iCandiland December 2017

The Podcast coming soon

MsiCandi GETS MARRIED A Hogwarts Wedding in Candiland

Get the scoop on MsiCandi’s Harry Potter inspired wedding.

From the food to the decor.

We have all the info.

MOM TALES

lessons and advice for new & seasoned moms

CANDI GIRL ROCKS A Spotlight On Women Making Moves

Music Reviews From J. Antoinne

Fashion BUZZ Tribute to “Our Angel” Lady RED from Team iCandi

Fashion Tips For The Fall & Winter Season

CONTENTS

The Relaunch of iCandiland

04. 1. MUSIC REVIEWS

H

ello there candi babies in Candiland. It has been a while since we’ve given you a new issue of iCandiland. So much has happened in the last year and a half. From events to music, we’ve been busy! We’ve had two Women Empowerment Conferences and are aggressively working on our third. A couple of us have books coming out early next year. J. Antoinne has released a Christmas album. Rai Li has a cosmetic line out that is thriving! Oh, did I mention that I am newly married!?

Your favorite candi lady is a married woman. Who would have thought!?

Life has definitely been happening for team iCandi and in major ways.

J.Antoinne is back with the monthly reviews of newly released albums

06.

CANDI GIRL ROCKS Spotlight on Ms Issa Rae and all of her accomplishments thus far

08. CREATIVE BLESSINGS The power of giving and how creative you may be

09. LOVING YOURSELF

is revenge served on a silver platter. Find out why.

10. WEDDING PICTORIAL

Sneak in to the wedding of your favorite candi lady with photography by 352 Studios

24.

With success comes loss. We’ve recently lost our fashion diva Lady RED. With life moving so fast you sometimes forget to connect with those that you love. Lucky for team iCandi, we were all able to connect recently at my October wedding. We were able to catch up, love on one another, and plan a major comeback!

LADY R.E.D. AN ICANDI TRIBUTE Loving tribute from team iCandi to our angel

16. A HARRY POTTER WEDDING What did the attendees think of MsiCandi’s “Harry Potter” themed wedding? Find out from their own words inside.

This iCandi empire has just begun and with our angel in heaven look-

20.

30.

FASHION BUZZ

MOMTALES

What’s trending this upcoming winter season

Real Stories from Real Mothers

34.

KICK STARTING YOUR MARRIAGE

After the wedding the marriage kicks in. Here are 5 tips on how to start things off right!

ing over us we know this train won’t be stopping anytime soon. We have so much planned for you all in the 2018 year! New podcasts, book releases, events, webseries, and much more!

Hopefully we don’t disappoint with this latest issue of iCandiland. We wanted to give you all a look into my Harry Potter inspired wedding.

People though my idea was crazy, but hey, go big or not at all! We also wanted to share memories and stories about our beloved Lady R.E.D.; she was such a blessing to iCandiland and we will definitely miss her..

W

ith the holiday season quickly approaching, be sure to remember what this season is all about. Life moves so quickly but it’s also short; remember to be brave enough to take chances. Love on the ones that love you while you have them and don’t let precious time slip by. Thank you so much for continuously supporting iCandi and this relaunch is just the start!

MSICANDI CEO/Founder

36.

HOLIDAY CHALLENGE Kicking off your holiday season with a CHALLENGE!

Page 3

Ledisi Let Love Rule Verve, 2017 Many had feared that Ledisi had come across too mainstream on her last album, 2014’s The Truth. While that album definitely took some getting used to based on her storied consistency, this album definitely puts her back in her rightful place of solid sounds.

This album is a pretty good mix of contemporary R&B and sounds of yesteryear. The first single “High” definitely gets you moving with its bassline but Ledisi wraps her voice around it and draws you in. The same can be said for “If You Don’t Mind” that borrows from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s with its infusion of different styles of R&B of those decades, yet her voice keeps you listening. And if you’re looking for her to shine vocally (as she often does), check out the title track as she coos around a riddim that’s sure to captivate you, and the BJ the Chicago Kid-assisted “Us 4ever” which could be our generation’s love anthem in duet form. This is truly an album worth more than a few spins.

(4.25 Stars)(A-)

Chanté Moore The Rise of the Phoenix CM7, 2017 Chanté Moore is back after four years after 2013’s Moore Is More, and it pretty much picks up where More leaves off. That’s not necessarily to Moore’s detriment, as her voice still packs a punch just as deft as before. This album is a decent mix of uptempos and ballads, but of course, Moore’s voice is still the focal point. Check out “I’d Be A Fool” where she throws in her signature whistle register right in the middle of a sentence,

and does the same in “Super Lover,” another ballad that you can tell she had fun recording. “Saving Grace” is probably the most contemporary song on the album that works, a good mix of ballad (the keyboards are amazing) and trap beats that just may get a few spins from hip-hop heads. Moore lets her whistle take over at the end of that song to no end. Aside from a couple missteps (“Real One” is an attempt to sound current that implodes with too much current formula, and “Something to Remember” is slightly too busy for most listeners), this album could be worth having.

(4 Stars)(B+)

Jagged Edge Layover Hardcase LLC, 2017 Jagged Edge pretty much snuck this album under the radar, much like their last four albums that came out with little fanfare.

This is probably because ever since 2006’s self-titled album (arguably their most complete album, even more so than their critically-acclaimed sophomore album J.E. Heartbreak), a lot of their music starts to sound reminiscent of previous albums.

That said, even though there’s nothing groundbreaking in this particular album, JE sticks to their formula of songs that talk about real things in real life. “Pretty Everything” is self-explanatory, and “Lying” is a profession of missing someone that’s in the past (with a slick sample of Mary J. Blige’s “Reminisce”). “Gave It All Up” and “Talk In Sleep” are probably the two songs that stand out as being different from the rest, which makes them highlights of this album.

Not bad for diehard JE fans, new fans may wanna try the self-titled album or Jagged Little Thrill first.

(3.75 Stars)(B)

112 Q, Mike, Slim, Daron eOne Music, 2017

This is 112’s first album in over a decade, the last being 2005’s Pleasure and Pain which unfortunately wasn’t well-received and ended up being a very overlooked album.

