Life is So Precious

Chicago area authorities have confirmed that a body found in Calumet City near Chicago is that of Nailah Franklin, who had been missing since September 18.
We are praying for the Franklin family and anyone else that was touched by Nailah during her life. This especially hits home because this could have happened to anyone of us. Details surrounding Nailah's death have not been released. Out of respect for the family we will not be posting any further info surrounding this case or any specifics concerning Nailah's death.
Please go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15012097/ for updated info from the Associated Press.

In the wake of this tragedy, I received the info below regarding safety measures that women should incorporate into their lifestyle. Please read it and keep it in the back of your head. It could save your life.
1 Tip from Tae Kwon Do : The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
2. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM Toss it away from you.... chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get int o their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR , LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you.
If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it . As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.
5 A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor , and in the back seat
B..) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door . Most se rial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C..) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control,ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit yo u (a running target) 4 in 100 times;
And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN,Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP !
It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle , which is when he abducted his next victim.
9. Make it a point to purchase pepper spray, a personal alarm or even a whistle. The spray is an obvious way to disable someone but making noise draws attention to you and a would-be assailant and increases the likelihood of him/her running away and leaving you alone.
10. Make it a point to let someone know where you are if you are going somewhere or doing something outside of the realms of your usual routine (traveling to a new city, going on a blind date, etc.). Even if you don't share specifics, let someone know where you'll be in case you are lost or if your car breaks down.
11. If you're dating someone new or meeting new friends DO NOT let them know where you live initially, especially if you live alone. Meet a new acquaintance at a public or familiar place. Everyone does NOT need to know where you rest your head.
12. When you have parties or several people in your home (especially if you are a female that lives alone or with other females) limit the amount of expensive electronics, clothing, products etc. that you have out in the open. Not only does this limit the likelihood of something getting inadvertently broken or lost, it decreases the likelihood of a random party goer thinking or recommending your spot as a place for a potential robbery (it has happened to my parents before).

Let's remember how precious we are to one another and do our best to be our brother's and sister's keepers.

XOXO
RD -ChicaGoGetter Team

Gimme That Honey Looooove

Okay okay, we're not trying to bring back the old school R. Kelly cut, but we are loving the sweet weekly specials that the wonderful folks at Honey Child Salon and Spa are offering for Chicas. Check out these steals and deals:

Tuesday's Tastings
20 min Mojito body scrub $25
20 min Mojito massge $25
Pronto Mojito manicure $18
Total package is $68 or purchase individually

Whimsical Wednesday
Honey Child Classic facial $75 reg $90
10% off all
waxing services

Thursday Ladies Night
Lushes lash extensions $25 reg $35
Make up $95 reg $120
Total packagae $120 or purchase individually

TGIF
Single process hair color $40 reg $60
Partial highlights $85 reg $110
Full highlights $115 reg $140
This special does not include a blow dry/add for $45 reg $55

These specials are for new and existing guests and are available until November 1, 2007.

Give HoneyChild a buzz to set your appointment!

H o n e y C h i l d
735 N. LaSalle
Chicago, IL 60610
312.573.1300
http://www.honeychildsalonandspa.com/

It's Here!!! Carol's Daughter at Macy's

The wait is over! Lisa Price was in town this past Friday and Saturday to celebrate the opening of Carol's Daughter boutiques in Chicagoland Macy's Department Stores. Founded in 1993, Carol's Daughter is inspired by nature, with a line of over 300 products for face, hair, body and home - allowing for product combinations and possibilities that are endless for every man, woman and child regardless of skin type, tone, or need. The products are tested on people, not animals and do not contain harmful additives or cheap fillers.

