wynterspring

Fantasia to Perform FREE Concert in High Point!

American Idol winner, reality TV star and High Point native, Fantasia Barrino, is coming home! The singer, who recently announced her pregnancy, will be performing a free concert TOMORROW (August 4th) at Oak Hollow Festival Park.

Festival gates will open at 3pm and the show is set to start at 5. Though admission is free, everyone is encouraged to donate at least one school supply for distribution to area schools.

Check out this video of Fantasia sharing words of encouragement and announcing her pregnancy to a Jacksonville, FL audience earlier this week:

courtesy of MsiCandi

CONGRATULATIONS ‘TASIA!

I can’t WAIT to see her kick them shoes off & act (as she would say) UGLY!!! lol

GET IT, TASIA MAE!

See you there!!

TOMORROW! America’s Next Top Model Auditions at Livingstone College!

Wanna be on top...

Think you have what it takes to be America’s Next Top Model? Well, here’s your chance to be discovered!

Join ANTM for their casting call at in the Varick Auditorium on the campus of Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC. Registration begins tomorrow, Saturday, July 9th at 10 am.

Livingstone College
701 West Monroe Street
Salisbury, NC 28144

They are asking that contestants:

1. Print & complete the application (link below)
2. Print the Eligibility Requirements and read them carefully
3. Be a female between the ages of 18 & 27 at the time of audition on July 9th, 2011
4. Be AT or ABOVE five feet and seven inches in height
5. Bring the 3 necessary photos listed on the Eligibility Requirements
6. Bring copies of the necessary forms of identification listed on the Eligibility Requirement

Each contest will have 3 minutes in front of ANTM cameras to tell Tyra why YOU should be America’s Next Top Model! Be prepared to serve a FIERCE runway walk!

**Application, Eligibility Requirements & more info can be found HERE.**

If anyone goes, be sure to comment & let us know how it went!!

 Best of luck from Team Pananche!

PREMIERE! Beyoncé – Best Thing I Never Had [Video]

Comment & let us know what you think!

New Music: Mary J. Blige featuring Nicki Minaj

Check out the latest track from Mary J. Blige, entitled “Feel Inside.” The song features Nicki Minaj and is said to be the second single (following “Someone to Love Me”) on Mary’s 10th studio album, My Life II: The Journey Continues, which is slated to be released in September.

Comment & let us know what you think!

Happy Friday!

End of the Year Party Hosted by BeDazzled Salon & Children’s Spa

BeDazzled Salon and Children’s Salon is hosting its 1st annual End of the Year Bash to celebrate the end of the school year and beginning of summer for the kiddies!!

Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Time: 6-8pm

Place: Great Skate of Thomasville, NC

(1203 Lexington Ave. Thomasville, NC 27360)

Cost: $5 per person (includes entry & skate rental)

Hope to see you there!!

BeDazzled Salon & Children’s Spa is owned & operated by Mikki Liles-Davis and is located at 104 W. Main St. in Thomasville, NC.

Call (336) 223-4772 for summer specials for you and your Little Diva!

Iviona Rappin’ Now!

The daughter of Baton Rouge rapper, Lil Boosie, is following in her father’s lyrical footsteps.

Iviona “Da Princess” Hatch, a 10-year-old honor roll student, has released her debut single, “Daughter of A King and A Queen,” a song she made in honor of her parents.

Being that all of Lil Boosie’s assets have been frozen during his trial (more info here), Iviona, in conjunction with UHatin? University, made the song to help raise money for her father’s defense fund. In the song, she speaks of her father being her musical inspiration, the love she has for her 6 younger siblings, and how she plans to get her education FIRST and focus on fame later.

Staying on top of her academics and using her talents to benefit a worthy cause, Iviona is most definitely setting a good example for our youth!

A video has been made for the song and should premiere soon. I’ll be sure to post when it does.

In the meantime, listen to the track below & sure to check out BoosieJustice.com, the go-to site for the latest in Boosie news, music & apparel, and ways to show support!

The track can be purchased here. All proceeds go to Boosie’s defense fund. Let’s help Iviona bring her father home!

