Birth Control Story

Peace Family,

I'm back with another post and this one is my birth control story. Check out the video below and, if you enjoy it, feel free to share with family and friends. My hope is that this story helps someone else who may be suffering with ovarian cysts or having difficulty with using birth control. If you have any comments or questions, leave them below.

Love and Light,

Cee<3

 

Interview: Nekita Shelton Sheds 151 pounds!!

Nekita Shelton


Cee: What inspired you to start your weight loss journey?

Nekita: Well, all my life I have had problems with my weight. Although I was content, my mother tried several weight loss programs to aid with my weight loss efforts. It wasn’t until I was 24 years old, and experienced a series of three main events, that inspired my weight loss journey.

1. In August 2008 I was scheduled for a routine physical with my doctor where it was revealed that I had high blood pressure. At that point my doctor showed me some tough love and told me if I didn’t lose weight, high blood pressure could possibly cause a series of health problems later down the road.
2. My Husband and I planned to fly to Orlando for his annual step show competition but, as we boarded the plane to take our seats, I found that I could not fit in the designated seating provided by the air line. In fear of having to purchase another seat, there was a nice elderly lady that kindly lifted her arm rest to provide me more space. I was incredibly embarrassed and knew a change had to be made.
3. It was our daughter’s first trip to Six Flags where she was tall enough to ride the kiddie roller coaster, so we were all excited and ready to get on with her only to discover Mommy could not fit. With everyone all seated and the line full, I was asked to exit left due to my size. My 54 year old mother at the time had to ride with my daughter.

It was at that point that I felt Enough was Enough. I decided I wanted to make a change not only for myself but for my family as well.

Cee: How did you lose the weight and how much weight did you lose? (ex. exercises, food choices)

Nekita: September 8, 2008 I decided to join Weight Watchers for the third time around starting at a weight of 288 pounds, but this time it was a different feeling. I had the feeling of “THIS IS IT, ITS MY TIME.”  I was determined to give it another try. Within just a few weeks I saw the scale moving in the right direction and decided to just start walking. At the time, I wasn’t a big fan of working out and sweating out my perm lol, but once I started to exercise combined with eating right, the weight just poured off which formed my passion for fitness. Today I am 137 pounds losing a total of 151 pounds.

Cee: I've heard a lot about reaching a plateau in weight loss. Was that ever an issue for you and if so how did you overcome it? 

Nekita: Oh I know all about the “PLATEAU” stage and believe me when that time comes your determination is tested to the max. There were times where I would just cry to my trainers because I felt like I was giving 150% of myself to my workouts and my diet. It would take the scale weeks and what felt like years to move. Finally, my trainer explained to me how the body works and went through my food journal with me to assess exactly what I was eating and identified the grey areas where I could switch things up. I was so accustomed to eating the exact same things because they were working. But by switching it up and adding a few extra workouts per day, I was able to  push through my plateau. Plateaus for me happened more than once so I would constantly try to shock my body by changing up my diet and workouts.

Nekita Shelton

Cee: Was there a mental component that accompanied the physical work of losing weight?

Nekita: Through out the last 3 years of this journey I have come to realize weight loss is 80% mental and 20% physical. Part of the reason I think I was successful in my weight loss this time is because I was mentally ready. Many people think that your body has to be in shape to achieve physical goals, but when your mind is wrapped around your future goals the process becomes much easier. For example: I remember my first time attempting to run on the treadmill at the time I was 236 pounds. My body was telling me this hurts, I will never make it, but once I changed my thoughts to “I Can and I will” I had ran for 15 minutes straight before I knew it.

Weight loss is one the hardest things I have ever done in my entire life and changing my negative thoughts into positive thoughts was truly the #1 reason I was successful. Once I started thinking positive, I actually started to believe in myself.

 
Cee: What were the most challenging and rewarding things about your journey? 

