Leaving her Mark at the age of 11

I was so inspired by this young lady!!!! At the tender age of 11, she is the CEO of her very own company. She is leaving a mark in her community and changing the face of beauty! If you can dream it...you can be it!!! She not old enough to drive the bus or get her driver's liscense but it goes to show that her dream of making a difference in the lives of others is taking her straight to her destiny!!


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True Beauty Steps!!!!

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her "beauty tips." It was read at her funeral years later.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.


For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.


For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.


For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.


For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.


People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,
and redeemed; never throw out anyone.


Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.


As time passes, you will discover that one hand is for helping yourself, and the
other for helping others.


If you share this with another women, something good will happen,

You will boost another woman's self esteem, and she will know that you care about her.

Ask Bella Deveraux: Friends with Benefits

Dear Bella,
I have done well for myself...I'm a successful business woman who paid my way through college and graduate school. I am able to pay my bills and treat myself to a few luxuries in life. I have recently been evolved with a man for about 8 months and we have established that our relationship is friends with benefits. We have an understanding that he pays my bills and takes care of me financially and I spend time with him when I'm available. Now, I don't see anything wrong with this and it has been nice to have a man take care of me. But my friends think that this is a situation gone bad because he dates other women. What do you think?

Dear Destiny Child,

Can you pay my bills was a big hit for Destiny Children...but while they we singing the song they were earning the money to pay for their bills. I'm not one to judge but I would have you really look at the situation and make sure your not selling yourself short. You mention that you were able to take care of your self..why wouldn't you continue to implement the values you stood on while you were in college? Make sure that you don't allow your morals or integrity to be compromised. Not to mention what you open yourself up to with this man with the possible risk of an STD because he is dating other women. You are responsible for your health physically and spiritually. So...I not saying you a Gold digger but...Look at the big picture.
Bella D.

Making and leaving her Mark in Hollywood: Gabourey Sidibe

So...I found this article and wanted to share it with beauty mark readers. It is on the break out star Gabourey Sidibe. I have seen her on several talk shows and I find her very interesting. She is a breathe of fresh air and is simply authentic in who she is and how she wants to be portrayed. Does size really play a part in your success or would you call it divine purpose! I love to see the face and perception change in Hollywood. Although there are some haters that always try to knock you down and doubters that don't believe, Gabourey Sidibe is living proof that color and size will not stop anyone from having what God has for you!



"Precious" star Gabourey Sidibe didn't nab a statuette at the Oscars, the night was clearly a win for her. She looked radiant on the red carpet, even flirting with Gerard Butler. The pressure to conform in Hollywood is legendary, but Sidibe is standing up to it with grace.

"I learned to love myself, because I sleep with myself every night and I wake up with myself every morning, and if I don't like myself, there's no reason to even live the life," she told New York magazine in September. "They [the press] try to paint the picture that I was this downtrodden, ugly girl who was unpopular in school and in life and then I got this role and now I'm awesome, but the truth is that I've been awesome, and then I got this role."

That hasn't stopped critics from attacking the actress for her size. An opportunistic weight loss supplement company recently wrote a letter to the 26-year-old performer claiming to be concerned about her health and offering her a year's supply of its product in exchange for an endorsement. "The only way you can reach your goal of someday winning that Oscar is by being active, fit, and most of all, healthy!" chirps the letter leaked to TMZ.

Shock jock Howard Stern has also called the actress out, referring to her as "the size of a planet" and saying Hollywood and Oprah (a Sidibe champion) were liars for suggesting the star would continue to have a career in show business. Guess he doesn't realize she was just cast in Showtime series "The Big C."

Sidibe, for her part, hasn't dignified the recent criticism with a response. But Jessica Simpson, host of the new VH1 reality series "The Price of Beauty" came out in defense of Sidibe. "She walked the red carpet at the Oscars and she owned it. She had such confidence and I absolutely 100 percent think she could get anything in the world that she wants."

Which is not to say Sidibe doesn't leave the door open for changing her image one day. "I love the way I look. I'm fine with it. And if my body changes, I'll be fine with that." Sounds remarkably healthy to us. Written by Alison Rosen

Ask Belle Deveraux: Growing Lonely

I have not been in a serious relationship in a while. I feel like I have hit a dry spell because I don't know what to do and where to go to meet men. My best friend is always asking me to go out with her and her boyfriend but I often feel like a third wheel. I noticed that it hurts my heart to see couples together because I so want this for myself... should I go out or stay in and how do I handle these feeling of loneliness and bitterness?

Dear Green with Envy,

There are a lot of benefits that we single women have that are liberating and powerful if we choose to see the glass as half full. I'm pretty sure you can ask any married woman who has been married for a while... she will tell you that the grass is not always greener on the other side. But I have a question for you to consider while you are single...what is your bigger picture? You said it has been sometime since your last relationship. What have you learn about yourself in the between stages? You must remember that you are in a relationship with yourself first. If you can take care of yourself emotionally, phyically, and spiritually than you are able to impart that wisdom and knowledge into someone else. By divine design, God put in us an incredible gift of nuturing. It is a gift that we carry deep inside us as women to speak life and produce life. Ok...I know your single and you are not the only woman in the world who wants a relationship with a wonderful man, but what else can you focus on? What do you have in your hands that you can work with? Pour yourself into your purpose, your mission in life, helping your community, your family. Unlock the gift that you have to nuture life and pour that power into people that are around you. This may help you with these feeling of envy your having with your best friend. Don't allow your temporary circustance to dictate your happiness for yourself or for the people you love. Celebrate and praise are two important keys to get God's attention and maybe He will unlock your door to finding love. Go out with your best friend... you never know who you may meet...don't close yourself off to love. Be happy for the love you see blooming around you because God is no respecter of persons...what He does for someone else He can make happen for you!
Bella D.

Pass the Pearl: Speak life with your tongue

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21


What are you saying? Tell the truth because God hears your conversations out loud and even in your spirit. Are you creating with your mouth the environment you want to see? Words are life giving and building. Words spoken out of our mouth can uplift or break down. It is imperative that we speak positive to the people we love and to the people God places in our lives. Are your children not acting right? What about your husband, is he getting on your last nerve? Speak to the King inside your husband and the leader or princess inside your children. I promise they will rise and appear. Kind words are like honey to the soul. Find someone who's light and life appears to be defeated and speak to their potential. Believe it by Faith...all you need is a mustard seed to make any situation move.

Wisdom for Wednesday: Diary of a Tired Black Woman

With so many demands on our lives as women, it’s like we’re starring in a 5 act play called “The Diary of a Tired Black Woman.” But I ask the question, How does she do it all? Where does this sense of drive and passion come? As women we play so many roles and change our hats and hair weaves all at the same time! Whether we are playing leading lady to our significant other or supporting actress to our children, family, or friends we play the role of a lifetime. But any actress will tell you that she has to prepare and study the life of her character that in order to connect and tell a story. As we play the many roles in our lives we must Reconnect with a bigger source of power that is greater than us. Such power will give us inspiration, inner peace, and drive to love ourselves and our family. Remember, you have to take care of yourselves first…only then can you truly give and pour into others. If we want to have influence with the world we must have a sense of guidance from on high. We embrace this when we take time and Reconnect with God and receive His power of inner strength, peace, and wisdom. It is with Him that our lives can be full and spill over to everyone we meet. We become an open vessel chosen to be used for His purpose. Start your day with him while your drinking coffee, driving to work, or cooking breakfast. Take time and open your spirit so that God can refresh you and guide you to your best acadamy award winning role of a lifetime.

T=trust I=inspired R=reconnect E=empower D=devotion

Ask Bella Deveraux: "Bitten by gay crush "

Dear Bella Deveraux,

I have been in the dating world for a while and have a problem with finding a good man. I have been spending a lot of time with my best friend Steven. We have a lot of fun together and get along great it is like we are two peas in a pod. He has a lot of qualities I look for in a man except he is gay. Our relationship is getting a little weired because he doesn't know that I have develop these feelings for him...I don't know what to do and where these feeling came from. He recently asked me why have I been so scarce in our friendship because we usually hang out so much. Should I tell him and face the rejections or should I act as though there is nothing wrong even though I know I have feelings for him?

Bitten by gay crush


Dear Bitten,
You are not the first woman that has ever experience this problem in some kind of form. Sometimes the object of our affection doesn't have to be gay.... women still find ourselves falling for the wrong person who is just not that in to us as much as we are in to them. I'm pretty sure you have heard this expression before. Hopefully you have seen the movie...I myself can identify with this scenario all to well except the person that I had develop feelings for wasn't gay, he just didn't notice me. And that can be a sensitive situation when you like someone who doesn't like you back. Lets face it no one likes rejection. But I would ask you, when was the last time you where single and not thinking about being in a relationship. You mention that you have been in the dating world for a while and you couldn't find a good man. When was the last time you had time to reflect on what you want in life. There is so much out in the dating scene that your perception of what a good man is could be clouded by all the mess out there. If you take time to date yourself and reflect on you and what you truly want you may find that your perception may change. Good men do exist...you see this in your gay best friend. But when it comes to meeting the right one for you it has to be at the right time. Timing is imperative to finding true love. You have to catch a man when he is ready for what you want. It must fall in line. But your standards and qualities must be realistic...not some fantasy dream man. Maybe try removing yourself from the dating world for a while take some time off. Honey, everybody needs a vacation sometimes! As for your gay best friend he is just that... your gay best friend! He is not thinking about you that way put those feelings in check and just love your relationship for what it really is..good fun, great laughs, and fabulous shopping. It can be hard. Keep your head up love will find you when your not looking.

Bella Deveraux

Beauty Marks Introduces Bella Deveraux!!!

Beauty Marks is please to introduce to our readers our very own relationship, beauty, career, fashion, life coach expert... Bella Deveraux. She is a girls kind of girl! Described by many as a tell it like it is and keep it real type of chic, Belle D. is not afraid to give it to you real. So, you may be wondering to yourself...how does someone get this job? How does a chic just show up on the scene, make a appearance, and declares she is an expert on life and knows the meaning of it! She decided it for herself. "I noticed that people would always come and ask me for advice and what and how to handle certain situations.. I found out that part of my purpose was telling them what to do!" With her sound wisdom on life, mixed with love and a great pair of shoes, Bella Deveraux found her niche and loves to inspire women to reach within and find there inner voice and listen to what is true to their heart. "I've noticed that women often have the answers to their questions but sometimes need a push of courage to make the right decision. So please enjoy this new addition to Beauty Marks leave comments and let us know what you think. Email us with your questions at askbelladeveraux@yahoo.com and don't be afraid to "Ask Bella Deveraux!"

How do you see Yourself?

It is important to have a good self perception of yourself! Check this out and think about how you see your body type. Many woman make the same mistakes and see their body image larger. It doesn't matter what you put on the body if the mind thinks one thing the rest will follow. Be inspired and see yourself in your true essence beauty in all shapes sizes and colors!

Beauty Marks Book Fine: I am an Emotional Creature

In this daring, provocative, and insightful book, bestselling author and internationally acclaimed playwright Eve Ensler writes fictional monologues and stories inspired by girls around the globe. Moving through a world of topics and emotions, these voices are fierce, alive, tender, complicated, imaginative, and smart. Girls today often find themselves in a struggle between remaining strong and true to themselves and conforming to society’s expectations in an attempt to please. They are taught not to be too intense, too passionate, too smart, too caring, too open. They are encouraged to shut down their instincts, their outrage, their desires and their dreams, to be polite, to obey the rules. I Am an Emotional Creature is a celebration of the authentic voice inside every girl and an inspiring call to action for girls everywhere to speak up, follow their dreams, and become the women they were destined to be by using their own voice.

Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2010: Right in time for Valentines Day!

Walk and Work the Run way in Red! (Estelle,Regina King, Jordan Sparks,Kim, and Raven)

These ladies Look Fab all for a Good Cause!!! Heart disease is the #1 killer of women between the ages of 25 to 45. We must take care of ourselves and watch what we eat and get plenty of exercise. Let this cause move you to have your own Heart Truth Awareness in your own communities. We all can join in and inspire one another to be beautiful while holding each other accountable for our lives! Yes...we are our Sista's keepa!

Pass the Pearl: God Time/Skin Care Shout Out!!!

In our search for makeup tips and tricks to make us look beautiful sometimes we forget about taking care of our skin. Skin care is just not what we apply to our faces but stress, worry, bitterness, and not enough rest will all take a toll on how you look and feel. Take time to get enough rest, exercise, and laughter. I have experienced first hand, when situations were hard and uncomfortable, God blessed me with a spirit of laughter. And when I couldn't laugh he gave me my best friend to remind me that all we had was joy! It is important that we take care of ourselves emotionally and spiritually. Take time in the morning to center your thoughts and plans. Keep a pad and pen near your bed to jot thoughts and ideas. If you are happy and had your God Time then people, problems, and situations will have to adjust to your tone. I call it... setting your environment! It will only enhance your life and help you look and feel better. Once we are set up for success on a inner level we are ready to add a little flavor! There are a lot of products on the market that pretty much all do the same thing...but in this economy I'm looking for quality products that work with my skin type. I found my skin care angel in Mary Kay Cosmetics. I have sampled a little of this and that but this line work with my skin and is good for my pockets. I personally had trouble skin with breakouts and my skin did not look polish. So, you can imagine how my face look with makeup. I have oily skin and my problem area is my chin. Mary Kay has an oil modifier that works great! It stops shine and goes on smooth. For skin care the cleanser works well and leaves my skin feeling fresh and new. It seams as though the products removes dirt, grime, and makeup from your skin and leaves it glowing. Your skins look healthy...and I walked away feeling polished and smooth.

