Arielle Símone - Intentional Living Blog

Greeting gods,

Seldom do I find Halloween costumes with Black people as the models on the cover. As a Black woman, it’s really hard to find our favorite costumes and when we do we have to modify it to be Black. One year I was Jessica Rabbit but I had to be the ‘Black’ Jessica Rabbit. Very, very whack. White is not the standard so I’ve decided to come up with a list of 100+ Halloween costume ideas for Black women. Ranging from cartoon characters to old R&B groups to Queens, every Black woman (whether your hair is natural, relaxed, in box braids, or in bantu knots) will be able to find a costume that resonates with them from this list.

The BG Exhibit: Inside Look with Kadeem Woodson

April 23rd, 2017 marked the one year anniversary of Lemonade. I attended a phenomenal art exhibition in honor of Beyoncé, The Beyoncé Giselle Exhibit. But it was much more than an exhibit. It was truly an experience. Just imagine going to a Beyoncé concert, with a ton of beautiful artwork - very Bey-Lemonade inspired, Popeyes chicken (now we know that’s Bey’s favoriteeee), a photobooth, Beyoncé inspired clothing from Brooklyn's very own, KITE NYC.

BLACK Friday: LIT Bklyn Candles

LIT Bklyn Candles are 100% Natural Soy Wax and scented with the finest fragrance oils. It is a Brooklyn-based Candle Company. A friend of mine, Denequa, is the founder of LIT Bklyn. I must say that I am just so proud of this woman. From the very first day that I met her in an Africana Studies class at the University at Albany she has been an incredible person to know. Her energy alone will have you feeling UNstoppable. She is inspiring, motivating, uplifting, and hilarious! Denequa is extremely beautiful on the inside AND out and it's so amazing to witness her creating her own business and motivating others all in the process. Denequa launched LIT Bklyn Candles December 2015 and it's been lit ever since.

Black Owned Nail Salon Owners: Raven + Niya (Free Edge Beauty Studio)

Supporting in Black Owned Businesses is essential for Black communities. This allows our communities to be more economically efficient. We need our youth to grow up seeing more Black Owned Businesses thrive in their very own communities to show that this is ALL very POSSIBLE. We need to introduce entrepreneurship in our Black communities and what it means to create wealth, power, and knowledge within ourselves and also our communities, our neighborhoods, our schools, our libraries, our communities centers, our parks, etc. This is great people doing great things.

Black Owned Burgers: Action Burger

Supporting Black Owned Businesses is essential for Black communities. Being economically conscious with your money to support Black Owned Businesses helps to create more businesses that then helps to create more jobs that then helps to builds these communities. This allows us to be more economically efficient. We need our youth to grow up seeing Black Owned Businesses thrive in their communities to know that this is all very possible. We need to introduce entrepreneurship in our Black communities and what it means to create wealth, power, and knowledge within our communities. This is great people doing great things.

Black Owned Ice Cream Shop - Mikey Likes It

Support Black Businesses! It is critical. They are here to help Black communities throughout New York City. Today I got the pleasure to visit Mikey Likes It Ice Cream Shop. It is a Black Owned Ice Cream Shop in the Lower East Side. This shop has offered a variety of flavors that I have never seen before. This is great people doing great things.

Black Owned Nail Salons in New York City

We NEED to bring awareness to Black-owned businesses and we need to understand the importance of giving money back to our very own communities. Blacks spend less money in black-owned businesses than any other racial group spend in businesses owned by members of their groups.