Laced Up Sneaker Bontique joins XXL Magazine's Dawton Thomas to Lauch the F.I.L.A. 80's Fly Boy Classics

Laced Up 572 Edgewood Ave Suite 114Atlanta, GA 30312

Email: sneakers@lacedup.biz












Last night I dropped in on Laced Up and editor and cheif of XXL Dawton Thomas lauch party for the 80's original F.I.L.A. "Fly Boy Classics" collection. If your a sneaker head then Laced Up is where you want to go pick up your flyest kicks.

Owned by Ernel Dawkins, Laced Up has quietly gained momentum as the sneaker haven of choice amongst the celebrity sector of Atlanta, 'lacing up' kicks for the likes of Outkast's Big Boi, who came through show love last night, rapper T.I., Baltimore Raven's Jamal Lewis, and Clinton Portis of the Washington Redskins, to name a few. Dawkins says "Our clientele is part of an ever growing populance of true sneaker-heads worldwide that have somewhat incited a movement of authenticity, creativity, and motivated by distinction".






The owner attributes the success of Laced Up to the true to life fertility of progressive Atlanta community and encourages other young people to set their sights high, and meet their goals.


So if you looking for the hottest sneaks to give you that street cred stop by the store and get Laced Up.
Thanks Garner Circle for the invite.


Exculusive: Dela Soul Dunks- top




Brand New: Ciano Farmer $169.00

LifeStyle:



A Little Black Dress Called: LIFE



As Social Divas, we know that if there’s one thing we can’t live without, it’s our infamous little black dress. After all, a truly polished woman’s wardrobe is just not complete without one.
Now we have a new LBD to add to our collection:
Janet W. Thomas State Farm Agency is sponsoring the FREE speaker series: The Little Black Dress Called: LIFE! for divalicious women who want to get more, well, everything!
Each series event is held from 6:30PM to 8:00PM, on the third Thursday of every month, at the Janet W. Thomas State Farm Agency, located in Buckhead Court at 3872 Roswell Road, Suite C3. Wine and cheese is always served, along with tips and tricks to further divafy your life.
The Little Black Dress Called: LIFE’s topic for May is Organizing Your Life. Join us right after work (6:30PM) on May 22nd for a bit of education from speaker Jaye Gennuso of Catalyst Organizing. You might just learn some new ways to get yourself together, Diva.
RSVP by May 20th by calling 404-816-8885.

