DC Archives - Whitney Nic James

Events | 3 Things I Learned from the Brown Girls Love Empowerment Brunch

October 28, 2015 by Whitney 2 Comments

A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of attending the Brown Girls Love Empowerment Brunch at Aredo + Bardeo restaurant in Washington, DC. The event was hosted by the founder of Love Brown Sugar (LBS), Christina Brown. The New York based blogger is the first blogger I followed when I started my journey. I was drawn to Christina’s warm online presence and also very intrigued with her impressive resume.

I remember reading that Christina worked for Honey and Vibe Magazines and I immediately got excited. As a former journalism major with an extensive internship/work background in print media, we had a lot in common. Once I found her blog it was evident that Christina was not only an excellent writer, but she also shared my love for fashion and style. Of course, I had follow! Attending an LBS event and hearing her speak in person was truly a dream come true. Here are 3 things I learned from Christina at the Brown Girls Love Empowerment Brunch.

Love Brown Sugar Founder, Christina Brown | Photo Credit: Heart, Print & Style

1. Be Fearless | Simply put, “get over your fear and step outside of your comfort zone.” When Christina spoke those words I felt like she was literally talking to me. I’m all about being fearless and going after what I want, but there are times I’m a little nervous to step outside of what I know. Lately I’ve been ignoring the fear and going for it anyway, hence the creation of my #FearlessWomanIam movement. It’s natural to have fear, but the key is not allowing that fear to cripple you or hold you back from pursuing your purpose.

2. Be resilient | Christina stressed being flexible and being able to shift. Things don’t always go as planned and in those instances, we have to be ready to shift and change direction. In doing this, it shows that you’re capable of bouncing back from a setback. Staying the course, no matter what comes up, is a definite key to success. Christina candidly shared a few of her setbacks and to see how resilient she’s been despite those challenges is inspiring.

3. Be Confident | I think exuding confidence, in any field or industry, will take you very far. Being able to introduce yourself at an event or gathering is something Christina feels immediately showcases confidence. Something as simple as an introduction says so much about a person. It says that you take yourself seriously, you’re about your business, and it instantly makes others respect you and what you have to say. First impressions are everything.

First impressions are crucial. Make yours a good one by being confident when introducing yourself.

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DMV Blogger & Friend, Vivi of Heart, Print & Style

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So tell me, which lesson resonates with you most? Let me know!

I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the brunch. Meeting Christina was a lovely and insightful experience and I’m so thankful that I was able to sit down and chat with her one-on-one about my career/blog goals. She provided a wealth of knowledge and I walked away feeling inspired, equipped and excited for my future endeavors. Be sure to keep up with Christina at LBS, Instagram (and HERE), as well as her Twitter account for more information on this and many more events. Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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Events | Celebrating Black History Month with Macy’s Soul Era Event in DC

February 13, 2015 by Whitney 5 Comments

In honor of Black History Month, Macy’s has been celebrating by hosting The Soul Era event featuring fashion and style guru’s June Ambrose and Johnetta Boone. I had the pleasure of attending the DC event last night. Moderated by journalist and editor Tai Beauchamp, the event took place at the DC Metro Center Macy’s on G Street. The style panel delved into the history of Black fashion during the 60’s and 70’s and the ways Black culture has heavily inspired the world of fashion today.

Moderator | Tai Beauchamp Style Guru | June Ambrose

To start the discussion, the moderator asked the ladies to define black style. Hearing what Ambrose had to say really stuck out me. She expressed that “…when thinking about style I don’t put a color to it…I think about personality, I think about energy…” She went onto say as a culture, we have a lot of expression, energy and flare and when it comes down to it, style is style and she doesn’t want to put that in a box.

Focusing on 60’s and 70’s style Ambrose smiled and said soul era fashion says, “I’m coming out and I’m fearless!” Boone agreed and pointed out that “…fashion is celebrating who we are…” During the soul era, we took pride in celebrating who we were by wearing our afros, platform shoes, and bright colors! Highlighting the fashion of Pam Grier, Ambrose recalled how carefree, provocative, yet classy that era of fashion was. Wearing bell bottoms and crop tops was what it was about! Fashion icons of the soul era like (Pam Grier, Diahann Carroll and Sammy Davis Jr.) made their clothes come alive and as a culture, we weren’t afraid to gravitate and accepted it.