Iviona Hatch Facebook Fan Page

Here are some photos from the “Daughter of a King & Queen” video shoot:

Iviona with her mother & younger brothers

Iviona with little brothers, Ivy Ray & MJ

Iviona w/ Uncles Quick & Money Bags

Iviona & Family

Here, Iviona leaves words of encouragement for her family & Boosie spends his last 24 hours with his children before going to serve his sentence (from the Last Dayz series):

Iviona singing her song, “Miss You” with DJ Drama & V103 in Atlanta:

Boosie singing “Daddy Luv You” to a then 4-year-old Iviona (from the Bad Azz DVD):

I absolutely LOVE this little girl’s ambition!

Jadakiss Shows His Appreciation

Just in time for summer, the Yonkers MC has released a mixtape dedicated to his fans, entitled I Love You (A Dedication to My Fans). The mixtape includes features from Jada’s brother-in-rhyme, Styles P, Teyana Taylor, Trae The Truth and Rick Ross!

The free download can be found HERE. Big shout out to our buddies over at DatPiff.com!

Comment and let us know how you like it!

Who Owned It? Beyoncé’s Run The World (GIRLS!) Choreography Battle

Beyoncé done started something…as usual!

Following the highly anticipated release of the video for Who Run the World (Girls!), the lead single from her fourth studio album, 4, YouTube has been on FIRE with people creating choreography to the “Girl Power” inspired dance track (reminiscent of the Single Ladies dance craze from a couple summers ago).

Though I think Beyonce & Co. did a brilliant job with the original choreography, these guys and gals are serving up a side of fierceness all their own! Watch the choreography from the actual video, then watch the other two and VOTE to let us know WHO OWNED IT!

First up is the sequence created by Beyoncé’s team of choreographers, which includes Frank Gatson, Laum, Jeffrey Page, Sheryl Murakami, with help from the Tofo Tofo dancers of Mozambique, South Africa.

VS.

The choreography of Dmitry Cherkozyanov (short clip, but dude WERKS. IT. OUT!)

VS.

The choreography of Sean Bankhead

Also, check out this video of the Tofo Tofo dancers. Bey first learned of them through YouTube & reached out to them for their help with choreography for the video. The dancers and these very same moves can be spotted alongside Bey in the opening dance sequence of the Run the World video!

Welp! That’s my workout for the day! LOL

Have an idea of anyone who should have been included in the battle? Have video of you own choreography? Let us know!

New From OPI: Texas-Inspired Summer Collection!

It’s starting to warm up outside, so while your removing the warm, bulky, dark-colored items from your closet, be sure to keep you polish collection in rotation as well!

I was going through my never-ending collection trying to find THE perfect color for graduation, and I decided to find out what’s new with one of my favorite nail lacquer companies — OPI!

Their latest collection consists of 12 new Texas-inspired hues with everything from shimmery, barely-there colors like, It’s Totally Fort-Worth It & I Vant to Be A-Lone Star, to the richest of chocolates like, Suzi Loves Cowboys.

Check out the swatches below for a closer look at the colors…I’ve already spotted some summer must-haves!

Be sure to check out OPI’s website where you can find simple D.I.Y instructions on proper nail care & try on different colors with their simulated hand that allows you to change the skin tone and nail length to find the perfect color (I’m having entirely TOO much fun with this thing lol)!

Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of body-soulbeauty.com

TONIGHT!! KCW and DJ Jimmy Jam Present: The 1st Annual Stylist & Barber Bash!

This event is the first of its kind! KCW Productions is inviting ALL stylists & barbers in the Thomasville, High Point, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Lexington, Burlington & surrounding areas to come party together under one roof at A’Faires in High Point! This event will be hosted by Mikki Liles-Davis & Maigan Horne, with DJ Jimmy Jam on the 1s & 2s!

Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. There will be drink specials all night and a contest offering a month of free advertising to one salon and barbershop. The contest will be conducted Apollo style — the salon or barber shop that makes the most noise when the owner is announced will be crowned winner, so be sure to tell your clients, family & friends to come out and support!

The winning salon or barbershop will receive a plaque and a picture of their establishment on the front of 2,000 fliers that will be distributed over the summer, all courtesy of KCW Productions.