Nekita: I would say the most challenging thing about this journey would have to be the initial feeling of food deprivation lol. I was so accustomed to consuming about a pound of food a day which is 3500 calories and decreasing to about 1800-2000 made me feel like I was going to die lol. My problem was never consuming large meals, however I was and still can be a huge SNACKER, so it took me about 2 months to adjust and control my snacking habits.

The most rewarding thing about this journey would be my passion for fitness, inspiring others, and the amount of growth I have seen within myself. Not only has this process transformed me on the outside but it has transformed me as a person on the inside as well. I always thought being “the big girl” was cool and just as I thought I was happy, going through this, made me realize I was not. I always cracked the first fat joke in fear of someone else getting to it first. Now, I don’t have to down myself to be respected. I can just be me. This process has literally made me feel like I can do and accomplish whatever I want to do. Never in a million years did I think that God would have this planned for my life. He is using me in so many ways to be a inspiration to others. I hope to motivate all the women who are sitting in my shoes three years ago to do and feel just as amazing as I do.

Cee: What tips would you give those who aspire to loose weight and keep the weight off?

Nekita: Well I would advise a few things which I had to learn through Trial and Error:

-Do not punish yourself for having one bad day. Many people think that because they have one slip up they should continue to eat bad for the remainder of the day. If you find yourself falling off of your plan, dust yourself off and start fresh the next day.

-Treat yourself! The more you deprive yourself of the things you love the more it will be a temptation for you to OVER eat the things you love.

-Find a workout that you enjoy. If you love what you are doing, you will work harder at achieving your goals because you are actually enjoying it.

-Most importantly don’t give up on yourself. Don’t rush the process. Try and think of it as a life style change rather than a Diet!

Cee: Toss Up: If you could be anything in the world what would it be and why?

Nekita: Inspiring and motivating people like me is my new passion. If I could be anything today, I would be a life coach/personal trainer specializing in weight loss and obesity. I would love to work with women of all ages not just in the gym, but also aiding with getting their lives back and living life to the fullest.

Cee: Where can people find you for more on your weight loss journey?

Nekita: You can find me on Facebook my name is Nekita Shelton. I hope to form a website as well as write a book on my weight loss journey, more information to come.

Thank you

Feature of the Week: The Ma'ats of Bintentional.com!

Ayize and Ayiana Ma'at

Peace Family,


I had the immense pleasure of securing an interview with the dynamic duo of Bintentional.com Ayize and Ayiana Ma'at. Their mission is to inspire couples to stop playing and keep pushing, while always keeping it %100 REAL! Check out the interview below...


HoneyCee: For those who do not know, what is the Bintentional movement all about and what was your inspiration for starting it? http://www.bintentional.com entail?

The Ma’ats: B Intentional exist to celebrate and promote intentional living in all areas of life. Our inspiration for starting the B Intentional Movement was an increasing awareness that nothing happens on accident. We all have these latent desires that need to be resurrected and revitalized but this will only occur through intentional action. We feel that it's through this intentional action that some sense of wholeness can be attained. We are an African American couple that has chosen to place intentional emphasis on improving the quality of relationships in our community. We do this because we understand that in order for greatness to be cultivated and manifested in our community their needs to be a radical shift in how parents relate to each other. We believe, "where the head goes the body will follow,"therefore we choose to focus on the adults and their relationships because they are ultimately responsible for redirecting their families toward more successful outcomes. Instead of complaining about the high divorce rates and poor representations of marriage in our community, we decided to do something. We first looked at our relationship and acknowledged the growth we've experienced during the past 15 years and realized that we have awesome value and an obligation to share. B Intentional is "our" call to the community to take action and do something different in our relationships so that we can improve the quality of our lives.

HoneyCee: The advice you give to couples is so encouraging. Where does your advice come from?

The Ma’ats: The primary source of education for our relationship advice is our experience. We are deeply in love with each other and we recognize that nowadays that's rare. We look at the ups and downs in our relationship and extract the lessons we've learned that have enabled us to be as connected as we are. Additionally, Aiyana is a clinical psychotherapist and both of us are certified marriage educators. We have a library of books to extract relationship wisdom from and we are regularly working with couples that are trying to take their relationship to the next level. We also stay connected to continuing education opportunities that help us to stay on top of the current themes and trends in relationship education. All of these experiences help to shape us and enable us to provide advice.