Unlike some other area retailers that have a very limited selection, Macy's will carry the face, body and hair lines. Yay!
We had to sample a few of the products and we're loving the new Candy Paint lipgloss line ($13.50 per tube) 1. Because all of the glosses are infused with natural ingredients such as grapeseed oil, shea butter, aloe vera extract and vitamin E to hydrate, condition and contain NO petroleum, mineral oil, or artificial colors and absolutely NO parabens and 2. Because of the exciting color names like Brick House, Park Avenue Bling, Grown and Sexy and This Is Me. We snagged a tube of the sparkling golden hue Bossy. It went on smooth, wasn't sticky and didn't need to be reapplied every five minutes. Perfect!

We also tried the Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner for Dry Hair ($11.00, 8oz.) and loved loved loved it! The product is good for most hair types but is great for Chicas with kinky/curly/coily hair, especially when you're trying to detangle after conditioning.

The body products, especially the Almond Cookie Shea Soufflé, ($30.00, 16 oz)

Check out the Carol's daughter shop at Macy's State Street location (111 N. State St.; 312-781-1000).

To find other shop store locations visit:
http://www.macys.com/ or http://www.carolsdaughter.com/

Sleeker Sisters - Lets Get It!

This past Saturday I was walking through the city and couldn't help but notice an over abundance of African-American women who were visibly (if not medically) overweight. I can recall a conversation from just a few short years ago that I engaged in with a group of women who were gorgeous and who came in a range of sizes from round to petite. We were talking about body image and what they think other people, specifically men, find attractive about them. In addition to their fearless attitudes and the confidence that they exuded, most of them said that men like "the thickness", specifically their hips, legs and of course, the booty (something most black women were blessed or cursed with, depending on which black woman you ask). In a conversation that I had with a guy friend he mentioned that sometimes we (black women) take it too far with that whole "thick thing". He said he preferred a woman who was toned and fit...the kind of woman who works out at the gym regularly and isn't afraid to sweat a little. His response may suprise a ton of women but his sentiments echo that of many males of all backgrounds who appreciate a woman that takes care of herself.
Tons of African-American Chicas were raised in households where their mothers or female role models had a regular beauty/shopping/cooking/entertaining regimen, but weren't raised to have a steady fitness routine. I can't lie and say that I was raised in a family that was big on working out. I used to wake up to homemade biscuits, bacon, eggs, hashbrowns...the works. And dinner...don't even get me started. I've always been an active person ( I danced for several years and even did a stint with a professional Chicago Hip-Hop Troupe for a year) but I never really incorporated fitness into my normal weekly routine or even cared about doing an extra lunge or a sit-up here or there; that was up until my Mother and God Mother were both diagnosed with breast cancer and then diabetes. Their diagnosis was a wake up call for me to take better care of myself and to do some regular "preventative maintenance" to reduce my risks for developing any of those horrible diseases that affected my family and are killing black women. I must admit, I see a lot of our sisters confused and thinking that they have one of those coveted "thick" figures when in reality they've crossed the line between curvy and overweight. We can be some delusional habitual line steppers! I'm personally a HUGE fan of curves. I love mine and wouldn't change them for the world. However, I won't be bamboozled into thinking I will lose one bit of my beauty by toning up here and building a little muscle there. Excuse my frankness but many of us Chicas with the curvy bottoms can maintain that round brown by doing a few squats or lunges daily. We can make sure that we're turning heads and rocking the heck out of our favorite "Little Black Dress" by grabbing a couple 5 pound dumbbells and doing some curls. These aren't things that take anything away from our naturally bountiful figures; they are simply small measures that can be taken to make sure we are at our best!
I forget where I heard the quote, "Don't waste the pretty.", but it is a phrase that I live by. Every Chica in her 20's and 30's is in the "prime time" of her life. These are the days that we should be enjoying life and not being limited by any extra baggage.
Although we have many strides to make in educating black women about taking better care of our beautiful bods, there are some of us who have responded to the wake up call and are taking control of their bodies and making the choice to live a healthier life. Make no mistake, not all of us are destined to be ultra skinny - I'm not advocating that. To that point we aren't all destined to be "big boned" "hefty" or any of those other words and phrases meant to make excuses for not taking care of ourselves. Chicas, we are all beautiful princesses and queens. When need to take a look at some of our habits and ask ourselves, "Is this how royalty lives/looks/eats/ etc.?". If you answer yes, then by all means, shoot me an email and be the ChicaGoGetter.com health correspondent! If you know you honestly need to make a couple of small lifestyle changes (I know I do), stay with us Chica! As a part of our mission to speak to all of you who are truly living a GoGetter lifestyle, The ChicaGoGetter Team has decided to make a concerted effort to bring you fitness,well being and health information weekly in our Sleeker Sisters post. We will bring you health tips, useful websites, fitness class info and recipes to help you live up to your healthy potential. We truly want to help be our sister's (and brother's keepers) and this is just our small way to raise consciousness and to spark a hint of positive change in the way you live your life. On top of that there is nothing better than seeing a woman confident in her body, her spirit and her walk. Also, check out the instructional Hip-Hop work out clip below, it's only 10 minutes long and is a fun way to raise your heart rate a few notches! Look out for the weekly Sleeker Sisters posts!

