It's Cyber Monday And Here are Five Websites that Your Should Order From Year Round

December 2, 2013 is Cyber Monday. While millions will be purchasing goods and services to give during the holiday season, I would like to suggests five sites that should be book marked to return to over and over throughout 2014.

1. The Gilded Nut Snack Co.

If you know a pistachio connoisseur, The Gilded Nut Snack Co. is the perfect gift to give them.  Formerly John's Nuts, The Gilded Nut Snack Co. was founded by John Powers in 2012 and has fast become a favorite gift to give my corporate clients, family, and friends. I order the original blend for my snacking pleasure. The Gilded Nut Snack Co. also make excellent gifts for the holiday party host.

The Gilded Nut Snack Co. never uses preservatives, flavor additives, food colorings, binding agents, added sugar or other unhealthy ingredients. The Gilded Nut Snack Co. flavored pistachios are made in small batches with jumbo size U.S. Extra #1 pistachios from California, first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, and pure herbs and spices. The pistachios are cholesterol free, heart-healthy and rich in protein and fiber. Your taste buds will love them, and your body will be grateful.
You can order them on line here.


2. Wifed Up Tees

With so many negative images of women, especially women of color, on television, seeing a movement to promote positive relationships had me hooked at "hello". Last year, I was introduced to the creative genius behind  Wifed Up tees, Dana Body. I was immediately impressed with her tenacity to keep her dreams alive to not only create a fashion line but a movement. Her tees are made of soft fabrics with hot designs, and poetry written by Dana. Wifed Up offers a fashionable voice for well deserving wives.

Genma Holmes on air interviewing Traci Otey Blunt in a Wife Up tee.

Whenever I wear a Wifed Up tee, the compliments are non stop. I have worn my tees with jeans, evening pants, dressed up a pencil skirt, and added pizazz under a blazer on causal Friday. Buy a tee that will empower, inspire, and motivate today's fashionista. You can find Wifed Up designers tees here.

3. Kara's Creations Jewelry

An attorney, pr professional, and an event planner, Kara Thompson began designing jewelry to relax. Encouraged by family and friends who would often buy her dazzling pieces right off her arm, Kara launched Kara's Creation Jewelry. Kara's Creations Jewelry specializes in original, handcrafted beaded pieces in semi-precious gemstones and unique materials that complement any outfit or occasion.

Genma Holmes on News Channel 5 Urban Outlook wearing Kara's Creation Jewelry.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Kara's Creations are enjoyed by customers around the country.  In addition to the pieces on our website, Kara's Creations can also create a custom design just for you. At a recent trunk show in Nashville held at Essence Day Spa, I bought several bracelets that made their media debut on my wrist in several interviews. Every television and radio host and producer raved about my beautiful combination that made my media appearances even more festive.  If you desire a custom creation, please email Kara at karacreationsjewelry@gmail.com for information. To see more of her beautiful baubles, click here.


4. Windsor Neckwear

Windsor Neckwear, founded by Mike McPherson and Mace Neal, III,  offers handmade 100% woven silk bow ties and neckties with high thread counts, self tipping and wool blend inner linings to create a neckwear masterpiece that you will enjoy for years to come.  Each silk neckties and bow ties are limited edition because only 25 pieces of each design is offered. Windsor Neckwear believes in making quality products along with providing excellent customer service at a supreme value.  

In 2013, I got to know Mike and Mace personally. Their commitment to their family and community was my motivator to buy bow ties for several of my customers.  I also wear their bow ties...often. Windsor Neckwear has been featured in numerous publications like Mocha Market, the Nashville Business Journal, the Nashville Scene, and the Nashville Post to name a few.  

Windsor Neckwear has recently launched their line of men shoes.  They are running specials throughout the holiday season, so stock up on accessories for the man with impeccable taste. To see more of their neckwear line and other men accessories, go here.

5. Solo Noir

Men have become as conscious of their skincare as women. And rightly so. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Solo Noir, founded by Andrea Polk, is a complete grooming line for men featuring 100% organic 2-in-1 grooming products. For years, the male grooming market has been overlooked and Solo Noir is the solution to the market's void. Solo Noir offers cutting edge skin care technologies coupled with organic ingredients to achieve skin perfection in our consumers. 

The handsome men in my life have all suffered from various skincare issues. The products that I gave them would often aggravate their problems. On a trip to California, my oldest son bought Solo Noir at a boutique. He noticed right away that his skin felt different. His skin did not feel "stripped" or "peely". After several weeks of use, he recommended the line to his brother and his father. They are now loyal users of Solo Noir.

 Solo Noir addressed their battle with constant ingrown hairs, blotchy skin imperfections while restoring skin elasticity. Solo Noir also moisturizes and protects as well as promotes smooth and healthy skin.

Solo Noir is a provider of premier grooming products for men. To see the full line of skin care products click here.



Please let them know I sent you. Happy Shopping!

Stacey McBride and Kara Thompson on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

As 2013 year is drawing to a close, join Living Your Best Life  as we profile businesses, serial entrepreneurs, and non-profits that will empower, inspire, and motivate you to love your BEST life.

On Saturday, November 30, 2013 tune in to hear from designing women, Stacey McBride and Kara Thompson. Both women turned their love of fashion into entrepreneurial ventures that are making young and old fashionistas alike say "ooh" and "aah".

