Taneka Walker is a mompreneur who has overcome all of the obstacles that life has tried to throw at her. She was raised by her grandmother. In her early adult years she also raised her siblings who were in need. The Air Force Veteran built a professional career and provided a loving atmosphere for her family.

Once she met her husband, Taneka Walker immediately dove into motherhood. As parents, Taneka and her husband found themselves creating loving memories and traditions with their own children. One particular memory included her husband and young daughter spending quality time cooking recipes in the kitchen. The family also discovered food allergies that challenged their daughter’s food intake.

Taneka immediately began researching healthy and safe food snacks for her daughter to enjoy. The family quickly transitioned to loving keto-friendly, low carb and gluten-free gourmet food items. Their daughter even inspired the start of the brand, Kai’s Baking Studio, in their hometown of Houston, Texas.

Kai’s Baking Studio is perfect preparation for the holiday season and the curation of many lifestyle resolutions for the New Year. Their love for gourmet snack options, advocacy and more are an inspiration to us all. Here’s what co-owner, Taneka Walker shared:

What's the mission behind your brand?

“Our mission is to bring low carb gluten-free options that make lifestyle changes easier to manage.”

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

“We see our business moving forward to more wholesale and moving toward a sustainable model that lets us grow through increased availability from retail and restaurant distribution options.”

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

“I see myself preparing my children for the next steps in their lives, setting a legacy for them through real estate investment and entrepreneurship that provides them with opportunities to succeed.”

What low carb/keto friendly items are on your holiday menu?

“We have Keto Pecan Pie, Pecan Pie Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cheesecake, Black walnut Cake, Pistachio Pound Cake, Five Flavor Pound Cake, White Chocolate Raspberry Pound Cake, Pumpkin Pie, and Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake on our holiday menu.”

For moms on the go, what are some quick and easy keto friendly snacks for the family?

“I would start with simple foods like nuts, cheese, berries, keto cookies and keto brownie bites. They can help to keep parents/kids on the right path and are easy to gradually introduce to children.”

Taneka Walker is truly an inspiration. Not only is she a strong support for her family but she’s on a mission to help others create a healthier lifestyle. By transforming our favorites snack items into gourmet superfood, she is creating healthy options that can be consumed without traditional uses of sugar, gluten and more. Kai’s Baking Studio has an array of dessert and snack items to enjoy this holiday season and beyond.

Connect with Kai’s Baking Studio here:

https://instagram.com/kaisbaking?utm_medium=copy_link

https://www.facebook.com/kaisbaking/

https://www.kaisbaking.com/

(Images courtesy of Kai’s Baking Studio.)

Writer C. Scott is a mompreneur, authorpreneur, social worker and more that can be followed as @curls_coils.

In 2020 Juliette Nelson took flight into entrepreneurship with her luxury eyewear brand of NURILENS. She was given purpose and instilled that purpose into her passion for fashionable eyewear. Juliette is a visionary who also curated a product line that also serves to function for eyewear protection.

Her eye for fashion helped her craft unique wooden designs and safe lenses that have bluelight filters. Her grind produces meaningful accessories that serves many purposes for its consumers. Her vision clearly merged fashion, function and meaning into a luxurious brand. The small business CEO shared her passion, inspiration and keys to success below:

What inspired your luxury eyewear brand?

“I honestly, love glasses. Prior to launching the brand, I had about 15-20 pairs of frames. When I launched my first company, JUNURI, in 2018, I remember [jokingly] praying and telling God that the next pair of frames I purchased would be what I designed. The rest is history.”

What fall trends are you seeing in eyewear?

“I am seeing more round and metal frames from a fashion and styling perspective. I find that peple pair them well with their fall clothing ensembles.”

COVID forced many brands to pivot. How did you maintain successful entrepreneurship during these times?

“While NURILENS begin in the fall of 2020 when COVID had already begun shifting life as we knew it; what I found was most effective with my other businesses as well as in launching NURILENS was flexibility and a willingness to understand. I had to maintain a posture of wanting to understand how my customer’s needs shifted with the times and proactively strategize on how I could best meet their needs. This sometimes meant pushing back certain releases to prioritze others or identifying ways I could collect more data to understand my customers’ sentiments.”

