If you hadn’t heard the news, Brandy is a soon-to-be Mrs! She got engaged to her boyfriend, music executive, Ryan Press around the Christmas holiday, and while she initially was on the hush hush about it all while the two vacationed together, she’s now showing off her ring, sticking her tongue out for the haters (see the video below), and talking about how the whole proposal caught her off guard. While celebrating New Year’s Eve in Vegas and performing for Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, she stopped to talk with PopStopTV about it all, and how she’s feeling higher than cloud nine.

“I’m very happy. I’m definitely on cloud 11. At one point I gave up on love, so to have this feeling and for it to feel like the first time with the person I feel like God has created for me to be with, it’s just magical and I want it to stay like this. So every married couple that we’ve been meeting over our vacations, we’ve just been asking them, ‘What’s the secret? They’ve been giving me a lot of great tips, and communication is key, of course.’”

The 33-year-old singer talked about how she felt early on that something was going to happen around the holiday and hoped for the engagement, but when Press pulled out the ring and asked for her hand, the moment was greater than she had ever imagined it would be. “It was a surprise but I felt something was going to happen…but it was definitely a surprise. Your imagination does the moment no justice….I said ‘Oh my God’ so many times I forgot to say yes. He was like ‘Yeah, soooo are you going to marry me or not?’ I was like, ‘Oh my god, Oh my God!’”

Brandy says the couple haven’t set a date yet, but want it to be a local wedding so that all close friends and family can attend. Speaking of close, seeing how she used to be very close with Kim Kardashian around the time she was dating her brother Ray J, Brandy was asked what she thought about the news that Kim and Kanye West are expecting their first child. Seeing as how last time she talked about her Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor co-star, she had nothing but love for her, she was definitely delighted for the parents to be. “I’m very happy for Kim and happy for Kanye. I was looking at pictures of them online. They just look so happy. I’m really happy for her.” When asked what advice she had for the pair, she said that the key to being a good parent is to remember that you, yourself, were once a child, and once you have that in perspective, all will flow positively and naturally. I guess if you’re a parent already, you know what she’s trying to say, because my single self was a little confused.

I just love the positivity that Brandy emanates when she talks to people, and seeing everything she’s been through, I’m happy for her elevated level of happiness right now. Hopefully Press will be a good partner for her, and once the wedding is over, they will take all that advice they received do what it takes to make their relationship work and grow; Not to end up as one of these Hollywood unions that is there one minute and then gone the next. Fingers crossed!

Source: Twitter

Watching Nene and Gregg rekindle the love that appears to have only been lost for about a split second has been adorable on this latest season of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Nene has been putting her ex-husband through the ringer and he’s been eager to meet every challenge — and more importantly get back a key to her house and most likely her heart. As of now, it appears his hard work has paid off because according to Nene’s twitter timeline she’s about to become Mrs. Leakes all over again.

Nene tweeted a few pics showing the romantic evening Gregg planned out for her, starting with lining the hallway of their beach condo with roses.

Source: Twitter

Later, she tweeted that they had a romantic nightcap fit for two, in which Gregg (or somebody he paid) spelled out their names in Hershey kisses.

Source: twitter

The chocalatey goodness carried on into the bedroom, where there were Hershey’s laid out on the bed in the shape of a heart, to which Nene responded, “It’s on now!’

Source: Twitter

It appears she got more than a romp in the hay though. Twenty minutes after posting the bed pic, she tweeted:

I’m pretty sure she wasn’t just talking about him asking can he get some. When you think about the couple’s interactions this season, this really doesn’t come as much surprise. In fact, most people didn’t even believe the two had gotten divorced because they’ve been seen out together all the time. Earlier this year, Nene told Ebony of their split:

“It hurt me to file for divorce, but I had to see it through. I let him know you’re going to be my husband and you’re not going to be somebody else’s anything, but if you plan to be somebody else’s anything, then we can’t be together.”