HoneyCee: You give great advice on relationships, but where do you go when you need help in the relationship department?

The Ma’ats: One of the things that we regularly advocate for is "relationship checkups". Whether you are in a good space or more challenging one it's good to sit down with an objective third party and do some "tweaking" or maybe even a relationship "overhaul". We adhere to our own advice and schedule time for "relationship checkups" with the therapist that provided pre-marital counseling to us.

HoneyCee: I love the way the two of you support and compliment each other. How long have you been together and how much does your marriage encourage the direction of Bintentional?

The Ma’ats: We are high school sweethearts. We have been together for 15 years. We have a phenomenal marriage and working relationship. Both combined heavily influence the direction of B Intentional.

HoneyCee:What kind of change would you like to make in the lives of others through Bintentional? What is your ultimate goal or vision for the company?

The Ma’ats: We would like to positively impact the image of black marriage in our community and drastically improve the quality of relationships in our community. One of our immediate goals is to impact 100,000 couples per month. As we accomplish and exceed that number we believe the quality of life for adults and children in our community will improve drastically. In the coming months we will be launching a sister site that will focus specifically on living from a place of purpose and manifesting our dreams. This sister site will be the ultimate online destination for finding and building motivation & inspiration to live out the kind of authentic and powerful lives we are meant to live. Our ultimate goal is to be the best that we can be and inspire others on a worldwide scale to do the same. We are constantly developing and growing so we know the possibilities for us and our company are endless.

HoneyCee: I know you two were featured in a film. Can you tell us more about that?

The Ma’ats: The film "You Saved Me" produced and directed by Lamar and Ronnie Tyler was a candid look into the relationships of 8 couples and the impact marriage has had on their lives. While the film was still in it's inception, we were working hard as marriage educators teaching classes with Nisa Muhammad, the Founder of Black Marriage Day and she introduced us to the Tyler's. We immediately established a rapport and shortly thereafter were asked to be a part of the film. The process of being in the film and the relationships we developed and feedback we received from that helped to further solidify our company's initial goals.

HoneyCee: As a married couple with four children, how do you manage to sustain a loving and supportive relationship?

The Ma’ats: We are intentional about spending quality time with each other. We talk on the phone throughout the day, we sit with each other while our kids are playing, we hold each other, and when we lay the kids down at night we are intentional about being in each other's presence. It really comes down to practicing good communication. Now, we hear that all the time but it's the truth. We must practice what we want to perfect. So, we take our relationship very seriously and know that it will only improve through us doing what is required. Being the best husband & wife we know how to be is a serious commitment and we approach it that way. The other thing is that we are truly friends....like for real best friends. We hang out together, act silly together....and we can get really silly, and make sure that we still make time to "just be together" without work dominating our every interaction.

HoneyCee: What do the classes you offer on your web site http://www.bintentional.com entail?

The Ma’ats: The classes that we offer entail lessons on conflict management, relationship etiquette, communication differences, gender value, sex, intimacy, and understanding. We offer Basic Training For Couples and Singles, Real Talk By Men For Men, as well as Get Unstuck & Do Your Dream. At the foundation of everything we teach and every experience we facilitate is the underlying push for folks to get to know themselves better, increase their insight and understanding of themselves, and reach new heights within themselves and their relationships based on their unique insight.

HoneyCee: If there was one important tip you could give single men and women what would it be?

Ayize Ma’at: Do not lead with your heart OR your head....be balanced and lead with BOTH. This will give you the greatest chance at relationship success.

Aiyana Ma’at: Make it a point to learn how to truly love and accept all of who you are. Learn how to be alone but not lonely. Explore the depths of your own personal strengths and fears. Bottom line---invest in your personal development. It is one of the greatest investments you can ever make.

