Brownstone Magazine Site is LIVE

Hi Brownstone Readers, The day has finally come! Brownstone Magazine is now live. Please visit www.brownstonemagazine.com to view the new site. As a quick reminder, we will no longer be updating this blog. Check into Brownstone Magazine each month for more content and more fun. We hope that you enjoy Brownstone Magazine as much as you've enjoyed the blog. -- Brownstone Team

Spring Staycations

Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and mall mannequins are trading in their bulky wools for light florals. This could only mean one thing, spring is here! And with this change in weather brings the longing to drop your school books, take a vacation, and just get away. Of course realistically you can’t simply hop on a plane and get out of town. So, I’ve come up with a few “staycations” you can take in your own city that will make you feel like you’re miles away from home.

Take a Hike: Enjoying a hiking trail is one of the best ways to feel like you’re far away from the city when in reality you may only be a few minutes away from the hustle & bustle. Eaton Canyon in Pasadena is one such trail. About 20 miles outside of LA, this hidden treasure is filled with streams, brooks, and even leads to a waterfall! My friends and I visited this trail the other day and had the best time. Not only is it a good opportunity to exercise but the scenery is gorgeous. People bring picnic lunches to eat in front of the waterfall and there were even some guys who brought guitars to give an impromptu concert. With the greenery and the trickling sound of the waterfall you feel like you’re far away from home. And the best part? All of this is free!

Drive In Movies: Going to indoor movie theatres is such a normal thing to do. Why not switch it up, enjoy the warm weather, and save some money? Most Drive In Movie Theatres, such as the Van Buren Drive In Theatre in Riverside, CA that I used to frequent as a teen, show two movies for the price of one and allow you to watch from outside your car. My friends and I used to bring all kinds of snacks and goodies to munch on while we laid out on our blankets in the grass. Not only do you get more bang for your buck but you get to revel in the beautiful weather you’ve been waiting for all year.

Whale Watching: If you’re lucky enough to live by the coast, whale watching is a must do. For around 30 dollars you can take a 2.5 hour boat ride with a knowledgeable tour guide in the hopes of seeing Humpback whales! Even if you don’t spot any whales on your trip you’re guaranteed to see dolphins which are just as exciting. After your trip you can head home or bring your towel and bathing suit with you and make it a beach day.

Kayaking: Want to do something adventurous? Try kayaking. I was shocked to find out that at Kayaks In the Water in Long Beach, you can hit the water for only $8! Kayaking is a great activity to do with friends on your spring break or with your special someone on a date. It can be both strenuous and serene and the ideal activity to shake up your weekend. See, you don’t have to travel miles away to get a little taste of vacation! Have fun and enjoy the spring sunshine :)

-- Karissa Allen

Brownstone Team

Acne and Young African American Skin

A good black skin care regimen, do you have one? You're never too young to start taking care of your skin. As a young African American you’re taught to be aware of your looks. But when acne introduces itself it has a tendency to make you feel self-conscious. Have you looked into the mirror lately and not liked what you see all because you’ve got black heads and pimples all over your face? Did you know that changing your lifestyle could be your best acne treatment? Why? Because the results will be long-term and the changes that you make will be good for more than just your skin. Your overall physical health, mental health and skin health will benefit. Acne can actually be controlled by the foods you choose to eat. Some of the foods you might want to avoid: • Pizza • Soda – caffeinated and decaffeinated, regular and diet • Breads made with enriched refined or white flour, this includes muffins, cookies, rice cakes and crackers. • Processed foods with trans fatty acids and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils • Dairy products — that means your cheese, milk, ice cream and half-and-half • French fries and white potatoes • Coffee • Sugar Are you wondering what’s left for you to eat? Here are some suggestions: • Fish and Poultry, but not fried. Baked, grilled, broiled or lightly sautéed is the way to go. • Vegetables — baked, steamed or broiled. When we say vegetables were talking about healthy green ones, white potatoes don’t count. • Fruits — most fruits are good but we’re not including lemons, limes, grapefruits and oranges. • Herbal teas • Bread and cereals made from whole grain The secret to making these foods work is that if you have anywhere from 5 to 10 servings of vegetables and/or fruits every day, they’ll provide you with the fiber needed and give you plenty of antioxidants to nourish your skin. Instead of picking up a bag of chips or a can of soda, how about a salad, vegetable or fruit and a bottle of water? Using natural products and maintaining a healthy eating regimen is a great prescription for treating acne on young African American skin. -- Juliette Samuel Guest Blogger Author's Bio Juliette Samuel is a person who definitely knows beautiful when she sees it. Juliette has had a very eclectic career working in and around the beauty industry. She has worked as an instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She has also been a Professional Image Consultant. Currently Juliette works as a Skin Care Therapist, acting President and Chief Nose for NYRAJU Skin Care. As such she is in charge of product formulation and development of all scents produced for the line. Juliette is also a member of NAHA-The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, The Society of Cosmetic Chemist and is the Fragrance Editor for BellaOnline. What does that do for you? It keeps Juliette on her toes when it comes to the type of information that she’ll be able to share with you as readers of her blog or articles that she publishes on and off the web.