Costume Designer | Johnetta Boone

Ambrose, a die-hard fan of big furs, sequins during the day and turbans also highlighted the importance of Black designers in today’s fashion world. While there are so many, not enough are being celebrated or given a chance to showcase their talents on a larger scale. She stressed the importance of understanding and grasping the business side of fashion first. Having the big picture in your mind is great, but having a plan to get there is vital. That’s what sets you apart and that’s what allows you to have longevity (in any) industry.

Some of the Attendees

DC Style Blogger, Vivi | Heart, Print & Style

It was amazing to see so many different styles in one room. And I think costumer designer Johnetta Boone hit the nail on the head when she said, “…that’s what you get in our culture – a combination of skin tones, hair textures and body types…” Black fashion and our style is a big melting pot and it’s forever changing and evolving.

Being at the Macy’s Soul Era Event was empowering and provided a fresh perspective on soul era style. With that, I’m ready to continue making my mark on the world of fashion and style, one outfit at a time! Check here to see when this event is coming to a Macy’s near you.

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OPRAH’S LIFE YOU WANT WEEKEND IN D.C., PART III – Final Moments & My Takeaways

September 26, 2014 by Whitney 4 Comments

Happy Friday! Today is the last recap of my experience at Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend in D.C. Day two, also my favorite day, was filled with a lot. Not only did we hear the trailblazers speak, but we were also schooled by Oprah. She had us complete three workbook activities; my favorite was entitled See Your Life Today. We were told to make a pie chart and divide it into slices based on the areas we chose from a group of words. We then had to draw a face, good, so-so and bad, into the slices based on how we felt about that area of our life.

This exercise helped put my daily life into perspective. From the looks of it, my spouse, family and spirituality are extremely important and I give those ares a good amount of attention. However, (enjoying) my hobbies and living a healthy lifestyle are areas I need to give more attention to. What I took from this worksheet was that while I have somethings to work on, I have time to do it and I will do better.

Towards the end of the day, I was able to meet the Paralympic athlete and Dancing With the Stars contestant, Amy Purdy. She presented the Toyota “Standing O’vation” Award to Jas Boothe, Founder and President of Final Salute, Inc. According to their website, Final Salute Inc. is a non-profit organization which believes in paying homeless female Veterans with the proper respects due to them for the service they have provided to our country. Final Salute also works with the Veteran in establishing a plan towards independence. I was honored to meet such an outstanding woman. Her passion for helping the Veterans in this program is immensely inspiring.

Meeting Amy was also a joy. Not only was I a fan of her dancing on DWTS last season, but I admire her strength in overcoming such a traumatic experience in her life. Her positive energy and bright smile is contagious and I really enjoyed our brief chat.

So tell me, which part of my Life You Want Weekend did you enjoy reading the most – Part I, Part II, or Part III? If you loved them all, that’s cool too. Let me know! 🙂

All in all, the Life You Want Weekend was truly a blessing. A lot was reconfirmed for me during those two days and I’m forever grateful for receiving such inspiration. I left the conference completely full and ready to continue living my life on purpose. I hope you’ve been inspired in some way after reading my 3-part recap. I pray you have a wonderful weekend. Until Monday, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend in D.C., Part II – Trailblazers in Full Effect

September 24, 2014 by Whitney 6 Comments

Day 2 of The Life You Want Weekend in D.C. was my favorite. Not only did we complete workbook activities taught by Oprah (more of that in Part III), but we also had the opportunity to be inspired by the stories of 4 amazing trailblazers. The trailblazers included Elizabeth Gilbert, Iyanla Vanzant, Pastor Rob Bell, and Mark Nepo. Each speaker brought something different to the table and of course, I gained much insight from them all.

Mark Nepo

His calming nature captivated the audience as he began to speak about being a cancer survivor. That experience “rearranged his core“. He went onto explain that being present and holding nothing back is imperative to living the life you want. Another great point he shared was that in life, you take turns being the teacher and the student. We don’t know everything, but we do know somethings. It’s OK to sit back and be a student in life from time to time. And understanding that “no one can make it alone” ties into this as well. In life, we all need one another. There’s just no getting around it.

Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth’s speech stuck with me the most. Walking out to the song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles let me know that we were in for a powerful message! Elizabeth’s strength and fearlessness is admirable. She made it clear that “if you want to change your life, don’ expect it to be easy and painless”. Going through different seasons in life is natural, but it can be difficult. The hard lessons, the lost friends, the scrutiny for certain decisions we make – it’s tough. But we can and will get through it. The life we want for ourselves is on the other side of all that we’re scared to go through, but after hearing Elizabeth speak I realize even more that it’s worth it!

Rob Bell

Rob Bell burst onto the stage full of energy! The takeaway from his portion can be summed up with his quote I shared on Instagram – “The life you want begins with embracing the life you have.” I couldn’t agree more. We can’t go through life expecting and wanting a better life if we don’t appreciate the life we’re already living. Being grateful and living in the now will prepare us for something even greater. Bell also pointed out that “we rush through the things that transform, shape and change us.” This hit home for me. It was a reminder to be constantly aware of how certain situations and moments change my life in a positive way.

Iyanla Vanzant

I was really looking forward to hearing this phenomenal woman all last week. I’ve been reading her books for years, thanks to my Mom, and being able to hear her speak was quite a treat! Iyanla pointed out a few things that made me go, “hmmm” and “ah, yes.” One of them being “when building a new life, be careful about who you hold onto and who you expose your self to.” That right there spoke volumes. As I continue to grow I’ve noticed that I’ve been very careful about those things. Another nugget she shared was that “in relationships, you have to have a vision.” I agree with this 100%. I believe that life is all about relationships, but more importantly it’s about the purpose of each relationship. We should ask ourselves from time to time, why are we building a relationship with a certain person? What do we plan on learning/or gaining from that relationship? Going back to the first lesson, be careful who you hold onto. Building a relationship with everyone you meet isn’t necessary. Lastly, Iyanla stressed the importance of learning to forgive yourself. We (may) struggle with this, but its important to do this in order to live the life we really want.

So tell me, which trailblazer do you think you would have enjoyed? Any takeaways from what the points I’ve shared? Let me know!

Be sure to come back Friday for my final recap of the event of my Life You Want Weekend in D.C. experience. I’ll be wrapping up my thoughts and sharing a few other things with you as well. Until then, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

Event Recap – Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend in D.C., Part I

September 23, 2014 by Whitney 11 Comments

I’m still on a high from Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend tour stop in Washington, D.C. this past weekend. As I mentioned in this post, I was blessed to have the opportunity to cover the event as media. I was expecting the event to be thought provoking, powerful and of course enjoyable. To say that the event exceeded my expectations is an understatement. I had a marvelous time and walked away feeling full, blessed, and empowered. Today, I’m happy to share Part 1 of the experience with you.

Day 1: An Evening with Oprah

The main event started around 7 p.m. and I was ready to receive what Oprah had to share. She graced the stage in a floor length red gown, ready to inspire! There were so many nuggets of wisdom shared, but there were a few that really stuck out to me. Here are 4 of my favorites, along with my interpretation on how I plan to live each one out.

1. Share. Let the rest of the world know what you have. – It’s important to share our talents and gifts with the world. Being selfish with our “stuff” is no way to live. Bless the world with what God has given you. I feel that blogging and sharing my thoughts and expertise on certain topics is a good example of sharing what God has blessed me with. It’s a sure way for me to live out my passion and purpose.

2. Pay attention to your life and the signs; it keeps speaking to us. This is crucial and I’m so glad Oprah reminded me of this. We all have a purpose and a calling and being in tune with ourselves is a sure way to realize what that calling is. Something as simple as paying attention to how we act and react in certain situations helps. Be in tune with your life and what’s going on around you. As Oprah mentioned, we all have a thread. We just have to be open and willing to connect the dots.

3. When you’ve done all you can do, surrender. – Surrendering is not giving up. It’s simply realizing that you cannot do it all on our own and allowing a higher power to come in and help lift and guide you to do the right thing. We all think we can handle life by ourselves until things get really bad. Next time that happens, surrender and realize that you don’t have to do life all by yourself. God’s got us.