Juliette’s vision is clear and concise. She understood the assignment and we can all fashionably enjoy NURILENS today. Connect with Juliette Nelson of NURILENS by visiting the following:

www.nurilens.co

Instagram & Facebook: @nurilens

Writer C. Scott is a mom, authorpreneur and social worker. Follow her writing as @curls_coils.

Photo Credit: Demas Photography and Hylens Photography

We’ve been through a lot so it’s time to enjoy this holiday season. Bring comfort into your home with Defined Elegance this season. Founded by Maryland based owner, Shayla, Defined Elegance is the luxury home essential brand that you need.

Defined Elegance brings about a peaceful atmosphere within the industry of aromatherapy. Perfect for amazing scents, stress relief, cleaning, self-care practices and more; this luxury brand is a hit for the holidays and beyond.

“I started the company 4 years ago as a hobby/side hustle to make extra money to start saving for my family’s first house,” says CEO, Shayla. Her side hustle launched into a full on luxury brand of candles and home accessories that all can enjoy. While preparing for her family’s future she immediately found herself immersed into entrepreneurial demands. But she manages to find her peace and practice self-care on her terms.

“To me candles are the most inexpensive ways to practice self-care. I truly enjoy lighting a candle before meditating, reading a book, or simply while cleaning my home to set the tone and vibe,” she continues. Her luxury items can definitely get the job done well. Shayla even balances her day to day duties with an established routine. “ I prioritized my life and started to plan my weeks according to my priorities. I take my free time during the week and dedicate that time to my business,” she expresses.

So why not spread luxury holiday cheer this season? Here’s what Shayla of Defined Elegance shared about her trendy items for the holidays:

What product offerings are perfect for holiday gifts?

“Our new matte black/white signature vessels are perfect for holiday gifts. As well as our 4oz room sprays. Our Silk Kimono robes are the perfect addition to a perfect relaxing evening. If you’re someone that likes to switch it up, this is for you! ”

Do you have any new fragrances coming out this holiday season or in the new year?

“Yes, I will be launching the following scents and products:

Scents: Laundry Day (a pure and airy fragrance reminiscent of clean cotton blowing in the breeze.); and Serenity ( Exotic Egyptian amber and elegant French Lavender)

Product: Carpet Freshener that will be offered in the following scents: Melanin Poppin, Serenity, Laundry Day, and Pineapple Sage.”

This holiday season is giving aromatherapy vibes and I’m here for it! Shop the look of luxury with Defined Elegance this season as you show appreciation for yourself and those in your life. Connect with this woman owned Black business here:

Instagram & Twitter: @decandleco

Facebook: @Defined Elegance Candle Co.

Website: www.decandleco.com

Writer C. Scott is a mom, authorpreneur, social worker and more. Follow her on IG as @curls_coils.

(Images courtesy of A. Marie Photography.)

Entrepreneurship has many challenges. But it’s even better when you can experience it with the one you love. Tio and Kenzel Fallen have mastered this craft together while curating their own coffee brand. Set to the tone of jazz and a keen eye for art, the married couple created Three Keys Coffee. The specialty blend is roasted and brewed with a hint of jazz.

Founded in 2019, Three Keys Coffee serves as a roastery in the heart of Houston, Texas. The crafted coffee brand is named in honor of the valves on the trumpet instrument. The trumpet is also the backdrop to many influential jazz songs. Co-Owner, Tio Fallen played the trumpet for over 15 years. His experience even includes playing for the renowned FAMU Marching 100. Coffee became a passion for both Tio and his wife, Kenzel, after traveling to coffee-producing regions and exploring the art of home-roasting.

Tio is also a mechanical engineer who was drawn to not just coffee but the science behind the roastery process. The couple’s curiosity and love for coffee spiraled into Three Keys Coffee. They offer a sophisticated specialty blend that merges jazz, art and great coffee into one masterpiece. Here’s what the owners, Tio and Kenzel Fallen shared:

What's the significance behind the music playlists offered with each coffee blend?