That clearly was not his plan because he seems to want to be Nene’s everything right about now — and that appears to be alright with her too. She just told Sister 2 Sister in their latest issue:

“When we broke up, Gregg moved out for a year. We divorced while Gregg was out. Then, once we divorced, we found ourselves being friends. And there was nothing left to fight about.”

Kudos to Nene for standing her ground and showing Gregg he had to prove himself if he wanted that old thing back. Looks like there will be another RHOA wedding on the next season. Congrats to the Leakes!

New Year’s Eve is about to be wack as hell if I don’t get out of this house.

That’s what I used to tell myself damn near every year once I hit the age where I was able to join the cool kids at bars, lounges and parties for New Year’s Eve festivities. The thought of staying at home with my mom and dad, playing Dominoes and drinking sparkling cider while maybe listening to some music, sounded like the worst idea ever, probably because I spent most of my under-18 years doing so. So I decided in my mind that I wanted to have the New Year’s Eve I saw in the movies: out all night, dancing with my best friends, having an absolute blast, making random memories.

So a few years ago, I planned such an outing. Me and two of my best friends bought tickets to a party at a popular nightclub. We booked a hotel in downtown Chicago (a swanky one, because my BFF’s dad was a consistent visitor and had perks), bought some fly new clothes, grabbed a bunch of alcohol and got ready for the New Year’s Eve to end all New Year’s Eves.

I wasn’t really a big drinker like that, but with it being New Year’s Eve, that night I decided to indulge. My friends, who attended the same college, were supposed to be expert pre-gamers, so as we got dressed for what was going to be one of the “best night’s ever,” we knocked back a few. A few too many that is. The hotel had given us a complimentary glass of champagne because of the holiday, and if that wasn’t enough, we had the gang of bottles we brought to the hotel. Being a rookie at the whole drinking to actually get tipsy thing, I didn’t realize that mixing different liquors in one night probably wasn’t the best idea. We went from glasses of Seagram’s Gin and Juice Blue Beast to rum and Coke, to fruit juice and Vodka and back again. Before I knew it, we were slipping around the hotel room dancing like fools before we even left the hotel. Once we finally made it outside, the night went from the best night ever to one of the worst–in no time flat.

I would say that we left the hotel around 10:30. When we got outside, just waiting for a cab, my friend slipped and fell, and when a doorman tried to help her out, she started acting somewhat erratic. I didn’t realize until then that she was actually very wasted, to the point that it was going to be an issue for the rest of the night. Yes, it was the beginning of a LONG but short night. After my other friend struck up an inappropriate conversation with the taxi driver (which I apologized to him for), we finally made it to the club, but the minute we got in and started dancing just a little bit, my wasted friend had to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately, we wound up in the bathroom a majority of the night, where she threw up the toxic mix of alcohol we consumed earlier in the evening. As we tried to make it back to the dance floor, holding on to the wall and my sick friend on the way, said homegirl was practically begging us to let her take a cab back to the hotel, and while we were mad, seeing that we spent good money to only be in the club for a hot second, knowing that she couldn’t hold anything down, we couldn’t keep her outside any longer. She became the sloppy drunk, my other friend was the angry drunk, and I was the apologetic one, saying sorry to anybody who came into contact with us and our behavior.

By the time we got to the coat check and my angry drunk friend yelled for her change, someone grabbed a cab for us. But before we could get outside, my sick friend threw up on the coat check table, and on my jacket. When we finally made it back to the hotel, she fell out of the cab and we were doing our best to get her back into our room without any of the classy, upscale folks noticing she was a hot mess (and so was the angry drunk and I, we just held it together better). When we finally got upstairs and took care of her, I cried in my drunkenness about our wasted evening. Before I knew it, we all fell asleep by 11:45 p.m. and missed bringing in the new year. Worst. New Year’s Eve. Ever.

