Stories For and About Living Your Truth
By Chanda Temple
There’s something about biting into a chocolate chip cookie that just soothes the soul.
It’s ooey. It’s gooey. And just oh, so good.
And if you are Emily Hall, a chocolate chip cookie is not only comfort food but also a recipe for new beginnings.
The Breakup Cookie is made with three types of chocolate, which gives it its decadent flavor. (Photo courtesy of The Breakup Cookie company.)
By Chanda Temple
Have you ever received news so good that it eft you weak in the knees? That happened to me today after receiving a text from a friend.
Her text: “I just saw this. Very cool to see you guys on this list.” She was referring to Birmingham News photojournalist Tamika Moore and me making the “50 Black Southern Belles in Lifestyle: African American Tastemakers of the South.” After reading her message, I was like, “Wait! What! Really?”
This cover image appeared in a http://www.BlackSouthernBelles.com Nov. 30, 2017 post about the 50 Black Southern Belles in Lifestyle: African American Tastemakers of the South.
Emanuel Bell, coach for the girls’ basketball team at Wenonah High School in Birmingham, Ala, always wears a suit to the playoff games. He’s won two straight state championships in the last two years. He’s now in the running for the best dressed high school basketball coach. Photo: By Chanda Temple
By Chanda Temple
Birmingham, Ala. – Emanuel Bell was dressed for battle when he entered the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex arena to coach the Wenonah High School Lady Dragons to victory in the state 5A basketball finals on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Forget jeans and Jordans. His combat attire was a pressed black suit, white bow tie and polished Stacy Adams.
Fans noticed Bell’s sharp look as soon as he stepped onto the court. And so did al.com, which has him listed as a contestant in its poll for the Best Dressed Basketball Coach in the Alabama high school basketball playoffs. Voting is open now through12 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Go here to vote.
The Lady Dragons are also in the running as Best Girls’ Basketball Team in a separate poll. Go here to vote.
Bell, who’s 60 years old and has been a coach for 21 years, said he’s honored by the recognition and hopes people will vote in both polls. Votes may be cast daily. Here’s a closer look at his dressing skills off the court.
One of the photos photographer Mary Margaret Chambliss took for my profile story in Style Blueprint in September 2014.
By Chanda Temple
When good things happen, you want to shout them from the rooftop.
In my case, I think I need a bullhorn. Here’s why:
Oprah recently kicked off her Life You Want Weekend Tour 2014 in Atlanta, Ga. It was phenomenal. Over two days, Oprah and her “Trailblazer” speakers planted seeds of encouragement and wisdom that will bear fruit for not only me but the thousands of folks catching her tour this fall. Be on the lookout for my personal post on this experience in the next week or so.
StyleBlueprint’s “FACES of Birmingham,’‘ profiles people doing amazing things in the community. I’m honored for the recognition and the story, which ran on Sept. 8, 2014.
I’m still in shock over this one. So honored to have been nominated and so thrilled to have been selected. All of the women on the list will be recognized during a luncheon on Oct. 22.
I work in public relations for a nonprofit organization, which was having a panel discussion on race, redemption and the civil rights movement to coincide with a day of reflection in Birmingham, Ala. When I asked one of the speakers which person they wanted to moderate the session, he said, “Well, I think you’d do a good job.”
I was speechless, yet honored to be considered as the moderator of a panel discussion with two Birmingham authors. In the end, everything worked out well. People said they enjoyed the panel, and one lady said she could tell I had read both books. My organization of the event and participation are both proof that you should never fear the unknown because it will lead to greater things.
I don’t take any of this for granted. I’m truly blessed for all that has happened. In fact, I think of William Murphy’s ‘It’s Working” song. It fits what’s growing for me and around me right now.
“I’ve got a seed in the ground, now I’m knowing and it’s showing,” is one of the lyrics. “This is my season for grace, for favor. This is my season to reap what I have sown.”
So, these are my top four “happy” moments to report right now. But there’s still more in the works. Stay tuned
Chanda Temple is a former reporter now working in public relations. She blogs about being better in business and more at http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. Follow her on Twitter at @chandatemple. Contact her at chandatemple@gmail.com.
By Chanda Temple
A trip to get my first pair of fake eyelashes reminded me to appreciate the small things in life:. Image by Alrunia via Flickr/Creative Commons.
When it’s your birthday, you feel like celebrating.
There’s cake, dinner with friends and presents.
But that wasn’t the case for Danyale Pickett, whose love of celebrating birthdays disappeared in 2009, much like the smoke from blown birthday candles.
By Chanda Temple
During the last episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show in May 2011, Oprah Winfrey encouraged the audience to ask themselves: “What’s your passion?”
Image from Webmaster Abril via Flickr/CreativeCommons.
When Oprah Winfrey ended The Oprah Winfrey Show in May 2011 after a 25-year run, I set the DVR to record the last episode. Once I played back the recording, I sat in awe of her messages and immediately started taking notes. I wanted a written memory of her quotes so that I could read them whenever I felt like it.
The other day, I ran across my notes and thought they’d be a good share for “Throwback Thursday.” Here they are: (more…)
Sherrod Shackelford, left, and LaVon Lewis founded their branding and marketing company, PDG, in a dorm room at Alabama A&M University, 14 years ago. Today, they are handling accounts for major companies. They are based in Atlanta, Ga. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
By Chanda Temple
Before you hand your business card to Sherrod Shackelford or LaVon Lewis, make sure the card is truly what you want to say about your company.
If not, be ready for their feedback because the two founders of PDG, a branding and marketing firm based in Atlanta, Ga., are not shy about sizing you and your card up and saying what they like and don’t like about it.
“I don’t know what you are selling,” one of them told an entrepreneur during a recent branding workshop, where attendees provided their business cards for critiques.
What does your brand say about you and your company?
Image by Rupert Ganzer via Flickr/CreativeCommons.
By Chanda Temple
I love a good conversation, especially when it’s packed with engaging or powerful tips to help make me better in my professional and personal life. Earlier this year, a friend suggested I check out her former college classmate’s weeklong teleseries on branding. I’m glad I did.
Ten minutes into the teleseries, Atlanta visual brand strategist and image coach Brandi Mitchell had me hooked on wanting to improve my branding game. Her information was bold and helpful, especially for setting goals for 2014. She left listeners feeling that whatever held them back in 2013, will no longer be a factor in 2014.
To get wherever you are going, she says, will take preparation and determination. “Don’t wait to be given the green light,” Brandi says. “Go create your own reality. She who brands it, believes it, builds it and becomes it, wins.’’
Impressive, right? Well, here are some of her tips for building a better you: