Friday, April 27, 2012

MMTS - Everything You Need To Know!

Hey Everyone!!

As you know, we've been doing a MMTS Series on our blog for the past couple weeks to let you all know who will be at our tradeshow!  Since this it's the day before this event, I figured, why not talk about EVERYONE who will be there and also give you all a better idea of what to expect =)

Before talking about the event itself, I think it's necessary for you all to know WHY we (Terrence - the founder and CEO of Gospel Unplugged and myself) decided to have such an event.

Gospel Unplugged is typically known for working with Christian Indie Artists and in the beginning of the company's journey, this was our main focus.  However, as time went on, God began to expand this focus to Christian lifestyle.  The idea was very new and we brainstormed to find a way to really provide a platform for anyone who is a Christian and is unplugging the gospel in a huge way - not just in the music industry.  And then, this blog was birthed! This became a forum to talk about things that Christians are doing and also to discuss things that we all encounter on a regular basis - the music we listen to, the places we go to eat, the clothes we wear, etc.. 
Now, recently, we decided that we wanted to host an event that speaks to everything that our blog represents, and we came up with this trade show idea!!

The purpose of this event is to expose and show support to KINGDOM BUSINESSES! We understand that where we invest/spend our money mirrors what we value, so why not sew money into entrepreneurs who are enhanching the Kingdom and unplugging the gosple in different ways?

With ALL OF THAT being said, we encourage you all to stop in at the trade show THIS SATURDAY, 4/28.  Doors open at 5pm and the event ends at 9pm.  We'll have TEN vendors!! THAT'S RIGHT! TEN!! You'll have LOTS to choose from so be sure to come ready to shop! Toward the latter part of the night, we'll have performances by Matt T., Dave TV in HD, and Melissa Dawn and the entire event will be hosted by Marcus Aaron Pass of TRU Praise

FOOD

We made sure to only have ONE food vendor at this event because her food is JUST THAT GOOD! She's an amazing person, inside and out, and we really wanted to make sure that you all got to know her at this event!


 For those who aren't familiar with Kim Walker then you NEED to be at the event so that you can taste some of the BEST          brownies IN THE WORLD! I kid you not, her brownies are DEEELICIOUS, but it doesn't stop there.  Kim is a chef and EVERYTHING she puts her hands to in the kitchen, comes out tasting AMAZING!




                                              JEWELRY

Now, for those of you who don't know, since I cut my hair (just about 2 months ago), I've become a JEWELRY JUNKIE! lol - I just LOVE LOVE LOVE jewelry so I'm REALLY excited for you all to see all the goodies that these companies have to offer! PS: Ladies will have a field day, Fellas - Mother's Day is around the corner...I'm just saying lol =)


Seeking Zion Creative Consults - This necklace was the FIRST piece of jewelry that I wore after I cut my hair! (I literally cut my hair the same day as I took this photo!) and it's a peice that I've grown to LOOOVE!

What I love about this company is their exclusivity! Their peices are SO unique and they always have new, fun, and creative peices!
C'est La Vie Boutique is your one-stop shopping experience for all of your fashion accessory needs. They carry exclusive chic jewelry, handbags, scarves, hats and sunglasses for any, and every, occasion.  I can NOT wait to browse through all of their products!
Now, I have yet to meet the lovely Dencia, owner and creator of D-Lightfully Sweet N Crafty, but I have spoke to her quite a number of times and have looked through her facebook company page, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE her peices.  Most of them fit perfectly with the color-blocking trend that's big this spring (and that I personally love! lol), just like the earrings to the left.  Her company primarily focuses on earrings BUT they just released their first necklace! I don't know about you, but I definitely plan on stopping by her booth at the trade show!


B. Nichole! There is really SO much that I can say about her.  She is an amazing person and she is a GO HARD for her passion and I truly admire her for that.  She just recently started her company, and it's been booming from the beginning! She hand makes all sorts of various necklaces, bracelets, and anklets.  She uses beads, glass stones, and other materials to create her peices.  The ones to the right are one of my favorite that I have from her.  Their called "infinity bracelets" and I wear them SOOO often! They go with anything and are SOO cute!


