Hi everyone! Happy Black History Month! This is one of my favourite months of the year, where we get to celebrate Black people from all over the world and all the beautiful creations and achievements. But before we go on to do that, I would like to tell you about my experience being a Black Human.

It is disheartening to pen my experience, but I feel that it is necessary. I have decided to take a more transparent approach so that you will fully understand our plight because it is equally important to have discussions about our experiences being Black. It may make you uncomfortable but being Black, I have been uncomfortably my whole life. To be a Black person in this world you are placed in a position where others will love your entertainment value, but not you!

I came from a lineage of scholars, doctors, preachers, government officials, business owners, revolutionists and so forth, but seen to the world as someone who is subpar.

My life journey has been difficult, yet I still strive for excellence. I didn’t have the privilege to be born in Canada, so I faced trauma as an immigrant young child. When I was a child my father was jailed, tortured and humiliated because of his Christian faith. We were told he was dead and had to find ways to move on. Desperate and destitute, my mother risked the dangers of a refugee camp for the opportunity to be selected to immigrate to a place that could afford her peace and stability as well as a chance for kids to have a better life than she did. The refugee camp was in the middle of two countries that were feuding with one another. There I witnessed poverty, death, disease, pestilence and war. All this for a better “opportunity ” in Canada.

Regardless of our situation we always made sure we were well mannered and educated. Education was one of the highest currencies we obtained, yet we were always questioned, probed and ridiculed because some people couldn’t fathom that we would have more intellect in them.

As a Black human, I noticed that there are two kinds of racism. There is the blatant racism that you see clear as day and subtle microaggressions.

Being a racist is just not the traditional white hooded individual who spews hatred and division in the name of saving the “white race”, It is also the microaggression that a lot of people partake in. It is the delusional fear that my skin colour will bring harm to you. It is the comments and whispers you make among your non-Black family, friends and colleagues. It is the racial slurs, jests, jokes and actions you make when we aren’t around. It is the surprising commendations of my articulation and grasp of diction as if it something beyond my scope to achieve. It is the idea my success is labelled as inclusion and affirmative action, and not that I worked relentlessly for it. It is also the missed opportunities that many Black people face because corporations are afraid to have a Black person as the face of their company or institution. It is being served last or not being rendered aid. It is the idea that all Black humans are the same. That we are “ghetto”, uneducated, lazy, unattractive, disgusting, diseased and scums of the earth. It’s the idea and privilege that we should accept them, forgive them and praise them for allowing us to be in their presence. It is the idea that we must comply with your every whim. It is the thought that everything is your business and that you can be a judge, jury and executioner.

My Experience Being a Black Human

My experience being a Black human is knowing that regardless of my kind nature there will be someone who would want and has caused me harm. Knowing someone who will hate me purely because of the colour of my skin. Living in constant fear that I would end up as a hashtag that will be quickly forgotten. Knowing my death could be cruel. It is knowing that my beauty will be label as exotic to some but highly disdainful to others. While some pay $1000 to achieve the same look.

Being a Black human is being exploited at the highest levels. From our natural resources, intelligence, inventions and the list go on. They love our culture but fail to understand us.

Although there has been a lot of progress, I feel that there is much work to be done. I would employ my non-Black friends, colleagues, family members, everyone to take this opportunity to educate themselves. Acknowledge that your experience isn’t everyone else’s. Learn our history and our history isn’t slavery. Dig deep and educated yourselves and the people around you. Ask questions, listen, have empathy and surround yourself with other races. Rebuke anyone who demonstrated ill will. Correct them, stand up against them and try to educate them! Take accountability for your past ignorance, actions and humble yourself with this new knowledge. Have those open progressive conversations about racism with your child and family members. Racism is taught and it can also be unlearned! We are the human race are better when we stick together! We can accomplish so much when we love and respect each other! 

I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! We made it! That in itself is a blessing. We can all agree that 2020 was a year full of changes, awareness, love, loss and accountability that most of us weren’t prepared for but had to experience. With that being said, let’s give ourselves a round of applause for all making the best of that difficult year that was thrown on us. Now on to the New Year and New Years Resolutions for small business.

Normally, when the clock would strike at midnight, we are quick to scream “NEW YEAR, NEW ME” as we ring in the new year with family and friends. But in a way, the pandemic has stripped us of that sense of togetherness that we value. This makes me curious to know how you brought in your new year. How did you ring in the new year? For me, I worked, got home, opened my box of red wine and enjoyed an evening watching Netflix. Good times! If I’m being honest, I enjoyed the quiet pace instead of worrying about what expensive party to attend if my hair was slain or which outfit to wear so that I can stunt some of these heffas. Maybe in 2022, you might see your girl in more glam, doing it up in all her glory.