4. You have no power in other peoples power field. – When Oprah said this, I think everyone had an “Amen, hallelujah” moment. It’s pretty simple. WE don’t have any business worrying about other people and what they’re doing. Stay in your lane and stop worrying about other folks, who more than likely not worried about you.

As the evening went on, Oprah showed videos and pictures of her life from birth to the present day. She also shared a few stories with us. One being the time she entered a pageant and won Miss Fire Prevention, lol. Touching on on her relationship Stedman (just a little), she explained that he is “living in the light, not her shadow”. I LOVE that. Too many times society thinks powerful women cannot have a man by their side who isn’t threatened by their success or power. It is possible and Oprah made that very clear. Hearing that made me even more thankful to have a such a strong and secure man by my side.

Lastly, there were several moments during Oprah’s speech where out Life You Want wristbands lit up. Those were such magical moments. I sat there in amazement, gazing at the thousands of people in the arena. It was truly an amazing sight. It looked like stars in the sky…just beautiful.

So tell me, which of the 4 points stands out to you? Have you attended the Life You Want Weekend in your city or do you plan to? Let me know!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for Part II of my Life You Want Weekend experience. I’ll be sharing my favorite moments from trailblazers Iyanla Vanzant, Rob Bell, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Mark Nepo. Until then, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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The Fashion of Goodwill – Greater Washington Goodwill Fashion Show 2014

September 19, 2014 by Whitney 14 Comments

Whenever there’s an event involving thrifting, a good cause, and a breath taking venue, I’m there. Thursday nights Greater Washington Goodwill Gala & Fashion Show was exactly that! This is my 3rd year attending and I must say, this year was my favorite! The event took place at the new Marriott Marquis on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C. – this hotel is simply stunning.

Their theme this year, “Let’s Get to Work” focused on showcasing fashion in the workplace. This theme also celebrated Marriott Marquis Job Training Program. The Goodwill of Greater Washington partnered up with the Marriott Marquis to create this workplace development program which allowed native Washingtonians a chance to work at this brand new hotel. Some of the employees took a walk down the runway that night – they were filled with excitement and a lot of spunk. Of course, they were dressed in head to toe Goodwill. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a shot of them walking, but check out this site for a glimpse.

Photo Credit

BEFORE THE SHOW

I was thrilled to attend the event with my D.C. event partner in crime, Vivi of Heart, Print & Style. She and I have attended this event together for the last 3 years. Both avid thrifters, we marveled at the items available for sale Goodwill Popup Shop. I especially enjoyed the pretty jewelry and hats, but was most smitten with a particular vibrant and stylish lady. She was so cute and her vintage beaded jacket was divine! When asked to take a picture, she smiled and said, “I’m all thrifted up, dear!” How cute? 🙂

As far as my outfit for this occasion, I went for a chic yet thrifty look. I paired my Nordstrom jumpsuit with my thrifted jacket/blazer. I’ve been dying to wear it and I felt what better event than the Goodwill Fashion Show to showcase this thrifted beauty?! I wasn’t the only fashionable blogger there. Check out my fashionable blogging buddies in the pics below!

Goodwill Popup Shop

Jacket/Blazer: Goodwill, Annandale Locaton // Jumpsuit: Sejour, Nordstrom (Same) // Heels: DKNY, DSW (Similar) // Clutch: Fly By Night Boutique // Earrings & Watch: Thrifted, 2nd Avenue

BLOGGER LOVE: The Style Medic // Heart, Print & Style // What I Wore: Tip to Toe // Lapis of Luxury

THE FASHION OF GOODWILL

True to the with the “Let’s Get to Work” theme, the Goodwill models all dressed as if they were going to work! Some fashion choices were more conservative than others, but I liked the mixture. Some outfits were more casual workdays, while others were outfits you’d wear to a work related evening event. Stylist Tu-anh did a great job styling. Below are some of my favorites looks.

So tell me, have you ever been to a Goodwill fashion show? What do you think about the “Let’s Get to Work” fashion? Let me know!

It’s always a pleasure to attend the Greater Washington Goodwill Fashion show. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year. Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. Thanks to my hubby for these wonderful pictures! 🙂

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Linkups: Thursday Favorites, Tres-Chic Thursday, WIW, Thrifters Anynomous

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