I’ve been on the lookout for swimwear since it IS summertime! The perfect time to head to the beach, and my boyfriend’s new casa has a pool! So right now swimwear is essential! Thankfully, I received a $25 gift card for TJ Maxx / Marshalls and checked out our local stores. I’m so glad I did!

When checking out swimwear and beach gear at other department stores the prices were ridiculously high. The awesome thing about TJ Maxx / Marshalls is they have quality swimwear for less! The photo I have up top is an example. The original price is $158 but you could buy it at TJ Maxx / Marshalls for only $29.99! Isn’t that crazy? I put that one up because I’m considering getting that one. I still have to decide though. I received some great tips to help choose the right swimwear and wanted to share it with you all!

* Bold & Bright – Stand out at the beach and grab a suit that flaunts that tan in yellow, turquoise or even black and white. .

* Patterns & Prints – Looking to add curves to a petite frame? Opt for a suit with a bold print in a fun pattern like paisley, tie dye or a mosaic. Tribal prints have also made a huge comeback for this summer and can spice up any swimwear attire.

* Embellishments –This year’s swimwear is all about the bling! Make sure to flaunt one of these new trends: jewels at the neckline, ombre fabric dyeing, ruched sides, buckles and grommet details.

* The New One-Piece – The one-piece is back with updates that you won’t be able to resist! Look for suits with one shoulder straps and hardware to add an edge to your poolside attire. Monokinis are also a huge favorite this year. This sexy one piece allows fashionistas to show a little skin without exposing it all.

A swim look is never complete without the right cover-up, sunglasses, hat, carry-all bag, towel and sun-protection!

* For the Boardwalk cover up with a colorful, strapless sundress, a solid romper or cargo shorts and a tissue tee. Try a long, patterned tunic for a chic on-and off the beach look. Keep feet sand-free with a pair of flat, gladiator sandals with stone embellishments.

* Carry beach gear in an oversized straw bag with ribbon detailing or a cross-body messenger bag.

* Stay sun protected with a pair of aviators or Jackie O style sunglasses, a wide brimmed straw hat in a variety of colors and details or try a lightweight fedora or boater style hat.

I seriously saw so many cute bikinis, one-piece swimswear, and cover-ups I didn’t know what to choose. Here are some others I’m considering

I noticed that COOGI swimwear always caught my eye. I liked this bikini and thought it would be perfect with the Jordan Taylor cover-up I have behind it. (I ended up buying the Jordan Taylor cover-up since it caught my eye as soon as I walked in.. and it was the last one of that style! It is so comfortable and I love it)

This is the cover-up I got, this pic doesn’t do it justice. It’s chic, slightly see through, has a cute lil hood and is sooo comfortable!

Decisions, decisions!

Hello! Those that follow me on Twitter already know about stuff I love that I have tried or have been using so I am doing this post today for those who aren’t in the know! I have been using the NEW Caress body washes and they are amazing! The cute bottles caught my attention and I received and absolutely love Caress’ Whipped Souffle White Peach Cream Ultra Silkening Body Wash (which is in that lovely photo I took above lol!) and Caress Velvet Bless Silkening Body wash. Caress also has other great new products, including the Blackberry Cream Whipped Souffle Body Wash that ‘Dancing with the Stars‘ two time champion Julianne Hough happens to love! Check out the video below where Julianne Hough gives out some tips to prepare for a great night out:

Julianne Hough also gave an additional 3 great tips to get the best looking skin:
1. Buff. To flaunt fab skin in the city, use a pumice stone to treat dry spots, like elbows and heels.
2. Hydrate. Boost your water intake – it will help you feel refreshed and vibrant all night long.
3. Indulge. Before you hit the town, maximize your shower and make skin flaunt-worthy with the new Caress Whipped Soufflés. These ultra-light, yet creamy body washes deliver both incredible fragrances and moisturization in one.