Anyways, back to the topic! The new year is the time where most of us dive into our New Years Resolutions, but typically by the third week, we are most likely tired, dehydrated and our edges are falling out because we place way too many exceptions on ourselves. Now even though most resolutions can be frustrating to complete, I still think that it is possible to stick to your New Years Resolutions. This is why I have come up with 3 useful tips that might make 2021 a success for you and your small business.

Focus on ONE resolution at a time | New Years Resolutions

The new year for most is the opportunity to press the refresh button and see where we can improve. Unfortunately, we sometimes place way too many things on our plate which will lead to procrastination, frustrations and discouragement. So, ladies and gentlemen, I would employ you all to choose just one resolution at a time that you would like to accomplish this year and stick to it. The resolution can be mentally, physically, spiritually and dare I say sexually (Note: I am in no way encouraging you to belong to the streets when I stated sexual, I’m just saying you should find ways to improve your well-being 🙂 ).

This is probably the most fundamental part of making resolutions. 

If you try to change a bunch of habits and behaviours on the first day of the year, chances are you might overwhelm yourself and burn out fast. Don’t try to tackle everything at once. After all, you have the whole year ahead of you! Start with one resolution and look at the micro-goals or steps you need to take to make it happen. Once you’ve achieved or started working on that resolution, you can move onto the next one. You can even schedule those resolutions in your planner or any device on your phone so that you can keep track of them. As small business owners, we face many challenges in the day-to-day operations of our business. By focusing on one task, we can make these difficult challenges easier. Let’s practice this new resolution of focusing on one thing and perfect it before moving to the next one.

Make it a S.M.A.R.T goal

For those who do not know what S.M.A.R.T goal stands for, fear not your girl is here with a quick educational session. A Smart goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. A smart goal comes with an accountability factor and will allow you to break down your goal and successfully achieve it. I want to explore the importance of SMART goals by dissecting them. A SMART goal can both be set on a business and personal level, but we’ll be focusing on your business SMART goals with your New Years Resolutions.

The “S” in a SMART goal stands for “Specific.”

From childhood, we are taught that to remember anything, we should write it down and use action words. Being specific in your goals allows you to control the narrative that you won’t achieve. Let’s say that your goal is to get ten new clients by the end of the first quarterly calendar year, instead of saying “I want more clients,” you can say, “I going to sign up ten new clients within this next quarter”. Being specific and using action verbs allows you to focus on what exactly your need to do. When operating a small business either by yourself or a team, make sure to ask yourselves these questions to obtain the results you seek when it comes to your specific goal. These questions are;

• What needs to be accomplished; what’s the objective?
• Who is responsible for completing or driving this task or project?
• What steps will you or your team take to achieve it?

Once you have those answers to these questions you can move to the next phase.

The “M” in a SMART goal helps you clarify and quantify your efforts so you can “Measure” them. This by far one of the most important parts of your SMART goal. In the example above, we can add the additional note that your goal is to increase, by ten, the number of new clients. Although establishing a target may seem obvious, many fail to add this important component to their goal framework. Measuring your progress will help achieve your goal.

The “A” in SMART goals represents the goal’s “Achievability” factor.

This step is a reminder to check to make sure the goal is within reach and also decide if your goal is practical. Let us still use our goal of obtaining ten new clients by the end of the quarter as an example. You can both measure and see if this goal is achievable in the time you set for it or see if you need to make changes to achieve your goal. I would advise you to ensure that you are both ambitious as well as practical when placing your goal for your small business

The “R” in SMART goals addresses the “Realistic” factor of the goal.

As small business owners, we dream of quick success, but soon reality comes knocking and we are forced to focus and to re-adjust our vision. Not being practical nor realistic in our goal will make the path to success for obtaining our goals difficult. Let’s say that our overall business plan calls for increasing profitability, instead of sales, perhaps new customers aren’t your primary goal. Instead of focusing on new customers, you may need to focus on the retention of existing customers and their profitability per sale transaction, price increases, or reducing production costs. Make sure the goal you set makes sense for you. Your girl is always trying to forecast how the next few months of my business will look like. That way I have an idea of what to expect and room to make adjustments when need be. In business and life, we must be practical, tragic and consistent in what we want to accomplish.

The “T” in SMART goals references the “Time” aspect of your goal.

