• New Orleans Eatery Makes Best Bed and Breakfast List

    3 Min Read

    When it comes to bed and breakfast restaurants, you’ve got to get up early to exclude a New Orleans food spot.

    In the inaugural rankings of the best bed and breakfast restaurants from U.S. News & World report, the Crescent City represents.

    Best New Orleans Bed & Breakfast

    Soniat House

    1133 Chartres St., New Orleans, La. 70116

    Here’s what one guest said about Soniat House. “One of the nicest hotel’s I’ve stayed at. I still reminisce on the freshly squeezed orange juice I’d drink in the stunning courtyard every morning. They also had phenomenal freshly baked croissants. My stay here was a few years ago, but I await my return. I know that the Soniat House is undergoing renovations right now, but prior each of the rooms were different with their own unique charm. I hope that they maintain this unique splendor. I still remember the fluffy kitty that lurked around the property too she was the cutest.”

    Auld Sweet Olive

    2460 N. Rampart St. New Orleans, La. 70117

    Here’s what one guest said about the Auld Sweet Olive bed and breakfast.

    “Love the historic Sweet Olive! It’s a true bed and breakfast, and the food is awesome. The host, Kate is responsive and charming. I loved having breakfast in the dining area & meeting the other guests. Parking is not a problem. Also they have a pool and hot tub. We definitely will be back on our next trip to NOLA!”

    The following bed-and-breakfasts have been named best in their market:

    Asheville, North Carolina
    1. Abbington Green Bed & Breakfast Inn and Spa
    2. Biltmore Village Inn

    Bar Harbor, Maine
    1. Balance Rock Inn
    2. Bass Cottage & Ullikana Inn

    Boston
    1. Clarendon Square
    2. Green Turtle Floating Bed and Breakfast

    Burlington, Vermont
    1. Stone Hill Inn
    2. Made INN Vermont, an Urban-Chic Boutique Bed and Breakfast

    Cape May, New Jersey
    1. The Virginia Hotel
    2. The Southern Mansion

    Charleston, South Carolina
    1. Wentworth Mansion
    2. Zero George Street

    Charlottesville, Virginia
    1. Albemarle Estate at Trump Winery
    2. Arcady Vineyard Bed & Breakfast

    Fredericksburg, Texas
    1. Hoffman Haus
    2. Cotton Gin Village

    Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
    1. The Inn at White Oak
    2. Brickhouse Inn Bed & Breakfast

    Key West, Florida
    1. The Gardens Hotel
    2. Key West Harbor Inn

    Lancaster, Pennsylvania
    1. The Lancaster Bed & Breakfast
    2. EJ Bowman House Bed and Breakfast

    New Orleans
    1. The Soniat House Hotel
    2. Auld Sweet Olive Bed and Breakfast

    Newport, Rhode Island
    1. The Chanler at Cliff Walk
    2. Hydrangea House Inn

    Portland, Maine
    1. Blind Tiger Portland – Danforth Street
    2. Blind Tiger Portland – Carleton Street

    Salem, Massachusetts
    1. Amelia Payson House
    2. Morning Glory Bed & Breakfast

    Savannah, Georgia
    1. Hamilton-Turner Inn
    2. Kehoe House

    St. Augustine, Florida
    1. The Collector Luxury Inn
    2. The Cedar House Inn

    Final Bite

    New Orleans is a foodie paradise, and its festivals are no exception. Each event boasts a distinct culinary identity, from the spicy gumbo and po’boys of French Quarter Fest to the Creole and Cajun delicacies of the Treme Creole Gumbo Festival. Every bite is an explosion of flavor that complements the festive atmosphere.

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  • Serena Williams Introduces WYN Beauty

    3 Min Read

    Champion tennis player and businesswoman Serena Williams is the face and force behind WYN, her new brand of clean, high-performing, skin-loving makeup.

    The highly acclaimed cosmetics product is designed for life, not just a photo finish.

    Like Serena on the court, WYN is makeup you can move in – flexible formulas that wear beautifully and keep skin hydrated all day.

    With 91 shades across 10 distinct products in the face, lip and eye categories, the brand is committed to living in color with confidence, so everyone will find their match.