CLOTHING
So, clothing is something that we deal with every day! What to wear to go to work, school, church, out to hang out with friend - EVERY WHERE and EVERY DAY! lol.  So, whey not clothe yourself with shirts and other items that come from those who are serving the Kingdom! Aracely of "let go let God" and Al from "Freedom by Al" both have LOTS of different t-shirt styles to choose from and both of their clothing is can be worn by both men and women!


HAIR PRODUCTS

This lovely young lady, Kensha Clarke, is first and foremost, a woman of God! I admire her vigor for Christ so much! God has definitely anointed her with healing hands which is why she decided to created her own HAIR SALON! In addition, she has a line of products called, "Touch of Healing" that have GREAT reviews! I've heard testimonies from people who were having issues with their hair growing and after seeing her a couple of times and using her home made all natural hair products, they saw tremendous results!


MINI CONCERT

 As I mentioned above, Gospel Unplugged started off as a company that focused on Christian Indie artists SO, we couldn't have an event as big as this one, without allowing you all to be blessed by some AMAZINGLY talented young Christian artists who are doing their thing for Christ!

As many may know, in February, we had an event entitled "The Love Experience" where we gathered some artists and they sang love songs and tied it in to what love means to them.  It was an awesome event and since love is something that can be shared ALL YEAR ROUND, and since a lot of the artists present were such a big hit, we decided to give you all a mini encore!

We'll be having Dave TV in HD doing a medley of songs all arounding the hit "Is This Love" by Bob Marley.  We'll also have Matt T. who will be gracing us with his beautiful voice doing a new rendention of "Love" by Musiq Soulchild.  And lastly we'll have Melissa Dawn doing old and new original songs.  If you are not familiar with these artists, then please be sure to come through and get to know them!

Last but not least, we are EXCITED to inform you all that our Mix & Mingle Trade Show will be hosted by Marcus Aaron Pass of T.R.U Praise and YES, he will be selling hard copies of their newly released album, "Journey"!  If you haven't heard this album yet, then you are in for a TREAT!! I have been listening to it, the entire album, all 12 songs, AT LEAST once a day since it was released on Tuesday, 4/24! It is SO uplifting and it's filled with GREAT music.


Now, those of you who did not plan on coming to this event, or were on the fence about it, make the decision to come! You'll have NOTHING to lose! You get ALL OF THIS for ONLY $5! You're definitely in for a treat and when you come, make sure to tap me and say hey! I look forward to seeing you ALL there!!

PS: Invite a friend too! =)




Tuesday, April 24, 2012

TRUsday Has Come!

If you are from the Tri-State are and you hear the phrases "choose Christ", "fix my heart" or "glad that I'm saved", only one group comes to mind, and that's TRU Praise. The group out of Brooklyn, NY has finally put out their long anticipated project entitled 'Journey'. Since lead singer, Marcus Pass, put the group together in 2006, they have been on their grind working on their unique, eclectic sound. Since their inception, TRU Praise has managed to diversify Christian music and make it appealing to all listeners, whether they sing in a church, concert hall, or on a college campus. The group is made up of 13 individuals that are fun and creative in their own right, so it's very clear why TRU Praise functions musically the way that they do. This group, make up of different types of people, creates one great cohesive unit and it's evident on their new album 'Journey'.

From the intro 'Journey Ends' they come at you with an awesome composition highlighting every piece in the band that creates their unique sound. The second track 'Great Creator' which was on their demo 'Let The Journey Begin', starts off the lyrically and musically infused album with a song that talks about God, our creator, being great and how we will forever praise him. Next is 'Greater Than'.  This song starts off with the organ played by Kevin Powell and it definitely captures ones attention. The way it's synced so well with the vocals is just another great example of this "TRUsound" that is being demonstrated. This track features none other than Doobie Powell whose vocal ability is just amazing; it really is a great addition.