After that dud of a celebration year, I tried my best to make the most of year’s after. But before I knew it, I was just tired of the whole thing and the pressure to plan something “fabulous.” I was spending good money to stand around people I didn’t know and who were just as drunk as I was years ago just to say I was doing something, when in all honesty, I would have been just as fine, if not better, back home with my mom and dad playing Dominoes, eating black eyed peas and drinking cider again…

While going on lavish trips for New Year’s and checking out funky lounges is fun, I learned that unless that’s what you really want to do for NYE, don’t go out of your way trying to do something for the sake of saying you did something that you think others might envy. Save that money and get some drinks, have a nice dinner, chill with friends or family in the crib if you want, and know that there’s just as much fun in doing that as there is dancing to the “Birthday Song” in a nightclub. Sometimes keeping it simple is the best thing you can do for yourself and your wallet, and can make for some of the most memorable outings a gal can have.

From StyleBlazer,

As fun as New Year’s Eve festivities are, I’m just one of those people who can’t seem to fully enjoy myself because I’m so concerned with my aching feet. Why do my feet ache? Could be because of a lot of  the walking on the NYC streets that I do, but most of it has to do with doing all of that in heels, trying to be cute. But who says you can’t be cute and have heads turning in flats this NYE? Our homegirls over at StyleBlazer found nine hot pairs of flats that they thought would match your festive holiday looks and still keep your feet comfortable for club hopping and dancing all night long. In golds, blacks, browns and more, there is something for everybody! Don’t believe me? Just click over to StyleBlazer and check out the wide of array of shoes they picked out especially for you.

Source:www.blacktating.com

Dear Single Sistas,

I’m writing this letter to my Single Sistas who may be feeling down in the dumps during this Christmas season because they don’t have a mate to exchange gifts with or spend quality holiday time with. This letter also goes out to those who may feel extremely lonely during this season because  they are fresh out of a relationship and this is your first time without a significant other. I’m writing this letter to encourage you to celebrate this holiday season in your season of singleness, and see and embrace the beauty that it is. I know many of you may be saying or thinking that you enjoy the holiday season with friends and family, but it would be nice to have a special man in your life to exchange a kiss or two under the mistletoe with, or exchange a kiss at midnight with at the beginning of a New Year. While I agree with you, I want to encourage you to find different ways to enjoy the holiday season while you’re single. One of the things you can do this season is volunteer at a shelter, or soup kitchen. Not only will this gesture help someone else, but it will make you see how blessed you are for the things you have and make you forget about not having a mate (at least for the moment).

Another thing you can do is spend the extra money you would have spent on a gift for your mate on yourself! Treat yourself to something extremely special and out of the ordinary and place it under your tree addressed to you from you! You can also spend that extra money on a weekend getaway for yourself, or start a new savings account to ring in the New Year. Another thing you can do during your single holiday is spend time reflecting on what the holiday season really means. So many people get caught up in the commercialization of the holidays that they have the tendency to forget what they are truly designed to be about…Thankfulness. One more thing you can do during this holiday season of singleness is actually just enjoy the fact that you are single! While spending time with friends and family is a wonderful thing, it’s also a wonderful thing to have quiet time for self-reflection.

Look back and reflect on your accomplishments, the good times you had this year, and focus on new beginnings and how you will be the best single woman you can be until the time comes for your season of singleness to end. I know it’s hard when you see and hear of friends getting engaged on Christmas or at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and you find yourself waning the same thing. I also know it’s hard to see the lavish gifts from a friend’s significant other too, but I encourage you to stay positive and grateful for all you have because your time will come when the time is right. Don’t be down this holiday season. Lift your heads and hearts because your/our season of singleness is a gift that’s not only given once a year, but all year round if you allow it to be the gift that it is, because the truth of the matter is, I’d rather be a single woman happy and enjoying my holiday without a relationship, rather than being a woman in a relationship, yet still single and more alone than you think during every season of the year. So I say to all of you, enjoy this and every holiday season in your season of singleness because there may come a time in your life when you wish you had done so. Enjoy being single, and appreciate it for what it is.