    I’m so excited to introduce WYN BEAUTY to the world,” says founder and entrepreneur Serena Williams. “To me, beauty has always been about self-expression and stepping into the best version of myself. Throughout my career, I was always searching for makeup that looked good after hours on the court, mixing products myself and creating my own formulas while traveling the world. As I evolved and remained active both on and off the court, I needed products I could apply at 7am before a full day of meetings, spending time with my kids, making time for the things I love and still look good at the end of the day. I needed makeup that could truly move with me. That’s the intention behind WYN BEAUTY – for people to live in it every single day of their lives and enhance the beauty they already have.”

    From one of the most competitive people to ever walk the planet, Serena’s beauty philosophy is decidedly not. “Beauty is a field where everyone wins,” says Serena. “You set and define your own personal goals and standards. WYN isn’t about being THE best, but your best.”

    WYN products are formulated with clean, skin-loving ingredients that hydrate the skin, and are vegan and cruelty-free. The high-performing products are lightweight, formulated to be in motion and available in an expansive range of shades and undertones.

    WYN BEAUTY is now available on wynbeauty.com and launches exclusively at 685 Ulta Beauty stores across the U.S. and at Ulta.com.

    Final Word

    The New Orleans hair industry features a variety of services for all types of women. Grooming is not an issue. All you need are some quality shears and some high-performance clippers to get the job done.  Check out our Best Wig Shops in Nola piece to find out where to go to get your follicles taken care of.

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  • best natural hairstyles for black women

    10 Natural Hairstyles You Can Rock Right Now

    3 Min Read

    Whatever you think about a natural hairstyle, you can’t deny that it is one of the rawest forms of self expression, and you can do so much with it these days.

    This article will show you some of the best natural hairstyles for black women. And the good thing is, you can rock these styles now.

    We’ll also show you styling and treatment products that can help your hair from becoming dry and brittle.

    Loc Style

    Loc Twists

    Knotted Braids

    Pineapple Updo

    Half-Shaved ‘Do

    Side-Swept Bangs

    Bantu Knots

    Flat Twists

    Mohawk Twist

    Tapered Curls

    Final Word

    When it comes to letting your natural hair coils flow, black women have no equal. Gone are the days when we would apologetically pull our hair in nice little “buns,” and other restrictive styles so as not to draw attention. We are in an era of follicle freeness!

    Wearing your hair in a natural style can be a liberating experience and you shouldn’t want anything less. Need some hair inspiration for some new ‘do’s? We’ve got you covered.

    As you can see, natural hair is versatile and incredibly stylish. It doesn’t matter if you have 4C or extremely curly hair or if it’s really straight. The textures may vary, but that only means you can do more with it.

    Always do what you can to protect your natural hair with highly rated treatment oils and conditioners. You’ll be glad you did.

    Check out our Best Wig Shops in Nola piece to find out where to go to get your follicles taken care of.

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  • Best wig shops in New Orleans

    Best Wig Shops In New Orleans

    4 Min Read

    Finding a wig shop that checks all the boxes – -quality customer service, great products and close location — can be tough in the big city. Fortunately, New Orleans isn’t such a big city and a wig shop can be found relatively nearby.

    The best wig shops can be found in downtown, Uptown and other parts of the city. In this article, we’re going to explore where you can find all types of wigs in New Orleans.

    Where Can I Find Wigs In New Orleans?

    New Orleans wig shops have a variety of brands to choose from, including Outre, Belltress, blonde wigs and more.

    Fifi Mahony’s

    934 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116 |  (504) 525-4343

    Buy Now

    Here’s what one customer says about Fifi Mahony’s: “Excellent service and craftsmanship. I cannot wait to show off my wig performing as Frankie Fontaine. They followed all my reference photos and exceeded my expectations. This wig will complete my Drag King look!”

    Elegance Beauty Supply

    2020 N Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 |  (504) 941-7088

    Buy Now

    Here’s what one customer says about Elegance Beauty Supply: “Love this store have everything I need and more, the store Cashier and Helpers serves you with a smile at all times, really makes my selections easy to find.”

    Lace Xclusive Salon Barber Spa

    1506 Desire St, New Orleans, LA 70117 | (504) 575-2178

    Buy Now

    Here’s what one customer says about Lace Xclusive: “got a haircut here with Ms. Jessica! salon is super cute and clean, the staff is very friendly and welcoming, and i’m very happy with my cut.”