Setting a time frame for any goal is critical especially when you own your own business. This not only helps you set your end goal, setting a specific time where you want to complete a goal will combine all the SMART key features that you have already set-in place, and it will provide you with accountability.

Investment 

Investment in your small business doesn’t have to be financially driven. There are numerous ways that you can invest in your small business and keep your New Years Resolutions. The first one would be learning a new skill that is geared to the betterment of your business. This can range from photography, marketing, accounting and so forth. As small business owners, we tend to wear many hats, so we are constantly seeking new ways to improve our business. Make 2021 a year where you want to be well versed in your business. Investing in your business can also be finding a mentor. This is one of the most powerful addition you can have to propel your business. Get yourself a mentor who has many years of experience in their respected fields. Watch, absorb and retain as much knowledge as you can. Mentors are critical for any growth. Find one and see how your business is at the end of the years.

I didn’t want to come here and regurgitate the same New Year’s Resolution that everyone and their mama will be posting. Not saying what they post isn’t relevant, but I wanted to write about how small businesses can benefit from resolutions.

What is one New Year’s Resolution that you want to accomplish this year? Let me know in the comments below. Let’s Make 2021 a success!

Hey, my loves we want to talk to you guys about one of our favorite things about Rich Flower Lashes and that is our eyelash bundles! Although it seems that everyone and their mama seem to have a lash hustle, we want you to know that we are different.  If you are looking for a way to glam up your look and enhance your eyes, then look no further. Welcome to Rich Flower Lashes where we have high-quality mink lashes at an affordable price. 

LETS TALK BUNDLES!

What makes us different?

Drum roll pllleeeaaasssee …so, this is one of the things that just excited us about our lash company. We believe in choice. That is  why we want YOU to build your own custom lash bundles. Gone are the days where companies have pre-made bundles and you would have to roll the dice and hope you like all the lashes you receive. We all have been there when it comes to buying preset bundles. There is always that one lash that never gets used and we eventually just throw it away or forget about it. At Rich Flower Lashes we want to eliminate that. We are all  grown and the best part of being an adult is that you get to choice what you want, why not apply that to lashes. Girl, if you want all your  lashes to be dramatic …go get that mama. If you like your lashes to be sweet, sexy and confident we have something for you! Rich Flower lashes has 20 incredible styles to choose from for any lash lover. 

Why choose the bundles vs single pair?

Eyelash bundles are the perfect way to sample our entire collection. These eyelash bundles will allow you to try out a variety of different densities, curl patterns, and styles at a discounted rate compared to buying each lash pair individually. We have bundles of three, six, and eight that you can choose from.  The more lashes you buy the more you save. Added bonus is when you spend $100 or more you get free shipping. BOOM!  You are welcome. Now that the holidays are nearing this would be the perfect gift for your loved ones or even spoil yourself. Truthfully there is nothing wrong with purchasing a single pair, but you will be missing out on these great benefits if you don’t bundle. 

What to expect from Rich Flower Lashes?

Our lashes will literally transform you from every day to Fab-Lu-Ous in seconds. Trust me this is not a drill. When you apply our mink lashes, it is impossible not to look your best. Your Megan the Stallion alter ego will kick in. Rich Flower Lashes helps take your everyday look to something that is much more captivating and glamorous. Our lashes are easy to apply which will quicken your makeup routine yet providing you with stunning results. 

 When it comes to our lashes we definitely want to provide a lash that is long-lasting.  You can use them up to twenty times with proper care. This makes them well worth the money and allows you to wear them to events, where you would be the show stopper to your everyday daily routines. Quick tip my loves make sure you take care of them by properly cleaning off the glue and store them in a clean dry place.

Rich Flower Lashes have 20 incredible styles to choose from so you will have no problems finding the perfect pair. We have lashes that have different volume levels, different lengths, and also different lash placements. Each lash pairs are hand made with care. We have a soft cotton band that is flexible and comfortable. Our lashes are extremely lightweight no matter if you want the natural look or the dramatic look. You won’t feel the weight. Get a couple of pairs and save while you explore your lash style!

Model: Jessica Lackmann

This year has been different and has taken all of us on an unexpected ride with the outbreak of a global pandemic. Covid-19 has stripped us globally of what we deem “normal” and we’ve had to make adjustments to this new way of life. Many have transitioned to working and learning from home, some still struggle with the many restrictions that have been set in place for our safety and I must admit, basic human encounters will be something we will not take for granted ever again. One of those being our spending habits. This is why I think we need to talk about ways to support local businesses during covid-19.