Here with the members’ names (which was also an interlude on 2001’s Part II) is the group delivering a decent array of songs that show you they’re back and ready to put R&B groups back on the map. “Both of Us” features “rival” group Jagged Edge, and tells the tale of a man working hard for his mate; a pretty solid song in its own right. “Still Got It” shows that 112 does indeed, showing off each member’s vocal prowess in some form, and “My Love” continues that trend where everyone has a chance to shine. Of course, 112 is known for their ballads, and this album has enough of them to keep your interest. “Wanna Be” and “Residue” are probably the two best songs vocally, and they’re definitely ones you’ll take a second listen to if you’re a real quiet storm music fan. Overall,

The latter shows off her whistle register as well and a few growls that convey the emotion of the song. Carrying the emotional trend is the lead single “My Man,” another vocal masterpieces that weaves a relatable tale of an end of a relationship caused by a friend and how unbelievable it seems. There are a couple filler songs that definitely don’t belong on this album, but overall, this album is worthy of its title and its place in a collection.

(4 Stars)(B+)

This is the latest album from the superstar daughter of R&B legend Donny Hathaway. She has definitely forged her own path and gained notoriety on her own terms based on her distinct tone and phrasing and is a stalwart of the neo-soul scene. Here we have a collection of songs that are aptly titled as the album honestly, a dig into the bare psyche of Lalah herself. This is probably her most direct album and it shows in the language used, some definitely not for the kiddies. “y o y” is wonderfully sung and produced, with an infectious beat that creeps along at a pace that belies the lyrics of the song itself. “call on me” is similar, the beat bouncing along until Lalah joins in, leading this track on a journey of being the one to be sought whenever needed. Even the Lecrae-assisted “don’t give up” is an inspirational song that has a slightly weird syncopation at first (much like the track before it, the title track) but becomes a fist-pumping anthem for self-motivation. The downside to this album? It’s length; it’s more like an EP,

MUSIC IS LIFE

a pretty solid album minus a couple filler “Where there’s life, there’s music” Tank tracks and a little too much autotune (which ~J. Antoinne~ Savage is odd for such a wonderful vocal group). iCandi Productions R&B Money/Atlantic, 2017 (4 Stars)(B+)

Tamar Braxton Bluebird of Happiness TamartianLand, 2017 This is Tamar’s alleged last album and it definitely attempts to leave an indelible mark on the R&B landscape. One can still argue that Love & War was definitely Tamar’s breakout album, and 2015’s Calling All Lovers picked up right where L&W left off. This album doesn’t necessarily keep the pace of those two, but it is certainly without its merits. Of course, being the sister of Grammy-winner Toni Braxton leaves pretty high expectations regardless of talent, but Tamar definitely steps up to the plate vocally. “Heart In My Hands” and “Blind” are vocal masterpieces, where Tamar shows off her vocal dexterity with ease, flittering about the scales and pitches with convincing control.

Tank has pretty much been under the radar with album releases since 2007’s Sex, Love, and Pain.

Sure, a single here and there has kept his most die-hard fans abreast of his musical developments, but aside from a stint with the “supergroup” TGT, he has largely escaped mainstream fare. That’s certainly to his credit, as he has consistently put out solid albums regardless of how much fanfare he has received. This latest album can be included in that statement, as it’s pretty much classic Tank. In usual fashion, the faster songs are the more current fare (“Only One” and “You Belong to Me” are two songs that stand on their own as solidly produced songs) and the latter half is more for the grown and sexy (“When We” and “F It Up” are definitely not for the kiddies but definitely produce some).

This album should certainly whet fans’ appetites and possibly create new ones.

(4 Stars)(B+)

Lalah Hathaway honestly Hathaway Entertainment, 2017

but definitely still work more than a few spins.

(4.5 Stars)(A)

Fantasia Christmas After Midnight Concord, 2017 Fantasia is back with her debut Christmas album, and it doesn’t disappoint. This album is full of classics with the classic Fantasia soul that we have all come to love. The classics that are here are not overdone or overproduced; each has their timeless quality restored but displayed in true Fantasia fashion. She gets the Christmas train going with her take on the classic “This Christmas” and leaves it as a bopping uptempo number. The album’s other kinda uptempo track “Jingle Bell Rock” gets the party moving as well, but Fantasia really shines in the slower numbers, which really show off how mature her voice has gotten over the years. That’s not a detriment, as her vocals still soar to the heavens.

One standout is a slowed-down version of “Give Love On Christmas Day.” This song sounds like it was done in one take; just a plea for us

to remember those who need a little more love this Christmas season. Not to be outdone is the jazzy “The Snow Is Falling,” which will have one reminiscent of her acclaimed performance of the standard “Summertime” on American Idol. Definitely an album that can be played throughout the season and beyond.

(5 Stars)(A+)

The Brooks #CincyBrownSugar Soundtrack iCandi Productions, 2017 This is a collection of songs featured at the union of The Brooks Family, Mr. and Ms. iCandi. If you were one of the lucky attendees of this wedding, this is your chance to relive some of the wonderful moments. If you missed it, this is a good chance to live vicariously through the attendees. This collection boasts old school jams and songs with old school flavor. For instance, the bridal party entered on Charlie Wilson’s “Better,” which was sung live by America’s Got Talent alumnus Robert Hatcher. Other standouts include Full Force’s “Ain’t My Type of Hype” that was played during a hilariously upbeat father-daughter dance, the hip-hoppin’ and poppin’ “Teddy’s Jam”

by Guy during the 90’s dance break, and the first dance between the newlyweds during Eric Benet’s “Real Love.” Not to be outdone were the bridal party’s entrance with Bruno Mars’s “24K Magic,” the band having their time in the spotlight with Intro’s classic cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon In the Sky,” and the garter removal and tossing during Chris Brown’s “Take You Down.”

The festivities and ceremony itself ended with the classic “Make It Last Forever” with Keith Sweat featuring Jacci McGhee. Each of these songs clearly fit the exact moments in which they were played, so this is the perfect soundtrack to the #CincyBrownSugar event.

(5 Stars)(A+)

Page 5

CANDI GIRL ROCK SPOTLIGHT

Issa Rae The Not So Awkward BlackGirl

by: LaTeefah Ragnand

Senegalese beauty Issa Rae has done nothing short of wow us with her unapologeticness. She is strong and often refers to herself as awkward. I think it’s safe to say she coined the term and encourages other awkward black women to be okay with being awkward.

She has created her own little corner in the industry. Her award-winning series “Insecure” burst on the scene in November of 2016. Not only was she the superstar of the series, but she participated in all aspects of production.

Insecure received the “Outstanding Actress” award and the “Outstanding Directing” award from the Black Reel Awards for Television. Issa Rae took home the “Outstanding Actress” award; along with the “Best Performance in a Comedy” award from the NAMEC (National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications) Vision Awards; not to

mention various nominations. She made Glamour Magazines, “35 Under 35,” and Forbes “30 Under 30.” Starting out with very humble beginnings on YouTube, with shorts such as, “The MIs-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl,” “Milk and Honey,” “Black Student Union,” and “Giants.”

She continues to produce these shorts in spite of her newfound fame that she likens to being popular in high school.

Being awkward seems to be the common theme of several of her shows and we are here for it! Using her vision to give us a peek into the perspective of a black girl that was brought to the states young and grew up around mostly blacks, then was educated with mostly whites at Stanford. Her upbringing created a serious mix of diversity and a whole lot of funny. She facilitates a system where “black creatives” can be seen

and heard with “Short Film Sundays.” At 32, Issa seems to have it all figured out.

She is carving out the image of a strong, natural, brown sista that embraces all brown sistas and their talents, gifts, and abilities. Even though she expresses innuendos of sexual freedom which sometimes include infidelity;,her personal philosophy is that cheating isn’t justifiable and communication is the core of any successful relationship. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see her body of work, you haven’t had a good laugh. Check her out on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/actingrl112.

Season 3 of “Insecure” is predicted to release around summer of 2018. The series is amazeballs, the soundtrack is bangin’, the cast is great, but the not so awkward brown beauty at center stage is one to most certainly watch.

Page 7

Creative Blessings

by Topaz Peeples

Gift giving is one of those things that some people truly enjoy, while others don’t enjoy it at all.

Anyone can go into the store and buy a gift or present for someone, but when the gift being bought has thought and effort put into it, it has more sentimental value. I absolutely love being able to show my loved ones how much they are appreciated, cared for and loved. Whether it is their birthday, anniversary, wedding or whatever the occasion is, I find joy in creating unique gifts specifically for that person. From this love birthed my company TopiSpeaksCreations. My company is a God-given vision in the business of creating custom and personalized gifts and items for every occasion.

1. What is it that I want the person who receives this gift to get from it?

2. Will this gift be a gift that has a significant impact in their life, or will it be a gift they set aside and never use?

3. How will this gift bless their life?

These are just a few things to consider when creating the right gift. If you want the person you are buying for to feel appreciated and thought about, then these are the sentiments that matter the most. Whether it is big or small, always remember it is the thought that counts and not necessarily the money. It is also important to keep in mind the occasion or event that you are shopping for so that way you can correlate the items you choose. It will flow smoothly and be appropriate for that particular occasion.

Ladies, ladies, ladies, first I want to start off by saying, I love you for who you are right now today. Often, we do not hear this enough and don’t understand that it’s okay to be yourself and live within your own skin.

It is NOT your issue nor concern if someone decides that your beliefs and values don’t fit into their world. If the people you interact with feel the need to change you and it’s not something you want to do, then it’s time to love them from a distance. Life is short and we all have a special gift to offer to the world; if we don’t know who we are and how to love ourselves we can’t even begin to utilize our gift, which is unfair to YOU.

It all begins with getting to know a little bit about the individual for whom you are shopping, and once you know what their likes and dislikes are you can find easier ways of finding the gift for them that is just right.

Ask these questions:

Written by Tania Thomas

In society, and even in our own families, a perception of who you are in their eyes starts to form and before you realize it you begin living in their perception of you and completely lose your selfworth. This happens to most individuals who have low self-esteem and haven’t learned to truly love themselves. Acceptance is heavily weighted in the times we live in now. People are more concerned with how people think they are living and how good they look on the outside which is all superficial.

Giving into this stereotype fosters extreme insecurity and begins to create fear and uncertainty that people won’t embrace who you for who you really are. What you must know and truly understand is that in order to grow you can’t be concerned with someone else’s opinion of you.

To be able to shower someone else with care and love is a beautiful thing. There are many times and instances where you can show your love and appreciation to those you care about.

There are several things you need to know and consider when finding or creating the right gift.

Loving Yourself is The Best Revenge

Imagine the look on the person’s face when you give them a custom gift that you created specially for them; they will be in awe and happy and that should be the outcome you are looking to achieve. To be able to see how much of a blessing you are to this person should make you feel proud. Be blessed to be a blessing. Be blessed to even have the desire to want to create a gift for someone else. There is a true blessing in gift giving no matter what the gift is. Always remember that it’s not about the particular item you have, but the thought the time and the effort that you used to put into creating the gift. So, I challenge you that when the next event or occasion that comes up, go create a gift that will be a blessing.

NOTE FROM MSiCANDI:

Topaz was a bridesmaid on my wedding day! Initally she was a hostess but one of my bridesmaids went in to labor the day before the wedding. Topaz stepped in and saved the day! Giving the gift of self was much appreciated! Love you girl!

The breakdown in self-esteem starts at a very young age.

We are taught by society and our peers that we must fit into this perfect world, but we are living in an imperfect world. Digest that for a second; society wants you to be this perfect person, but the world is far from perfect. So instead of caring about society, your family, friends, or co-workers’ perception of you, how about you start caring about yourself first? I can’t express this enough; free yourself from other people’s insecurities. The main reason

should be feeling great about the person they see in the mirror and embracing their inner strength. When you are not confident in yourself it’s easy to make poor decisions. When we think we are unworthy then we feel the need to prove something and start overcompensating and making bad decisions. Let’s start the process to heal and love yourself. The first process is programming your mind to understand that you are the main focus in your life. Every morning for 30 days I want you to say these affirmations.

MORNING & NIGHTIME AFFIRMATIONS (Repeat for 30 days) people judge and try to force their opinions on you is because they are really insecure themselves.

