deerstalker

https://www.blackenterprise.com/party-essentials-holiday-gathering/

Originally published Dec. 3, 2021

The best part of the holidays is gathering with people you love for parties of any kind. If you plan to host any events or gatherings this month, Amazon has just what you need to get the party started! Take a gander at these products to make your next function a true house party!

Buffet Organizer   

This item is awesome in so many ways! It neatly organizes your plates, napkins, and utensils, keeping your food table nice and elegant. This item is compact and will not take up too much space, allowing your guests to grab what they need without fuss.

 

Black Card Revoked: Party Pack 

Looking for games rooted in Black culture and humor for a Christmas social, couples night, or random gathering? Then look no further than this product of four different card games created by a Black-owned company with a larger number of women employees.

Spirits Stemless Wineglasses

No shade intended, but you work hard throughout the year and deserve to sip cocktails in something a bit more luxurious than a red cup! These wineglasses are something to toast with and will set the tone for a fun-filled party with your favorite drinks.

 

Christmas Headbands 

What’s a party without a little costuming? These headbands come in a pack of 12 designs and are one-size-fits-all. Pair one with your ugliest Christmas sweater, and you’re ready to hit the scene and have a funky good time.

Holiday Photo Booth Props Kit 

Create memorable pictures by incorporating these props into your party pics. Items will arrive cut out and ready to assemble with wooden dowel sticks and adhesives included. It comes with 20 props in a pack. Even the shyest person in the room will enjoy these!

Inflatable Reindeer Antlers Ring Toss Game Set  

Let the reindeer games begin! This product comes with four inflatable reindeer antlers and 24 pieces of red and green rings. This game will allow guests to show their competitiveness and keep the laughter flowing, especially if the eggnog has a little “kick” to it!

RELATED CONTENT: You Are Appreciated: Holiday Gifts For Your Fave Teacher

https://www.blackenterprise.com/biles-owens-unbothered-criticism/

After Simone Biles and her husband Jonathan Owens made an appearance on The Pivot podcast with former NFL players Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder, much of the discussion centered on a two-minute and 30 second clip that many on social media described as another example of a man trying to humble a woman with whom he is in a relationship with. However, Biles and her beau are “unbothered” according to E! News. 

The pair matched on the dating app Raya in 2020, and as Biles herself has previously noted in other appearances about her relationship with Owens, the NFL defensive back didn’t know who she was. Owens said he didn’t really follow gymnastics that much before he met Biles, saying that it wasn’t until he looked at her Instagram profile that he really understood how big a deal she was, telling Clark and Crowder, “I’m like, ‘Lemme see who this is.’ I never really paid attention to gymnastics, so it piqued my curiosity.” Owens recalled. “The first thing that I saw was that she just had a bunch of [Instagram] followers. So in my mind I’m like, ‘Okay, she’s gotta be good.” 

Once Crowder asked Owens how he “pulled” Biles, his responses from that point on turned into phrases that seemed built to drum up controversy. Owens said that the question was really about how Biles pulled him, before stating that he believes that men are always the prize. Further assisting in the controversy was Owens’s insinuation that Biles eventually wore him down as he told his story about how he was initially afraid to commit to a relationship but he eventually relented because Biles kept applying pressure. Though that may not be what Owens was aiming to do, many people in the comments section of “The Pivot” YouTube channel chimed in about how his comments, to them, signaled a red flag.

If the two have read any of the online discourse about them and their relationship, largely drawn from people’s reactions to a Super Bowl commercial length clip, they have not taken any of it to heart. According to People Magazine, Owens made a post to his Instagram account featuring photos of the couple on their wedding day as well as other more relaxed shots, with the caption reading “Unbothered Just know we locked in over here.”

Biles commented on the post with a pair of emojis, a fingers crossed emoji and puckered lips emoji, followed by the words “for life.” An indication that Biles also is not going to let the words, ideas, or opinions of strangers online affect the relationship that she enjoys with her husband. 

RELATED CONTENT: Simone Biles Center Of Attention While Supporting NFL Player Hubbie

https://blackgirlnerds.com/13-best-christmas-movies-to-watch-again-and-again/

Besides the excitement of opening presents on Christmas morning, there is another part of the holiday that is rewarding and satisfying. It’s that moment when you’re curled up on the couch with hot chocolate and about to watch a Christmas movie.