The standout track on this album is "Fix My Heart". The beeps of the heart machine that opens the track makes you question what's happening. The edgy-ness of the guitar as it comes in with the vocals makes it sound like something you would hear in an 80's rock tune. My favorite part of this track is when the acoustic guitar comes in and it sounds peaceful and serene, and the heaviness of the songs just picks up with the electrical guitar. Apart from being great musically, the message that this song implies is that at any moment we can call God to fix our hearts despite our emotions and feelings.

My favorite song on this album is "Wait on God" featuring Travis Greene. This song is truly encouraging. With guitars and bass in the background and Marcus Pass at the helm of lead vocals, who wrote this song while sitting in a park taking guitar lessons, this song is one that makes you reflect and reminds us to just continue to just be patient, trust God, and wait on Him. If you live in New York City or have been on a MTA Subway train, you will appreciate how the song starts.




Overall, this album is really amazing. TRU Praise sticks to their sound. What you get from them live is what you got from them in this project. The high energy of what they do was not tainted due to restriction of space in a studio. If you are fan of great music, a new Christian, or you just need encouragement in your daily walk, this album is a must have! All 12 tracks truly take you on a journey that you won't forget and that you will want to keep going on. If you want a copy of the album, feel free to unplug the gospel and purchase it on iTunes at, Journey on iTunes.

If you want more information on TRU Praise here is where you can find them:
twitter.com/TRUPraise
facebook.com/TRUPraise
www.TRUPraisemusic.com

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

MMTS: BNichole Accessories



Hey Everyone!!!! =D


I'm really excited about this post because it's by someone who I know and LOVE - Bridgette!


Bridgette has her own line of accessorries and what's most unique is that their made out of all different kinds of beads and stones and they're all just SOOOO amazingly gorgeous! BUT, enough about what I have to say about her, it's time to read about her =)


GU: What/who inspired you to start this business?


Bridgette: I have been designing since I was a little girl. I used to paint my great grandmothers hand ceramics & assist with beading her quilts and bracelets so I have always had a passion for creative work & detail. I always knew I would be in this line of work & it just so happened to be the perfect time for me share my gifts and love for jewelry which is so delicate, feminine & detailed with the world.


GU: What is your favorite product amongst the ones that you have made?


Bridgette: My favorite product has to be the Dynamic Wealth anklet & bracelet set. I absolutely love the colors I used which are turquoise & gold attached with a gold clasp and gold brass tassel;perfect for any occasion. Especially a nice gift set. It is a delicate yet sophisticated piece that any woman would love to stand out in.



GU: Did you always want to start your own business/company?


Bridgette: Yes, absolutely! I always wanted to work for myself, I mean who doesn't? Haha. I just have a vision and passion for customer service, retail, and accessories. I always wanted to own a boutique filled with jewels & clothes and who is to say that won't happen? For now I know seeing the birth of my baby and it's growth is enough for me. I amEver so grateful to share my gifts with others who appreciate each creative hand made design and know that we share something in common; the love for jewelry.


GU: What advice can you give other people who would like to start their own company?


Bridgette: Faith without work is dead. Simple. You have to trust and believe in yourself & the Lord. You have to know your pros and cons most & foremost. A friend told me to sit down and be honest with myself during my SWAT Analysis and everyday I refer to it whether I add or reformat And it is extremely helpful. Always go with your first judgement and do not listen to everyone's opinions for they are not always the right one or the God one. :)


GU: Where can people find more information about your company?


Bridgette: People can like the Facebook page where I post certain events and BNichole Accessories updates. Also follow me on instagram (_bnichole) or simply stop by the showroom (236 5th Ave NY,NY 10001) and we have a meet and greet. My site is etsy.com/shop/bnicholeaccessories)


GU: Is there anything else that you'd like to share?


Bridgette: Always keep good relationships, speak your mind, never settle, trust your gut feelings, believe in your feelings, stay faithful, and remember your happiness is what's most important at the end of your days. You want the Lord to say "God Job" and do it all again the next day.