HoneyCee: If there was one important tip you could give newly married couples what would it be?

Ayize Ma’at : The difference between successful and unsuccessful couples is not the absence of conflict...but rather their ability to manage it. Remember that when times (as they inevitably will) get tough.

Aiyana Ma’at: Marriage is beautiful and fun and it requires work. People don't often like to talk about the work aspect of marriage but at the end of the day it does require work. In our careers we know it makes good sense to increase our skills, add to our toolbox, and get continuing education. Marriage should be no different. Work in your marriage so it will work for you.

HoneyCee: Toss Up: What is your favorite meal and why?

Ayize Ma'at: Fried Tofu with a side of barbecue sauce, spinach with garlic and onions, and macaroni and cheese.

Aiyana Ma'at: Crabs all day every day!!! I love me some crabs! Lol!

HoneyCee: Where can HoneyCee.blogspot.com readers get more information from the Ma'ats?

The Ma’ats: www.blackloveandmarriage.com

Feature of the Week: Ashley Robertson of Afiya LLC!

Peace Family,


I had to opportunity to catch up with my good friend and line sister Ashley Robertson Co-Ceo of Afiya LLC. She is a business owner, entrepreneur, and graduate school student at Howard University. I love her for her diligence, tenacity, and down home spirit. I think you will too :) Check out the interview below...

HoneyCee: For those who may not know, what is “Afiya” and what is your mission?

Ashley Robertson: Afiya is a host of natural bath and body products that contain fair trade shea butter and certified organic ingredients. Our line ranges from hair butter, body butter, hair oils, shea sugar scrubs and foot butter. The name Afiya is Swahili and it is a wish of wellness and good health. The mission of Afiya is to create all natural products that heal, soothe and restore your skin and hair and to educate people about how to be healthy inside and out.

HoneyCee: Where did the idea for “Afiya” come from, how long has it been in existence, and what was your inspiration for starting the product line?

Ashley Roberston: Afiya was initially something that my friend Jerilyn (Co-Ceo of Afiya) and I started because of our natural journey's. Initially it was hard to find affordable natural products for our hair and skin so we decided to experiment with creating our own.  Jerilyn created the hair and body butter and I created the eczema butter. We sent the products down to Tiara (Public Relations and Marketing Manager) to test them out and she promoted them at her job. People loved the product and what was supposed to be an experiment turned into a business. Initially the product line began with hair butter, body butter and eczema butter and we later expanded.

HoneyCee: What does the “Afiya” product line consist of?

Ashley Robertson: Afiya has bath, body and hair care products. Our bath products include shea butter soap and body wash. For the body we have facial scrubs, facial wash, facial butter, body butter, body wash, shea butter soap, shea sugar scrubs, body spray and foot butter. Our hair products include hair oil, hair butter, shampoo, conditioner and styling spray. We have new products in the works also.

HoneyCee: Who are “Afiya” products for?

Ashley Roberston: Afiya products are for all people with skin! People make the mistake of thinking that natural products are for people with natural hair but natural products are for anyone that is interested in HEALTHY skin or hair. 

HoneyCee: What is your vision for the future of “Afiya”?

Ashley Robertson: As for the future of Afiya we pray that where ever God wants to take us we will go. I would like for us to own boutique spa's featuring our product across the country if it's in God's will. 

HoneyCee: Toss up: What is your favorite free time activity?

Ashley Roberston: With me being in Grad School I don't have a lot of free time but when I do have some I'm usually on Facebook or playing around with my Blackberry. 

HoneyCee: Where can HoneyCee blog readers get find more information on “Afiya” and check out your products?

