitioned to a stand alone corner location in District Heights! My son Issa describes the decor as “black paradise”.

6027 Marlboro Pike, District Heights, Maryland

The owner, Damian Brown is a young African American man. He attributes his success with the brand to culinary training, bootstrapping, non-stop hustling and instagram marketing.

Three weeks ago The Uncaged Chefs rolled out Vegan Monday’s at the new location. Monday’s have become the highlight of my week. I am most excited because the lines are manageable on vegan Monday’s.

The items I have tried this far include, the vegan jerk burger, vegan nachos, vegan nuggets, peach tea and vegan cauliflower nuggets. The vegan nachos are my favorite. For unfiltered reviews please visit the food review tab on my Candalada instagram page. Tip: Eat the food right away.

Vegan Jerk Burger

Vegan Nachos

Vegan Chicken Nuggets w/Henny Mambo Sauce

What about the rest of the week?

The other days of the week are for meat lovers. They host Trap Tacos on Tuesday’s. Wed- Saturday they serve chicken waffles, shrimp grits, various new items and an eclectic collection of mouth watering desserts.

The menu changes by the minute the best way to stay updated on changes is to follow them IG: @TheUncagedChefs

Thanks For Reading :)

September Newsletter : Fall Edition

Black Men That Will Change Your Life

Abu the contractor, Yorker Handyman services

Abu is gifted in mathematics making all of his cuts precise and his work exceptional. Abu does not paint. Work completed: reframed front door, replaced back door, tiled the kitchen (571) 991-0687 Facebook @yorhms

Dom the gardener, Augie’s Aeration Services

Dom learned about landscaping from his father. Dom is easy going and tactical. He devised the plan to work on the yard a half at a time. This gave me time to adjust to the increased watering requirements of sod and gave him time to analyze if the sod would take to my once dehydrated and rocky terrain. The worst yard on the block is now a contender for the best yard on the block.

TJ the handy man, TJ Jackson Services

TJ offers handy man and personal training services. Work completed:emptied and organized a shed, removing multiple insect nest in 100 degree wheather. Replaced 2, 20 year old exhaust plans. Hauled /removed bricks and debris, delivered /hauled rocks for back yard landscaping.

TJ the trainer, SWOP (Slight Work Open Hips)

Hair Therapy member Alicia has worked with TJ training three times a week for the past few months. He hosts a private out of gym experience. Alicia’s review boasts of boosted self confidence and a sculpted refined shape. 571-316-9509 IG:SWOPTraining

Chef Christian, DownSetEat

Chef Christian provided such a lovely spread for my birthday his chicken was well seasoned and the rice was the most creative compilation.

I reached out after the festivities to learn more about meal plan options. I opted for getting a pan for the week since I do not have the need to stick to small portion meals.

I have a standing order with him every Sunday. The weekdays run smoother knowing what I am having for lunch/dinner from Monday -Wednesday.

Specialties: meal plans, weekly orders, catering, private dining (703) 398-2377 IG @DownSetEat

Chef Ricky

Chef Ricky prepared a private dinner for three on my birthday and a private dinner for approximately 13 people for my cousins birthday. Chef Ricky is quiet when he is working and personable when he speaks. He is enthusiastic about creating customized experiences. He provided a sangria that was handmade and received rave reviews. Specialties: catering private dining special occasions (301) 542-5035 IG @Chef_DMV

How Virtual Brunch Turned into a Book Club with Dr.Miles Davis

Feeling a bit blue about the impossibility of a face to face 2020 Brunch Tour I took a shot at having a virtual brunch on May 31st. It was great, we spoke about the current state of the world, race relations, safety, stress and the importance of therapy. Guest appearances were made by Dr.Groff (reverend and educator) and Ms.Jackson (licensed therapist). We set a date to meet up again on Juneteenth 19th.

During the Juneteenth meet up my sister NikkRich (professional photographer) was on the call. She spoke about the artificial urgency to work with Black people that has been created in the Hollywood photography industry and how it has affected her choices on who to work with.

Following the trend of meeting on holidays the July 4th call was more of a welfare check in. Discussion was centered around questions such as: Did anyone give into celebrating July 4th? If yes why? How do we feel about White people asking us if we are okay? How do we effectively respond to what is going on?

After much private deliberation with my peers Dr.Miles Davis joined the call to offer a few words of perspective and instantly we all be came enrolled in an unofficial class of history and critical thinking.

Currently the sitting president of Linfield University in Oregon, Dr.Davis challenged us to start with ourselves, protect our family, check on our neighbors which strengthens the community, join causes that support our beliefs and lastly, vote. He also recommended that we read the book “ The Mis-Educated Negro” by Cater G. Woodson and promised to join to the next call if the group completed the book.