XOXO
RD- Creator/Chief Chica
www.ChicaGoGetter.com

80's 90's Weekend Mix- ChicaGoGetter Style

We had to send you into your weekend right with a few classic 80's and 90's hits! Stay tuned for more weekly ChicaGoGetter mixes!

Crank That Instructional DVD?? Really

Can’t say that we’re big fans of the lyrics (especially reference to super soaking h**s) but we can’t deny that the Crank Dat Soulja Boy is a good source of cardio and a few laughs. We have to give Soulja Boy credit for his good viral/free99 promotional efforts. The promotional video alone has over 6 million hits on YouTube.com. Both the song and dance were popular before an actual video was ever created. Even though some of you folks won’t admit it and you probably won’t do it in public, we’re sure you’ve tried to “crank it” at least once in the comfort of your own home. We’ll be watching to see who’s bold enough to bust it out at the ChicaGoGetter.com Launch Celebration tonight at MIX.

SERIOUS BUSINESS HERE***LET'S FIND NIALAH FRANKLIN

If you know anything or have heard anything surrounding the disappearance of Nialah please contact the Chicago Police Department!

ChicaGo Out! - ChicaGoGetter.com Launch Celebration - Friday 9/21

As if you needed another reason to party... we' re hitting the streets people! The ChicaGoGetter Team will be celebrating our launch at MIX this Friday! The gentlemen from 432 Entertainment,The Enve Group, Black Alumni, and Allusion Productions ALWAYS know how to show their crowds a good time! We suggest getting there early because this one is guaranteed to be HUGE!
On a side note we have no shame in that fact that we are professionals during the day but like to party it up at night every now and then. So if you come, be SURE to bring your dancing shoes - This won't be a party for "wall flowers"!
See you Friday!
~The GoGetter Team~

GoGetter Spirit

"If now isn't a good time for the truth I don't see when we'll get to it. " - Nikki Giovanni

WEAR BLACK ON SEPTEMBER 20th.....

To signify unity against UN-EQUAL JUSTICE in America!