“Our goal is to make “specialty” coffee more inclusive and accessible to everyone. Jazz itself is uniquely unifying across all demographics and looking at the history of vinyl recordings as an analogy, that was one of the first means of bringing aspects of a live music set/club into the home. This allowed for wider audiences to listen, hear and enjoy the sounds of the time. In turn jazz was able to gain huge popularity. We intend to do the same with our coffee and we want to make “specialty” coffee more inclusive and accessible just like jazz recordings made music sets and concerts more inclusive and accessible. With our accompanying playlists, we seek to essentially bring the atmosphere of a coffee shop or jazz café to your home through our curated pairings.”

How do you maintain a healthy blend of business, marriage and self-care?

“Being married entrepreneurs and parents of two young children, time is very limited. Both Tio and Kenzel enjoyed careers in professional roles that are highly focused on efficiency and optimization. That translated heavily when starting and building Three Keys as we always strived to work smarter and not harder. We maintain highly organized and detailed planning/roast schedules to ensure we can appropriately balance work and family life. We also allow our children to be involved and present in our business operations so that they understand the value of work and can feel included in that part of our world. Of course self-care and breaks are essential and so we usually take at least one weekend day to devote to family time and gladly embrace any moments of downtime by listening to music, enjoying a good meal, and drinking coffee.”

Three Keys Coffee is a dope brand that we all need in our lives. They have specialty blends to satisfy the pallette of any coffee lover while also infusing it for the jazz culture. I applaud their ingenuity and flavor. Connect with Three Keys Coffee here:

https://threekeyscoffee.com/

https://www.facebook.com/threekeyscoffee/

https://instagram.com/threekeyscoffee?utm_medium=copy_link

Writer, C. Scott is a mom, authorpreneur and lover of all things literary related. Follow her on Instagram as @curls_coils.

October 10th is National Handbag Day. It’s a time to celebrate our love for our favorite accessories….the handbag! Big, small, or colorful; a handbag is the icing on the cake to any ensemble. Tayuania Lee created Lee K’Mor to offer stylish designs for your handbag needs. Her creative eye for fashion is setting new trends in the world of accessories.

Her carefully curated designs are globally creating #kmorbabes worldwide. Whether it’s date night or a girl’s trip, her handbags have a need for any occasion. Being an entrepreneur is no small feat either. I had the pleasure of speaking with her to learn more about her brand, handbag trends and more:

What's the meaning behind "leave them staring"?

“Okay so leave them staring is honestly a straight forward meaning lol. I literally wanted to make a brand with items that would have anyone wondering where and how did you get it! And my meleni tote has been the example of that. Anytime I’m in malls, markets, even drive thru’s they always ask “ WHO IS THAT BAG BY ? “ or “ I love that bag so much. If I can go anywhere at any time with different races and different places; and my bag is somehow still the topic of conversation, it pulls you in. The colors, the shape, the name everything is unique and they love it. In the end they always end up staring! That’s what I aim to do with every piece!”

Accessories are powerful add-ons to any outfit. What makes a great handbag as an accessory?

“So for me I’m unique. Whenever I buy purses I’m always looking for something that may be different than what you normally see. Whether it’s color, shape, size whatever I feel like your purse has to match the feel of the outfit. You don’t want to carry the meleni while going to the gym. That’s a bag you take when you want to show off and grab attention. So in that setting I would take a small purse or something simple. If I plan on dressing up for maybe brunch, I would want a purse more fun that people will look at. Something with color, bling or a big bag is always a great choice! Now if I’m in a club setting I would prefer something cute but small. A cute crossbody bag with bling or a chain handle. But your purse has to match your overall look in my opinion. We as women usually never carry the same purse day to day. So it’s really down to whatever purse feels right. Fashion is meant to be freeing. You can make anything work as long as you know how to put pieces together. So a good accessory is really what feels right.”

Textures and patterns make many handbags unique. What handbag trends are you seeing nowadays?

“TOTES! I noticed totes are a big thing right now. Most women want a bag they can fit everything in and still be stylish so totes are perfect. I love a big bag and I noticed that becoming more of a trend now and I love it honestly. Mini purses are so popular right now but I’m not a fan of this too much because I can’t even fit my phone in most of them lol. But they are cute. I plan on bringing both to my consumers.”

How can fashion and accessories build a woman's confidence?

“Fashion is the ultimate confidence booster. Have you ever felt depressed and said let me just dress up? If not do it now!! Getting dressed, putting on an outfit you like, favorite purse, fresh hair and some great makeup; and you’re a new person. All that stress is gone (momentarily lol). But the point is sometimes you have to tap into your higher and confident self to remember who you are. You can be home in a robe or tee with sweat pants on chilling. But the moment you put them good clothes on chileeee it’s like okay I’m the baddest that just walked in this room forreal. Got you strutting everywhere, smiling at strangers, and flipping your hair. That feeling never gets old. It always makes you feel good and extremely confident. And all of that comes from a piece of cloth you just put on . It’s amazing what fashion can do for confidence. I’m extra just to go to Walmart so I can feel good and that’s okay! Strut in the Walmart isle!”

Tayuania Lee is serving us with all of the necessary looks for National Handbag Day and beyond. Strut your confidence this fall to leave them staring each and everyday. Connect with her brand on social media here. Visit her Lee K’Mor brand online to #buyblack for the latest styles.

Writer, C. Scott, is a mompreneur, social worker, educator and lover of all things literary related. Follow her online as @curls_coils.

Sexiness is on trend for any season. Spice Boutique has all of the sexy clothing items to add flavor to your closet. Whether it’s for your corner office or weekend girl’s trip, they have you covered. Their unique pieces are colorfully paired to style any body type and destination.

Owner and fashionista, Alexis Spice, opened Spice Boutique to add flavor for curvy women. Determined to excel and break barriers set against her, she secured her lane of offering spicy clothing collections and accessories to fit curves of all sizes. Her impact is leaving a mark on boutiques globally. Here’s what she discussed about her motivation, road to entrepreneurship, fall fashion and more:

What motivated you to open your own clothing boutique?

“I was motivated to open a clothing boutique because I struggled with finding good jeans to fit my body type. I knew curvy women weren’t being catered to in the jean department. So I sought out the best stretchy comfortable jeans for women who were shaped like me.”

How can fashion influence community and culture?

“It’s a representation of who we are and what we believe. The fashion industry contributes to culture by allowing us to express ourselves, our creativity and our beliefs to the world.”

What's an ideal ensemble for a fall evening out on the town?

“The ideal night on the town look for me right now would have to include a knit sweater, a pair of ripped jeans, thigh high boots and my favorite accessories.”

Entrepreneurship can be challenging. What motivates you to keep going each day?

“I was a teen mom and labeled a statistic. I worked hard to prove that teen moms can make something successful of themselves. I was able to graduate from Eastern Michigan University and build a successful business. I want to show my kids and anyone else facing adversity that with hard work and dedication you can also make it.”

“My Black Girl Magic will inspire the next little girl to chase her dreams and break all barriers that she faces,” she adds. Connect with Alexis Spice of Spice Boutique to meet all of your fashion senses this season. Follow her brand of Black Girl Magic here:

https://instagram.com/shopspiceboutique

https://www.shopspiceboutique.com

https://www.facebook.com/ShopSpiceBoutique/

Rhonda Kennedy is using her passion for food and a healthy lifestyle to create her own path to success. The established content curator on YouTube started her food journey sharing food favorites, recipes and lifestyle trends for all to enjoy. Her passion grew to numerous followers. “I started creating content in August 2019. I didn’t know how to edit videos or create catchy captions but I was patient with myself as I learned,” she stated.

However some followers inquired about low sodium options to add to their recipes. “I’d release cooking videos and the comments would be filled with requests for low-sodium options. The comments usually came from people who were on strict low-sodium diets for health reasons,” Rhonda stated. Rhonda quickly came to the rescue in more ways than one. She uniquely crafted a low sodium seasoning mixture known as Good As Can Be that included healthy options to highlight food for the soul.

She prides herself on curating unique recipes with soul food inspiration. Rhonda motivates others to enjoy their favorite meals by putting a healthy twist on their meals. “The seasonings motivate people to cook at home and try new recipes instead of eating fast food,” she added. “My seasonings work well with grilled/seared or fried seafood, avocado toast, roasted vegetables, spaghetti, lasagna, hamburgers, pork chops, homemade salad dressing and even soul food. You can even sprinkle some jalapeno garlic pepper on top of your mac n cheese,” she continues.