Screen shot from July 4th

I am not much of a reader and I pushed through the assignment by listening to the audio version on Kindle in order to complete the book by the due date Sept 9th.

Wednesday Sept 9th, 2020 was my first time using a book as a reference to address my modern day concerns with my peers. It was an engaging and positive experience. Dr. Davis’s next suggested read is “The Souls of Black Folk by W.E. Dubois”. The recommendation was warmly received by the group. The next discussion is October 23rd at 8:15 P.M.

Screen Shot from Sept 9th Book Review Discussion

Read with me and join the next discussion if you can.I use Facebook meeting room. I promise it is more refreshing that going back and forth on Facebook or feeling hopeless and concerned alone. It is the temporary reset that we all need.

Thanks for Reading :)

September Newsletter: Summer Recap

Candalada’s Waterfall Tour

In 2019 I was dreaming of a wonderful vacation and hoping to see some of the world’s most popular waterfalls. Covid-19 crushed those dreams and challenged me to think local. While searching online I found an article titled “The Ultimate Virginia Waterfall Road Trip That Will Take You 8 hours.” I was excited at the thought yet discouraged by the energy and time needed to get both Issa and I prepared for such a voyage. This is the map from the original article.

Observations

1. The Natural Bridge is 3 hours from my house. This automatically added 6 hours to the trip. Three hours to get the starting point and the three hours needed to get home after closing the loop.

2. Some falls looked more appealing than others. There were 8 stops listed in the article. I narrowed the tour down to 3 stops. The Lace Falls at the Natural Bridge, Roaring Run, and Cascade Falls.

3. The waterfall addresses listed at the bottom of the article were not accurate. Below are the addresses provided by the article. Lace Falls is in Natural Bridge, VA, 24578 not Bristow, VA (2 hours difference). Cascade Falls in Pembroke,VA 24136, not Bristow, VA (4 hours difference) !

The Plan (Inaccurate Addresses)

Address: Lace Falls Loop, Bristow, VA 20136, USA (stop 1)

Address: Roaring Run, Virginia 24426, USA (stop 2)

Address: Cascade Falls Dr, Bristow, VA 20136, USA (stop 3)

The Actual

1. I planned to wake up early and arrive to the Natural Bridge by 8 am. I didn’t leave the house until 9 am! Arrived at 11:30 am left at 1:30pm. I typed in Natural Bridge and was there without incident.

2. Finding Roaring Run was a nightmare listed as Roaring Run, VA 24426 the waterfall is actually located in Eagle Rock, VA 24085.

3. First we were 38 min out of the way in 24426 due to following the article address. This was my highest point of frustration on the voyage. Driving through the zig zag hills was nauseating. Then we were led to a closed gate trail by GPS (15 min out of the way). I went to google to secure an address from Trip Advisor and was able navigate to Roaring Run road but unable to find the address 450.

4. Finally a local told us the trail can be easily found searching for the Roaring Run Furnace. Arrived at 3:30pm and left at 5:00pm

5. Sunset was upon us, I decided that Cascades Falls was too far and revised the plan. Learning lesson from the last major detour. I took to trip advisor to find an address for Falling Spring Falls. It was located on Hot Springs Rd, Covington, VA 24426 which of course was not the address listed on the article. It was 39 minutes away from Roaring Run and a great way to end the trip. Arrived at 6:30pm and left at 7pm.

6. Starvation was upon us, we visited the Omni Hotel and Resort in Hot Springs, VA. Arrived at 7:40 PM left at 9 PM

Without the massive detours this is what my tour would look like. The map says 8 hours however it took 15-16 hrs total. Getting out to walk, hike, take pictures, film, eat and get lost takes time. Please stay tuned to enjoy my picture story and informal documentation of this journey. I live for videos all this writing is for the readers and detail oriented.

This Candalada’s Ultimate Waterfall Tour took place in mid July. Other falls visited include Great Falls (our first fall viewing) in early July and Cascade Falls in September.

PICTURE STORY

Great Falls

Lace Falls

Roadside Attraction

Roaring Run Furnace

Roaring Run Falls

Falling Springs Waterfall

Cascade Falls

Cascade Falls

Waterfall tour video footage with Prince Issa

Summary

Great Falls was beautiful and local easy to see with no major hiking required. Lace Falls was small, the Natural Bridge was more interesting. The trail was peaceful and well paved. Roaring run was like a local swimming pool not worth the drive from Woodbridge. Falling Springs was breath taking and required no hike at all. It was my favorite.

