Small Business Saturday is the perfect time to support black-owned brands. Created by American Express, this day signifies an effort to uplift and urge for support of small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (which, this year, falls on November 28). Here are a few brands to add to your holiday shopping lists this year—from culture and fashion to beauty and lifestyle:
#CultureTags
Created by Eunique Jones Gibson, the founder of Because of Them We Can, this game will be the perfect addition to the Christmas Eve festivities, whether you're at home with the fam or online sipping wine with loved ones via Zoom. You can play with the actual cards or even go virtual.
True Hair Care
The Jamaica-born founder of this brand, Karen Mitchell, has provided luxury extensions and wigs for the who's who of Hollywood and entertainment (Rihanna, Demi Moore, Beyonce... the list goes on and on) via True Indian Hair. She also offers a haircare line with central ingredients of argan oil and keratin that are awesome.
Uzo Art
Uzo Njoku serves boldness with her limited prints, coloring books, and apparel. Featuring striking depictions of black women and men, her work is a must-have for art lovers and enthusiasts who enjoy one-of-a-kind items.
Kimo Bentley Skincare
This natural skincare line offers products that meet diverse skincare needs and includes products for men. It also offers seasonal treats like the ginger, cranberry apple, and pumpkin spice moisture creams made with shea butter and essential oils.
The Sow Co.
Designed and curated by marketing executive and artist Erika Pope, this brand offers affirmation cards, wall art, home goods, and apparel in an effort to "exude strength, love, and passion."
The Black Home by Neffi Walker
Through The Black Home, Neffi Walker embraces the aesthetic of a powerful tone—black—and offers chic home goods, including candles, tableware, wallpaper, and interior design e-books.
BLK MKT Vintage
If you're into vintage and finding unique pieces that reflect the black experience, this is the spot for you. They have a brick-and-mortar in Brooklyn, N.Y., and you can shop a limited inventory of items available online including collectibles like rare books, magazines, dolls, lapel pins, hand-carved statues, and tapestries.
HH Bespoke Spirits
A black-owned liquor brand that's all about luxury and class? Yep, that's Harlem HH Bespoke Spirits. They offer gin, vodka, and rum in a bottle that's worthy of presentation. They even give you curated cocktail recipes. Cheers!
Emijaa Jaaemil
This brand's made-to-wear headwear and accessories will literally have you second-guessing going to the salon every week. Wraps, turbans, earrings in prints, materials, and variations that will turn heads—they've got you covered.
Propa Beauty
Satiny lipsticks are this brand's sweet spot, and the colors, especially for the fall and winter, are pigmented and sultry. With names like "Driven", "Fighter" and "Closer", you get a sense of empowerment. Oh, and the products are touted as vegan-friendly, cruelty-free and paraben-free.
The Spice Suite
Based in Washington, D.C. this brand's mantra, "Food is fashion," is embodied as an oasis of flavor and culture. The online shop offers spice boxes that include delish items like peach sriracha creamed honey and jalapeno mango balsamic as well as mixes for pancakes or cookies.
Voni Los Angeles
This brand uses microfiber synthetic leather and offers cruelty-free bags with 100% vegan materials. The chain-link details in the sleek collections provide a nice contrast to the colors, and there is a size for a variety of tastes.
Kendall Miles Designs
Luxury footwear with fur, buckles, jewels, and premium materials? Count us in. This brand has a shoe lover's dream, from flat embellished sandals and color-blocked sneakers to stilettos and calf boots.
Savant & Scholar
The unique, stylish eyewear is hand-crafted and you can rock these with or without a prescription. One particularly amazing and fabulous frame is named after Coretta Scott King and crafted in the cat-eye silhouette the famous matriarch was known to wear in her youth.
Triple O Polish
Gotta love having lots of options when it comes to nail polish and nailcare, and this brand gives you quite a few to choose from. The products are cruelty-free, and you can even get your gel fix.
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Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
Watch the full episode below:
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
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6 Tabletop Sex Positions That'll Unlock You & Bae's Most Primal Desires
Something I will never tire of is finding new ways to bring new layers to intimacy. A wall you use as momentum, a bathroom sink to help you keep your balance as he worships you on his knees, a shower that is usually for cleansing but evolves into a sacred ritual of shared intimacy.