So enough about them, let’s get focused on YOU. Self-esteem is defined by Webster’s dictionary as ‘a confidence and satisfaction in oneself; self-respect.’ I have learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance, so it’s never too late to start loving yourself. We must first get rid of the brainwash and mental manipulation that starts at a young age. We are programmed that our main goal as a woman is to find love, get married, and have children. This must STOP; women are programmed to please a man and become the perfect wife and mother before they can properly put a sentence together. This happening at such a young age stunts your growth in learning to love yourself, because now you are learning to make someone love you before you have fully come into your own.

There is nothing wrong with wanting love and taking care of your man, but that should not be your main goal in life as a little girl growing up. The goal for women

1. I am beautiful inside and out 2. I approve of myself and I am worth loving 3. I am making the decision to control my life 4. I believe in myself and I will be successful 5. I forgive myself 6. I accept who I am and will continue to grow 7. I Love myself 8. I am a Queen and I make my own decisions for my life

The key I repetition so you flood your brain with positive thoughts.

You must say them several times a day and before you go to bed; this is to train your mind. The key is being confident when speaking the affirmations.

In the next article we will explore the healing process and how to eliminate toxic relationships. Until we meet again, love yourself!

Page 9

“London told me that it wasn’t my wedding, it was “our wedding”. Her excitement for the blending of our families meant the word to me.” ~MsiCandi~

MsiCandi Geting some quality “Mommy time” in with her daughter London as they both prepare for their big day.

WEDDING DRESS: LACE BRIDIAL COUTURE (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Page 11

A Hogwarts Wedding in Candiland?

With a guest list of 300 close family and friends, we definitely have you covered on what the guests thought of this Harry Potter inspired wedding. Rating decorations, food, highlights and overall experience, we have a few selected guests that were eager to share their experiences with you.

Mrs Helen Brooks aunt of groom

Jennifer Pyles longtime friend of bride

Tony T family of the bride

Shi Chapman cousin of bride

When i walked into the venue i was.......

I thought the venue was extremely creative. Until that day I hadn’t paid attention that the theme was Harry Potter. ~Lateefa~ I️ was elated because I️ love Harry Potter and colors were on point; it was beautiful. ~Diamond~ As a nerd familiar with the Harry Potter series, I appreciated the little touches that referenced the books. I loved it. ~Aaron~ I was amazed when I walked in!

It was a beautiful venue and so unique. I loved that you didn’t have to travel to a different place for the reception.

~Jennifer~ Transformed...I had been to the venue for a baby shower prior so I saw it untouched, so seeing it all jazzed up was really awesome. ~Shi~ I was truly overwhelmed with excitement and happy to be there! I loved the seating arrangement with the escort to your seat. ~Tony T~ it was breathtaking and the security was tight, which I appreciated since they made sure no extras were present (laughs) ~Brandon~

About the decor........

Diamond Brooks cousin of groom

Aaron Mingo cousin of groom

Brandon Jackson friend of Bride & fellow Fantasia stan

Lateefah Ragland Team iCandi

The decorations absolutely gave that Harry Potter appeal. ~Lateefah~

all the different colors of the wedding. ~Jennifer~

Decorations were very thematic and creative, the event was wonderful 10 for theme. ~Helen~

The decor was on point. I especially loved the pages from the books formed into roses and the candle floating on water. ~Brandon~

The decoration went with the theme perfectly- each house had the right color and tag, even down to the script of the name. It did make me feel like the great hall (even though some of my family were muggles) ~Diamond~

the decor was excellent and went with the them oh so well! ~Tony T~

The decorations were handmade and gorgeous! The gold plates worked so well with

Straight from their mouths We wanted to get the REAL tea on the wedding ins and outs, straight from the guests’ mouths! Check out what they had to say.

About the food........

About the music....

I actually didn’t get to eat. I was helping, but it looked and smelled great. ~Shi~

The music was on point from the time I walked in until I departed.

The DJ knew all the turnt cuts; I just wish we could’ve danced a lil’ longer. Everyone began to leave after the bouquet and garter were tossed ~Brandon~

The food could have been better; I will give it a 4. Most of all the servers weren’t the nicest, especially one particular lady who was downright mean. Sorry at one point my table just got up on their own, me being the leader; I was hungry and I am a chubby chick. ~Helen~ The food was delicious! They had such a wide spread of food too!

My favorite was the pasta and the sweet potatoes. Least favorite was that I forgot to get some bread! LOL! ~Jennifer~ The food was good. It’s been a few weeks so I do remember that it was good but it is hard to remember specifically which part stood out most. Mac and cheese was liked the least. ~Aaron~ I totally loved the food. Hell I can’t really remember what my fave was or wasn’t, but I’m a foodie. ~Lateefah~ The food was awesome, didn’t have any complaints about it. I’m a big mac and cheese fan so of course that was my fave, but the chicken was seasoned to greatness. I appreciate a good flavored bird (laughs). ~Brandon~

The music was dope! ~Helen~ The music was very good. There was newer music and old school.....

Switched up very nicely. ~Lateefah~ I enjoyed the music it was fun. ~Diamond~ The DJ equipment may not have been conducive to the venue as it was hard to hear from a farther distance. ~Aaron~ The music was great! Everything from old school to newer stuff. ~Jennifer~

Favorite part of the wedding....

Seeing Amir (my son) walk his aunt down the isle and seeing Juli dance with her dad. ~Shi~

The centerpieces. Daddy daughter dance. The Hogwart’s costumes. The programs were well thought out and creative. ~Aaron~

I got to see juli walking down the aisle looking amazing and glowing ~Tony T~

The music was cool and entertaining.. ~Shi~ The best part of the wedding was the ceremony and the exchanging of the vows. It was very touching and I love Juli and Mike’s love, so seeing them become one was everything to me. ~Brandon~

Page 17

Father/Daughter Dance Highlight The best part of the wedding was the Father /Daughter dance. I believe it was the best I had seen. ~Lateefah~ The father daughter dance was the best part! ~Diamond~ I was literally cracking up laughing at Juli’s dad! It was a GREAT moment! ~J. Antoinne~ Best part was Father and Bride dance, that was more than words itself. ~Helen~ My favorite part of the wedding was the Father/Daughter dance! What a great memory! Juli’s dad is so hip! ~Jennifer~

Studio 325 Photography captured the Faughter/Daughter dance, a highlight moment for many guests.