Cascade Falls hike is rough and not for kids or rookie hikers. The feeling of getting to it is rewarding. Getting back to the car felt like it took hours, I wanted to shoot a flare gun and get rescued by a helicopter. According to CNN’s list 1o of the best waterfalls across the U.S. only one is in Virginia. The Cascades Falls listed at number 7. I am happy to have made it there.

Blackwater Falls in Davis, West Virginia is listed as number 4. Hopefully I can get there before it gets cold. I have found these voyages to the water helpful in creating a bond with Issa and distracting my mind from sadness. As a girl from Brooklyn the last place I thought I would be is deep in the woods. The nats are annoying. Viewing natures miracles with my own eyes makes the temporary discomfort dissipate. The sound of the water and the mist in the air feels renewing and awakens hope in my heart.

Thanks for Reading

August Newsletter

Candalada’s Birthday Recap

THANK YOU for making me feel so special and loved!!!!!!!!!!

July Newsletter

Photo by @kmarablephoto

THE HAIR EDITION

I share everything I learn about hair to save you the trouble of trying things with no idea what may happen.This newsletter is dedicated to hair care, hair lessons and hair history.

During the beginning of the quarantine I had blue hair. I loved the look however, I found the hair to be very itchy despite washing it first. I had plans to keep the look going because I love having a big colorful bun for people to stare at in the grocery store.

After 60 days of quarantine I started receiving many inquiries from people that wanted to dye their hair themselves or inquire if I knew how to do braids.

I have two statements for the people that may not take time to watch the video. However, I strongly suggest you watch the video. The first video is from May, the second is from June.

1. Refrain from dying your hair at home and completely avoid using box dye from drug stores.

2. Braiding hair is not safe. The chemicals they are using to process the hair are dangerous for the skin and scalp. To read in depth article click here

   *Vinyl chloride exposure is associated with an increased risk of a rare form of liver cancer (hepatic angiosarcoma), as well as brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia.

WARNING EPISODE 4 VIDEO IS GRAPHIC

Mielle Ricewater review

Black Hair History : Did you know?

Cornrows were used to smuggle rice from Africa to the Caribbean and the U.S?

Read the full article by clicking here. Below is a book recommended in the article. The book tells the entire story of how hair played a major apart in the cultivation of agriculture in America.

Tigon Laws were created for Black women to cover their hair so white men wouldn’t be attracted to women of color?

To read about these laws and how Black women turned punishment into a fashion statement click here.

NEW HAIR SHOW: TO CATCH A BEAUTICIAN

I have been enjoying this show with Tamar Braxton and Johnny Wright (stylist to Michelle Obama). Each episode is about a stylist that messed up a clients hair.. The stylist is brought in thinking they have an interview with Johnny. When they arrive the client gets a chance to confront the stylist about their bad experience.

Johnny offers the stylist some training through a one day boot camp. If the stylist accepts they have a chance to redeem themselves by doing the clients hair over. I watch the show for the great styling hacks, instruction and tips that Johnny gives during his boot camp. I look forward to the crazy hair styles they put on Tamar. The final reveals are always amazing.

They broke my heart a few episodes in. One of the guest stylist recently passed away from a zip line accident while on vacation. At the end of the show they posted in memory of Brittany Spivey and I was in shambles.

Thanks for Reading!!

June Newsletter

Join me on Facebook lets talk and catch up. Think of it as a happy hour without leaving the house. Just click the link at 5 pm on Friday to join.

Black Lives Matter

The past few weeks every time I wake up I am instantly disappointed that life is not a dream. I really do live in the U.S. where someones who’s dad was in the KKK is the president. Where since slavery has ended Black men have been criminalized to exploit the portion of the revised 13th amendment that makes prisoners slaves. I actually live in a time when there are more people in jail than there ever was in “slavery”. The land of 5% of the worlds population and the home of 25% of the world prisoners!

These issues are not new and have been compounding my entire life. I have never felt stress to the point of sleep deprivation until I realized that my son that will grow up to be a target and viewed as a walking threat if things in the U.S. do not change for the better.

My therapist concluded my worries for Issa’s future coupled with hysteria caused by the Corona virus; Black men being killed and converted to hashtags every month; mistreatment of protesters streaming non-stop on Facebook; the recent murder of George Floyd and mounting lynching cases to be the complete cause of acute stress. Now, I think I can diagnose all Black moms in America with the same case of “WTF” that I have.

Issa learned of slavery in-depth when I took him to the African American Museum last year. I told him the entire building was dedicated to Black History and he responded “I’m Black?!” and everyone looked at me. This was truly and example that children are born a blank slate. Issa was angry to see and learn more of this history. The only thing that calmed his spirit was seeing Federick Douglas and Lincoln who he learned “freed” the slaves in school. He also coped by thinking of slavery and racism as a thing of the past. He spoke of the injustice and referenced the chains that he saw for weeks.