Normally your girl is quick with the jokes, but I wanted to take a sober approach when it comes to this particular topic and dedicate this blog to simple ways you can support local small businesses who have been affected by Covid-19.

Small businesses are the backbone of many local communities; they do not only provide income to many but also help communities to raise, raise awareness, and also provided special services for many events. The effect of Covid-19 on small businesses has been severe. Some small businesses similar to  Rich Flower Lashes, have had to close down, cease operation, or move to fully digital. Being affected directly by this, I’ve done some research and wanted to share some tips on great ways to support the local businesses during covid-19, especially in this upcoming holiday season.

1. Buying a gift card 

The holiday season is knocking at our door. Normally this is one of the busiest times of the year but with Covid-19, finding ways to purchase gifts can be difficult and even frustrating since most of the stores are closed. So instead of dealing with the hassle, I would suggest gifting a gift card from your local small business. You can get gift cards from local boutiques, restaurants, clothing stores, or a particular service that you can purchase now and use in the future. Also, many small businesses offer the option to buy their gift cards online making it easy for you to do it from the comfort of your own home.

2. Shop locally online

With most borders closed and international delivery taking longer than usual to deliver, this would be the perfect opportunity to see if your favorite local business have an online service. I know online shopping might be new for some people, but you never know, you might even find new local businesses that have made the switch to online shopping that you can explore. Your girl is just trying to save you some time and money. Thank me later.

Also, if some of your local small businesses have been blessed to still be open please patronize them for all your essentials and explore socially distanced shopping. I have been doing this and I must say that it is fulfilling to be able to support families around me with my purchases.

3. Take out, curbside or delivery 

This particular topic is near and dear to my heart because I have been in the Culinary industry for many years and I know how difficult this must be for restaurants. Owning and succeeding in this industry pre-Covid-19 had its challenges, so I can’t imagine owning a restaurant or cafe at this moment and the challenges that might present. I have noticed that most restaurants have made the switch to either take out, curbside, or delivery.

There is something to say about mom and pops restaurants and how they bring people in the community together and personally, I find that they have the best food. Due to Covid-19, many eateries have implemented contactless drop-off or curbside pickup to reduce contact and safely provide you with your food. I would encourage you to support them in their time of need. Who knows you might run into a new restaurant and will completely fall in love with their food. 

The same goes for any small business at also provide these services. 

4. Tip

Being in the service industry there are a lot of individuals that rely on tips to boost their pay, a lot of which are struggling right now. So, the next time you order a product or service, if you can, tip a little extra. Every penny goes a long way. Also, if any local businesses near you are offering discounts or free delivery in response to Covid-19, you can take the money that you are saving and add it to your regular tip. The staff at that establishment will appreciate the help. You might get bonus points with Santa for doing a good deed. 

5. Leave positive reviews  

As a small business owner people’s reception of you is vital for your success. The next best thing that we can do for our local small business is to write a positive review on their page or highly recommend them to your peers. The best part is this act of kindness is completely free and you can also do it from home. 

Due to the pandemic, we find that we have a lot of time in our hands. You can take out time to write positive reviews for your favorite local small business near you. Don’t forget to add a photo if you can.

Tip: As small business owners, we should also take this opportunity to make sure you have claimed your business on review sites and that you are taking the time to respond to the reviews. 

6. Shout them out

We all know someone who owns a small business or a side hustle that could use some support. You can help them out by sharing their products and services with the world. Most social media platforms have developed tools to make this process easy and you can take advantage of them to share these pages you love via your social media. Or you can go traditional and use good old word of mouth. It may get more eyes on them and who knows they might get a purchase out of it. So, share…share…share! The holiday is about love, spread the love by talking about your favorite businesses online.

We are still adjusting to this new way of life due to all these drastic changes but that should not stop us from living and enjoying our holidays. After you have made sure that you are taking care of yourself and your loved ones, consider a few of these helpful tips to support your local small business this holiday season.  

Don’t worry, on the next blog post, I will get back to the jokes!! For now, I’ll live you with a warm and safe holiday wish season! 

Love,

Photographer: Rachel Okot

Models: Jessica Lackmann, Celina Lackmann, & Sebella Mizero

MUA: Cynthia

Can you believe that 2020 is almost over? Man, this year has been challenging to say the least.  Who would have ever thought that we would be living a life with no Kobe, wearing masks, dealing with the many killing of unarmed black people, the BLM movements, and Covid-19? It has been a rough year for sure. On the flip side 2020 has taught us is that BLACK IS KING!  Even in our darkest hour we always find ways to endure and succeed. There is something unique and powerful about us. We are multi-talented, multi-faceted, and just pure magic! One thing that 2020 gave us was the exposure and drive we need to support black own businesses. We can no longer wait for a seat at the table. We have to create our own. So, with that been said, we want to talk to ya’ll about our favorite black own brands right now. 