Rhonda’s energetic approach to food, culture and healthy living was long awaited. “I’m fascinated with people and our ability to create ANYTHING! Sometimes food is casual but there are times when it’s an experience,” she continues. “I’ve had meals where I could taste the love, richness and the depth the chef had to go to in order to make the flavors work,” she adds. Healthy living is still achievable with great tasting mixtures for your meats, vegetables and dressings. “Healthy living is no longer optional; it’s mandatory for a better chance at a good quality of life,” she states.

So step into a healthier and tastier lifestyle one skillet at a time with Good As Can Be seasoning. “Healthy eating is not boring,” she commands. Connect with Rhonda Kennedy and her love for food with a twist here:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/rhondasredsauce

Instagram: @rhondasredsauce or @goodascanbe.co

Seasonings: https://www.goodascanbe.co

The road to entrepreneurship isn’t also an easy path. Many business owners struggle with forming their business idea, creating a plan and grappling with past circumstances. Zachary Larmore of Highway Bully Worldwide, took his past experiences of incarceration and not having a plan once released to dominating the highway with his CDL brand and apparel line. Affectionately known as the “Highway Bully”, he is manifesting his dreams to lead a positive path.

His hustle is commendable for all to see. It is possible to recover from past dilemmas and entrepreneurship is attainable for all. His supportive village helped he re-define his persona to see himself as a successful member of society.

With the help of his father, Zachary was coached to make a pivotal decision after incarceration. “He told me to get my CDL license because it’ll change my life financially and I’d be able to basically live in the truck being on the road so much. My Grandfather and Uncle also drove trucks so he knew about trucking already,” Zachary states. It was only up from there. “Once I started driving I started calling myself the Highway Bully. I changed my Instagram name to it. Everybody started telling me how they liked it and that I should make shirts,” he adds.

With the help of his childhood friend, Lamar Robinson, they started the Highway Bully apparel line. Truck drivers and supporters worldwide are now seen wearing the line. Zachary also made a pivot to own his own trucking company known as Lamore Lines LLC. He is dominating the roadways and creating his own lane.

Zachary often reflects on his past despite his current success. He contributes to wanting to understand what his late mother was telling him years ago. He even has advice for the aspiring business owner out there. “Whatever you want out of life can be achieved through proper training and discipline!,” Zachary states.

Zachary is also venturing into the music industry as an executive producer. His team is also actively searching for new truck drivers for Lamore Lines LLC. New apparel is also being created and distributed with Highway Bully Worldwide. Follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram as @Highwaybullyworldwide and @highwaybully100. Visit Zachary Larmore online at https://linktr.ee/ZacharyLarmore.

Writer, C. Scott, is a mompreneur, social worker, educator and lover of all things literary related. Follow her online as @curls_coils.

(Images courtesy of Highway Bully Worldwide.)

Love is a beautiful connection that has to be celebrated beyond the matrimonial ceremony. It is important for the world to visually see more loving interactions too. Despite challenges and turmoil, love can still be a resilient act between two people who value one another. For Sunil and Felicia Rami, their love hasn’t always been a fairytale but it has proved to be worthy.

The lovebirds have a triumphant love story that will inspire couples globally. They tuned out the naysayers to choose love. Their love has blossomed overtime and today they stand even truer in their images of love. The two recently shared their love story in hopes of encouraging and empowering others:

What is your definition of love?

“Our definition of love is loving someone as a whole & loving someone no matter their flaws and all. Loving someone even if they are not perfect but at the same time doing things to help them with their shortcomings so that you guys don’t argue/fight about it. By that we mean if you know a certain bad habit your partner has that doesn’t serve you or them but hurts you in any way/shape/form the partner should stay ahead of the game and make sure that it doesn’t happen. Your partner should learn your weaknesses and help you with them. This helps you to become a better team, it makes the other partner appreciate you, have gratitude, deepens the love, shows that you care; and there’s a lot of intention shown. That’s love.”

How do you balance marriage, parenting, and your business empire?

“There is no formula for this. We’re still trying to figure it out every day. Our marriage and business usually work like a well-oiled machine because we communicate and plan everything out daily & weekly. When it comes to the parenting part we are lucky because she simply doesn’t complain. It’s like she knows. She’s been in the office with us many times as we work and deliver food to clients. I think this attributes to bringing her to the office with us at a very young age which makes her feel comfortable at work with us.”

Do you believe in gender roles; and if so, how do you manage them at home?