I definitely agree with Julianne’s tips and using either Caress’ Blackberry Cream (whipped with Blackberry and Vanilla Essence) Souffle Body Wash, White Peach Cream (whipped with White Peach and a blend of Silk Blossom) Souffle Body Wash, and or Caress Velvet Bliss (with Blackberry and Vanilla Essence) Silkening Body Wash is the ideal way to get clean while being pampered at the same time. Each body wash comes with a wonderful fragrance and has a blend of moisturizers that leave your skin velvety soft and luxuriously silky.

I love these products because body washes that have a great fragrance are usually lacking in the cleansing/moisturizing arena. You know what I’m talking about, those body washes don’t lather well in the shower and your skin usually ends up kind of dry afterward. On the other hand I have also used body washes that moisturize your skin but you don’t feel pampered. Caress’ Whipped Souffles and Velvet Bliss offers both great lively scents while moisturizing your skin at the same time… LOVE!

For more great tips by Julianne and for a chance to win a Girls Getaway (roundtrip airfare to New York City, Las Vegas or Miami and more) go to DanceWithCaress.com !

Last week I blogged about Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream and why it is important to exfoliate. Not only is the Refiner Exfoliating Cream a great exfoliating product but it has a great number of benefits due to its Mimosa extract. Today I wanted to bring up Clarins Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum (Youth Boost) which will make a great addition to any beauty regimen.

You could use Clarins Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum in the morning or evening, I prefer using it in the evening (I feel pampered). I love the fragrance of this product and notice almost immediately after using it that my skin feels so much softer and my skin looks much better. So what’s in Clarins Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum that makes your skin glow? Nopal flower extract and Phytosphingosine.

Nopal flower extract is what brings the brightness and softness to the skin. Nopal extract stimulates the skin’s natural capacity to eliminate impurities. It smooths and evens out the skin’s surface as well. Nopal flower extract also reduces small age spots and leaves your skin super soft with a healthy glow.

Now the other important ingredient in Clarins Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum, Phytosphingosine, is similar to a molecule that is normally present in your skin. Phytosphingosine helps optimize cell renewal as well as the production of collagen. As you may already know, collagen is a protein that is found in the lower layer of your skin and is also responsible for your skin’s strength. As you age, the production of collagen decreases and as a result there is less firmness to your body tissues and as a result wrinkles and sagging of the skin can occur. This is why increasing the production of collagen is one of the essential ways to prevent wrinkles. Phytosphingosine is used in skin and hair conditioning products and has also has an anti-inflammation and anti-irritation effect. While it is known to strengthen the skin structure, it is also known to stimulate the synthesis of glucosylceramide, which helps restore damaged or aged skin structure. Phytosphingosine stimulates epidermis (outer skin layer) formation, stimulates collagen synthesis and has a soothing effect on skin inflammation caused by UV. It protects the skin’s barrier to alleviate discomfort associated with dry, aging skin.

After receiving Clarins Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum I’ve been using it a few times a week and I have absolutely no complaint about it whatsoever. Another quality product by Clarins, this Renewal Serum makes your skin soft, appear brighter while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. After applying the serum to your skin you are not only left with better looking skin, but you are also left with the fresh fragrance that, personally, leaves me feeling like I’m being pampered/rewarded. Highly recommended!

It has been a while since I have done a beauty blog post but I have two great reasons for doing this one: Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream with microbeads and Clarins Multi-Active Skin Renewal Serum which are both new Clarins products that were introduced this year. I received these products weeks ago and as always, Clarins does not disappoint! Today I’ll talk about the Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream.

I always make it a point to exfoliate once a week, every Sunday actually. I even have exfoliating gloves for my body. The reason it is good to exfoliate is because it helps to remove oils, buildup and dead skin cells and when it does this it promotes the regeneration of new, healthy layers of skin. As you age you may notice that your skin looks dull and lifeless, this is because of the buildup of dead skin cells that have accumulated on the surface of your skin. When you’re younger, your skin naturally regenerates itself pretty much on a weekly basis and that’s why you have great “baby” skin. However as you get older your skin regenerates itself significantly less often – so you must exfoliate to give your skin a little help! Exfoliating the skin removes dry, dead skin cells and reveals fresh, radiant skin.