I’ll be there on behalf of Stella’s Daughter Hair Salon of Winston-Salem (Hey, Reanee!) and Team Panache, of course! So, fellas get them line ups tight & ladies get your weaves right! This party will be one to remember!

Don’t meet me there, BEAT ME THERE!! *in my radio man voice*

For more information, contact:

KCW Productions Facebook Fan Page

A’Faires Banquets & Events, LLC

(336) 886-3370

202 Ardale Drive

High Point, NC  27260

(Off of S. Main Street and 311N/Bus.85 S; behind the Raceway on South Main Street)

Video of the Day: Luwi and Ricoe “Free Boosie”

I ran across this video on Twitter (@BoosieArmy) the other day and haven’t been able to get the song out of my head since! It’s a fan-created video dedicated to Lil Boosie, created by two aspiring rappers from Gainesville, FL.

“I’m not a thug, but you inspire me in many ways…“

This song just goes to show how diverse, talented & loyal Boosie’s fan-base truly is. From what I can gather, both guys are students at the University of Florida and decided to make this song to show their admiration and appreciation for Boosie and the ways in which he has inspired them through his music.

They also have another single called “Get In Line” which can be heard here.

For more info on the duo, check out their Twitter page: @LuwiandRico

ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/LuwiandRicoe

Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/luwiandricoe

Good luck with those finals guys! Keep up the good work!

Be sure to check out www.freetorencehatch.com or www.boosiejustice.com!

This song goes out to Torence Hatch..Free Boosie Boo…FREE BOOSIE BOO!

Follow Friday!

Being that it is Follow Friday (#FF) on Twitter, I thought I’d share a few of my favorites that I follow!

@abelleinbk — Known as the the black Carrie Bradshaw, Demetria Lucas is one of my writing idols. I absolutely love her style, both fashion and writing-wise! She has the incredible gift of telling a story and making you feel as if you were there, too. Like her silent, invisible best friend lol Check her out in the latest issue of Essence magazine (she writes for them as well…I told you she was dope!) or on her blog.

@TheRealMiaX — The 1st lady of No Limit always has great advice and words of witty wisdom passed down from her late grandmother that she shares with her followers. I’m inspired by her in so many ways! Not only is she a pioneer for female emcees, she also has the financial smarts to save and invest her money wisely. When sales in the music industry took a turn for the worse, “Mama Mia” was able to retire (at her own will) at the age of 30, is the owner of her own restaurant (True Friends)  in New Orleans, the mother of two adult children (make that 3 — she adopted me via Twitter lol)  AND she has a cookbook coming out soon (you can get full just LOOKING at her Twitpics)!

@boosiejustice — The go-to page for the latest Boosie news and trial updates. This twitter page stems from www.freetorencehatch.com, the site dedicated to increasing awareness and strengthening support of the Free Boosie campaign. It keeps fans up-to-speed with everything regarding his trial, videos and blog posts, and also provides links to the online petition and a place for monetary donations that go toward his defense fund (at this point, ALL of Boosie’s assets have been frozen…where they do THAT at?!?). All donations go directly to his mother, Connie Hatch. What I love most about this whole movement is the fact that it presents readers with actual, up-to-date FACTS about the case so that they aren’t misguided by the false allegations present in mainstream media. The site also sheds light on the POSITIVE things he’s done in his life and the POSITIVITY that can be found within his lyrics. If you’re not familiar with the circumstances surrounding this case, please visit the site and see for yourself . Be Clear: they DO NOT  have to come to your house in the middle of the night, wearing sheets & burning crosses to lynch a Black man these days! SMH.

Special shout out to BoosieArmy for always showing love on Twitter as well! *waves* Heeyyy BoosieArmy! lol

And, of course, be sure to follow @NikkiPanache for links to the latest in Carolina news, entertainment, fashion, & music!

Happy Follow Friday!!

Feel Good Friday!

I ran across this little gem on Facebook. It’s from an unknown author, but I thought I’d share it with you guys…it’s such a feel good post for a feel good Friday!

