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Money is hard to come by. Don’t we all know it! But there are some jobs out there that you can do to make some extra money that don’t require too much effort (or, in some cases, skill). Some of these you can probably find on Craigslist. Others might require a little more methodical search. Maybe even a little bit of whimsy. But if you can come across some easy cash, you’re all in, right?

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Not long ago, I was sitting at a local bar enjoying a quick bite with a friend.  As he and I dished about life and sports as guy and gal pals do, a lady comes over to our table and she says to me, “You’re beautiful.”  Flattered by her words, I tell her thank you and let her know that I really appreciate the compliment.  I intend to get back to the conversation with my friend, but she continues.  “And you’re very graceful.  I noticed you when you first walked in.  Are you a dancer?  You have the body of a dancer.”  At this point, I’m still flattered but I’m definitely getting a little uneasy.  I politely thank her again, and let her know that I am in no way a dancer and that I could only dream to have the body of one.  Surely our quick exchange would be over at this point and I’d be able to go on with the conversation I was clearly having when she walked over.  Yet, she continues: “May I ask what kind of skin care products you use?”

It is at that point it hits me and I could hear the voice of Florida Evans crying out in the background, “Damn, damn, damn!!!”…I’ve been caught by a freakin’ Mary Kay lady.

Is it just me, or are Mary Kay consultants highly aggressive?  As the young lady starts to explain to me that she owns her own Mary Kay business and would love to talk more about the products the company offers, I know instantly that it will NOT be easy to get rid of her.  Even after explaining to her that not only do I rarely wear make up but that I also have a really simple and natural skin care regimen that doesn’t involve a lot of products, she refuses to give up.  Now, I’m the kind of girl who rarely gives out my information.  I think long and hard about giving my number out even to men I’m actually interested in.  But the Mary Kay lady walked away with my phone number and email address.  That’s how aggressive she was.

I can think of at least three other separate occasions when I have been borderline accosted, in very similar fashion, by Mary Kay consultants.  Walking down the street, shopping, dining out, I’ve been blindsided by members of the pink brigade while doing all of these things.  It always starts out innocently, usually with a compliment, and just when you start feeling yourself and plan to give a quick “thank you” and strut off—they go in for the hard sale.  They do not take no for an answer.

I recently found out that I’m not alone.  A number of my friends have had very similar experiences with consultants.  In fact, one friend compared the tenacity of some Mary Kay business owners to that of followers of a certain religious faith who are usually very eager to share their beliefs.  We’ve decided that of the two, Mary Kay is definitely more aggressive.  They’re gangsta.  I respect it, but I’m simply not about that life.

While I’ve decided to, henceforth and forevermore, run in the opposite direction when a Mary Kay lady makes her presence known, I know that the company offers some very positive incentives for women.  Mary Kay allows women to go into business for themselves and to do so in a way that affords them the flexibility that many other careers fail to offer.  In an economy as tough as the one we’re currently enduring, that’s nothing to smirk at.  Consultants are able to take advantage of a 50 percent discount on products, making a 50 percent profit on all products sold.  There are leadership opportunities that allow women to transition into director positions and help other consultants build their businesses. And we all know about the infamous pink Cadillacs that Mary Kay Consultants can earn; add diamonds and luxurious trips to the list of enticing incentives as well.

For some, a Mary Kay business may be just what the doctor ordered.  Lots of people are searching for the perfect way to create additional streams of income for themselves.  For me, I’ve been scarred and I am indeed scared.  I like to tell a woman she is beautiful and keep it moving, but that doesn’t seem to be the Mary Kay way.  Eh, different strokes for different folks I suppose.  Since I have yet to find a successful way to emerge from an encounter with a Mary Kay consultant without giving her some sort of information, I’m just going to try to avoid these saleswomen at all costs.  What about you?

Have you been in any situations when you’ve come unsuspectingly face to face with a Mary Kay lady?  How did it go?  If you are a Mary Kay lady, have you enjoyed your experience working with the company thus far?