The great thing about Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream is that it contains both exfoliating and refining microbeads. The exfoliating beads gently lift impurities and removes dead skin cells. Some exfoliating cleansers are too harsh, but not Clarins! Young skin can withstand most exfoliating products but older skin require a more gentler touch. Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating beads remove dead cells without irritating your skin. Trust me, my Mom has the most sensitive skin in the world (it seems) and she even likes this product!

Not only do you have the Exfoliating beads, but you also have the Refining beads that help tighten enlarged pores which results in smoother skin texture. This cleanser also has Mimosa extract. Mimosa Tenuiflora is said to have anti-aging and skin soothing properties and is often found in moisturizers and masks used for rejuvenating skin. This Mimosa Tenuiflora extract soothes your skin so that in the end your skin is clean, softer, and more comfortable.

I absolutely love Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream, which is now a part of my weekly beauty regimen. There are a lot of exfoliating cleansers and creams out there that do exfoliate (some are rather harsh) but I love the additional benefits of the refining beads and Mimosa extract found in the product that seems to soothe your skin while exfoliating. Like I said above, it was even gentle enough for my Mom who is unable to use many creams and lotions due to her sensitive skin. I’m often scared for her to try new products but she tried it and she is just fine and it’s a part of her weekly regimen now as well. Highly recommended for people with regular skin like me, or super sensitive skin like my Mom

Hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day Weekend! I just wanted to let you all know about a movie I saw yesterday – Cronicas Chilangas. It’s a comedy in Spanish (has English subtitles though) that follow three people, each going through their own struggles and odd issues. The odd issue I’m talking about is that of Jairo, who is schizophrenic and believes that aliens from outer space are on earth and that he is the chosen one to get rid of them. (Think Men in Black.. LOL.) Another character in this film is Claudia who began to have a strong obsession with porn after finding her husband’s pornographic materials time and time again. The other main character of this story is Juvencio, who is struggling to pay the house mortgage and to care for his wife and his daughter who is quadriplegic. Each story is unique to say the least, and it is interesting to see how they all come into each others lives in the end!

Check out the official Cronicas Chilangas movie website at cronicaschilangasmovie.com

Last year I blogged about how awesome being on the Pinecone Research Panel was and it made me want to find out if there were any other equally awesome ways to make money online. So I checked out many sites and came across SendEarnings.com and decided to check out if they were legit or not. They are legit… but I’m not recommending them unless you really (really really really) need every penny you could get and are willing to wait a very long time to get paid.

SendEarnings offers many different ways to earn money. I decided to just make money by reading emails – which explains why it took me over a year to get paid (you can request your check once you have earned $30). Once you sign up you can receive paid email which are emails they send you with information and links. When you click on the link you earn yourself a penny or two. Which is totally understandable because you ARE just getting paid to click on links. The email links lead you to various sites with new products, information about health conditions or financial aid, special offers and more. Some of these emails give you a chance to earn more money by signing up for their particular site or service. I’ve seen many of these types of offers and the extra money you could earn usually ranges from about 50 cents to $5.

Usually to earn extra money you have to provide your information (name, address, telephone number, email) to the website that SendEarnings has linked you to. I personally do not like giving my information out so I passed a majority of these extra offers up. However if you don’t mind giving your info out to earn extra money then knock yourself out! You probably won’t have to wait a year for a $27 check like me! I did take part in some of these offers though: signed up to receive health information, signed up for a newsletter, and registered for some online survey sites. And SendEarnings DID credit me for all of them. They have a page where you can view your current earnings to keep track of how much money you have earned which I thought was great.

Other extra money offers via email included trying out things like Netflix, which you would eventually have to pay monthly for but I thought it was kinda neat to earn some extra cash just to sign up for something you were planning on paying for anyways.