    Wig World

    3515 18th St, Metairie, LA 70002 |  (504) 887-5353

    Buy Now

    Here’s what one customer says about Wig World: “The staff here are so knowledgeable and experienced. They are very helpful and take the time with each customer to ensure total satisfaction. Highly recommend.”

    Weave Got It LLC

    200 S. Broad St. Suite#103B, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 657-7414

    Here’s what one customer says about Weave Got It: “Excellent customer service with prices to match, I normally ALWAYS spend 3 and 4 hundred dollars on hair because I honestly thought you had to spend that much for good quality, that was before I became a WGI customer FOR LIFE!!!! I HIGHLY recommend them for all your needs.”

    Beauty Express

     2816 S Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70125 |  (504) 896-2510

    Buy Now

    Here’s what a customer says about Beauty Express: “I went for wigs and they had a large variety and great customer service. I was visiting from out of state, but would travel here just for this store rather than any in my hometown.”

    Queens Beauty Supply

    8370 Earhart Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70118 | (504) 866-4000

    Buy Now

    Here’s what one customer says about Queens Beauty Supply: “I cannot say enough good things about my experience here. I declined help at first; thinking I could pick a good wig on my own, needless to say, this establishment is wig heaven. They have every option you can think of and the prices are reasonable. I needed help with a proper wig and Gabby came to my rescue and picked the perfect wig for my special occasion. The wig complimented my skin tone, face shape, AND outfit. I will be getting all of my wig and wig accessories here from now on !”

    Final Word

    If you’re looking for the best wigs in the city, New Orleans has a thriving beauty supply community, where all your favorite hairpieces can be found. The city has some great places to buy wigs in and outside of the city’s perimeter.

    New Orleans cuisine stands on its own when it comes to good food, service and a memorable dining experience.

    Remember that waiters and waitresses across the industry make less than $3 a day unless they receive tips, so please show your gratitude for your service.

    Looking for more places to eat in Nola? Here Are Some Top Desserts To Order In New Orleans.

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  • best natural hair products

    Here Are The Best Products For Natural Hair

    2 Min Read

    Your natural hairdo needs a lot of tenderloving care if it is to grow in a healthy way. The best conditioners, moisturizers and shampoos can go a long way, but only if you know how to use them.

    In this article, I’m going to show you some of the products I use to style my own hair from time to time. I usually rotate between several of the gels and conditioners on this list because I love for my hair to look and feel soft.

    How Can I Use To Style My Black Hair?

    Before you wrap your hair at night, you should always consider adding some natural ingredients to it so that it keeps while you’re fast asleep.

    Yes, while you get some rest, you can moisturize your hair along the way. This is a great way to add fullness to your head. Here are some top hair moisturizers for black women.

    Maui Moisture Smooth & Repair + Vanilla Bean Anti-Frizz Hair Butter

    Buy It

    Aunt Jackie’s Curl La La, Lightweight Curl Defining Custard

    Buy It

    Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey Shine Pomade

    Buy It

    Cantu Shea Butter Hair Dressing Pomade, 4 Ounce

    But It You’ll also need a tool comb or feather comb. With the comb, you can lift your hair in spots that need it.

    You can also take a hard brush and brush your hair along the sides and back to go along with the pattern or grain of your hair.

    Design Essentials Moisturizing and Detangling Leave In Conditioner

    Buy It

    Final Word

    As you can see, there are many products that actually treat and nurture your natural hair. Test them out to find out how versatile they are on your hair.

    The reality is by putting something in your head, you can do some incredible styles. It doesn’t matter if you have 4C or extremely curly hair or if it’s really straight.

    Always do what you can to protect your natural hair with highly rated treatment oils and conditioners. You’ll be glad you did.

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  • UConn vs. Perdue how to watch or stream the game.

    How To Watch Men’s Final Four: UConn vs. Perdue: TV, Streaming Options

    2 Min Read

    It’s come down to the two best teams in men’s college basketball. No. 1 UConn seeks to defend its title against the also No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers. If you can’t make it to the game, you may be interested in knowing how to stream Monday night’s head-to-head matchup.

    This article will tell you how to watch and stream UConn vs. Perdue game, which decides the national championship.

    How to stream the UConn vs. Purdue National Championship Game

    The title game is being played at State Farm Stadium. UConn-Purdue will air on TBS, TNT and truTV.

    UConn-Purdue will be available to stream on TNTdrama.comTBS.com and truTV.com. NCAA will also have a running stream on its website here.