On a scale of 1-10 8.. the only things that wasn’t dope were the things out of her control...I HAD FUN ~Shi~ Rate it a 10! We drove 5 hours one way to be there.

It was well worth it too! We had a blast reuniting with our dear friends! It had been way too long! ~Jennifer~ 8-9 ~Aaron~ 8 ~Diamond~ I’d rate the wedding a 10.

What’s better than seeing your friend marry the love of her life? Nothing. ~Lateefah~ I truly enjoyed myself 10!!! ~Tony T~ 11!!! From beginning to end it was a pretty dope experience.

They need to have a one year anniversary bash (laughs). I really was honored to be a part of their day! ~Brandon~

The happy couple after making it official.

Mr. & Mrs. Brooks

Bridal Bouquet: Custom made for MsiCandi by best friend and “bride’s man”

FASHION BUZZ “I think because we are living in challenging times that designers felt quite rightly that what should be celebrated is clothes that made you smile or you wanted to have fun with.” ~VOGUE Editor-in-Chief Anna Winter~

Let’s talk fashion! All my real trendsetters and trailblazers that get up and turn your bedroom and closet into your personal runway, I got the latest fashion trends and tips to share with you about the HOT trends in the FASHION BUZZ.

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK FEATURING Shimmer and Sequins

The fashion trends are sizzling and laid back at the same time which keeps us all in the loop. The big trend this fall season is sequins; YESSSSSS I said it, sequins is the new breakout trend. The trendy chic aspect is that sequins is not just evening and nightlife attire; it’s hot in the daytime as well. Fashion is moving into a feel good place, where in these crazy times we all just want to start the day off feeling great!

Sequins has always been around in fashion, but the most popular times were the 1920’s, 1930’s, and 1970’s, which we can admit were very rough times. That said, sequins seems to pop up during a time when we need to smile more. For example, this year’s New York Fashion Week kicked off with shimmery and sequins outfits for the runway.

Here are a few tips for wearing sequins: If the Sequins is a busy pattern then keep everything else you’re wearing nude and plain. The key is to wear it and stand out without going overboard. The sequins is your statement everything else should be a whisper.

NEXT MONTH WE WILL EXPLORE FASHION FOR THE RIGHT SIZES AND SHAPES… MUAH

LAYERS, LAYERS, LAYERS: the best part of FALL.

Beauty & Fashion

The other HOT TREND is cool, crazy and cozy leggings outfits. This is one of the nicer trends because it’s comfy but still trendy. In most cases if you have a great legging it pulls you in all the right places which is a nice touch. The reason they are calling them fashion leggings is because leggings are now very versatile; you can wear them to the gym and workout or dress them up with a cute boot and hang out with friends. Leggings were another big trend during fashion week, with lots of patterns and color, as they have become sexy inside the gym or on the party scene. Tip: make sure you pair them with a nice structured shirt and lots of accessories to balance out the outfit if you are wearing them outside of the gym.

Let me see that shoulder lean

Another hot trend that is taking over, and one of my very favorites, is off the shoulder sweaters. They just make you feel like you own the room when you enter the scene. Sweater, sweatshirt, button up; if it’s off one shoulder you are making a statement, “I’m Here, I’m Sexy, and I’m a Boss!”

Bethann Harrison:

Robin Givhan:

Outer Wear: The PUFFY COAT has made a major comeback! The puffy coat has made it to the fashion world and is on all the runways, but how do you not look frumpy in your puffy coat? To remain chic in your puffy coat you must use a lot of contrast with a major splash of feminism. Add high boots and wear a nice pencil skirt and color, the key is make it cute and flirty when wearing the puffy look, and to take the frump away. This is the hot trend; go for it, it’s really cute paired with a backpack purse, which is also a popular trend.

Robin is a true legend in the fashion world, working as a former fashion critic for the Washington Post. She has many accolades for her work in fashion. Robin has critiqued fashion for over fifteen years and in 2006 she became the first critic to win a Pulitzer Prize award for fashion. In 2010 she left the Washington Post to become a fashion critic and correspondent for the Daily Beast and Newsweek, and returned back to the Washington Post in 2014. We salute Robin Givhan for paving the way!

ican Afr can ri Ame ion Fash ds n Lege

Fashion activist and model Bethann Hardison was born in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from George W. Wingate High School, Hardison attended the New York University Art School and the Fashion Institute of Technology. During the 1960s, Hardison worked in the garment district of New York City as saleswoman. In 1967, she was discovered by African American designer Willi Smith and began working for Smith as a fitting model, soon crossing over to the runway and print industries.

Along with Beverly Johnson, Iman, and Pat Cleveland; Hardison broke barriers in the 1970s appearing in Allure, Harper’s Bazarre, and Vogue. In 1973, she was featured in the international Versailles fashion face off, a historical moment in which France’s best designers competed against the top American designers of the time.

Hardison then joined Click, a startup modeling agency, in 1980, as a booking agent where she produced fashion shows, handled public relations for design houses, and became a contributing editor at several magazines. Concerned with the politics of the fashion industry, Hardison changed her focus from modeling to activism in 1981.

Formed in 1984, the Bethann Management Agency focused on diversifying the fashion industry. Also, along with former model and friend Iman, Hardison co-founded the Black Girls Coalition in 1988 to provide advocacy and support to African American models. In 1996, Hardison turned her attention towards television where she co-executive produced television sitcoms “Between Brothers” and “Livin’ Large.” Hardison was also named Vogue Italia editor at large in 2010. We salute Bethan Hardison.

(Referenced from the “History Makers”)

Page 21

Not sure what to do for the holidays? let me help. Visit my website at www. imagebeautybar.com for my holiday look book, out December 4, to get inspired. Red lips, long lashes, and holiday nails will be just a few of the topics and a few of the pics for this look book.

Here is a special offer for iCandi subscribers: 20% off your entire order of IMAGE Cosmetics! Use code: iCandipro.

I hope you all have an amazing holiday season full of beauty and full of great beauty products! Happy Holidays and stay BEAUTIFUL iCandi babies!