Ashley Robertson: You can find Afiya on twitter at www.twitter.com/afiya4you, on youtube at www.youtube.com/afiya4you, on www.facebook.com/afiya4you, our website is www.afiya4you.com and lastly our email address is info@afiya4you.com. You can purchase our products on the website or at www.etsy.com/shop/afiya4you

Song of the Day: Bob Marley "Don't Worry About A Thing"

Peace Family,


I have had this song in my head for the past week! My car broke down again lol My father let me borrow his and that broke down too!!!lol On the way to my part time job yesterday, his car decided it didn't want to accelerate anymore and I had no choice but to creep over to the side of the road and sit. I didn't even get upset. Honestly, I just called my father and thankfully he was able to come get me and take me to work. He even came and took me home last night. My relationship with my father has been a very interesting one to say the least but my sister helped me to realize something this morning, our car situation has helped to mend our relationship with our father. I share this with you all to say there is a blessing in every circumstance even though we can't always Cee it right away. Nothing is by accident everything is for a reason. I have started to accept that I won't always know the answer or the way right from the start. I take comfort in the fact that God has me and would not desert me so I pray and wait knowing that God will reveal everything to me in time :) And I just want you to know that God will do the same for you too. I'm going to leave the link to Bob's "Don't Worry About A Thing" below. I encourage you to listen to it and heed the message he shares with us. As always, I wish you peace and light. Cee ya in the next post!


Link to ""Don't Worry About A Thing:" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mACqcZZwG0k

Feature of the Week: Shelley Chapman!

Shelley Chapman of Naturi Beauty Concepts LLC.

Peace Family,


It is a pleasure to introduce to you all Food Relationship Coach Ms. Shelley Chapman of Naturi Beauty Concepts LLC. I am follower of her blog and youtube channel where she encourages viewers and readers to develop healthy relationships with food. I'll let her explain more to you in her own words...

HoneyCee: For those who do not know, what is Naturi Beauty Concepts LLC. and what inspired you to start the company?

Shelley Chapman: Naturi Beauty Concepts is a brand and lifestyle that promotes radiance through food and beauty.  I was inspired to start the company because I wanted to help women with their natural hair including myself.  The company has grown and my position has evolved from simply the woman who creates and sells the products to The Food Relationship Coach where I help individuals, namely women, redefine and recreate their relationship with food and beauty.

HoneyCee: I love your relationship with food and how you encourage others to maintain a healthy, satisfying relationship with food as well. Why is our relationship with food important? Shelley Chapman: Food is not only a source of nutritional nourishment that our body uses as daily fuel, but it is also a source of connection and energy that helps us create the life we desire.  I know when I say that, I get the occasional Scooby Doo "urrrr?"  It's a different way of looking at it.  I noticed early on how a delicious meal causes people to sing, dance, tap their toes, clap their hand and what have you. We get excited over food.  I encourage people to explore where that feeling comes from and how they can transfer that feeling into their personal lives to create the relationships they want.  Not just their relationship with food, but the relationship with their partner, their career, their family, themselves, etc. HoneyCee: You often talk about food and how it relates to the senses. What specific foods or herbs illicit a specific response from people and why?

Shelley Chapman: I started an event series called “Decadence!” to explore that very concept.  “Decadence!” takes ordinary ingredients and shows the varying uses that can make them extraordinary.  At each “Decadence!” event participants get to taste different dishes prepared with a specific ingredient and then later become a “Kitchen Chemist” and create a beauty product with the same ingredient. At the premiere “Decadence!” event in Atlanta we explored Chocolate.  Chocolate is the ultimate alchemical food.  It inspires our sensual nature and it literally links with our "bliss gene" in our bodies and puts us in a good feeling place.  That's why so many women crave it during their menstrual cycle.  At the D.C. “Decadence!” event we explored Honey, Rosemary and Ginger.  The ginger was uplifting and exhilarating while the honey felt relaxing and soothing.  It really is about people connecting with food and understanding how they can use the varying properties to benefit their lives as necessary.  There are two more upcoming “Decadence!” events on the calendar: December 4 in Atlanta and January 15 in New York.  We'll be exploring coconut and turmeric at the Atlanta event and details are forthcoming for the New York event.