    • Matchup: (1) UConn vs. (1) Purdue
    • Time: 9:20 p.m. ET
    • Channels: (TBS/TNT/truTV)Date: Monday, April 8, 2024
    • Stream:
    • Time: 9:20 p.m. ET

    You can stream the game for free on FubuTV, which has a 7-day free trial. You can also steam on Max.

    Final Word

    UConn plays Purdue this Monday, tipping off at 9:20 p.m. ET. No matter if you watch the game or not, after that you’re going to have to tend to your finances.

    If you do so, you can save money on travel, what you pay at the grocery store and other expenses.

    Read how to get out of debt right now.

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  • Save money with Netflix

    How To Save Money On Your Netflix Subscription

    3 Min Read

    Netflix, the popular TV and movie streaming service, just continues to raise its prices on us. Sooner or later, it’s going to be time to cancel. Wait, what? That time is now?

    This article will go over some great ways you can save money on a Netflix account — including canceling your service.

    How To Save Money With Netflix

    Saving money on anything requires you to have a purpose and a plan. Lowering your streaming bill is no different.

    You may think that you need to have several video streaming services, but I have been able to make out just fine with Netflix. The way I save money is that I incorporate a few different methods into my TV viewing habits.

    Let’s get started:

    Know What You’re Paying For

    Netflix doesn’t necessarily make it easy when it comes to choosing plans. You could be paying for options you don’t even use, particularly if you regularly watch Netflix on one device.

    Yes, Netflix charges more money to have access to stream on more than one device. And it doesn’t even matter if you have the app on that device or not.

    How Much Does Netflix Cost?

    As of this writing Netflix has a tiered pricing plan after going up in price in January 2022.

    nd TV shows.

    BasicStandardPremium
    Monthly cost* (United States Dollar)$6.99$15.49$22.99
    Number of screens you can watch on at the same time124
    Number of phones or tablets you can have downloads on124
    Unlimited movies and TV shows
    Watch on your laptop, TV, phone and tablet
    HD available
    Ultra HD available

    Share Your Account With Friends

    Another way you can save money is to share your account with friends (or family). If you do so, why not split the costs? When you sign up for Netflix, make sure you get others to chip in on the monthly price.

    Sign Up For T-Mobile Phone Service

    T-Mobile gives you a free Netflix account if you sign up for either of two data plans:

    • Magenta & Magenta Military
    • Magenta MAX plans

    T-Mobile’s partnership with Netflix gives Netflix Basic (1-screen SD, up to $8.99/mo) included at no additional cost on any Magenta plan with two or more lines, or on any Magenta MAX single line plan.  Any Magenta MAX plan with two or more lines will include Standard Netflix (2-screen HD) at no additional cost (up to $13.99/mo).

    Final Word

    Netflix is one of the most popular video streaming services in the industry, even though there are some great alternatives. What you get with a subscription depends on what plan you buy and how you use it.

    One thing about the Netflix deal, you could upgrade to another Netflix streaming plan, such as Netflix Premium (4-screen UHD, up to $17.99/mo), but the value of Basic (up to $8.99/mo) or Standard (up to $12.99/mo) may be applied.

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  • How much should a wig cost?

    How Much Should You Spend On A Good Wig?

    2 Min Read

    One style accessory that you’ll truly love is a good wig. Notice that I didn’t say just any old wig, but a good one. Money is tight and you need to know that you’re buying a quality headpiece.

    You shouldn’t be expected to spend all of your cash on hairpieces. You have other expenses to buy like smart TVs and other cool gadgets. With that said, having a nice wig is a priority for a stylish woman.

    In this article, we’ll explore how much a good wig should cost.

    How Much Should A Good Wig Cost?

    A good wig can cost you anywhere between $100 to $400 based on several factors like brand, style, color and whether it’s comprised of real human hair or synthetic.

    When it comes to synthetic hair, you can save a lot of money on them because they are typically cheaper and look about the same as real hair.

    You can also find wigs for under $100, but you need to do your homework. Typically, you can expect to pay less than $200 for a nice wig.

    Best Wigs From $100 To $200

    Here are some affordable wigs you can consider.