This carefully crafted list has suggestions for movies that will stir up your nostalgia, make you laugh, and encourage you to appreciate the holidays more.

Although new Christmas movies come out yearly, rewatching classic films makes the holiday season more memorable. If you’re contemplating which Christmas movie you should stream, here are the top ones to rewatch.

1. This Christmas

Watching the Whitfield family reunite in This Christmas is a reminder that life and families are complicated. Yet, you can achieve harmony through love and perseverance. It is a great movie to laugh with, and it might help you feel better about your family drama. 

Available on Peacock

2. Last Holiday

What better rom-com to re-watch than the budding romance between salesperson Georgia, played by Queen Latifah, and her coworker Sean, played by LL Cool J? A movie that led Queen Latifah to receive a NAACP nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture is worth revisiting every year. 

Last Holiday is the perfect movie to help you feel all the emotions and be hopeful for the coming year. 

Stream on Paramount+ and Prime Video

3. The Preacher’s Wife

You probably already have Whitney Houston’s holiday album playing in the background, so you might as well throw on a movie where she has a leading role. The Preacher’s Wife is a romantic classic that makes the holidays feel extra special. 

Besides featuring superstars like Houston and Denzel Washington, the storyline is sentimental, funny, and heartfelt. 

Stream on Disney+

4. Home Alone

Is any Christmas complete without watching Home Alone? This cinematic adventure never gets old. Whether you’ve seen this movie once, twice, or more than ten times, it’s easy to get caught up in how an eight-year-old boy is able to create advanced contraptions and outsmart two grown adults. 

Stream on Disney+

5. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Jingle Jangle is a beautiful family movie. It is a fun and cheerful musical that stars Forest Whitaker, Madalen Mills, and Keegan-Michael Key. It’s a movie that cousins, parents, grandparents, and children will all enjoy. 

Consisting of the same vibes as The Greatest Showman and The Wiz, it’ll have you singing and dancing along.

Stream on Netflix

6. Almost Christmas

Almost Christmas is a great movie to bring out if you need a good laugh or when someone is on the verge of a fight and a distraction is necessary. It is a relatable film about relatives coming together, bickering siblings, and the importance of family. Almost Christmas is a seasonal classic. 

Currently streaming on Peacock and available to rent or buy on Prime Video

7. A Madea Christmas 

Whether you’re a fan of the Madea movies or have never seen one, A Madea Christmas will surely bring you non-stop laughs. Yet another movie that captivates the craziness of the holiday season, this movie is a comical break from reality.

Available on Prime Video

8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

A classic in the Christmas movie genre is the infamous How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring the genius comedic Jim Carrey. This is a great film to rewatch with the family or by yourself. It will surely put you in the Christmas spirit if you’ve been in a Grinch-like mood.

Available on Netflix

9. The Night Before

While The Night Before isn’t the pinnacle of Christmas movies, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a second or third viewing. A hilarious comedy about friendships mixed in with Christmas celebrations, it is also a great movie to watch while sipping on some spiked eggnog. It’ll remind any middle-aged man that trying to relive your twenties will only lead to disaster. 

Available to rent or buy on Prime Video

10. The Nightmare Before Christmas

There is some debate about whether The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Christmas or Halloween movie. Since the main character, Jack Skellington, uses most of the movie to recreate Christmas, it deserves a holiday viewing. 

Stream on Disney+ or rent or purchase on Prime Video

11. The Best Man Holiday

If you need an excuse to shamelessly watch attractive men such as Morris Chestnut and Taye Diggs, then streaming The Best Man Holiday is the perfect movie to rewatch with your girlfriends. It is a movie filled with laughter, sentiment, and a very attractive cast. 

Stream it on Peacock or rent or buy it on Prime Video

12. A Charlie Brown Christmas

Let your heart melt as you rewatch Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang come together to celebrate one of the most memorable holidays of the year. 

While the graphics may be old and outdated, the storyline is timeless. 

Stream it on Apple TV

13. Elf

Elf is another Christmas classic that is guaranteed to make you laugh repeatedly. It is a great movie to rewatch with the family. 

Available on Hulu and Prime Video

https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/solo-travel-for-black-women/

By Tenille Clarke ·

The post Solo Travel Is The Ultimate Form Of Self-Care appeared first on Essence.