Even if you've been under a rock for the past few months you've heard about the plight of "The Jena 6", a group of African-American teens Robert Bailey (17), Theo Shaw (17), Carwin Jones (18), Bryant Purvis (17), Mychal Bell (16) and an unidentified minor, who were expelled from school, arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder. Bail was set so high -- between $70,000 and $138,000 -- that the boys were left in prison for months as families went deep into debt to release them.
Last week, Mychal Bell, one of six black Jena Louisiana High School students charged in the beating of a white student that stemmed from racial tension throughout the school, and one of five originally charged as adults with attempted second-degree murder, had his adult charges dropped and his case overturned by a state appeals court. He will now face reduced charges in juvenile court and will be sentenced on 9/20/2007. According to the Associated Press, the state third circuit court of appeal says Bell should not have been tried as an adult on the battery charge.The case has received national and international attention, and one by one the charges against the teens have been reduced.
On September 20th, tomorrow, The NAACP, Rev. Al Sharpton, Tavis Smiley, Michael Baisden and several other African-American leaders, concerned citizens and celebrities will take part in a Rally & March for Peace and Justice to demand justice for Bell. The teen could receive up to 22 years in prison for what was nothing larger than a fist fight between students.
In a letter to Gov. Kathleen Blanco and the state board of ethics, Rev. Sharpton requested an investigation of the district attorney's actions in the case. Here is the full text of Sharpton’s letter:
The National Action Network has documented what amounts to, in our opinion, several instances of prosecutorial abuse and misuse of prosecutorial powers. The claims are as follows:
District Attorney Reed Walters in the case of the State of Louisiana vs. Mychal Bell in Jena, Louisiana, failed to prosecute the individuals who assaulted Robert Bailey Jr. This failure to prosecute represents, in our estimation, a dereliction of duty.
It is also our opinion that the District Attorney failed in his duties to pursue justice by refusing to depose, investigate and interview credible and relevant witnesses, apparently due to the race of these witnesses.
District Attorney Walters is seeking to retry Mychal Bell for juvenile conspiracy after losing the battle to convict Mychal of adult conspiracy. This represents a violation of the spirit of "Double Jeopardy", if not a violation of the letter of the law.
We decry the failure of District Attorney Walters to prosecute individual(s) who possessed and used a firearm, specifically a shot gun, to threaten the life and well being of certain individual(s) being prosecuted in the Jena, Louisiana. However, the District Attorney did prosecute the African-Americans who exercised their right to self defense by removing the weapon from the possession of the armed male, with original possession.
The Prosecutor from the beginning of this case, has seemingly employed less than ethical and just legal tactics in over zealous attempts to have Mychal Bell unjustly convicted. We at the National Action Network are calling on you Governor Blanco and the Louisiana State Board of Ethics to safeguard Mychal Bell's Constitutional Rights and to act as the arbiter of Justice, as well as to investigate District Attorney Reed Walters’ prosecutorial activities as they relate to the State of Louisiana vs. Mychal Bell. We are ultimately seeking to prevent this prosecutor from further engaging in these questionable legal maneuvers and activities.
The need for us as a nation of justice people to descend upon Jena, Louisiana, on September 20th could not be more evident than now, in light of these egregious prosecutorial actions. We will be there to stand with Mychal and his family for his sake and the sake of all of our civil and constitutional rights.
Please pass this info along and remember The Jena 6 on 9/20/2007 and until the injustice ends! For more information on this case visit: http://www.colorofchange.org/jena/

Can't Tell Me Nothing Mixtape - Kanye West

Hopefully you went out and bought Graduation last Tuesday but ChicaGoGetter is simply loving our friends at Imeem and most of all we are loving the Kanye West "Can't Tell Me Nothing" Mixtape.
The mix features Chicago's own Common, Lupe Fiasco, and GLC. Click on the link above to listen and look out for more ChicaGoGetter exclusive mixes!

Yeezy -What's Higher Than #1?

Chicago's own golden boy, The Louis Vuitton Don - Kan, was in the area this morning for an exclusive interview with Trey the Choklit Jock and Kendra G on Power 92's Morning Jump Off Show after a full week of promoting his new album Graduation and attempting to silence his critiques after a very public outburst at the MTV VMAs and claiming victory over 50 Cent in the race for chart topping album sales (yay Ye!)
Kanye says Graduation is, "A soundtrack to people's lives". Well, thanks for giving us another chart topping album!