I deliberated for days before I told him about what is currently going on in the world. Remembering how the discussion of slavery surprised and saddened him. I used news reports and some of my own words to tell Issa what happened to George Floyd. He was angry his first response was, “I want to beat the police with a stick”. On that particular night D.C. was on fire, when I showed Issa the picture he said, “We are getting our payback mom.” I said, “We are going to sleep and we will figure out what we can do to help the cause when we wake up.”

Below are the pictures of our trip to Black Lives Matter Plaza and my interview with Issa about police brutality.

My Pan African Flag Story

In 2015, I assisted my sister on a family photoshoot for my mentor. After the shoot my mentors father saw me in a floor length black pea coat. His facial expression reflected deep thought, as if I reminded him of something or someone. He gave me a little pin with a flag on it and told me to place it on my lapel. He said, “Red is for the blood of your ancestors, black is for the people and green is for the land. When you see the sea remember there are millions of bodies in the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and sometimes death is the price of freedom.” I was shocked, honored and sad.

I wouldn’t be until much later that I would learn more about the flag. I felt chills when I read about the origins and the creator because what they were fighting for in 1920 we are still fighting for now. To learn more about the history of the Pan American Flag also known as the UNITY flag click here.

Photo courtesy of NPR website.

FOOD

Abe’s has found great success in making amazing vegan muffins. The crumb cakes an brownies were OK. The muffins are a ten! Thus far blueberry, chocolate chip and the cornbread have been the highlight of my life! All of the following items and be found at Mom’s grocery store in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Indulgent!

Very good!

Lots of veggies just add a little salt

Quorn Vegan Patties

The only green juice I can tolerate. Can’t get with the ginger, celery green drinks.

Thanks for reading!!

Mielle Rice Water collection review coming soon.

May Newsletter

WATCH A THON : Candalada’s Mega Review

Everything on this list is too good to rate. This is not like my movie reviews. I’m going to explain what the shows are like using my own words verses copying and pasting the descriptions provided on the networks website. My hope is that you are persuaded to watch the show, series, or documentary if you have missed them. No two are alike. At minimal click all the links and watch the trailers. These shows are your relaxation assignment. Thank me later.

The Last Dance (ESPN)

The element that I enjoyed the most about this documentary was the old footage. It seemed like they filmed every single second of Michael’s life. They had receipts. In my opinion there is nothing better than watching a person tell their own story. The second best element of The Last Dance was how they divided the time and dived into the other players lives.

I was just a kid during these times living in Brooklyn. I watched all of these games on a big clunk back TV with my dad. I remember thinking Jordan’s ability to play like that was magic.

After watching this documentary I’m pretty sure work ethic, great coaching, supportive team members and family support has to be the new definition of magic. I had a friend tell me she didn't watch it because she doesn’t like basketball that much. I responded, “Girl, this is about so much more than basketball.”

The line that I felt in my heart was when he said, "Winning has a price. And leadership has a price. So I pulled people along when they didn't want to be pulled; I challenged people when they didn't want to be challenged. And I earned that right because my teammates who came after me didn't endure all the things that I endured.”

For Life (ABC)

I had no prior knowledge of Isaac Wright Jr. before the release of For Life. I am watching the show without knowing the outcome of the real life story. I thought to myself how good can it be? What are they even going to talk about in this his show?

My first impression of the lead actor Nicholas Pinnock was that Denzel Washington must be his idol. It appears he stole some of Denzel’s characteristics; his mouth mannerisms and even his voice in some scenes.

The shows transitioning music seemed above average, which made perfect sense once I saw an appearance by Curtis Lee Jackson (50 Cent). Altogether, the onscreen depiction is unfolding nicely.

Little Fires Everywhere (HULU)

Little Fires Everywhere is a book. I have not read the book but I have learned through social media that the series ended differently than the book did.

The series puts a big magnifying glass on racial differences, racism both spoken and unspoken. Between Reese Witherspoon’s (Mrs.Richardson) “perfectionism parenting” and Kerry Washington’s (Mia Warren) nomad lifestyle. The series serves mystery, backstabbing and erupts into pure chaos.

Ozark (Netflix)

Ozark makes you wonder what other crazy things are going on in so called low-key and rural areas. The main Marty is calm in the most ridiculous situations. Marty is an accountant that ends up working for the Mexican cartel and drags his whole family into the mess. His once normal wife becomes his partner in crime. Together they strive to maintain a normal life which is no longer possible. As the problems pile up, the difference in their childrens’ ability to cope with new dynamics becomes another issue to add the list.