I was actually able to stop by Bridgette's show room not too long ago and I was completely blown away. Her products are amazing and her drive is super inspiring!


Remember, if you want to purchase any of Bridgette's jewelry, she'll be at our Mix & Mingle Trade Show on Saturday, 4/28! See you all there!! =)



Thursday, April 12, 2012

Seersucker Season is Upon Us [Gents]

I’m a huge fan of the Seersucker. I thought I just about seen even things that can be done with Seersucker done. Then comes Betabrand who has now fabricated seersucker that goes sideways instead of up-and-down. These are quite possibly the coolest looking warm-weather pants and hoodie I’ve seen! Their secret is a patented ThermoSucka cooling technology. I love the hoodie because it is a light cool fabric that will allow you to rock the layered look on a cool summer day or night. Grab one of these pieces for your summer style arsenal. 


BLUE SEERSUCKER HOODIE



ASH-GRAY SEERSUCKER HOODIE













Photo credit (Betabrand)


They’ve only made just a limited batch, so order yours today. Guys you will definitely get some good complements when you wear any of these pieces styled right. 

MMTS: Destined For Beauty Hair Salon & Products


It's me again with another feature about a vendor who will be part of our Mix & Mingle Trade Show on April 28th, 2012!



So, for all of you lovely ladies who have been looking for a saved, Christian beautician - look no further!! I now introduce you to Kensha Clarke!




Kensha is a woman of God who has a deep passion for bringing beauty and health to ALL hair types! Here's what Kensha had to say about her products!


GU: What/who inspired you to start this business?


Kensha: God is the one who inspired me to start this ministry/business.


GU: What is your favorite product amongst the ones that you have made?


Kensha: My favorite products that I made is my coconut and avocado hot oil treatment and my cholesterol conditioner cream treatment.



GU: Did you always want to start your own business/company?

Kensha: No, I didnt think that I would have ever start my own business but God had a different plan for my life.


GU: What advice can you give other people who would like to start their own company?


Kensha: I will advice them to be patient in every step of the way and you must have a passion and a love for what you do when starting your business, because people have to see that you are truly in love with what you were called to do and do it to your best ability at all time, always give a 110%


GU: Where can people find more information about your company?


Kensha: This is a working progress for me, but very soon my business will be on Facebook, and Google.


Here's a personal message that Kensha wanted to send to all of you!


My name is Kensha Clarke and I'm the business owner of Destined For Beauty Hair Salon and I just released my 'Touch of Healing' hair products. These products are homemade and they are made with all natural and herbal ingredients that will bring health to any type of hair. I LOVE and have a great passion for what God has called me to do. I'm not like every other hairstylist out there and what sets me apart is that I'm an anointed hairstylist called to bring pure beauty to all women of all ages. Even though I run a business, money doesn't make me happy; hearing the stories about how people's lives were change through destined for beauty hair salon beats all the money in the world!



Here are some other favorites! On the left is the Cholesterol Hair Cream Treatment and the right is the Rosemary Coconut Treatment

I don't know about y'all, but her products are something I definitely can't wait to take a look at. There's nothing like quality hair products, but there's an even greater benefit when it comes from someone who knows that creating these products, is their calling.


You ALL can meet Kensha AND learn more about her business and the products she offers on 4/28 at our Mix & Mingle Trade Show! See you ALL there!!



Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Seersucker Season is upon Us [Ladies]

Without a doubt one of my favorite parts of Spring/Summer season is seeing ladies in their floral spring/summer dresses. Betabrand has added a twist to the spring/summer dress like only they can. Betabrand has a unique design style all their own and I really like this new take on the summer dress. They have also added a more laid back hoodie option. They have brought a popular Spring & Summer fabric Seersucker (one of my favorite fabrics) to the Summer dress and has given you ladies a summer hoodie option in the same material for those cool summer nights. What I like most about these items is the on trend details with accents trimming, contrast lining, and bright colors. 


Yellow Seersucker Wrap Dress






















Photo credit (BetaBrand)