Text Etiquette

How many times have you had a conversation via text message? Setting up dates, asking questions, getting directions, a hello and good bye, even arranging an occasional late night rendezvous. We all do it. But when does texting become extreme? Is there a limit to texting when you are in a relationship? Have you been dumped by text? Better yet, have you taken a text the wrong way? I am a part of text mania. I find myself spending twenty minutes texting what I can say in five. Yes, I booty text and yes, I have text someone to never call me again. Convenient yes, but texting is also impersonal and in many cases misunderstood. Let’s look into the realm of text messages.
I recently ended a year long relationship with someone who found no problem with text messaging me all the time. When we first started dating we were great with communicating verbally and exchanged a minor text here and there. When he moved up north our quality time suffered tremendously, so hearing his voice was the panacea until the next visit. After a while he began to text me consistently about everything; what I did that day, what I was going to do tomorrow, next day…hell next month. Before I realized it we were having an all out conversation on my cell phone via text and I had not heard his voice in months. I addressed the situation but to no avail he still continued and I eventually ended it. The funny thing about it is that he didn’t and still doesn’t see anything wrong using text messaging as a primary communication tool. I felt he was less involved in the relationship, possibly cheating or shutting me out all together. Either way, the love language we had created had been reduced to a short hand vocabulary.
Using text messaging as a means of intimacy is not a good idea. Abbreviating words and substituting conjunctions for numbers, can not take the place of hearing the voice of your loved one. Imagining the smile on their face when they say hello and in return the joy you bring to them when you respond. To put it bluntly, it murders vocal chemistry. It diminishes the memory imprint of his laugh and masculine baritone and her soft whispers and sweet hellos. Text messaging does not allow you the familiarity with your mate’s conversation because truth is anyone could be entering the letters. And if you’re already having trust issues, I would not recommend texting at all and just “make the call.”
On the flip side text messaging is used to disconnect. Yes — this is a new fad…breaking up by text. I can recall a break up in 1996 by a guy who sent me not one, not two, but three pages of 42-86-13 (in pager language: his code-cuts-my code). Yeah, that bad. Back then there was only two or three buttons to push on pagers; one to retrieve and one to delete and change settings so creativity was a must when sending notes. 86ing someone on a Motorola is by far the most creative. Nowadays, text messaging has made breaking up a little more informative. A person can use text lingo to not only tell you it’s over but also give reasons why. ‘It’s not working out’, ‘it was the end’, ‘I’m sorry I don’t want to lead you on,’ ‘it is what it is.’ Or most popular in the news: “I Wnt 2 Dvrce U” what Britney Spears supposedly text Kevin Ferderline. Be it short worded or fragmented statements, either way it’s a cowardly way out and is highly not recommended.
In fact, there are a few rules to the texting world, better termed “Text Etiquette”. Here are a few:
KISS (Keep It Simple and Short) Conversation: Great for simple sayings of affection, even a bit of sexual conversation; hence KISS. Pouring out your entire heart would be a bit much. Think about it, the time you’d take to type up what you want to say would be double the amount if you’d just call. After all, hearing your voice would make the other person’s day brighter.
Clarity: Be clear in your text. Use caps only when you are being aggressive. Check your messages before hitting the send button. It is so simple to miss a letter or number and that itty bitty mistake can cause a large problem. Dbl chk b4 u snd.
Don’t analyze: Most text messages are read through emotional eyes or business minds, so misinterpretation is possible. Don’t read any further than what is on the screen. If you’re not sure what the person meant, call and ask.
Check the vibe: Watch your tone. What’s nothing to you could be a lot to someone else.
NO TUI’s (Texting Under the Influence): In case you didn’t know, when you are out for a night of drinking with friends, leave the phone in the car, at home or just turn it off. Drunk calling is not attractive. This includes sending pictures as well. Remember, the sun will come out tomorrow.

article courstey of Angel Christmas

High Heel in High Places

The National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment ( NABFEME) hosted a professional development seminar “High Heels in High Places” Brunch this past Saturday at the Marriott Downtown.

Okay so ladies listen up if you’re a business professional or an aspiring business professional then you should and would want to know this organization.

WHO is NABFEME: NABFEME is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to the support and empowerment of women of color in recorded music, the media and related entertainment industry fields.

WHAT THEY DO: They are committed to the development of support programs and the creation of alliances that will assist members in achieving their personal and professional goals.

The seminar highlighted the achievements of some of the top female executives in the entertainment field. The panel consisted of some of the most influential and power women in Atlanta. Amanda Davis, Emmy award winning co-anchor for FOX 5 Atlanta and “Good Day Atlanta”. Shared with us some of the obstacles she had to encounter while being a new anchor. From having an employer not understanding those days when you hadto bring your child to work with you to knowing how to negotiate salary battles in a male dominate field.

Hannah Kang, General Manger, Grand Hustle. She oversees T.I.’s Clothing line, AKOO ; sports management, Grand Hustle Films, and the day to day operations of the office. Ms. Kang brought a more urban perspective to the table and the inside track to the hip-hop world. Her advice, if you plan on going into the hip hop industry, carry one self as a business professional at all cost, never mix business with pleasure. If you happen to get involved with someone in the industry make sure it stays between the two, don’t be one of those women that sleep around in the industry to get ahead.

Melanie Few, CEO and President, Results Inc. a leading Urban Marketing and Entertainment Marketing agency. With clients including: The Coca Cola Company, Revlon, General Mills and Hallmark.
Here are some tips about Results Inc and major accomplishments
· The first agency to secure over 1 million dollars in sponsorship for a faith based tour.
· Persuaded The Coca-Cola Company to align it’s 1996 Coke Classic campaign with gospel in the first promotional association of it’s kind.