Beauty for 2018

A

by Rai Wynn

re you ready for 2018 ladies and gents? 2017 was a great year for the beauty industry. There was a number of new and independent launches of product lines, including my very own, IMAGE COSMETICS. 2017 proved that beauty is still very important to men and women alike. Let’s talk about a few trends and what we can expect in 2018.

This year was all about the highlight and unicorn themes. Very magical and mystical colors were released in a lot of palettes like the Anastasia Beverly Hill Arora highlight palette. There were lots of new additions to the primer family this year as well, which mostly focused on moisture retention or adding radiant glow to the skin. I think it’s safe to say we will see this trend continue into 2018. Most companies are moving into dual action products. These are products that will function both as good for creating flawless looks as well as be beneficial for the skin. Lipstick has been the biggest makeup trend for the

Anastasia Beverly Hill Aurora highlight palette

past five years, so it’s safe to say the trend will only increase and evolve. Smashbox has begun to lead the way this year when they released their Ombré Lipstick, giving you the ability to create a flawless Ombre’ look with one step, and trust, brands are following behind this trend so expect to see more of this on 2018.

This year alone there has been over 100 independent cosmetic and skin care lines launched, including my very own. I launched my lipstick line two years ago, and now I have added eye shadow, new lip colors, matte and gloss/liquid lipstick. It’s exciting to rebrand during this time because the industry is ready. Rihanna has set a new wave that we will see more of in 2018 for sure, when it comes to beauty brands expanding their range of color and versatility to fit women of color, so ladies GET READY!!!! There is definitely an opening that is spreading across all brands, and we have our girl RiRi and the people at Fenty Beauty to thank for that.

Rihanna Fenty Beauty cosmetic line

Page 23

CANDI GIRL ROCK SPOTLIGHT

Remembering Lady R.E.D. On November 3, 2017 iCandi lost one of our own. Our faithful readers know her as the fashion collumninist for iCandiland. Lady RED was always giving advice on how to keep things trendy on a budget. As we try to process this unexpected loss, Team iCandi share some of their favorite memories of the lovey Lady that they called R.E.D.

Throughout the years with Lady R.E.D. Page 25

CANDI GIRL ROCK SPOTLIGHT

An Open Letter to My Sister

To My Sister: People say you don’t get to choose your family but I was blessed enough to be able to choose you. I made you my big sister freshman year in high school. You quickly embraced me as your sister and for the last 19 years I was “Deanna’s little sister.”

You would introduce me to everyone as your litter sister and they would know you meant it.

I thought I had more time. There is no way I could have ever imagined not being able to shoot a quick text to you asking if this outfit looked okay for an event, or calling you up at work to ask you to piece me together a $50 outfit that looks like $500. I can hear you now. “Okay Juelz.

I’ll send you some links after work.” I knew that I could count on you. No matter how last minute I may have been you were always on it. Not only because I was your annoying little sister and that’s what sisters are for, but because you truly supported me and wanted to see me win!

When I first started iCandi you were with me every step of the way. Most times it was you, myself, and BDavis! Going from one video shoot to another, then hitting up three events a night, and secondhand shopping for all of our photo and video shoots, when our budget was nonexistent!

You never complained. I have you on film saying that you did all of this to support your sister’s dream. You never asked for anything in return. You were just supporting your sister’s dream.

Thank you! Thank you for believing in my dream. Thank you for supporting me unconditionally! Thank you for being my sister. My last memory will be you at my wedding fixing my dress (keeping me fly) and being the life of the party doing your signature “Sal Sal” dance. Rest easy angel. I will keep the dream going. I love you forever.

Your little sister, Juli

~Bux~

~Joi Williams~

I first met Deanna during the “Team Rob” outings and from that I got closer to her through iCandi. From day one her personality was larger than life. She was outgoing, loved to have fun, and was truly the life of the party. I remember when iCandi did the futuristic photo shoot for the iCandi TV intro. I went after Deanna to record my part and I was extremely nervous; not because I’m shy and don’t like being recorded, but because I was thinking how was I going to follow what Deanna did. A little after that we had a get together and Juli was filming. She asked us to impersonate another member of iCandi. Of course I had to do this dance Deanna always did.

It was her signature dance. I have never been around her when she did not do this dance. She was beautiful inside and out. She was incredible sweet, kind, warm hearted and would go above and beyond for her family and friends. I truly miss you Lady R.E.D.

Deanna, a ray of light, was a very kind, welcoming soul. She certainly was the life of the party, always up to speed with the latest dance moves.

She was a beacon of positive energy who never had a mean thing to say about anyone. I will truly miss her spirit, and hope to embrace her passion for life. ~Bdavis~

BDAVIS & RED @ MsiCandi’s Wedding 2017

Dee and I had an inside joke where I used to tell her I owed her a husband. The backstory was that during the course of my single life I had become burned out with the whole dating scene. So by the time my last boyfriend (who is now my husband) came along and showed interest in me I refused to take him seriously.

It was DeAnna’s encouragement to change my mindset that allowed me to let down my guard and accept the blessing. I am ever so grateful for having had a friend like her in my life at just the right time. Words cannot truly express the love that I have for her; she will forever be my sister and friend. I miss her dearly.

Bridesmaids @ Joi’s Wedding 2011

Lady RED and I were very similar when it came to wanting to save money.

I want to say that she took it a step further. I would never forget: she was styling me for a photo shoot and we were going back and forth. We agreed on a look and I was ready to just pay and get out the mall; she looked at me with the craziest look like “uh uh girl, we can get that way cheaper; we’re going to keep looking.” That day she dressed me for under $35 and I got a bracelet. Outside of that she was the life of party and beautiful inside and out!! She will be missed.

Bux & RED Jingle Jam 2009

Cont’d....

Covergirl & RED Posing 2010

Remembering Lady RED

!! ! s e i t r a p r u ts! o f o e hear f i l e h n our t d n i a r g e n i v l i ! Fore ~ m s s ay missed iCandi w l a s ill be m a a w e T e ~ Sh She w

Tiffannie “Covergirl” Taylor

DeAnna “Lady RED” Brewster Sister, Friend, Stylist, Our Angel July 31, 1982-November 5, 2017

Mom Tales

“Motherhood is our Superpower” random stories of motherhood When I was a little girl I believed in the “perfect family.” The perfect family was comprised of a Mommy, a Daddy, and their children. My own family had four children and I thought that was just the right amount. I couldn’t wait to grow up and have my own perfect family. My husband would have an amazing job that allowed me to stay at home and provide our family with everything we could possibly want or need. I would be the mother who did crafts, was a member of the PTA, and was waiting at home with a snack when her children came through the door.