Ruth, a character outside of the family unit is a firecracker who will keep you entertained. Darlene Snell an older crude drug dealer is sure to make you cringe. Season 3 really had me enthralled.

Becoming (Netflix)

Becoming gives a crisp outlook of Michelle Obama’s life story, her journey to the White House and beyond. The documentary is much needed for women around the world.

I really don’t know how else to say this but Michelle Obama is an OG. I love seeing how her brain propelled her through every obstacle in life. She literally took the educational route to success. In my opinion she was successful long before the White House. Serving as the First Lady was the icing on the top.

During the documentary former President Obama said he felt like Jay-Z making an appearance at a Beyonce concert when he comes to make an appearance on the “Becoming” book tour. Mrs.Obama encouraged him to end the analogy with a smile. The on-screen love and respect the Obama’s have for each other is heart warming.

CANDALADA TV

Quarantine Beauty Episode 2

Hope you have been keeping up? I have created several Quarantine Beauty episodes and they build on top of each other. The first was is in May’s Newsletter. Don’t fret if you missed it, you can easily navigate to it on YouTube. Click video below to view episode 2.

2020 Product Reviews

For more focused beauty information I have also created product reviews. The latest product reviews include the Pro Wax 100 (video contains explicit language) and THP (Taraji P. Hensen) hair products.

2020 Make Up Tutorials

The following make up tutorials are for the everyday woman that is not a professional MUA but seeking simple ways to improve their make up skills. Although, I have mastered eyebrows I am still learning in other areas. I’m currently exploring Juvia’s Place palettes. New tutorials include:

1. How to Do Your Eyebrows

2. Basic Eye Make-Up: Exploring “The Nubian” palette by Juvia’s Place

3. Foundation Tutorial

Want to catch me in action or see some informal lives that didn’t make the YouTube cut? Tune into to my Facebook or Hair Therapy’s IG on Saturday’s for the interactive “Get Ready with Me live streams” or open discussions.

Since it is not possible to complete a brunch tour this year. I am going to host a virtual Brunch and Chat on Facebook’s new room feature. Sunday May 31st at 1:25 PM. All you have to do is hit this link to join my room on FB. Cook some food grab some wine and lets chat.

Thanks For Reading

April Newsletter

Corona Virus Steals The Month of March

Actual text message from Prince William County Public Schools

Anyone that tried ignoring the news and hoping for the best was slapped in the face during the month of March. In addition to circulating images of coffins and videos of infected celebrities during the month of March toilet paper went flying off the shelves. The phrase “social distancing” was coined and popularized. Work from home tests were rolled out by various companies, mall workers were laid off and the announcement that Virginia public schools would be closed for the rest of the year was made.

School

On the day of the school closure announcement a single tear rolled down my face. My first thoughts where: OMG How bad is this shit?! If they don’t care about education anymore we are probably all about to die! Then I thought to myself, my son finally has a teacher that I love and developed a great communication system with. How am I supposed to be a provider and a homeschool teacher! My shoulder hurt and my back felt like I was carrying something heavy.

Notifying my son that he would not return to school was the hardest thing I had to do. He cried immediately. He was dissapointed that he did not have a chance to say good bye to his friends. Luckily with the help of FaceTime I was able to help him connect with his teacher the next day. She currently, holds 2 weekly zoom meetings, one on Monday and one on Friday. Now he is able to interact with classmates. During the weekends he is able to Face-time with his favorite class mate. Although nothing compares to in person interactions. I have seen a significant rise in my sons spirit.

Afterschool

After some deliberation I decided that it was important for him to continue music lessons. Initially we skipped one week due to the acute stress the sudden change had on both of us. The next week we made up the session. Meeting on Monday and Thursday. The biggest benefit on online music lesson has been the reduction in price. Guitar lessons cost 30 dollars less a month.

Work

I stopped seeing clients in the month of March about two weeks before babershops and salons officially closed. It has been difficult to turn down my clients request and give them no definitive answer of when I will become available again. Although I work at home and do not see nearly as many people as I used to. I have developed a great bond with the clients I do have. They are like my family, it feels like I am saying no to my brothers, sisters, aunties and grandma. The phrase better safe than sorry is what I have been holding onto.

Candalada’s Quarantine Beauty Chat Series

I’m truly a visual person. Initially I was going to do an official review on Taraji P. Henson’s new line. Since I did an informal on Instagram and many of you follow me there I decided to share this video instead. I have been working on this series for the past 2 weeks. Hopefully something in it is helpful or inspiring. The THP official review will be in the May Newsletter.