If you want to know how to brand yourself then panelist Melissa D. Johnson, entrepreneur, author, and Personal Brand Strategist is who you should look up. She is the CEO of and President of Velvet Suite Marketing Consulting Group, Inc.(www.velvetsuite.com) headquartered in Atlanta. She was able to supply us ladies with sound advice on how to brand a business. Make sure that like many of us, choosing a second career that the second time around you are being involved with something you love. Know the person you want to be and the things you want out of life. Do just do it for the money, research and know what it takes to succeed in that business.

My favorite PR guru Nicole Garner, President and CEO of Garner Circle Public Relations Firm(http://www.thegarnercircle.com/. Garner shared with us how she decided on her business back in college. How she took the time to research her market and took the necessary steps to educate herself on the PR biz. She started representing herself as a PR person even before she had a real established business and today her efforts gleam. She is also known as the youngest in charge.

Phaedra Parks, The Parks Group, P.C. Ms. Parks is the Managing Partner at The Parks Group, P.C. a Atlanta based boutique law firm. She has severed as a legal analyst for NBC and Fox News regarding the Michael Jackson trail and has been featured and recognized nationally on Entertainment Tonight, EXTRA and Court TV. She let us know, that just because you see someone on the red carpet or TV don’t take for granted how that person got there. She shared some her experiences from paying her own way through law schools working odd jobs to being one of the two entertainment law offices in Atlanta, which surprisingly enough Ms. Parks shared is dominated by Jewish men.

And rounding out the panel was Roberta Shields, Executive Director of Ludacris Foundation and yes the beautiful mother of Ludacris. Ms. Shields was able to share her insight on more non profit business. Being the COO and CFO of Bridges Enterprises , which include entities in Music, Real Estate, Publishing and now restaurants. She was proud to speak on the Ludarcris Foundation and how the foundation has donated over $750,000 to support organizations that work to help our youth live their dreams. The organization has more than $3,500 hours invested in hands service to youth.

This seminar was powerful and gave so much insight for women to believe and achieve the dream of being that top executive. I think the common theme through out the seminar that was repeated throughout each women’s story was even if you have nay sayers, or continue to hear no, or you can’t do that, continue to follow your passion and be who you are.

What also made this seminar complete was the guest speaker from Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Grayson Campbell, that’s right ladies have your fiances together before you start on your new business venture. Campbell’s advice follow the 4 L’s
· Love with your doing
· Love Life, finance what you love
· Longevity, get you some life insurance, long term healthcare
· Legacy, start estate planning, will planning, investing.

Thanks NABFEME for the personal invite and checking out the The Social Scene.
If you want to know more about this organization or to become a member log on to www.nabfeme.org

Vendor


Panel Members

l to r: Roberta Sheilds, Hannah Kang, Phadera Parks, Nicole Garder, Melanie Few and

Amanda Davis

Melanie Few, Results Inc.


Hannah Kang, Grand Hustle



Melissa Johnson, Velvet Suite Marketing

LIFESTYLE:

6 Signs Your Job May Be in Jeopardy

Your Performance Assessment
First, ask yourself some tough questions about your role at work, recommends business coach and author Mary Key. Your answers will provide good indicators.
The questions include: What would be the impact of your departure? What kind of ROI (return on investment) is your employer getting from your performance? Have you gotten positive reviews? Do you get along with coworkers? Can your skills translate to other positions within the firm?
"If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, or if you have some responses that might be negative, your job may be on the chopping block in a downturn," says Key, who heads the leadership practice for i4cp, The Institute for Corporate Productivity, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Time's Not on Your Side
Having extra time for two-hour lunches, marathon computer games, and multiple instant-message chats with loved ones doesn't bode well for a long future in your current position.
"If you were once a busy professional and now work is being taken away and given to someone else, or you're not being assigned new work, you should start asking some questions," says life and career coach Annemarie Segaric.
Where Have All the Clients Gone?
If the new business team seems to be spinning its wheels, as major clients jump ship and they are not replaced, your job could be on the hit list.
"There is only so long that your boss can be giving you busy work," says Roberta Chinsky Matuson, president of Northampton, Massachusetts-based Human Resource Solutions. "Eventually, his boss will catch on, and it will be time to go."
Experienced Workers Need Not Apply
Warning: Your company starts posting openings for entry-level workers, without announcing new initiatives or experiencing a mass exodus of employees.
"This is a clear sign that they are trying to cut payroll costs by hiring less experienced people," Matuson says. "It won't be long before you receive the pink slip."
The Risk of Mergers
If bad times drive your company to merge with a rival, start polishing your resume, advises Kevin Steele, president of The Winter, Wyman Companies.
"In almost all cases, there are many employees whose job responsibilities are duplicated by someone at the acquiring company, and, in an effort to cut costs and maximize ROI, the acquiring company will usually move quickly to eliminate the overlap," Steele says.
Friends in Similar Places
When friends or others you know who have equivalent jobs in the same or a related industry begin to suffer layoffs, know that you could be next.
"Layoffs happen in waves," says Segaric, author of "107 Tips for Changing Your Career While Still Paying the Bills." "What goes on in other companies can be used as a barometer for what is happening in the industry as a whole."