Sincerely, Your Single Sistah,

Liz

A group waits in line at a California job fair this summer. AP Photo/Nick Ut

The holiday season is here (as of Thursday), with droves of shoppers looking to spend their extra cash on the latest gadgets, toys and big purchases. And while the economy might seem a bit more stable when it comes to driving consumers, many still struggle with unemployment. As 7.9 percent of Americans face the possibility of unemployment during the holiday season, the craziness of the popular consumer season sparks an increase in seasonal job openings.

According to the Tribune Chronicle’s TribToday, retailers nationwide “are expected to hire 585,000 to 625,000 seasonal workers this holiday season, according to estimates by the National Retail Federation.” So if you are still in search of a job, or looking to earn a little more money for extra spending or expenses, try your hand at getting a seasonal position for the holidays.

Ringing in the New Year (alongside ex Matt Kemp on the low if I may add) at Diddy’s private estate in Miami Beach, Fla., the Bajan singer stepped out in all black everything (aside from her lips) and went for a more demure but risque ensemble for the NYE celebration over the weekend.

Rihanna wore a below the knee dress with long sleeves that was covered in wild leopard print. While that sounds really spunky and colorful on paper, the shade of black she rocked it in toned down such a ferocious design. HOWEVER, the dress was transparent all over in one form or another, from the completely see-through arms to the sheer bodice and skirt that exposed some skin and a not so hidden Areola ring. The top of the dress also gave folks at the party an opportunity to play peek-a-boo thanks to a large keyhole opening. To help the dress hug her figure, she threw a black belt around her waist, and paired it with strappy, pointed-toe heels. Her jewelry included a few necklaces, including a chain, some small studs and said scandalous boobie ring.

Can’t lie. I actually like the dress in all of its sheer glory. The keyhole detail and arms are what grab my attention and have me most intrigued by her look. However, I’m not feeling the witch heels or the fourth grade spelling bee hair. While the hair is appropriately up (high neck shirts and dresses need updos), the curls are a little too kiddish and could have looked better with pressed bangs and a romantic ponytail. Her makeup is still cute and what not, but she doesn’t even seem very comfortable in this fit, standing like someone who got lost on their way to a family gathering. I’d steal this dress for myself (but with the appropriate undergarments underneath), but she should stick to her more over-the-top and colorful meets nasty girl/Vanity 6-ish outfits.

What do you think?

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Who says you need to be booed up to bring in the New Year? As the countdown to midnight approaches, you don’t have to worry about celebrating as a single lady – because that just may be the BEST way to welcome 2012. Not convinced?

Here are 6 reasons why being single on New Year’s Eve is a chance to celebrate your life, not your relationship status.

Read the rest of this entry »

Holy sequins, Batman! New Year’s Eve is today, but it’s not too late to grab a sparkly piece to help you look amazing! Dressing up should not be viewed as an option, but rather an opportunity to start the new year off right. Pick a piece that will catch the light and the eye of party-goers, family and friends alike!

Check out our picks and keep their stores in mind this year when you’re shopping for anything fabulous. 2012 is your year to shine…

Read the rest of this entry »

Beyonce’s talented but I don’t think she can be in two places at one time. Amidst reports that the singer has checked in to St. Luke’s Hospital and is ready to give birth to a baby girl Twitter followers have named Tiana May Carter (SMH), Ryan Seacrest has let it be known that “you will see Beyonce” on the Rockin’ New Year’s Eve special this year.

With Beyonce you never know what to expect.This could be a teleprompter appearance, she could reveal a new music video, she might even dance in pumps 6-9 months pregnant. Maybe she’ll give us the first glimpse of the baby, if she really already gave birth. The possibilities are truly endless.

With or without Beyonce, the 40th new year’s eve special promises not to disappoint with performances by Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Guess we’ll just have to tune in to catch the big “midnight surprise.”

Do you plan on watching the new year’s eve special this year? What do you think Beyonce has planned?

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

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