The first is none other than Queen Riri her damn self. If you don’t know who this boss ass babe is…we can’t be friends. Just kidding…well kidda. I guess your girl just have to put you up on game, when it comes to her. Rihanna is far more than just a gifted singer baby girl can act, is a businesswoman, a philanthropist and just straight beautiful!! I would drop my mama to hang out with her. Well, maybe not my mom she old school and would beat my ass still ,even though I am a full GROWN  ADULT. I would drop a cousin though from my daddy side that is twice removed. 

Anyways let’s get to the deets. Even though we love all her products we want to talk to you guys about Fenty Cream Blush in the color ‘Summertime Wine’.  When we say that it gave us LLIIIFFFEEEE!! That’s an understatement. first of all it is affordable only $26.00 (Canadian$) how could you go wrong with that? The cream blush is light -weight, non-greasy, easy to apply, and compliments all skin tones.  Her cream blushes also come in 10 easy-to-use sheer shades. The ‘Summertime wine’ shade I find enhances our skin tone giving it dewy and flushed appearance. I swear she can do no wrong in my eyes. We use the cream blush daily. The compact is small and can fit in your back pocket for a quick rosey affect on your cheeks. 

The second product that I am in love with right now is The Virgin Hair Fantasy Company Peruca Wavy 10. It is 2020 and if you haven’t converted to the wig life you are missing out. This boss babe behind this extraordinary brand is Jane Harris.  She is extremely talented when it comes to wig making. Her personality and professionalism are by far traits I plan on mastering. She provides clients with top of the line authentic wigs and exceptional customer service. Besides being a successful black business owner she provides a service that cannot be matched. Her company plucks all the baby hair for you and even cuts the lace. All you have to do is put that bad boy on. Her wigs are called “Peruca”, which means wigs in Portuguese. Her wigs are 100% virgin unprocessed hair, they are long-lasting and versatile and they blend effortlessly with all hair textures. The one I purchased from them is Perucawavy 10. This wig is for people who want a realist hairline without all the fuss. The hair quality is  on 10 ya’ll. Minimal shedding, the wavy texture is defined and you just feel like a bad bitch in it. 

The third product we want to discuss is Pat McGrath mini lust gloss in ‘Sunset seduction’. The fact that you get 3 amazing shades for only $34 should be criminal. Queen McGrath has definitely earned her flowers. She has been named the most influential makeup artist in the world according to Vogue and other noteworthy commentators. Sis has worked with the likes of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and many more. I couldn’t just go straight to the deets without gassing her up and to make sure ya’ll put some RESPECT in her name. Now, we can talk about the products. The mini’s that we just adore right now is the ‘Sunset seduction’. The names of the glosses in this collection are; love potion, sunset rose, and flesh6. We just love how smooth and soft they feel on my lips. The gloss gives you a gel- meets- balm vibe that your lips will love. We find all her products to be lightweight, non- greasy, and soft. The three lip gloss colors are great for all seasons and will have to looking scrumptious.

The fourth product that I love is House of Tara Flawless Matte TM 329. I must admit I am new to this brand but right away I knew I would like it. I got to thank my sister Rachel who introduced me to this foundation. This liquid foundation provides full coverage without excess weight. Their foundations come in a variety of different shades and they feel so smooth to the skin. We have only had for two months now and the best part is that you don’t need a lot to achieve the full coverage you desire. 

The fifth favorite product is of course Rich Flower Lashes. You know we had to come through and say a lil sum thing sum thing about our business. With all honestly Rich Flower Lashes was birthed with the idea of creating a seat to our own table and hopefully give others the opportunity to also succeed. My sister and I wanted to create a brand that is exclusive to all by providing lashes that are affordable, lightweight, cruelty-free, and just BOMB!!. Rich Flower Lashes comes in 20 beautifully crafted styles that range from natural to dramatic. We wanted everyone who tries our lashes to feel gorgeous, a show stopper, and the baddest in the room oookkuuurrr! The best part is that you can create your own bundles. Gone are the days where there are pre-packed bundles and you just have accepted what you have. We want to put the power in your hands. We all deserve to get exactly want we want.

We had a great time using these products. We just want to take this opportunity to tell you guys to invest your dollars on black women busineses. We just loved all these products we hope that you will too.