“Good ol’ North Carolina…where the tea is sweet and accents are sweeter, summer starts in April, front porches are wide and words are long, macaroni & cheese is a vegetable, BBQ is the state food, ‘yawll’ is a proper pronoun, chicken is fried, biscuits come with gravy, everything is honey, and someone is always getting their heart blessed.”

Happy Friday! Get out & enjoy some of this Carolina weather!

SOUND OFF! The Body Count Convo

As I was watching a re-run of Sex and the City last night, I was reminded of a conversation that my friends and I were having just this past weekend. During the episode, Miranda and Steve were having what The Girls and I call the “Body Count” conversation. Basically, they were discussing how many sexual partners each of them had before their current relationship with one another.

In the episode, Steve ups his body count number as to not be outdone by Miranda after he hears her response.  This prompted me to take to Twitter and Facebook to see if I could get some feedback on the subject. Surprisingly enough, very few people were willing to discuss the topic out in the open (which is an entirely different issue in and of itself). I did, however, receive plenty of chat & inbox messages.

Responses ranged from “I don’t wanna know” to “More than 10 is too many and just nasty…” So, I want to pose a few questions to you out there in the Panache world to get your opinion on the issue: (1) Do you REALLY want to know the truth about how many partners your spouse has had in the past? (2) At what point in the relationship is this issued raised? And how do you go about bringing it up? (3) Is there a such thing as ‘too many’ sexual partners? If so, where is your cut off line? (4) Do you take into account a person’s age and/or the age at which they lost their virginity when discussing their body count? (5) Does being male/female have an affect on your response? If so, how? (6) Are YOU completely honest about YOUR body count? Why/why not?

Sound Off!

Now I can’t get Lil Wayne’s “Prostitute Flange” out of my head…lol

Artist Spotlight: FUZZ DIDDY!

Hardly home, but always reppin…

Ever sat and listened to a person talk pure smack about their own hometown? Yeah, me neither…they make about as much sense as hot soup on a summer’s day. What Mobb Deep say? “F*ck where you at, kid. IT’S WHERE YA FROM!” Anyone who knows me knows that I rep my city (ok, okaayyy…my small town) to the fullest! Whenever, where ever!

With that being said, I’d like to introduce you guys to some new Thomasville talent in the form of Making the Station sensation, FUZZ DIDDY!

Hailing from Thomasville, by way of Brooklyn, NY, Fuzz Diddy has been 102′s reigning champion on their Making the Station segment, which airs on Tuesday and Thursday nights (between 10:30 & 11 pm). Making the Station gives local artists the chance to showcase their skills to the entire Triad listening area in a series of rap battles, and allows listeners to call in and vote for their favorite lyricist.

Now, not only has Fuzz defeated the previous champion..(umm, what’s his name?) Oh, yeah, AD. lol *no shade to the Tre-Fo homie though…he held the crown for about 4 months straight!* Just last week, Fuzz was the ONLY participant to show up to Making the Station…folks callin’ in wantin’ to battle from pre-written rhymes on paper over the phone?!? Like, where they do THAT at?? Not Tha Ville!

I think I get ‘em scared..I think that they scared of meh! *in my Three 6 Mafia voice*

If you can’t hear the passion and hunger in this dude’s voice, then you may wanna clean your ears…wit a Bobby pin. (Don’t act! I know my mama wasn’t the only one!)

You guys may think I’m a bit biased because Fuzz is on the home team, so I’ll let yall check him out for yourselves:

With Thomasville on his back, and Brooklyn in his heart, I see big things in the future for Fuzz!

Shout out to Waleed Coyote and the entire 102 Jamz Fam! Middle East, stand up!

And a very special Happy Birthday shout out to Fuzz Diddy’s mother. May God rest her soul.

Be sure to tune in to 102 Jamz TONIGHT and call in (336-680-1021 or 336-730-1021) to vote for Fuzz Diddy on Making the Station!! *The battles are LIVE! & all votes are counted IN STUDIO, ON CAMERA*

From the Old Projects, to the New…Culbreth Avenue, to the ‘Luth…THOMASVILLE — WE OUT’CHEA!