    Straight Lace Front Pre-Plucked Human Hair Wig

    Buy Here

    Human Hair Lace Front Wigs Transparent Glueless Brazilian Virgin Human Hair

    Buy Here

    Human Hair 180 density HD Transparent Lace Frontal Wig

    Buy Here

    Kreesi 360 Lace Frontal Wigs Body Hair Glueless 150% Density

    Buy Here

    Body Wave Lace Front Wigs Glueless Brazilian Remy Human Hair

    Buy Here

    Water Wave Curly Lace Front 100% Real Brazilian For Black Women

    Buy Here

    Final Word

    One of the best purchases you’ll likely make when it comes to grooming is a good wig. Not only should you ensure that it’s from a top brand and reliable, but you can’t ignore the price.

    No matter what you pay for a wig, the key is to take care of it. High quality synthetic and real hair wigs can both be styled in many ways, so take advantage of them by trying out different hairdos.

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  • eclipse in Louisiana, New Orleans Baton Rouge

    How To Watch the Eclipse in Louisiana

    2 Min Read

    Unless you’ve been living under a rock (from the sun), you know that a solar eclipse is happening across much of America on Monday, April 8. Although New Orleans, Baton Rouge and the rest of Louisiana is not in the path, the city is still going to see a partial eclipse.

    Here are some eclipse-related things you can get into on Eclipse Day in Louisiana!

    How To Watch the Eclipse in Louisiana

    2024 eclipse Georgia

    Photo credit: eclipse2024.org

    While Louisiana won’t be in view of a total eclipse, the state will be able to observe a partial eclipse. As for Baton Rouge, where showers are possible, there may be the strong probability of an overcast, which means clouds may spoil the view.

    When Will Be the Best Time To Watch the Eclipse in Louisiana?

    The best viewing time will be from 12:29 p.m. to 1:49 p.m (peak). During that time, the moon will pass in front of the sun, blocking about 82% of the sunlight as viewed from New Orleans.

    By 3:09 p.m., the solar event will be over.

    Here are some safety precautions you need to take:

    • Don’t look at the sun with your naked eye.
    • Wear sunglasses with protective lenses.
    • Don’t stare at the sun just anywhere. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

    Final Word

    If you miss the eclipse of 2024, you won’t get another opportunity until 2044, so you’d better do all you can to see it.

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  • best side jobs in New Orleans

    5 Great Side Jobs That Pay Well In New Orleans

    3 Min Read

    Good jobs that pay well and come with crazy flexibility are far and few between. But the good news is that that kind of employment can be found.

    We’re going to show you some great side jobs you can do in New Orleans and pretty much any other large metropolitan city.

    How Can I Make An Extra $1,000 A Month?

    There are not many side jobs that immediately pay you $1,000 a month, but there are some that can generate that kind of income once you’ve set it up and built it for a while.

    Blog Your Way To Big Money

    One job in particular that can actually give you an extra $1,000 a month is blogging. You’ll need several things to make this happen:

    • Website
    • Social media accounts
    • Ability to write

    To really get some traffic, you’ll need to have a niche that draws attention and some steady content to write about.

    If you’re looking at a niche, make sure your content is unique and that your reputation is worth people’s attention. Some top blog sites are:

    The jobs we’ll highlight come from FlexJobs, which has some of the best flexible job opportunities we’ve seen.

    Here Are 6 Side Jobs That Pay Well

    Interpreter

    • Pay: $20/hour
    • Type of flexibility: Part-time, remote

    Online ESL Teacher

    • Pay: $16/hour
    • Type of flexibility: Part-time, remote, freelance

    Resume Writer

    • Pay: $19/hour
    • Type of flexibility: Part-time, remote, freelance, flexible schedule

    Tech Support

    • Pay: $17/hour
    • Type of flexibility: Part-time, remote, freelance, alternative schedule

    Travel Consultant

    • Pay: $18/hour
    • Type of flexibility: Part-time, remote, alternative schedule

    Tutor

    • Pay: $17/hour
    • Type of flexibility: Part-time, remote, flexible schedule, freelance

    Final Word

    If you’re serious about creating a side gig, don’t think that it’s not going to take some time and commitment. You actually may find that you will spend more time (initially) setting up your side gig than your real job, but that should be only in the set-up phase.

    The goal of a side gig is to generate big income in a supplementary way so as not to interfere with your “real” job or take up a lot of time.

    The experts say jobs are plentiful right now, but as we all know, it’s hard to find enjoyable employment. That’s why it behooves you to research any job opportunity that you find.

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