In this episode I covered:

• Hair - Wash Theory

• Skin - Care Routine Journey

• Nail -Nail Removal

SNACK TIME

MOVIE REVIEWS

The ratings below reflect how good the movie is for the genre it’s in. I am using a scale of 1-5. Five (5) representing excellence, three (3) okay and one (1) trash.  The category legend is as follows:

(S) Superhero 

(L) Love or Comedy 

(ST) Story/Biopic

(A) Action/Thriller or Mystery 

Onward (ST) : Rating 4.5 - Officially the last movie that I saw in the theater. This movie is deep and funny. Topic touched on included the after life, trusting yourself and trusting other people. I think that any movie that attempts to make sense of death for children has level of maturity to it. For example: CoCo I enjoyed watching it. I think that someone who recently lost someone or has a sibling that is very different from them would relate more to the film than someone who is an only child or hasn’t had to deal with the loss of a parent. Something else that stood out to me where the female characters in the movie showed strength and intelligence at very given opportunity.

The Banker (ST) : Rating 5 - It was crazy seeing Nia long really looking like someones mother, similar to what it was like watching Will Smith be heavier to play the role of Muhammad Ali. This film gives some insight on how racism can prevent economic progress and how math is the foundation of the world. Based on a true story this is a must watch film. The trickery, the humor and the truth of it all blend together nicely. I love that I can count on Samuel Jackson to curse everyone out and teach them a lesson at the same time. He was a great supporting actor. The main character did well delivering an even tempered, genius. I watched this movie for free on Apple TV. Download the app and receive a free year of Apple TV.

Sonic (S) : Rating 4 - As a person that played Sega Genesis in my youth and watch the original Sonic cartoon it was my civic duty to see this film. Jim Carey is certified crazy. Absolutely no one could have been the villain quite like him. It has a level of cheesy ness to it. My son loved the film. There is a hint that there will be a part two. There were some awesome cameos in the film.

Prince Issa Turns 8!!!!

Issa is not a stranger to intimate birthdays. After his first birthday party I was so stressed out I vowed there would be no more. Every year I take him to get gourmet cupcakes send a little video to the family by the end of the day. This year I planned to surprise him with a trip to Leggo Land for a change of scenery and they surprised me with a closure.

I got creative and we were still able to have a very good day. I dedicated the day and all of my time to him. I pre planned all of the surprises and agenda. We started with a hair wash he hated that lol.

We made cinnamon rolls, learned the Toosie slide, he had the Mickey hoodie surprise, we took pictures together, opening of golden presents and cards (family group FaceTime singing of happy Birthday), baked cookies, watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles the movie and for the finale had a LED ballon dance party in the dark (music by Bruno Mars). We really were exhausted and had a ton of fun!

THANKS FOR READING!! STAY SAFE :)

February Newsletter

Make-Up Class Sat Feb. 15th @ 1:30PM

Rappers and Entrepreneurs 2020 : An Event Honoring Black Men

It is a vibe, a celebration and an experience. JOIN ME Feb 29th, 2020 in Washington D.C. to honor Black men who used music or entrepreneurship to improve or change the course of their life. Dinner prepared by a Chef Robbie and music by DJ Boothe.

My Experience @ iPic Bethesda, MD

Follow my picture story! I went to iPic. The chairs were comfy. The food was delicious especially the biscuits. The dine in seats are limited and cost 10 dollars more to sit in. Purchase your tickets early if having a server is a deal breaker for you.The bathrooms are very clean. The restaurant Pike and Rose is basically attached to the theater if you need more dining options.

MOVIE RECOMMENDATION

The rating below reflect how good the movie is for the genre it’s in. I am using a scale of 1-5. Five (5) representing excellence, three (3) okay and one (1) trash.  The category legend is as follows:

(S) Superhero 

(L) Love or Comedy 

(ST) Story/Biopic

(A) Action/Thriller or Mystery 

Bad Boys for Life (A) : Rating 5 - I expect this movie to be corny as hell. I thought Martin’s face looked so fat in the previews. They snatched several emotional strings and used an abundance of shocking scenes. I was very pleased and entertained. This movie should not be seen in the house. It deserves cinema sound.

Natural Stylist by Choice

When I was teen my aunt relaxed my hair while I was on summer vacation without my moms permission. Prior to that experience I had no idea what a relaxer was. In 2009, I decided I missed my natural hair. I cut the relaxer off and never looked back.

When I took the cosmetology board each section was graded separately. The only section I scored 100 in was relaxers. Probably because I was doing them for grown ups all through high-school and had 10 unlicensed years of experience!

