Today, we dive into the unique experiences of celebrating birthdays during the holiday season. We’re Gayle and Tia and today we’re talking all about our unique birthday experiences. Our birthdays, intriguingly, fall during the busiest time of the year: Gaye’s on December 30, just before New Year's Eve, and Tia's on Christmas Day, December 25. Throughout our lives, we've often felt overlooked, as our special days were overshadowed by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

In this episode, we'll explore how we've adapted to celebrating our birthdays amidst holiday festivities, and the adjustments we've made to ensure our days feel special. We understand that organizing birthday parties during this time can be challenging, with friends and family often busy with their own holiday plans. This reality has led us to find unique and meaningful ways to celebrate, focusing more on the significance of the day rather than large gatherings or extravagant gifts. We'll also discuss how these experiences have shaped our perspectives on celebrations, family, and the joy of giving.

As we enter a new phase of our lives, where our responsibilities have shifted, we’re approaching our birthdays differently. It’s time for us to get what we want, so we are just going for it. If we don’t spoil ourselves a little bit now, we may never get the chance.

Are we being selfish? Or are we long overdue for a bit of spoiling? Join us and decide for yourself. And if you’re really serious - join us in going for it too!

Show Highlights:

• Self-care and spoiling oneself during the holiday season.
• A different kind of birthday celebration this year
• Guilt and indulgence in a 20-year pursuit of a luxury purse.
• Prioritizing personal goals during this season of life.
• It’s time to go for it - if not now, when?
• New events will be coming up in January - stay tuned!

Resources:

Want more Gayle and Tia? Join our Vibe Tribe on Facebook.

Vibe Tribe members, we challenge you to post a solo adventure and show us how you are out and about, enjoying your own company!

Find us on Instagram.

Visit our new website:  www.blackatitpodcast.com

Why do we struggle to be treated with respect in the workplace? Why do we, as Black women, feel like we have to constantly prove our worth, expertise, and value? It is a constant fight for us against being disrespected, devalued, unseen, and unheard. Using DEI language is just not enough! Let’s talk about it.

Show Highlights:

• Why the myth of the “Angry Black Woman” is because we are covering up our hurt, frustration, and annoyance
• What it feels like to be micromanaged and questioned in the workplace–day after day
• How disrespectful comments about our hair, and even attempts to touch our hair, catch us off guard
• Why the extra stress of dealing with disrespect causes our physical illnesses 
• The value of fun and self-care routines to help us deal with “life”
• Why we need to immediately call out people for their offensive and disrespectful behaviors
• How daily positive affirmations can help us realize that the problem isn’t with us
• Join us for our next adventure in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 7: Chillin’ on the Chesapeake
• Why we have started BAI Entertainment, LLC, a Black- and woman-owned company to promote adventures and positive, uplifting interactions and events 

Resources:

Our first show sponsor is Dr. J. Brown at Progressive Dental Solutions in Glenn Dale, Maryland. Schedule your appointment today at www.smilesofbowie.com. 

Visit Eventbrite, search for Chillin’ on the Chesapeake, and sign up to join us on October 7! Early-bird pricing is available NOW!  

Want more Gayle and Tia? Join our Vibe Tribe on Facebook.

Vibe Tribe members, we challenge you to post a solo adventure and show us how you are out and about, enjoying your own company!

Find us on Instagram.

Visit our new website:  www.blackatitpodcast.com

Quotes:

Whether you are preparing for a momentous occasion, a formal event, or a night out on the town, we all want to look good. We want our hair, skin, and overall appearance to look as beautiful as when we were younger, and it is tough keeping up with all that maintenance as the years keep rolling by. We not only want to look good, but we want the energy and vibrancy to enjoy our lives and feel good. Let’s learn more with our two guests for this episode!

We are joined by two sisters, Dr. Onyeka Ihezie and Dr. Amaka Ugbome. They are pharmacists by day who have a passion for all things natural by night. Their interest comes from their bloodline and their commitment to natural hair care. They found little information and products on the market that catered to our natural tresses, so they began doing extensive research and educating themselves on how to create amazing products for our delicate strands. Their love of hair care blossomed into a passion with a mission to create quality, natural, healthy products–but they didn’t stop there. They spend time and resources educating women to care for their hair and skin, and they volunteer in various capacities to help others. At one time, they partnered with the Black Girl Tribe, a nonprofit organization aimed toward empowering and developing young black women. They even supplied over $2000 worth of handmade products to support the women in this organization. Their online store makes products available in many different countries around the world, and we are thrilled to have them on the show!

Show Highlights:

• How they bridged the gap between pharmacy and skin/hair care
• How their personal hair experiences led them to rethink “good hair” and “bad hair”
• Why everyone has to come to the point on their own to embrace their natural hair
• What to consider about safe/unsafe products
• How their products are unique, natural, and formulated especially for black hair, using ingredients from nature and avoiding harmful chemicals
• The sisters’ advice about a hair care regimen and what products are the most essential
• Why your skin care regimen should include a good hydrating cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and serum
• How to fight aging skin, aging hair, hair thinning, and hair loss
• Why aging hair, processed hair, and gray hair have drastic changes in texture
• How to approach hair care and skin care with consistent changes over time
• The sisters’ take on trendy ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, collagen, and retinols
• How supplements (a multivitamin, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E, and Omega-3s) can support healthy hair and skin
• How to find their products