Sheena Bryant is a writer and blogger in Chicago.  Follow her on twitter at @song_of_herself.

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Source: The YBF

I actually don’t know how long Tami’ Roman’s been selling t-shirts on her website, but it’s clear she’s capitalizing on Evelyn’s original turn a “Basketball Wives” saying into a t-shirt hustle with a new design she just debuted.

Last week we saw Tami call Kesha out her name three times in a row, and what do you know, now you can buy a t-shirt to commemorate that moment. Yes, this woman has actually put B****, B****, AND MORE B**** on tanks, tees, and sweatshirts. She wasn’t lying when she said “Nowadays everything’s a f***in’ t-shirt”—which she actually put on a t-shirt by the way.

In addition to other GTFOH, STFU, and You Are Testing My Anger Management tees, Tami does show her softer side with one shirt that says Tami Cares. But that’s about the only nicety you’re going to get from #Team Tami.

You can check out the t-shirts on Tami’s website, but don’t buy anything (JK). I wonder how much she and Evelyn are making off of these shirts?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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There is some fine manliness on the cover of JET this week. Common talks with the magazine about his new ventures and opens up about the one common denominator between his rap and acting hustle and relationships: love. Here’s what he had he to say:

On Love of the Hustle

“First and foremost, you have to have some passion behind the things you’re doing. I don’t just do things with art if I’m not motivated at all. That’s not to say that I don’t want to generate an income; yes, I want to be the highest-selling, the most profitable. But it’s the love for the art that comes first. That’s the motivation. Behind that, the rest will come.”

On Love in General

“I think the core of the human being and the heart is love, and we all want that. Love has allowed me to do the things I’m doing in life. I feel like we all deserve that — to receive love and give it, too. I think when you give that love — love of God, love of other people, self-love — you’re able to make the world better. Your days go better.”

On Being Man Enough to Talk About Love

“I have been in love, and I did get my heart broken. As an adult, I can say I’ve been through love, and [these are] some of the experiences I’ve had. Men love. Men go crazy over women. They go to prison, start wars, and lose hair over them. Don’t act like you can’t acknowledge it. It may be that you haven’t been through it, so I’m not afraid to say it.”

Common’s cover issue hit newsstands yesterday.

Are you a fan of Common? What do you think about him opening up about love?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Would you say you’re an ambitious woman? Do you go off the beaten path to get out your dreams, or are you taking what you can get to help pay the bills and that’s it? It’s understandable with unemployment rates skyrocketing to tire of looking for your dream job and just do what you need to do to get things done: light bill paid, rent covered, food in the fridge. But before you assume your degree is going to go to waste and fall into whatever comes your way (a la Tetris), know that you don’t have to give up–you’ll just have to hustle harder than before. Here are five things you need to keep in mind while you fill out job applications on the low and plan your next move to get the job you really, REALLY want. Never say never folks.

It started with playing dress-up. You spent hours in your mom’s closet trying on her dresses, slipping your foot into her pumps and strutting in front of the mirror. Once you got a hold of magazines, mom’s tired dresses were no match for the dresses and pumps featured in the pages of Jet, Ebony and Essence. You were born a fashionista; yet somehow you lost track of your passion. You ended up on an entirely different path and you’re unfulfilled. Well it’s never to late to do what you always knew was right and to get you started, here are a few tips to break into the world of fashion.

“Wonder Woman Files” is a weekly career column on Madame Noire. Stay tuned for more topics, comment or write us at editors@madamenoire.com if you have suggestions!

I’ve never really considered myself a “hustler.”  The word to me just didn’t sound lady-like.  Every time I heard it, it was being used by one of my boys or one of my less-than-delicate girlfriends.  I guess I just never took to the idea.  Even though Jay then Cassidy made the hustle into hits, for me embracing the concept was likening myself to a Chicago two-stepper.  It just didn’t fit.

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