Time went on and as I got older I realized that there was no such thing as a “perfect family.” As I watched my mother and father divorce and move on to new spouses I became a little cynical. I decided that I didn’t want a husband and children.

Husbands and wives aren’t always for forever and the children tend to be the ones who suffer. I promised myself that I would never do that to my children so the answer was to never fall in love or have children.

Then I couldn’t hurt them.

Time went on again and I again got a little older. I met the man that would become my husband and I realized that while sometimes love is only for a season there is love that can last for a lifetime. Our love changed both of our cynical world views and made us want to believe in that all-consuming “perfect love” once again.

And of course perfect love leads to the perfect family, right?

The only thing that kept my future husband from hitting the floor was the wall that caught him. His entire family took turns crying and congratulating us.

When I went into labor and gave birth I had an entire waiting room of family and friends waiting for my son’s arrival. They had to give me one of their largest rooms because I had so many people coming and going at once they were afraid of overflow into the hallway. It was at that time I realized that family is made up of the people who love you and who you love in return. Blood relations or not.

Five years later I am planning my son’s third birthday party and my second wedding anniversary. I am not the crafty mom unless you can purchase the craft pre-made. After a successful battle against brain cancer my husband was left with disabilities that allowed him to step into the role of stay at home father.

Five days a week I get up and battle to make a successful career that will provide for my two guys for many years to come. I don’t have the perfect family, but I do have the right one and for that I am thankful. ~Melissa Adams Jax, Fl ~

Wrong. My husband had been told he was sterile for a very long time, the result of the chemotherapy and radiation that saved his life. And I was okay with that. I had realized that while there was no such thing as the “perfect family” there was the “right family”. Even though it would be just the two of us (not counting our extended family of course), that would be what was right for us.

But guess what? A little time went on and I got just a tiny bit older and along with that came a miracle. In the midst of the madness of moving in together and starting a journey that would lead to our marriage I found out I was pregnant.

We want to hear your #MomTales, please submitt your stories to: icandipro@gmail.com

Page 31

Candi Ladies We pick right up where we left off in Issue15. Following the Charity Ball to catch up check out past issues @ issuu.com/icandipro

I

t had been a busy few months; successful, but busy. Candace sat in her office admiring the view of the city, lost in thought.

“Yes, Charlotte?” Candace pressed the respond button while beginning to shut down her computer with the other hand.

After the success of the iCandi ball everyone wanted to be a part of her company. Artists wanted to sign contracts. Producers wanted to sign contracts. Advertisers wanted to sign contracts. Even the mail room had seen in influx of applications.

Everyone wanted to work for or with iCandi.

“You have a visitor. I explained that he would need to make an appointment but he is being rather insistent on seeing you now.” Charlotte’s voice sounded hesitant. Typically she would never have allowed anyone other than Bethany the option of coming into my office for a meeting without a scheduled appointment. My curiosity was immediately struck.

Everyone except Eric Marlonson.

Candace hadn’t heard from him since the night of the ball. According to her sources Ericson Productions wasn’t doing so well. Artists weren’t renewing their contracts and they were struggling to bring in new talent.

A year ago this information would have delighted her. Her entire mission had been to bring down the corporation that had been determined to see the end of hers.

But that had been before the ball, before Eric Marlonson had managed to somehow slip past her defenses and actually make her worry about what happened to him.

With a heavy sigh Candace turned from the window toward her desk.

There was so much work waiting for her that she couldn’t afford herself the luxury of drowning in what ifs. If she wanted to get the day’s workload done in time to make it home before dinner, she needed to buckle down and get to work.

Several hours later Candace leaned back in her chair and stretched.

She had surprised herself and it looked like she’d be able to go home early. She could dismiss the nanny and take the girls to a nice dinner and a movie. It would be the perfect ending to the day.

“Ms. Bishop?” Charlotte’s voice came across the intercom.

“Who is it?” I asked. Before Bethany could answer my office door flew open.

“Eric Marlonson. And I’m sure Ms. Bishop will be more than happy to accomodate me.” Eric walked in as though he belonged there, tossing his last statement over his shoulder to Charlotte as she followed him in, a look of consternation on her face.

“Are you sure about that? I’m getting ready to leave.” Candace asked, quirking her eyebrow with a questioning look. Even though she knew for a fact she was too intrigued to not entertain him, that didn’t mean she had to let him know that.

“I’m sure you can spare a few minutes. Besides what smart businesswoman throws her competition out of her office when she believes she’s winning? Don’t you want to gloat?” Eric dropped into one of the armchairs in front of my desk, stretching his long legs out and crossing his arms across his chest.

“Ladies who are smart businesswomen don’t need to gloat. Their work speaks for itself.” I stood up and started to make my way around the desk. I refused to allow him to goad me into making a fool of myself.

Be sure to purchase the latest Christmas album present by iCandi’s own J. Antoinne entitled “This Christmas”.

Available on CDBaby, iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, Tidal, and Rhapsody!

Page 33

5 Ways to Kickstart Your Marriage by Joi Williams

Get Ready for he release of Joi William’s new book Bid For Freedom.

Coming out early 2018

S

o we’re married, now what??? Many couples feel the immense overwhelm of coming off the high of an amazing wedding and (If you’re lucky) a nice long relaxing honeymoon… but what now? What should we be doing to nurture our newly formed union? I’m going to share with you five ways to kickstart your marriage for success!

1. Gratitude is King!

At the beginning of a marriage, it’s easy to become distracted by the hustle and bustle of life. Becoming acclimated to this new lifestyle shift can be quite challenging at best. Whether it’s financial strain resulting from the wedding itself, or just simply learning to share your life in its entirety with another human being, rest assured there is a divine order for all things, even when you don’t quite understand its significance. There’s a saying from the late Wayne Dyer, which

states, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” With that being said, shift your focus to finding gratitude in every aspect of your life, especially your marriage. Implement a practice of gratitude into your daily routine.

Make time to really focus on at least five things within your marriage that you are grateful for. By shifting your focus to the aspects of your union that you love, when the difficult moments do arise (and they always will) you will be more prepared to handle those unexpected tests with grace and understanding rather than judgement and shame. Someone

else is somewhere praying for the marriage you may be taking for granted…

2. Make Your Time Together Non-Negotiable I cannot stress enough how important it is to make time for you and your spouse to connect with one another. Cut off cell phones and other such devices and take time out for yourselves. And no I don’t mean bedtime either…choose at least one day out of the week where you two can go off and do something together. It can be a romantic stroll at sunset, setting aside a specific “Date Night,” or having a candlelit dinner in the house with just the two of you; there are countless possibilities and many of them don’t cost a dime.

One common mistake that married people tend to make (myself included) is not properly nurturing the marriage. Think of it like this; the marriage itself is you and your spouse’s first offspring together: the wedding planning stage was tough and I’m sure at times outright stressful, just as labor pains are for a woman giving birth. That process gave way to what I’m confident was an amazing wedding ceremony.

That ceremony yielded an absolutely remarkable, unrepeatable miracle that is now your marriage.

Respect and nurture it as such. As with any living entity, where there is no nourishment there is no life. No matter what, always make time for each other.

3. Find a Marriage Mentor

locate a happily married couple or individual who shares and supports your values and beliefs

Let’s face it; our society promotes the dissolution of marriages far more than it promotes healthy ones.

Unfortunately, we have become so far removed from the things that truly matter in life and have chosen to give credence to the things that are for amusement and mere entertainment as though it were essential. With that being said, it is imperative that you find a marriage mentor. What I mean by that is to locate a happily married couple or individual who shares and supports your values and beliefs. It’s easy to read information from a book, but it becomes life-altering when you can see those teachings put to action and implemented into your marriage.

The great thing about choosing mentors is that they can be found in a variety of places and studied from a far. Many of my mentors I have never even met yet but believe me their presence in my life is very much so felt and appreciated. And yes they need to be REAL people. NO… I don’t mean Clair & Cliff Huxtable; I mean real people who have learned to overcome real life situations that you may or may not face throughout your marriage.

helplessness, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Vulnerability is the mother of true connection. In order for two people to truly connect, they each have to commit to being vulnerable or open enough to allow the connection to take place. Assuming your spouse has earned the right to your vulnerability, you must let go of past hurt and fears and know that your openness is a true testament of your strength and not a sign of weakness. It takes an immense amount of courage to trust someone with your spirit, but when you do, you’ll be glad you made the decision to do so. When you commit to a practice of vulnerability you’re trusting the process of love to do exactly what it was designed to do.

4. Develop a Prayer Life Together No matter what your religious beliefs are, both you and your spouse could greatly benefit from creating a prayer routine that is specific to only you two! Amazing things happen when you worship God together. You don’t have to take my word for it…just try it for yourself. Don’t allow religious differences to be a barrier. Discover a way to honor God in a way that is suitable for both of you. Remember, this is your marriage, your unrepeatable miracle that no one else has the pleasure of experiencing besides you and your spouse. For that we must make a way to incorporate God into it. Do what works for you and God will continue to bless you for it.

For more infor on Joi’s work go to: http://multidimensionaljoy.com

5. Let Your Vulnerability Flag Fly! Many of us have never been taught the truth about vulnerability. In our society it is likened to weakness or

Page 35

‘Tis The Season Written by MsiCandi

FOR A CHALLENGE!!!!

The MONTHLY Challenge is BACK Christmas time is here! I couldn’t think of a better time to relaunch iCandiland! Just to inform the newbies, Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday! The festive spirit that surrounds the holiday is infectious. Hopefully I’m not alone in my feelings, but just in case I am, I CHALLENGE you all to join me in the fun.

With the wedding excitement dying down,

I am ready to start my own blended family traditions with the Brooks Squad (that’s my last name, Brooks lol). I am personally trying to incorporate Christmas themed date nights as well as Christmas themed family activities. Of course I took to my now favorite helper site pinterest for a few ideas.

My family challenges your family to a Christmas off!

Bring it on!

Lights, Lights, & more Lights I love looking at Christmas lights a lot of cities

have holiday light festivals. Some neighborhoods also have lighting contests. As a child I would ride through neighborhoods with my mother looking at Christmas lights. We now do that with my daughter and this year I plan to incorporate the whole family.

Romantic Light Night. Looking at lights doesn’t have to be a family thing! We all love our children but depending on their age range, they might be annoying on the Christmas light quest. The younger ones might be in the back fighting and kicking and screaming, and older children might be “too cool” to go on this outing.

Sometimes it’s best enjoyed with just you and your boo. I have also, in the past, made a date night out of it with my now-husband. I would pack up some sandwiches and hot chocolate; he would fill up the gas tank and we would cruise around neighborhoods, listening to Christmas music, talking, and checking out the Christmas scenery. Classic date night won’t break your pockets!

Family Pictures Holiday Pictures

Holiday pictures are also something that’s a fun tradition for me. I’ve been doing them for my daughter since she was born, and now again it’s something new for me to incorporate with my family. I wonder if your family photos can top ours? Yep that’s a challenge!

SHOW ME:

The ideas that I’ve went in depth on are definites for my family, but with there being 25 more days until Christmas you have room for lots more fun. I want to see how creative you all get. Post your pictures via social media using #CandiChristmasChallange so I can see how far you took it.

COUPLES: This year I’m trying to incorporate more couples so I am definitely challenging all of you love birds to see who can be the most creative with their significant other this holiday season. Even if that means making a holiday baby. have fun! ;-) But, keep those babymaking photos to yourself this holiday season!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all! I hope you all make lots of fabulous memories this holiday season. Until next year!

Christmas Karaoke

This one can be fun with the family or inviting friends over! I’m not sure how cool your friends are but my squad is the livest ever and we would surely have a great time. If you aren’t feeling the karaoke challenge then I challenge you to come up with a cool Christmas squad moment!

Page 37

Join our mailing list for updates on the happenings in iCandiand until next month Be iCandilicious