HoneyCee: You make the most delicious meals, some of them I have tried myself, how do you come up with the recipes?  Shelley Chapman: Most of my meals are intuited through my dining experiences in my travels.  We all have different memories of places we've visited, some remember the shopping, some remember the tourist highlights.....I remember the food!  I have this beautiful ability to taste a recipe, so when I order food that I like, I typically recreate it at home.  Other meals are a fusion of some of my favorite dishes.  I really love Thai Sticky Coconut Rice and Mango.  One problem though....I haven't quite mastered the Sticky Rice lol.  So I created a vegan version where I made Coconut Custard with Mango steamed in Banana Leaves....omg! It's so yummy! I have a video with that recipe coming very soon:) HoneyCee: What is your favorite ingredient to cook with? Shelley Chapman: This question always stumps me.  Especially when people ask what my favorite cuisine is.  I love ingredients so much it's hard to choose.  It's easier to tell you what I don't like.  I'm not the biggest fan of Asian inspired food (save Thai or Filipino) because it doesn't utilize tomatoes and cheese lol!  I do love rosemary, basil, mint and thyme.  The first three herbs give a kick to any meal and I love that, even though their little, they manage to boldly stand out and add their creative, powerful boost amongst other flavors in a dish. HoneyCee: I know you have your own line of beauty products. What does the line consist of and what specific benefits can customers look forward to?

Shelley Chapman: I discontinued the line in June.  When Naturi Beauty was conceptualized in 2004, I thought that it would solely be a resource for women with natural hair, thus I created a well received product line.  As the business began to expand, Naturi Beauty Concepts became an umbrella and a lifestyle, not just a product.  Just as anything in life, the business has its own identity and I'm in charge of nurturing it and making sure that the Brand continues to expand.  The focus lately has been showing women how to use food for beauty, consumption, sensuality and health through the “Decadence!” events and the online Naturi Beauty show. There are plans to revamp the actual product line in the future.

HoneyCee: What is your overall goal for Naturi Beauty Concepts LLC. Where would you like to see the company in 5-10 years?  Shelley Chapman: Our goal at Naturi Beauty is to help individuals recreate their relationship with food and beauty and use it to nourish and nurture themselves and ultimately grow.  We are working on having our online show featured on major television networks around the world.  We are looking forward to our “Decadence!” workshops and Culinary Coaching classes going global starting next year.  We're also collaborating with other businesses to create retreat and conference experiences so that women can directly apply the Nourish. Nurture. Grow experience.  We're also authoring several books on food and its energetic appeal that will include loads of yummy recipes of course :)  We have a lot in store, some I can't reveal yet but please join us over at www.naturibeauty.com so that you can stay up to date. HoneyCee:  Toss Up: What is your favorite song and why? Shelley Chapman: Oh dear...again the favorite question stumps me every time....do I have to choose? LOL! Okay let's see, I'll choose one from my list of many.....ummmm I think I'll go with Adele's First Love.  It's beautifully delivered and it really speaks to the need to move on when it's time.  I apply it not only to love but just life situations.  It was really tough to close the product portion of Naturi Beauty, as that was the first love of the business, but it was time to focus, groom and grow other facets.  In this song, she really explores the emotional aspect of letting go and moving on. HoneyCee: Where can HoneyCee.blogspot.com readers get more information from you?

Shelley Chapman: My virtual lounge is a good start www.naturibeauty.com and then you can hop over to my blog and check out my inner landscape at http://naturibeauty.com/blog and of course at Twitter, please do follow me www.twitter.com/naturibeauty and on FB, let's be friends Shelley Chapman and I'd love to have you join the FB Fan page Naturi Beauty as well.

Feature of the Week: Ashley Haydel Massage Therapist

Peace Family,


I wanted to share with you all someone who I think is a gift to her career field and a joy to have met, Miss Ashley Haydel a Maryland based massage therapist who specializes in Swedish and deep tissue massages. I had the pleasure of receiving one of her FANTASTIC massages this past weekend and sitting down for some girl talk turned interview ;). Here is what she had to say:


HoneyCee: Why did you choose to go in to massage therapy?