My favorite kind of sex is the kind of sex that prioritizes pleasure and connection. So, technically and thankfully, I can say most of my sex life has been quite pleasurable throughout the years. But the memorable encounters for sure take the cake. One such encounter actually took place on a kitchen counter, and with it unleashed inhibitions in ways I never anticipated while unlocking levels to top-tier sex. And that, that involved a kitchen counter.
Why Kitchen Counter Sex Just Hits Different
What is it about having your hips pressed into the edge of a kitchen counter that lets out something so primal in you? The cool-to-the-touch feel of the countertop against exposed skin as you rise to meet him again and again. The urgency in every movement. The playfulness of repurposing an everyday space for something far more erotic. If you’re looking to bring that energy into your own sex life, keep reading for positions and tips to explore.
1. The Bounce House
They don’t call it Bounce House for nothing. In this position, the penetrating partner lies flat on their back on a sturdy table or counter while the receiving partner straddles them, knees bent and facing away. With their hands gripping the edge of the surface for support, the receiving partner slides or bounces at their own pace, owning the rhythm, the motion, and the view.
According to sex therapist Michael Aaron, Ph.D., who spoke with Women’s Health, the receiving partner placing their legs between their partner’s creates a tighter sensation, while staying fully astride allows for more bounce and range of motion. Either way, this one puts the receiver in full control, and you know we love a good woman on top position. Pleasure and power? Say less.
2. The Bicycle
Well, you know what they say about riding a bike. In the case of this table top position, it's the receiving partner who is the rider...but not in the way you think. While lying back on a sturdy surface or a table, the receiver will bring their knees toward their chest, bending them as if in a cycling motion. The penetrating partner stands at the edge of the surface, grabbing the receiver's ankles, and guides themselves inside, slowly so as to savor the moment. This angle puts everything on display for the penetrating partner while allowing for deep, connected thrusting for the receiver.
To take things up a notch , the receiving partner can touch themselves or flex their thighs to control the depth or the rhythm. Because, who says only one person gets to have control?
3. Counter Offer
How could we be at the table and not use it to eat? Enter: Counter Offer. In this oral-focused sex position, the receiving partner perches on the edge of a counter or table, lying back or sitting upright with legs parted or bent for comfort. The penetrating partner kneels or stands between their thighs, depending on the setup and the kind of attention they’re ready to give. No doubt, this one’s all about access and intention.
With the vulva front and center, the height makes it easier to maintain eye contact, use hands freely for things like breast play or incorporating toys, and take their time with every moan-inducing taste. And that’s on five, six, seven, ATE.
4. Standing Doggy
Standing Doggy is what happens when a classic like doggy style gets an upgrade. Instead of being on all fours on a bed, the receiving partner bends over a hard surface like a table or counter, keeping their hips aligned at its edge. The penetrating partner stands behind and enters from the back, using the angle to go deeper and create a strong, steady rhythm. This one offers maximum control and visual appeal, especially if the penetrating partner reaches around for a little extra clitoral stimulation throughout thrusting.
This angle can get intense quickly, so bonus points if the receiving partner engages their pelvic floor muscles or shifts their weight to adjust how the pressure hits, especially if your goal is to hit that G-spot sweet spot.
5. Top Shelf
Men's Healthcalls this one "Yourself on the Shelf," but we like to call it "Top Shelf" because it's giving full view, full grip, and climax potential that's hard to top. The receiving partner sits on the edge of a sturdy table or counter while the penetrating partner stands in front of them and slowly slides in, thrusting while keeping them in position. From there, legs can wrap around their waist, arms can encircle their back, and the closeness at peak ecstasy? Chef's kiss.
If you have the core strength, add lifting to the menu for the final strokes leading to orgasm. Otherwise, allow the surface to the heavy lifting and enjoy the pleasure.
6. The Thumper
What better way to remind yourself that you're both the snack and the entrée than with a little tableside service courtesy of The Thumper? This position has the receiving partner kneeling on a sturdy table or counter (keyword: sturdy), hands gripping the edge or braced in front for support. The penetrating partner can then either kneel behind them (if there's room for two), or stay anchored on the ground with both feet planted on the floor (similar to the previously mentioned Standing Doggy). It all depends on the mood.
Kneeling on the table offers just the right amount of leverage for deep, steady strokes. The receiving partner can play with tightness by either keeping their knees closer together for a snug grip, or open their knees wider to invite more access, depth, and stretch. The Thumper is versatile that way, and the most important thing? The receiver gets to be the main course. Yum.
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