The Transition from the NCAA to the NFL and NBA

Hey, all you seniors in high school that are playing sports like basketball and football. Have you ever dreamed of playing in the NBA or NFL? You plan on going to college right? Well while you think about it, listen up! You have heard about the NCAA tournament right? Well, most seniors in college now will get a huge shocker after this recent lockout speculation. The NFL lockdown has also had a huge impact on the many people in the United states. This effects teens personally now because most people watch and enjoy football. If this continues and goes on like NFL.com says, the United States and many football fans are going to be very anger and disappointed. We are going to lose one of the most POPULAR sports in America. Imagine how people will feel about this and the way they will take it. Me personally, I disagree with this totally and completely. Most college students dream of becoming a football player. Now it can't happen because of the NFL lockdown. Players would like more money and a better career. Most NFL players have put all their time and effort into this sport, and it has to end like this I know they are agitated.


-- Anthony Darby,17 and Jerriel Xavier, 17
Guest Bloggers from the Urban Media Foundation

Preparing for a Natural Disaster

On March 11, 2011 a huge 9.0 earthquake struck Japan leaving them hopeless with no shelter nor warning. It lasted 33 minutes which triggered a tsunami because the earthquake occurred beneath the ocean. 8,649 people were confirmed dead and more than 21,911 people were missing because they were unprepared. Here are some tips to help prepare for a natural disaster.

Top Ten Tips

• Personal documents


• Lots of water


• Radio/batteries


• Flashlights


• Emergency kit


• Food and snacks (nonperishable)


• Blankets


• Emergency drill routine


• Emergency money


• Toiletries (hygiene items)

Special Guest writers from the Urban Media Foundation -- Lafaye Mooer, 16; Zzzahkia Burnley, 14; Aaron King, 18

The Wait is Over

It's been 2 long years in the making and we are finally proud to announce the launch of Brownstone Magazine on April 11, 2011. If you enjoy the blog, then you'll love the magazine! We're bringing you more original content, real interviews, new videos, and so much more! Stay tuned...the wait is over!



-- Tymika Morrison
Brownstone Team

A Lesson In Luck

What is luck? Are some people truly lucky or do they seem to always benefit from being in the right place at the right time? Today is St. Patrick’s Day and with all that talk about the “luck of the Irish,” it’s worth considering. Is it luck or something else that brings people their good fortune?

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Have you ever heard that phrase? It goes back to well before our time (5 A.D.) and was originally spoken by the Roman philosopher Seneca, but it is a phrase that still rings true today. Think about the “luck” you or some of your friends have experienced. Was it luck that got your friends free tickets to a concert, or was it a combination of their being present (preparation) when the tickets were being given away (opportunity)? If they hadn’t shown up to win the tickets, they would have had no chance of winning them, if you get my point.

But all that talk of luck aside, let’s look more closely at its components: preparation and opportunity. If you aren’t prepared, you will miss out on numerous opportunities. Think about it. Scholarships, college acceptance, job opportunities and the like are not things students get because they’re lucky. They are a result of hard work and dedication (preparation) and availability in the program or area they applied for (opportunity). While some people may consider themselves or others lucky, if they looked closely, they might find there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. Perhaps luck is simply the evidence of things unseen. Most people are humble and don’t want everyone to know how hard they’ve worked or what they’ve sacrificed to get where they are, so it appears that they “lucked up” when in fact they’ve been at it for years. Think about where you want to go in life and the best route to get you there. Chances are it will take skill, sacrifice and determination. In reaching your goals, which would you rather be, lucky or hardworking? The choice is yours.

-- Brandi Nichols

Brownstone Team