“Yes, we believe in gender roles but we’re not scared to step outside of the norms if need be. By that we mean we do believe in the feminine and masculine/traditional roles but if for some reason you have to perform outside of your role, you do it without ego or pride. For example, Nil takes out the trash at home/work/office but if he’s not around and the trash is piling up, I’m not going to leave it for him. Another example is if Nil is at home with the baby and I’m working he will take out the trash, do the dishes or do laundry without hesitation.”

What are 5 important tips for a great relationship?

“-Communicate and listen to each other about everything.

-Be private about your relationship issues.

-Learn each other (good & bad) and help each other with the weaknesses to strengthen the good.

-Know when to leave each other alone, back down, step away when arguing or having a disagreement to simply sleep on it. Revisit the situation later so that you don’t do/say anything you will regret. In the meantime, figure out how to articulate to your partner how you feel with love, care and compassion for one another.

-Know what your partner wants/needs and meet those standards (or compromise) to avoid looking for it in the streets.”

How did you all determine that marriage was right for your relationship?

“Well in our case Nil knew he wanted to be married so he approached me with that intention from day 1. With that being said, once someone puts it out there from day 1 it makes you want it, think about and want it for yourself too. Marriage and wanting kids should be an expectation set as early as possible so that no ones time is wasted. This way you can either get aligned with your partner or get out the way for the next person.”

What advice would you give to singles who are pursuing marriage and dating with a purpose?

“Stick to your standards and expectations. Express your deal breakers and stand firmly on them. If someone is really interested in you they will start to learn, care, understand; and start delivering your wants/needs.”

Sunil and Felicia Rami definitely operate with love. Their connection is apparent and serves as a reminder that love is possible for all. Connect with their brand of Xquisite Catering LLC and The Crab Queen in Baltimore, Maryland.

Writer, C. Scott, is a mompreneur, social worker, educator and lover of all things literary related. Follow her online as @curls_coils.

(Images courtesy of Sunil and Felicia Rami.)

We’ve reached our annual back to school milestone. Children are gearing up for a fantastic year of learning. Teachers are gathering supplies and curriculums. Parents are coping with school supply shopping, daily routines and beyond. This school year and always, representation matters at home and also in the classroom.

Cocoa Cuties is your supplier for all melanin inspired apparel, home decor and lifestyle needs. Founded by Denise Butler, Cocoa Cuties takes us on a lifestyle journey that truly represents our unique shades, interests and culture. Her brand curates home essential items that we’ve always longed for within our community.

“My youngest niece wanted a tutu for her 4th birthday and me being the “Extra” Auntie that I am, I wanted to buy a whole outfit with a little black ballerina. At the time, I couldn’t find one, so I created her whole outfit including hand painting the ballerina. I then realized others were probably looking for the same and went on the journey to start this business in 2013,” Denise explains. Since 2013 Denise has expanded on how representation matters by adding new product lines. We have her lovely niece to thank for the current offerings of books, bags, lunch bags, home essentials, clothing and more.

“Words have power and visuals are POWERFUL. It’s important for kids to have representation in the products that they use such as backpacks because it builds self-esteem,” she explains. “It helps kids to love who they are by seeing images with their skin tone and hair texture. Unfortunately, in the black community we sometimes pigeon-hole ourselves and think that only black people should be only this or only do that but we are a diverse people not only by skin tone but also by our interests, hobbies, and imagination. So, it’s important for kids to see themselves doing the things they are interested in, aspire to be; and even imagine,” Denise continues. Her love for the culture is evident in all that she does. Her positive images are instilling hope with every product. “It’s about celebrating the whole child,” she expresses.

“My Black Girl Magic is celebrating the awesomeness that is me from the inside out,” Denise adds. Her awesomeness is creating fond childhood expressions that are both kid and parent approved. The retailer also has shops on Etsy and Amazon. Here’s how you can connect with the amazing Cocoa Cuties brand:

IG: @cocoacuties
FB: @cocoacuties
TikTok: @cocoacuties
Pinterest: @iamacocoacutie
Website: cocoacutie.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-butler-cocoa-cutie/

Writer, C. Scott, is a mompreneur, social worker, educator and lover of all things literary related. Follow her online as @curls_coils.

(Images courtesy of Cocoa Cuties.)