I might need to on Making the Station my damn self! juuuussst kidding! Get on the mic & have a brain fart lol #NoSir!

**FYI: This isn’t Thomasville’s first time reppin’ & rippin’ on Making the Station…A while back (before my blogging days), a classmate of mine, Justin Broadie, went in as well! Just wanted to throw that out there & show love to him, too! Broadie, what up!!**

My Spring Wish List!

So, I’m starting the wish list for my spring collection, and like the true shoe-fiend that I am, I’m starting from the bottom up!

First on the list is a pair of sculpted platform heels by Italian duo, Silvano Arnoldo & Massimiliano Battois, for their line, Arnoldo e Battois.

Photo courtesy of http://www.corridor40.com

I LOVE the architectural style of this shoe has & the height is simply ORGASMIC! lol

The taupe/nude color will blend well with many of spring’s hottest colors, but I’m thinking more along the lines of shades of cream, gold or bronze, or orange!

Who am I kidding? You could wear these with a potato sack and still WERK!

These shoes are definitely statement pieces that speak for themselves! With some poppin a** polish on the toes…girl BYE!

When it’s time to give the ankles a rest, next on the list is a pair of Alejandro Ingelmo Ballet Flats.

Every time I say the designers name I break out into Lady  Gaga’s “Alejandro”!

Ale-Alejandro…Ale-Alejandrooooooo!! (Don’t mind me, I’m slow) lol

Courtesy of shoelust.tumblr.com

Pair ‘em with a sundress in the summer, or jeans in the winter…can you say, STAPLE PIECE?!!

Cute, dainty & comfy? Me likey!

If not by the end of spring, I need both pair in my closet before summer! Any takers? lol

What are some of your spring must-haves?

Product Pick of the Day: Salon Pro 30 Second Weave Wonder Wrap

Salon Pro Weave Wonder Wrap

Ok, so today is my glam day. While most of you were out frolicking about town, enjoying this springtime weather, I spent my day with my head either under the faucet or under the hair dryer…yayy. BUT, all true divas know that with beauty, comes sacrifice!

Any who…I’m doing another quick weave glue-in on my hair (my protective style of choice until it’s relaxer time), and I wanted to let you Weave Queens (Don’t hide girl! I see you!) know about this new (well, new to me) product that I’m about to try for the first time. It’s the Salon Pro 30 Second Weave Wonder Wrap (WWW).

I know you guys and non-weave wearers are like WHAT in THE world is this girl talkin bout?? LOL Google & Youtube, my friends. Google. and. Youtube!

So, after almost taking clippers to my head trying to get leftover bonding glue out of my hair, I knew I had to try something different this time.

WWW is a protective serum placed on dry, molded (with hair gel yall lol) hair that protects the hair from coming in contact with the glue that’s used on the weft. From what I understand, it’s kinda like a liquefied, hardened skull cap that acts as a barrier between the bonding glue and the natural hair.

WWW is very reasonably priced. I picked up the 2 oz. bottle at my local beauty supply store for $5.99. That’s enough for one full head, but it comes in 4, 8 and 16 oz as well.
Shoutout to Mike and Ms Kim on Kivett Drive, by the way!

Wish me luck guys! Once my hair is molded, I’ll be ready to apply WWW. Of course, I did some research prior to and found nothing but good comments about the product. Plus, I’m pretty good at D.I.Y type things, so I’m sure my hair will be FIERCE when I’m done!

In the meantime, check out these videos I found explaining WWW and how it’s used & removed (It supposedly washes right out…no leftover glue!).

The lady sounds like the guy from the Clear Eyes commercials, but she does a better job of explaining it than I just did, plus there are visuals!
Oh yeah, if anybody out there has tried WWW or something similar, or if you have any weaving techniques or ideas, let us know!

I’ll be back soon with a full review of the Wonder Wrap & the hair I used (Say Me Cuatro Candy Curl)…stay tuned!

Hip Hop Takes Yet Another Loss…Rest in Paradise Nate Dogg

Late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning, it was reported that the hip hop community lost yet another veteran in the form of West Coast rapper, Nate Dogg.