When asked about his antics at the VMAs after receiving nominations but leaving without the coveted "moon man", he says, "I might have spazzed out a lil bit but at least I didn't do anything illegal."
The ChicaGoGetter Team was in the building for the Kanye West Foundation fundraiser at Chicago's House of Blues on August 24th where we had a sneak preview of several of the new album's hot tracks! Although the concert got off to a rocky start when the sound for the opening song "I Wonder" wasn't to Kanye's liking; Yeezy stopped everything but quickly got things back in order by starting out with a fan favorite "Diamonds From Sierra Leone". He treated the crowd to a large sampling of songs from College Drop Out and Late Registration and had guest appearances by Shaun Robinson (Access Hollywood) David Alan Grier (In Living Color) Mos Def and his lovely mom-dukes Donda West.

We've been trying to figure out which Graduation tracks we like the most but couldn't narrow down the list, so just GoGet the album!

Also, check out the clip below from this past Sunday's Primetime Emmy Awards Show where Kanye was a good sport while having a lil fun poked at him along with Rainn Wilson (NBC's The Office) while losing a rap battle over his lyrics to "Stronger".

Dear Summer.......Whats Next?

So why does it feel like Summer swooped in for a quick visit and is slowly but surely headed south or where ever it goes to chillax until next May? I'm not salty but I'm feeling a little rushed to take advantage of these last few days of tanks tops and sun dresses...but then again...Fall and Fall Fashion brings some welcome changes!

So whats up for the next few months?

In September we will:

-Take a deep dive into Fall Fashion and highlight a few of the Fall must haves

-Show you how to update your work wardrobe without spending an arm and a leg

-Snag a couple of Chicas to learn their GoGetting secrets

-Beef up the ChicaGoGetter Life and Style Imeem playlist..You pick the songs!

-Review some of the hottest up-and-coming Chicago restaurants

-Go behind the scenes at a Chica's bachelorette party at Flirty Girl Fitness

Fall is going to be great...if we have any thing to do with it!

XOXO

The ChicaGoGetter Team

Yes, We Loosened Up Our Buttons

ChicaGoGetter wanted to see what the buzz surrounding Flirty Girl Fitness was all about. We decided to check out the club and try our hand at FG's Sexy Hip Hop Dance class.
The all-women's fitness club is located at 1325 West Randolph, right in the West Loop. The facility, which opened during early-summer 2007, is stunning!

Chica's will enjoy the modern interior design and the not-so-subtle "pink" theme that flows throughout the building (kinda makes you feel girly).
The higlight of our visit was, ofcourse, the class. Our instructor did a great job of making everyone feel comfortable and excited about all the sexy, sultry and high-energy dancing that we were about to do!
We strutted, served up a little booty and even "dropped it like it's hot" a couple of times. By the end of the class we were sweating but truly satisfied.

We're going back again in October to try our hand at pole dancing (no shame in our Flirty Girl game) so stay tuned for more updates!

ChicaGoGetter - Usual Suspect

Just when you'd thought you'd seen all of her for 2007 with the B Day Tour, multiple videos, awards shows and after becoming the face of Emporio Armani Diamonds, like a true GoGetter, Beyonce Knowles (affectionately known to those in-the-know as "B") has joined forces with American Express for their ARE YOU A CARD MEMBER? Campaign.
The photo for the ad was shot by famed photog Annie Lebowitz,and can be seen in the October issue of Essence. Who's the woman in those Femme Fatale glasses on the left, Tina Knowles, of course!
GoChica!

Get Out and Get Connected...

Looking for a way to meet mature and motivated individuals like yourself? Looking for a way to give back to you community? Then you must be looking for the Metropolitan Board!

The Metropolitan Board (also affectionately referred to as the "MetroBoard" by its' members) is an auxiliary of the Chicago Urban League and a chapter of the National Urban League Young Professionals. Founded in 1983, the motivation behind the Metropolitan Board was to identify young African-American professionals and developing them into the future leaders of our community. Since its inception, the MetroBoard has grown to become a diverse organization of future leaders from all walks of life and place a high value in this.

The MetroBoard hosts monthly general body meetings as well as regular meetings led by committee heads to organize community service and social activities.

Want to get involved? Click here for more info and to check out the MetroBoard Calendar of Events!