As I mentioned above, you have to earn $30 to request a check, and it took me over a year to earn that through clicking on emails alone. While on vacation I’d read these emails daily. But when I’m busy I read them once a week (those emails can pile up) which was fine except a few emails would expire because I read them too late. This was really not a big deal, I mean I AM just clicking on links.

Besides it taking forever to earn money on SendEarnings.com, I only have two complaints about them. They’re supposed to credit you when you refer a member who is active, and that never happened. Second, I requested my check on March 13th because I FINALLY reached $30 and they notified me that my check will be processed on May 3rd, which I expected. However they also stated that “Payments are not processed on inactive accounts. You must stay active by confirming your Paid Email messages or your payment request will be removed.” Not cool SendEarnings, not cool! So I had to keep clicking emails until I got my check! I got it now so I’m done! No mas!

All in all though, SendEarnings is a legit company and a good way to make a buck here and there through their special cash offers, using their grocery coupons, shopping online and… reading emails The best way to use SendEarnings, in my opinon, is for items or services that you planned on purchasing anyways… but with SendEarnings you make a few extra bucks from it. It’s not much but can add up in the long (longgggg) run

I included photos of the check I just received this week as proof that SendEarnings is a legit company and I am going to deposit it today!

Visit SendEarnings.com by clicking here

The P90X Nutrition Plan book is packed with information to help you learn what kinds of food to eat, how much, and when to eat so you can lose fat and get into shape. The Nutrition Plan gives you specific portion and meal plans based on your nutrition level which is based on the daily amount of calories your body needs for optimal health and performance. After calculating your nutrition level you can see exactly what you should be eating.

Phase 1 in the P90x Nutrition Plan is the “Fat Shredder” phase that should be followed in days 1-28 of the program. It is a high protein based diet that is designed to help strengthen muscle while rapidly shedding fat from your body. The amount of time you spend in Phase 1 depends on the individual. People who are relatively fit but still have more body fat can extend this phase a bit longer. The Fat Shredder phase is designed to cut down your body fat percentage and while it is doing this your available energy should also decrease. This is why the Fat Shredder phase should only be extended if you REALLY need to drop more fat and if you feel that you have enough energy to get through the workouts.

On the other hand, if your body fat is already low and you don’t have enough energy to get the most out of the workouts, you could cut Phase 1 short by a week or two. Otherwise… Phase 1… Fat Shredder… Days 1 through 28!

Now for each phase P90x gives both a Portion Plan and a Meal Plan. The Portion Plan was created for those who don’t want to follow recipes while the Meal Plan gives you daily meal plans that includes low fat healthy recipes. I love the recipes so here are some examples of Phase 1 – Fat Shredder Meal Plan recipes that you can find in the P90x Nutrition Plan.

* Note that there are specific meal plan recipes for each nutrition level. I’m throwing in an example for each Nutrition level – ENJOY!

BREAKFAST

Protein Shake – Nutrition Level I

- 1 cup skim milk
- 3 tablespoons protein powder (such as Beachbody Whey Protein Powder)
- 1/2 cup berries
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 cup ice

Serves 1
Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

[Per serving: 233 Calories (kcal); 2g Total Fat (8% calories from fat); 20g Protein; 36g Carbohydrate; 4mg Cholesterol; 130mg Sodium.]

Cheese Scramble – Nutrition Level II

- 8 whole egg whites
- 3 tablespoons skim milk
- 3 ounces mozzarella cheese, part skim, grated
- salt and pepper to taste

Serves 1
1. In a bowl, beat the egg whites with the skim milk.
2. In a medium pan coated with vegetable spray, add the egg mixture and cook slightly-then add the cheese and cook to desired firmness.

[Per serving: 388 Calories (kcal); 7g Total Fat (35% calories from fat); 53g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 47mg Cholesterol; 653mg Sodium]

Chef Salad – Nutrition Level III

- 5 ounces fat-free turkey breast, chopped
- 5 ounces ham slice, extra lean, low sodium, chopped
- 4 ounces fat-free mozzarella cheese, chopped
- 1 Roma tomato, chopped
- 2-1/2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/4 cup hearts of palm, chopped
- 2 ounces avocado, diced
- 4 tablespoons low-fat Ranch dressing

Serves 1
Toss ingredients together in a bowl and drizzle with dressing.