Details surrounding his death have yet to be released. It is rumored that he may have succumbed to complications stemming from two previous strokes, one of which left him partially paralyzed on the left side.

Born Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, Nate Dogg, 41, emerged on the hip-hop scene in the early 90s as one-third of 213, a Long Beach based trio including two other West Coast legends, Snoop Dogg and Warren G. Following the success of his feature on Warren G’s “Regulate,” Nate Dogg became famous for his smooth crooning & began adding his signature G-funk melodies to many-a hip hop hook, working with everyone from Tupac to Mariah Carey.

In declining health since surviving his second stroke in 2008, and having been rumored to have passed on more than one occasion, the news of Nate Dogg’s passing had  Twitter buzzing with folks trying to figure whether or not it was yet another internet hoax. But, it was all sadly confirmed when long-time friend and partner-in-rhyme, Snoop Dogg, tweeted: “We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met,” and followed with, “RIP NATE DOGG” moments later. While most waited on confirmation from CNN or MTV, to true hip-hop heads, Snoop’s tweets were confirmation enough.

*Moment of Silence*

With his baritone-laden lyrics & impeccable O.G. style, Nate Dogg helped usher the West to the forefront of hip-hop and held it down during its reign on top of the game. Known as the God Father of G-Funk, Nate Dogg is, and forever will be, the King of Hip-Hop Hooks. To hell wit’ an Auto-Tune.

The Nikki Panache team sends its prayers and condolences to the Hale family.

Now, you know it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t send the Big Homie out in style…so here’s a tribute mix courtesy of DJ STEVE1DER with some of the greatest, and lesser known, Nate Dogg hits for yall to vibe to as you smoke up, po’ up, twist ya fingers up into that infamous “W,” or simply send a prayer up in honor of his legacy.

Forever in our hearts…Rest in Peace Nate Dogg!

Whew! I swear, everything that man touched was a CLASSIC! & for that, dear sir, we sincerely thank you!

Sadity in the City

I recently had the pleasure of attending a Sadity Kitty fashion show to see what the boutique had to offer for the upcoming season & to show support to my lovey, Chakayla, in her modeling debut!

Based out of Charlotte, Sadity Kitty is an online boutique offering trend-setting pieces, accessories and outerwear at very reasonable prices. The line also caters to everyone, with sizes ranging from extra small to 3XL.

Hosted at the Loft (1523 Elizabeth Ave), the show was packed with photographers, make-up artists and local designers. The drinks were strong and the DJ kept every body rockin…needless to say, I was definitely loving  the Loft lifestyle! Panache indeed!

The line offers everything from trendy accessories to  apparel appropriate for a night out on the town, career wear, and day-to-day casual pieces. I seen a few pieces that I needed in my wardrobe…like YESTERDAY! LoL Shout out to Sadity Kitty owner, Ruby Jones, and all of the models for putting on such a fabulous show! And the MAC lipglass goodie bags were icing on the cake! *besos*

Check out my slide show & be sure to stop by www.saditykitty.com!

To watch the slide show, please click the link below:
http://photopeach.com/album/19qeyfk?invitecode=34cc619f26

Animal Instinct: From Nylon to Nails, Animal Print is EVERYWHERE!

Brian Goreski & Kanye in Givenchy leopard

Gwen Stefani L.A.M.B Fashion Week 2011

Ladies (and our fabulous, most-beloved boy friends), we all know that animal print is this season’s must have! We also know that our nails can make or break an entire outfit, making them one of our smallest, yet most noticeable accessories.  So, what’s a girl to do when the weather warms up and it’s time to do away with the printed boots, jackets & scarves? Or when your red-pumped, cheetah print heels (as FLY as they are!) are a bit much for the office?

Take matters into your own hands! Add animal print to your nails! Printed tips provide the perfect amount of coquettish flare to be considered tame, but just enough POP! to let some personality shine through!

Here are some pics of animal prints that I’ve tried on both natural & acrylic nails!

I go HARD in the paint, by the way *blushing* lol but if I can do it, you can too!

Colorful Zebra Print

ROWR!

Shout out to JulieG713 for the super-easy, D.I.Y instructions!