Her Story was Inspiration

In my search of looking for people who's story move and inspire me to keep my hope alive, I discovered the beautiful life of celebrity makeup artist Roxanna Floyd. She died at the tender age of 49 January 28, 2010 at her home in Clinton Hills. Roxanna painted the faces of Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Whittney Houston, Lauren Hill, and Angelea Bassette. She also gave her talents and gifts to movies such as Waiting to Exhale, Brown Sugar, Cinderella, and America Next Top Model. She loved her craft and knew her stuff. She helped companies like Revlon, Fashion Fair, and Mary Kay Cosmetics on produts and development. Her hands touched lives and faces. Even though she is gone to soon, her presence is real and exsist because her story has left an impression on my life and I never knew her. That is just how awesome God is when he says I will make your name great. Long after your gone your story will have a voice because someone that you may have never known will tell and share your story. She inspires me to believe that all things are possible and that you can really grab a hold of the thing that God created you to do. This in a nut shell is the fuel that keeps the internal flame of life burning in all of our lives and connects us all together. She will be miss but not forgotton.

Wisdom for Wednsday: The Steps of a Carpenter

There is so much work, time, and dedication that goes into building a house..much like many objects that are created with human skill it takes research, planning, and preparation. Our homes we live in, cars we drive, chairs we sit in and even the clothes we put on our back are all concepts and thoughts implanted into someone mind. Much like our ideas, dreams, and visions that we have for our lives it takes time and preparation to see the change we want to manifest. I dont know about you... but for me it feels like my spirit is always 5 to 10 steps ahead of my physical body. It is a great and sometimes a mind blowing experience! But much like building a house, creating the life we desire takes time and experience. It is our experiences in life that shape our world...good or bad depending on your attitude. It is from our experiences we gain wisdom for our lives and apply that life lesson to our future steps. Through those steps we gain understanding and we can began to establish and discern what we are to do. By knowing what to do we began to create what we see in our mind become a reality. It is imporant that we have a solid foundation when laying down our vision for our lives. I'm learning to be present in my now momment to get the best result and outcome for my not yet happen . The one thing we cant get back in life is time so we must use our time wisely by researching our dreams, surrounding ourselves with like minded indivduals, and find tuning the vision as it begins to grow and mature. This is how one can fill a house with rare and beautiful treasure that can be seen and touch with the human eye. (By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.)proverbs24:3-4

BEAUTY SECRETS: Kissable Lips for Valentines Day!!!

So...I wanted to let people know about great finds that I stumble on so that we all can be beautiful together. Now there are a couple of things I know to be true about makeup. Makeup is an enhancement. It is very imporant that we take care of our skin by investing in good skin care products as well as being aware that what you eat will have your skin looking good or bad. Ladies drink a lot of water! With Valentines Day right around the corner...I wanted to talk about lips! One of my favorite inexpensive product that I use is Mary Kay Satin lips! It is a Lip Savior! The Lip Mask exfoliates dead surface skin cells that cause lips to appear dull and the balm add moisture to those luscious lips!!! Once those lips are smooth your ready for color. Staying with the whole kiss theme I recommend a lip gloss line called Kissable Couture by Kiesha Whitaker wife of Forest Whitaker and celebrity makeup artist AJ Crimson. This lips gloss is known for high shine and great colors that intensivies with each application. It has a buildable pigment. www.kissablecouture.com Hope you enjoy!!

You Never Know!!!!!