[Per serving: 611 Calories (kcal); 14g Total Fat (20% calories from fat); 96g Protein; 26g Carbohydrate; 150mg Cholesterol; 913mg Sodium]

LUNCH

Chicken Salad – Nutrition Level II

- 8 ounces skinless chicken breast halves
- 2-1/2 ounces low-fat mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2-1/2 tablespoons green onions, diced
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh dill
- 1/2 cup celery, diced

Serves 3
Poach chicken; cool and dice. Gently combine the chicken with the remaining ingredients and chill until ready to serve.

[Per serving: 345 Calories (kcal); 12g Total Fat (32% calories from fat); 43g Protein; 14g Carbohydrate; 105mg Cholesterol; 361mg Sodium]

Shrimp Stir-Fry – Nutrition Level I

- 6 ounces shrimp, peeled
- 1/4 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup fat-free chicken broth
- 1-4 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1-4 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 1-2 cup red onion, sliced in wedges
- 1-2 cup broccoli florets
- 1-1/4 cups snow peas, trimmed
- 1-1/2 cups mushrooms, halved
- 1/4 cup yellow bell pepper, cubed
- 1/4 cup canned water chestnuts, drained

Serves 1
1. Wash shrimp and drain well.
2. Heat the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of the chicken broth in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté until tender.
3. Add all the vegetable to the pan and continue to sauté, stirring and adding more broth as necessary. Add shrimp when the vegetables are halfway cooked and sauté until the vegetables are tender and the shrimp is opaque.

[Per serving: 332 Calories (kcal); 4g Total Fat (9% calories from fat); 44g Protein; 33g Carbohydrate; 259mg Cholesterol; 552mg Sodium]

DINNER

Lemon Garlic Chicken – Nutrition Level II

- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 pounds skinless chicken thighs
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- lemon wedges
- parsley sprigs

Yields 32 ounces
1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a nonreactive dish and add chicken. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 1 hour, turning occasionally.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
3. Remove chicken from dish, reserving marinade, and arrange in a shallow roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Pour reserved marinade over chicken; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes, basting occasionally with marinade. Bake without basting for 20 minutes more or until chicken is done. Serve with lemon wedges and garnish with parsley, if desired.

[Per serving: 192 Calories (kcal); 5g Total Fat (24% calories from fat); 26g Protein; 10g Carbohydrate; 107mg Cholesterol; 274mg Sodium]

Coleslaw

- 3 cups green cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup red cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup jicama, julienned
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 2 red delicious apples, finely diced
- 1/2 fat-free mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons fructose
- 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1-1/2 teaspoons caraway seed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pinch white pepper

Yields 6 cups
1. Combine the vegetables and apples in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix well to make dressing.
3. Pour the dressing over the slaw and toss until evenly coated. Cover tightly and chill before serving.

[Per serving: 38 Calories (kcal); trace Total Fat (4% calories from fat); 0g Protein; 9g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 171mg Sodium]

I just watched Mejor es que Gabriela no se Muera yesterday and I must say it had me LAUGHING and wondering what was going to happen next in this bizarre comedy. The movie plays off of the popularity of Spanish soap operas or “novelas” and how one fan in particular gets far too obsessed with how the movie will end. “Mejor es que Gabriela no se Muera” features Mauricio Isaac (Miguel the writer), Dagoberto Gama (Bracho the police officer), Gabriela Roel (Ana Victoria “La Mala”), Alejandra Barros (“La Buena”), Eduardo Santamarina (“El Bueno”), Alexis Ayala (“El Malo”) and Miguel Pizarro (“El Extra”).