Out of 300 clients only one Hair Therapy member ever requested a relaxer and it was a man, with wavy hair from Saudi Arabia.

Last week, the client pictured below requested a relaxer. It had been 4 years since her last one. She had brain surgery and had to take a break. It was a bitter sweet experience. I loved giving her what she wanted, however, I knew I could accomplish the same results or better without chemicals.

January Newsletter

The Event of the Year Is Coming: RAE2020

Hair Therapy Club I promise this is an event that you will love. Dress to impress and enjoy an evening of good vibes and great music. This year I am hosting a private catered dinner before the event. Pre-sale tickets are only $50 and include dessert. Do not wait until the last minute, prices will increase on Valentine’s Day. If you can’t make it you can still support by being a sponsor or purchasing a “sorry I can’t make it” ticket.

Click here to view the dinner menu and purchase a ticket.

They call her the Skin Queen. Featured on the Local news for her talent Akua Robinson will be coming to Woodbridge to teach the PM Make-Up class. Register here.

Akua Robinson

Work By Akua Robinson

Convert Your Tracks Into a Custom Wig

I had quite the ordeal during the holidays with my hair. My experience reminded that reading is fundamental. I suffered from severe itchy skin because I didn’t wash the tracks before installing them as per the instructions on the tag. To see how I recovered from the itchy weave and converted the tracks into a wig watch the video.

Instead of Going Shopping Go To The Dry Cleaners

My mom would always say, “Instead of going shopping go to the cleaners!” There was a delay in my understanding of this quote. Now I think I understand it. Everyone has a bag in the trunk or the laundry that has been abandoned instead of being taken to the cleaners as planned.

I had the urge to shop last week and instead I went to the cleaners. Even at the $2.25 cleaners I still managed to rack up a 50 dollar bill.

When I retrieved my clean clothes and placed them in the closet I was excited as though it was my first time seeing these pieces. I haven’t seen some of these outfits since last summer. I was able to evaluate what was missing from my entire wardrobe. The spot in my closet that has been blank for months was finally filled in. I concluded I needed more blouses and sweaters to go under my suits.

I still ended up shopping, however, instead of an impulsive shopping excursion it was a frugal and strategic haul. Filling in the gaps, instead of making duplicate and unecessary purchases was something to be proud of.

Go Thrifting and Save Thousands Annually

MOVIE REVIEWS

The ratings below reflect how good the movie is for the genre it’s in. I am using a scale of 1-5. Five (5) representing excellence, three (3) okay and one (1) trash.  The category legend is as follows:

(S) Superhero 

(L) Love or Comedy 

(ST) Story/Biopic

(A) Action/Thriller or Mystery 

Uncut Gems (A) : Rating 4 - It was cool to see Adam Sandler not being silly at all. The transition music in the film was horrible, it really made me want to rip my ears out. It started to get louder an worse throughout the film. His girlfriend was EXTREMELY sexy OMG. Heart attack sexy. There so many cameo appearances. Reminds me of how rich Adam Sandler really is. The film was creative in showing our connection to material things. It was realistic in depicting how hard it is to get out of the hole once your in. It took the phrase “Robbing Peter to pay Paul” to another level.

Spies In Disguise (L) : Rating 4.3 - The movie was funny and had very adult references. There was a metrosexual vibe to both main characters, the SPY (voice Will Smith) and the kid. I didn’t want to see this movie. It was selected by Issa. He insists that I let you know that he thinks it was epic.

Jumanji The Next Level (L) : Rating 4.5- The main actors in this movie showed their range. The were several trapped in the wrong body scenes. Kevin Hart playing an old man. A Black man playing a White man, the list goes on. Although, this happened in the first one this time it stood out how complex it must have been to stay in character. Im sure it was difficult to not become confused and not laugh during every scene. The movie was entertaining and full of fight scenes.

HAIR FLEX

December Newsletter

New Year New Activities

ALERT: New events page!!! Click here to check it out. Finally, all the Candalada events, pics and recaps are easy to find. Each event tab is filled with recap visuals from previous years. Information for the first event of the year honoring Black men “RAE2020” has been posted and will be updated again mid January. Purchase tickets now to secure your VIP experience.

PARIS BLUES Harlem's Oldest and Only Live Jazz Dive Since 1968

I celebrated my dad’s 61st Birthday by surprising him with an evening of Live Jazz. I learned of Paris Blues from watching, “Paris Blues in Harlem” short film on Comcast on-demand.

The bar is tiny. The owner is pleasant and extremely text savvy. He bought my dad a beautiful cake and we enjoyed various songs throughout the evening.