Ashley Haydel: I was unhappy in my line of work at that time and my coworkers would tell me that I was good with my hands because I always gave massages. One day I fell asleep on the couch with the television on and when I woke up right there was a Medix School advertisement for massage therapy! I said "you know what I'm going to call them."


HoneyCee: What have you learned from your training that stood out to you?


Ashley Haydel: The transference of energy. We do an exercise called "palm to palm" where we measure energy and my energy ball is huge! It's just ridiculous. I could stand across the room from a person and they could still feel me, my energy. It requires a lot of concentration.


HoneyCee: Where would like to cee yourself in the long term? What are you future aspirations or goals for massage therapy?


Ashley Haydel: My best friend, my little sister (who went to school for cosmetology), and I would like to open a tea shop where customers can come for open mike nights and music. I would also like to open a massage studio with my sister where clients can come and escape all their stress. We would like to provide our customers with a peaceful and nurturing atmosphere.


HoneyCee: Toss up: If you could be any where in the world right now where would it be and why?


Ashley Haydel: I would like to go to India and visit a real Buddhist temple. Buddhism is a journey. Buddhist do believe in God and the spiritual connection between self and the creator.


To cee Miss Haydel in action check out the video below and to schedule your own consultation email her at aehaydel@gmail.com . As always, I wish you all peace and light. Cee ya in the next post!!

Weekly Feature: Pamela Robinson of NaturallyDivine Co.!

Hung Cowrie

Hello Everyone!!

This week's feature is Pamela Robinson of NaturallyDivine Co. She is an incredible jewelry designer. I recently won her YouTube contest for a handcrafted Afro pic. It is GORGEOUS! For a glimpse of the video click here. I had a chance to catch up with her and find out the inspiration behind the pieces at naturallydivineco.com.  Check out the interview below..

　

HoneyCee:For those who are not familiar with your work, what was your initial motivation/inspiration behind creating Naturally Divine Co.?

Pamela Robinson: I live in Miami, Florida and it became very hard to find accessories that reflect my style which is very eccentric, so I decided to create my own and to help bring African culture inspired jewelry to the fore front of my city. It just seemed easier to tie fashion and culture together to get people thinking about our roots in a positive way.

 

Modern Madonna

HoneyCee: You have some of the MOST creative pieces I have seen anywhere! How do you come up with ideas for new accessories? Ex: dreams, every day experiences etc.

Pamela Robinson: Visions from God. There have been many nights that I would pop out of bed to bring those visions to life, even if it meant spending 6 to 7 hours on one piece.

  

HoneyCee:What is your favorite material to work with when making accessories and why?

Pamela Robinson: Leather! Its durable and flexible. I can create anything I want with leather. Leather comes in so many forms, textures and colors which makes it cool to use. 

 

HoneyCee: The quality of your pieces really sets you apart from many jewelry designers. Everything is impeccably made with fine materials. What has helped you to achieve this level of precision in your jewelry making? Ex: A jewelry class or mentor.

Pamela Robinson: My character..period! I have a simple system and every pieces has to meet " Would I personally wear this approved" My conscious would not allow me to ship anything if its not in impeccable condition. I want my clients to shop with me again and again. 

 

HoneyCee: When making your jewelry, what do you prefer to work with most your hands or tools?

Pamela Robinson: My hands are my tools...lol!

HoneyCee: What is your ultimate goal for Naturally Divine Co.?

Pamela Robinson: To expand throughout the U.S. so that I can hire within the urban communities. In the year that I have been doing this alone, I am finding that I need someone I can pass the torch to.

HoneyCee:Toss up: What is success to you?

Pamela Robinson: When friends and family believe in you so much that they are willing to do anything they can to help you see your dreams come to life and if at the end of the day they say,"We are proud of you." That is success to me!

 

HoneyCee: Where can HoneyCee.blogspot.com readers see more from you?

Pamela Robinson: www.naturallydivineco.com I hang out a lot on Twitter too @JewelryVixen305