Stacey McBride's Prettie Girls are now available in time for the Christmas buying season. After designing for an international toy company for nearly two decades and launching the successful So In Style Dolls, Stacey took a leap of faith and decided to start her own line, One World Doll Project. Stacey created Prettie Girls to celebrate global diversity. Tune in to hear her inspiring story.

Also on the show will be Kara Thompson of  Kara's Creations. Kara Thompson is an attorney, public relations professional, and event manager by day who turned her hobby of designing jewelry into a business. Family and friends were her initial customers but it was not long before her handcrafted semi-precious stone custom pieces were in hot demand in Atlanta and beyond. Listen as Kara share how Kara's Creations was launched and hear her plans for her line in 2014.

Stacey McBride and Kara Thompson will help ignite your fire to do something you always dreamed of accomplishing and how to face the "what ifs" that may be holding you back to having the best year yet in 2014.

Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires, and motivates us to live our BEST life, is heard on 760AM The Gospel in the Middle-TN area, Tune In, Inspirational Networks, military bases and on Ustream.TV worldwide from 9:00-10:00am CST.

More About Stacey McBride

As a child Stacey consistently played with dolls.  Barbie was her favorite.  She loved mixing and matching her clothes, and styling her hair.  Not long after Stacey stopped playing with Barbie™ dolls at the age of 13, she made the decision to enter the fashion world.  She started sketching fashion and going to the library and checking out books about fashion.

Stacey’s father had saved a newspaper article that featured Kitty Black Perkins, a Mattel™ designer.  With the encouragement of her father and her instructor of a fashion computer course at El Camino College, Stacey called Perkins.  In addition to showing her portfolio and resume during the interview, Stacey had to design a Barbie™ fashion.  It was approved and she was hired as an assistant designer which begin her career in the world of toys and doll design.

Stacey was a Project Designer for Mattel™ in El Segundo and was with the company for 15 years.  She is the creator of the So In Style™ line of African-American Barbie™ dolls which were released in 2009. While at Mattell, Stacey was tapped to design the sorority Barbie, Celebrating the Centennial year of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first African-American Greek Sorority, founded in 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C.  She designed a one of a kind take on the 1980’s Black Barbie.  She also designed some of the 2010 Barbie career dolls, including Pet Vet Barbie, Rock Star Barbie and Bride Barbie.

Stacey has been interviewed for magazines and newspaper articles such as Ebony, Essence, Heart & Soul, LA’s Beauty Beat, Upscale, Chicago Sun Times and Daily Breeze.  Stacey McBride-Irby made the front cover of Wall Street Journal Personal newspaper.  The So In Style ^TM dolls have been featured in Barbie and Jet magazine.

Stacey has appeared on CNN Prime News with Richelle Carey “New Barbies Look More Like Black Women”.  And on May 2, 2010 Stacey appeared on BETs My Black is Beautiful, Episode 1:  Celebration of Black Beauty.  She is currently a featured designer in the Barbie Exhibit at The Children’s Museum of  Indianapolis.

Stacey’s motto is, “A happy, inspired childhood creates happy, inspired and powerful women.”  She also loves the Lord with all her heart.  She knows that without God that none of her accomplishments and success would be possible

More About Kara Thompson

Kara L. Thompson is a strategic, team-oriented professional with more than 16 years of experience in legal advocacy, workforce management, public and community relations.  Kara has a passion for interacting with people from all walks of life and has created Kara Thompson Enterprises to create a business that capitalizes on her superior interpersonal skills and talent for connecting people and problem solving.   

Prior to launching Kara Thompson Enterprises, Kara was an employment law attorney in Ogletree Deakins’ Atlanta office.  Before joining Ogletree Deakins, Kara practiced in the Atlanta offices of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker and Jones Day. Kara is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center and Purdue University.

Kara’s experience includes representing and counseling both large and small employers in all facets of employment law, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, discipline, terminations, wage and hour, and Sarbanes-Oxley Act matters. She also assists employers with state and federal employment law compliance and in drafting employment policies and procedures.

Before attending law school, Kara worked for six years as a public relations professional for Spelman College, JacksonHeath Public Relations, and the American Red Cross. As a public relations professional, Kara created comprehensive public relations programs, successfully pitched numerous stories to the media, wrote press releases, collateral, newsletter and magazine articles, created and managed special events, and organized community relations activities for various organizations. 

Kara is very active in the community and has a passion for philanthropic endeavors. Currently, she serves on the board of directors for Dress for Success Atlanta, the National Black MBA Association Atlanta Chapter and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (“GABWA”).  Additionally, Kara is a member of Women’s Legacy Council of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation Destiny Fund Class of 2009, The Girl Friends, Inc., The Buckhead Cascade Chapter of The Links, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.   Kara has served on the boards of the Juvenile Justice Fund, Camp Fire USA Georgia Council, and the Samuel L. Jones Boys and Girls Club and is a graduate of the United Way’s Volunteer Involvement Program.  Kara is also a member of the American Bar Association, Atlanta Bar Association, National Bar Association and the Gate City Bar Association, and served on the planning committee for the National Bar Association’s convention that was held in Atlanta in July of 2007. Kara is also the founder of a dinner club in Atlanta that was featured in the June 2007 issue of Essence Magazine.