Today was an unsuspected day....woke up and started on my many projects that I have going on.... my many new goals for the new year! You know the slogan...New Year New You!! I think everyone in the start of a new year has those resolutions that they want to accomplish and see manifest in their life. Me... I feel like I'm at a cross road of untap purpose. With me moving back home with my mother, I want to take the time and really explore all of my untap unseen potential that I know resides and dwells within my most innermost being. So I am trying my best to maximize my time and develop every idea, dream, and vision in my belly! I think the hardest things is to be be in a place where I'm discipline and excited about my future because this process in unpredictable. Question? How does one do what they have never seen but know that it exist because of a pull or draw you feel about a particular thing? That thing being label as a Dream. Webster's definition of dream is a visionary creation of the imagination. Why is it important to have a dream? I think the answer is to have a picture of unlimited possibilities that are achievable if you believe. How does one do the unseen...Just do it! It is important for us to trust that still small voice in our head that keeps pulling us towards our future. Even though the way seen unpredictable there are certainties that we reach our goal if we don't give up.There is a passage in the bible that talks about Jesus not being able to perform miracles in his home town because the people had little faith.(Mark 6:5..He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people a heal them. And He was amazed at their lack of faith) That is powerful and eye opening because the only way to get God to perform a miracle in or lives is through faith. Our active faith is the fuel God needs for us to have so that he can began to transforms our unseen lives into His spoken reality. Faith has to be mix with our steady hands of determination to stir up our gifts and talents that ultimately make room for our purpose to be reveal. So remember to keep focus..stay positive..believe and have faith that all you need is inside you and the rest God will provide in His time.

Note to Self

Today started out very slow...I thought to myself what and where is my life going.
I don't know if you have ever been there but I've been through so much in my life sometimes I wonder God where are you? It seems not so long ago when I pack up every thing I owned, rented a Uhaul, and went up interstate 35 in Dallas, TX to Atlanta Georgia. OMG! All those miles that make up a journey that had ultimately led me back to where I started. Along my journey I have had many life experience that I guess Oprah would say I had a "Ah Ha". It would be those events that have made my no sense life really meaningful. Between here and there I have met so many wonderful people that have touch my life and made it better...even the ones I didn't like. I have heard it is not about the destination but the journey and courage it take to stay on that little yellow brick road of discover. So I cant help but wonder...how does the puzzle and pieces of my life fit and connect to a bigger picture? I was reminded today by the Holy Spirit that my life is not in vain and the steps that I have made and took have always been purposeful. That bless my soul and gave me an assurance that He that started a great work in me will complete and finish it until... that means that He is constantly working on my behalf. Thank you Jesus for the inconsistencies that are in my life because if they were not there I wouldn't know what you would be doing next.

My Story is Grace

It has been awhile since I have written in my blog and celebrating a new year along with a birthday, I wanted to get back on target and write. I have always been better expressing my thoughts through writing. So, I thought I would tell my story! My last post was Nov 3, 2009 which was 2 days before my father's passing. On Nov 5, 2009 my daddy had a heart attack an passed away. It was sudden and unsuspecting. I know that you never know when someone you love will go to the other side but I always thought certain things that had not happen in my life yet my daddy would be around to see and share. Being 35 single with no children and let's not forget that I am an only child, I thought that my dad would see me get married. I have always imagined the father daughter's dance... and let me tell you Otis was a great dancer! We would have torn the dance floor up!!! He loved to dance and was known as a on time slide to the left hit it on the right electric slider! I am a huge dreamer and that vision of my wedding day always had my father beside me giving me away. It did not seem fair...it was not right. That was a conversation I had with God in my head as I pondered on the fact that my daddy was no longer here. I recently moved back in the same state and house with my mother and father and we were so grateful to be together as a family. 5 years I have been out of the state of Texas and 19 years since I left home to go to college. Time goes by so soon and we always think that we will have anough time. But, I have discovered that unsuspecting life events can alter your whole life story of what you think will happen. Here I am in a familair place but it is very uncomfortable. My dad was suppose to be here with us for Thanksgiving and Christmas I haven't celebrated those holidays with my parents in 8 years. What the Hell!!! But as I come my spirit and think about me moving back home in the nick of time I see God's graceful hand. 3weeks I had with my daddy...and those were the best times ever. We laughed, talked, ate dinner,and watchd movies. We bonded and connected as a family it was unforgettable. Those and many other memmories I have as a child of my father I carry in my spirit each and every day. Those memmories keeps me in a position of praise and grattitude. Although we may not always understand why somethings happen in our lives I have learn that our lives or so valuable and time is Precious. Time is something that we cant get back. Once it has tick away...it is gone. Make the most of each and everyday they really do add up and give your life value depending on your attitude. Being grateful is a choice and a opportunity we are blessed with each and eveyday.