I missed the 4PM Megabus from D.C. to NY by one minute! The 5 PM bus driver ironically got lost and a customary 4 hour trip took 6hrs! My brother kept by dad entertained during this excursion. I would do it again to see the look on my dads face when I walked in the door at midnight!

I WORKED ON MY FIRST MOVIE (SHORT FILM)!!!

About Preparatory

Preparatory is a semi autobiographical film about growing up as a teenager in Washington DC. More specifically growing up as a teenager stuck in between two worlds. The film is about the main character Joseph who is black and attends an all white, all male Catholic Prep school. Joseph leads a dual life where very few people understand him at his school and  his own neighborhood. This story examines what it means to grow up Black in America while trying to avoid caricatures and stereotypes. 

I was the MUA for the film working mainly with males and delivering flawless natural faces, covering scares, acne and red spots.

Movie Reviews

The ratings below reflect how good the movie is for the genre it’s in. I am using a scale of 1-5. Five (5) representing excellence, three (3) okay and one (1) trash.  The category legend is as follows:

(S) Superhero 

(L) Love or Comedy 

(ST) Story/Biopic

(A) Action/Thriller or Mystery 

I only saw one movie this month and I saw it twice! I went to Alamo to enjoy 8 dollar Tuesdays. To my disappointment, the lights were on the entire movie. The Alamo recently began “Alamo for All” on Tuesdays for all movies before 3pm. To my understanding having light on helps children with sensory complications. Mom with kids usually bring their children to sensory accommodating films. Why would they have the lights on during a rated R movie? Perhaps they are catering to adults that are sensory sensitive.

The website or front desk had no signs notifying customers thats it was a sensory film. I complained and was issued a refund. The second time I saw Queen and Slim in complete darkness.

Queen & Slim (L) : Rating 4.8 - Many males expressed to me that they were unsatisfied with how the male is portrayed in the film. One man even argued with me the movie should be called Queen and King, the term slim is disrespectful, lol. Sigh. It is art. Art has no boundaries. I liked the language in the film. Some characters said things exactly the way I would say it. I liked the moments in the film where no ones lips are moving and you can still hear the character voices. I was fond of the arial shots during the road trip and the music selection was great, the scenes reminded me of when I drove cross country to California. I paid attention to every frame so I felt all intentional emotional shifts during the film. People will be arguing about whether this film is greatness or trash for years to come.

END OF YEAR HAIR FLEX

HAIR THERAPY Hosts FIRST HAIR PRODUCT GIVE AWAY ON IG!

To follow Hair Therapy on IG click here.

FOOD & SNACKS

Vegan Veggie Tacos and Chips

Oven cook veggies at 350 degrees for 20 min with light tasting olive oil and Badia complete seasoning

Pan cook tortillas, add Sabra classic hummus to tortillas after cooking and fill with veggies, serve with Vicky’s Kettle jalapeño chips

1. Fresh Cut Wegman’s Green Beans

2. Fresh Sliced Wegman’s Carrots

3. Wegman’s Bakery made Tortillas (flour pictured and southwest orange colored tortillas is a spicy option).

Rice and Veggies with Sliced Pears

1. Pan cook frozen veggies, using extra light tasting olive oil, McCormick hot shot, Trader Joes seasoning salt & Badia complete seasoning

2. Cook batsmati rice, salt water with a pinch of Himalayan salt

3. Serve with cold organic thinly sliced pear

Candalada Approved Snacks: Moms Grocery Woodbridge, vA

PrinCE ISSA’s GetS Advice From AN ICon The day before his First ReCITAL

November 15th marks the year anniversary of Issa’s guitar lessons. It took months get into the swing of things for both of us. With the support of Hair Therapy members both of Issa’s guitars, and a month of lessons was covered in 2019.

To donate to Prince Issa’s 2020 music scholarship click the button below.

To help Issa with gitters and inspiration I took him to see Erykah Badu play live stage side at George Mason University. He said, “Mom this is epic.” He has only heard his favorite song “Hello” in the car until that night. He was completely mesmerized by the loud sound and the crowd. Band members encouraged him to practice everyday and shared their musical stories with him.

The best part of his night was the night cap. Issa received hugs and words of wisdom from the queen directly.

Recap of 2019 Newsletters

As of January 2019, I really stepped the newsletters. I used the newsletter as an outlet for sharing my experiences and information I think is of interest to the Hair Therapy Club base. The main stories include, places to eat, movie reviews , current events, hair styles and product recommendations with occasional expose pieces or deep rooted community articles spanning from sexual assault to depression.

If you missed one all of the 2019 newsletters are located here as well as on the official Hair Therapy website. Love You.Happy New Year