The movie starts off when Miguel, the writer of a popular novela “Destiny of Love”, and his friends get pulled over by the cops. Officer Bracho gives Miguel and his friends a hard time until he discovers that Miguel is a writer for her favorite soap opera “Destiny of Love”, which his wife is also a huge fan of. Bracho asks Miguel about what happens with the villain Gabriela at the end, and Miguel reveals that she will get married. Bracho then lets Miguel and his friends go, and begins bragging to his wife and friends that he is tight with the popular soap opera’s staff members. Nobody believes Bracho, so he reveals the ending to them as proof of how he has insider friends who are involved with the popular TV show. However things take a turn for the worse when Gabriela quits the show and the writer Miguel is told to kill her off of the show. Of course Bracho is not happy with this change in the script because it makes him look like a liar, so he begins to desperately stalk Miguel which in turn leads to a crazy amount of unexpected events! (I’m not going to tell you what happens!) Check out the trailer below:

“Mejor es que Gabriela no se Muera” was hilarious, and once I thought I knew what was going to happen… they threw in little twists (just like a novela, sigh) that had me clueless as to what will happen next. This movie was a refreshing change to the movies out right now and is a great comedy that Spanish soap opera lovers will enjoy (we all know how dramatic and cheesy novelas can be!) The movie is in Spanish but also has English subtitles so anyone can watch “Mejor es que Gabriela no se Muera” – go check it out for a good laugh!

When I first heard about the Basketball Wives reality show I thought “Oh great, yet another reality show”. I did not give it a second thought until I saw the CRAZY trailer – drama! This guilty pleasure show is about 6 best friends who have been or are in a relationship with a basketball star. In VH1’s Basketball Wives you will see that the life of an NBA player’s significant other isn’t all the glitz and glamour you would expect it to be. This reality TV series will follow: Shaunie O’ Neal – who recently divorced Shaquille O’ Neal, Suzie Ketcham – who was with Michael Olowokandi for 10 years, Jennifer Williams – wife of Eric Williams, Royce Reed- Dwight Howard’s ex girlfriend / baby momma, Erikka Moxam – ex girlfriend of Rasual Butler (have very little info on her), Evelyn Lozada – who dated Antoine Walker for 10 years, and Gloria Govan – who is engaged to Matt Barnes. Check out the trailer and read more about the ladies below…

Evelyn “Eve” Lozada (@FirstLadyEve), 34 years old, is a Puerto Rican beauty who was born in Brooklyn but raised in the Bronx. She is the ex-fiancée of former NBA player Antoine Walker (of the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies). She was engaged to the controversial Antoine Walker, who she dated for 10 years. Antoine Walker is said to be broke and facing legal troubles for unpaid gambling debts and failure to maintain properties he owns in Chicago. Walker was signed to the Guaynabo Mets of the Puerto Rican Basketball League but after a few months has been released from the team. Walker has been said to be a cheater and it is because of his unfaithfullness (and possibly lack of money) that Evelyn called it quits.

Evelyn was an assistant to a well known celebrity attorney and eventually met Antoine Walker. She has a 17 year old daughter and co-owns an upscale shoe boutique, Dulce, in Coral Gables, Florida.

More Info:
Dulce
286 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, Fl. 33134
www.dulceshoes.net

Evelyn Lozada Photos:

Jennifer “Red Carpet” Williams (@RedCarpet_17), 34, is a classy woman who grew up in the upscale suburb of South Orange, New Jersey. She is married to the former NBA player Eric Williams (of the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, and Charlotte Bobcats). She met Eric Williams in 2000 and explains that being the wife of an NBA star has its perks, but that this type of lifestyle is dysfunctional.

Jennifer is a high end real estate agent and successful owner of a women’s work out company called Flirty Girl Fitness. Their company offers effective and fun workouts such as Abs and Booty, Hottie Body Boxing, Video Vixen, Yoga Fusion and more (sucks they are not out here in L.A!) Williams also supports countless charities and has founded Project Save the World to help fight different causes.