source Yahoo, Hot jobs

GLOW IN THE DARK TOUR

If you have not had a chance to check out Kayne West Glow in the Dark Tour then your missing a treat The tour is staring back up after West took about 6 months off from touring after the sudden lost of his mother Dr. Donda West. The Glow in Dark tour made it’s way to Atlanta last night, with N.E.R.D, Lupe Fiasco, Rhianna and Kayne West.. I got to concert late so I completely missed Lupe’s performance that was a bummer, this is like the second time I have missed his show and he breezed the A town. I did get to catch N.E.R.D perform. There show was alright, I am not really a big fan of theirs so to me they could have very well went on first. I was puzzled at the size of the performance stage, it appeared very small. It seemed more like the artist were cramped on stage very restricted to perform and of course for N.E.R.D no room for skate board ramps, bummer. Even Rhianna’s performance was a little lack luster. I thought she was an excellent performer but that stage was cut short. I mean any wrong move by her or her dances and a major disaster was bound to happen. But I give Rhianna her kudos she stuck with the motto the show must go on, as she made her way threw “ Hate that I love You”, duet with Neyo, I was kind of hoping Neyo would surprise us and come on stage. That didn’t happen, but still sounded good. She also performed “Umbrella” of course complete with a dance troop of umbrellas. I can’t wait to catch her n concert by herself, I fell she can rock the house. So in between sets, we had to wait patiently for grand super star performance Kayne. With his Broadway stage set up, we figured out why the other performers got less than half the stage. Kayne’s set up took up the remaining. While the set was being put together for Kayne the crowd had some uproars when Bow Wow, Chris Brown, Chaka Zula and yes the legendary Quincy Jones strolled threw making their way to VIP seating of course. Wow Qunciy Jones came to see Kayne, now that’s big.
So finally lights out and the show begins. Hold on get your sealt beats strapped and prepare for blast off to planet West. Kayne took us on space journey that started with us landing on a another planet stranded from all civilization. The screen comes down and we are being guided by a talking digital projection that goes by the name Jane. She is our real digital girl in an analog world. As we take this journey with Kayne we get “Stronger”, Find a “Golddigger”, then things “All Fall Down”, but we make it through ““The Wire”, and “Touch the Sky” to say “Hey Mama” and know that “ Jesus Walks” with us. All while being the brightest star in the universe.

If you missed Atlanta, then don’t’ worry the are several shows left that perhaps you can catch in another city, check your local ticket outlets for remaing concert dates.

LifeStyle:

Fresh out of Ideas for Mothers Day

Give the gift that's always the right size and never gets exchanged. It's easy to send a gift certificate for everything from jewelry to music and designer clothing to electronics. Check out some of our most popular gift cards below, or choose a category to the left and take your pick from your favorite stores. Here are couple that I think will make a lot of moms happy.

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Beauty.com

The Beauty.com gift card makes it easy to give the perfect gift. Let your gift recipient pick their favorite luxury beauty products, or use their gift at drugstore.com to purchase everyday basics and fun, hard-to-find items! With over 30,000 products available from the brands you love and trust, the Beauty.com gift card just keeps getting more attractive.
We offer the Beauty.com gift card in a variety of amounts:
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http://www.ebags.com/giftcertificates

Give an eBags email Gift Certificate. They're delivered free of charge, and on the schedule that suits you. Just choose the amount of your gift in any denomination, and we'll email your gift right away or on a future date.

source MSN