More Info:
FlirtyGirlFitness.com
ProjectSaveTheWorld.org

Jennifer Williams Photos:

Royce Reed (@Roycelr), 29, was born and raised in Orlando and graduated from Florida A&M University with a degree in Theatre, Education and Humanities. She is an athletic former gymnist, competitive cheerleader, and was a dancer for professional basketball teams in both Miami and Orlando. She met Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic while she was a dancer for the team during the 2005-2006 season. She is Dwight’s ex-girlfriend and gave birth to his son, Braylon Howard, in November of 2007. Royce had to take Dwight to court in 2008 for child support and Dwight took Royce to court twice last year. In one case, Dwight won a permanent injunction against Royce in which she is banned from speaking or writing about Dwight in any shape or form. In the second lawsuit he sued Royce for $9,205,000 in damages for defamation of character.

Despite the trials and tribulations between the pair, Royce has continued on with her life and has started her own Burlesque Dance Company Fantashique and they have been performing around Florida.

More Info:
Fantashique.com
Fantashique Divas

Royce Reed Photos

Suzie Ketcham (@iLuvSuzie) is the social butterfly of the group and is a luxury real estate specialist. She met (now retired) NBA player Michael Olowokandi (of the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics) while attending college at Pepperdine University and became pregnant with their first child together her senior year in college. They had two children together in their 10 year relationship before they finally split. Suzie has lived in New Jersey, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles but now resides in Miami. She has connections world wide and is sometimes referred to as the “Queen of Miami” since she seems to know everyone.

Suzie Ketcham Photos:

Gloria Govan, 24, is the youngest of the bunch and is of African American, Mexican and Hawaiian descent. She is from a prominent family of nine and is from Oakland but more specifically she grew up in the affluent Bay Area suburb Orinda, which is just east of Oakland. Gloria studied international business at San Franscisco State University and met NBA star Matt Barnes (of the Fayetteville Patriots, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns) when she was 12 years old. After going their separate ways they reconnected when Matt played in Northern California. They are now engaged to be married and have two beautiful identical twin boys: Isaiah Michael and Carter Kelly.

What is interesting about Gloria is that her sister, Laura Govan, is the mother to NBA star Gilbert Arenas’ 3 children and was recently caught in a scandal when intimate messages between Laura and a then married Shaq were made public. Laura and Shaunie O’ Neal were supposedly friends but apparently Laura has been in an affair with Shaq for several years. But that’s a WHOLE other (long) story (read about it here) so let me just end it now.

Gloria is the executive director of Matt’s foundation Athletes vs Cancer in which they raise cancer awareness and raise money for cancer research. Gloria is also involved with many other charities.

More Info:
Athletes Vs Cancer

Gloria Govan Photos

And last but definitely not least is Shaunie O’Neal (@Shaunie_O), 35, who just recently divorced from NBA Super Star Shaquille O’Neal, most likely because of his cheating ways. Shaunie and Shaq have four children and Shaunie is set to launch her own shoe line.

There isn’t much more I could say about Shaunie since this divorce was more publicized in comparison to the other women on the show. We all know Shaunie came up big in the divorce settlement and lately she has been seen with a new, younger man – 23 year old model Marlon Yates. She seems to be coping with the divorce rather well. Or I guess we will just have to wait and see what is really going on in Basketball Wives.

Shaunie Photos:

Just wanted to share some music by The Embassy (EMB) (@embassymusic). I’ve been listening to new artists a lot lately and this is one of the few songs I have on REPEAT right now. I’ve never heard of The Embassy til I heard this song “Money Getters” on Ozone Mag. Now I’m looking forward to hearing more of their music. Have a listen:

The Embassy – “Money Getters”

The Roots also came out with a mixtape which is a tribute to the late great J Dilla.

You could listen to AND download the mixtape here: The Roots – Dilla Joints (Mixtape)

More Noteworthy New Music:
Dirty Money ft. T.I.- “Hello, Good Morning”

Source: ConcreteLoop

Electrik Red – “I’m That Chick”

Source: ConcreteLoop

Timbaland feat. T-Pain and Billy Blue-”Talk That Sh*t”

Source: Ozone