AND ALL THIS TIME I THOUGHT I WAS WATCHING THE #VMAs

Who knew? I thought I was tuning into the 2014 Video Music Awards, only to realize that I wasn't "sadly" but "pleasantly" mistaken to learn that I was actually tuned into the Beyonce' show, Yonce' show, Hey Mrs. Carter show, BeyHive show. However you refer to the #1 consummate living performer, she shut it all the way down. As I tweeted, if I wasn't bowing down before, I am now. I struggled throughout the entirety of the show to stay awake for Bey's performance. With the exception of a couple of performances, I wasn't overly impressed and as much as I wanted to call it a night, I endured. And then of course once Beyonce' shut it down, I was amped and couldn't go to sleep. I mean did you see it? Who could sleep after that? I couldn't If you didn't wanna stand to your feet and mimic her choreography, you surely wanted to get your sang on like we all do when in the shower and we think no one is within ear shot. Or maybe that's just me. And lets not forget the sexy gyrations which if single like me, left you feeling some kinda way because there are no "booty call" options (at the moment). I mean gracious and let's not forget that bejeweled Tom Ford bodysuit that gave me all my life. The heck of a smooch with Hubby Hov ...Those lips. And Blue Ivy!!! *Drops mic* ...Wait, Yonce' did that.

Fierce!

Red Carpet Ready

Need I say more?

What'd you think of Beyonce's finale? Was she worth the wait?

--

Follow me on IG/Twitter and Vine @bagladies.

--

Subscribe to the dish. Get on Bag Ladies exclusive list. 

New season lineup soon to come to the online airwaves of Bag Ladies Radio. In the meantime, OnDemand/iTunes are 24/7. Check out my fave show picks and access recent shows and the full archive at bagladiesradio.com/listen. Follow on Twitter and Instagram

www.instagram.com/bagladies

WEEKEND UPDATE: GIRL TALK, CHESS CHALLENGE IN DC AND THE GRAMMY'S

Pictured with Life Coach and Author, Demetria Lucas

Trying to stay warm by snapping selfies

Although enduring seriously cold temperatures in the DMV, nothing could keep me from joining my Color Comm gals this weekend. Color Comm is a organization for women of color in communications. Color Comm is great for many reasons one of which they host fab events. Friday was  brutally cold and after a week which included snow, ice and frigid temps that although common place surely in New York and Chicago, not so much in Washington, DC. I'm screaming, "out with ole man winter and in with spring." Although I wanted to do otherwise, I pulled myself together and hung out for an intimate private happy hour at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC and featuring Life Coach and Author, Demetria Lucas aka "A Belle In Brooklyn" most recently known for her BravoTV show, Blood, Sweat and Heels airing now. I've had Demetria on my show before as a live on-air guest (click here to listen OnDemand), yet I had never met Demetria personally so I made good on the opportunity to do so Friday after she offered up some good dish on everything from relationships, how to meet men and now being a reality tv star. It was Question and Answer as a lot of my buds had juicy questions of which Demetria responded with equally juicy answers. Girl talk never gets old even on a frigid Friday nite when all you really wanna do is bundle up under the covers and hibernate.

Pictured with my Kids

My kids dictated most of my weekend schedule which included a chess tournament hosted by Chess Challenge in DC which is a group promoting academic, social and leadership development amongst youth in DC via chess. Although I haven't a clue how to play chess, it doesn't matter because cheering my kids on in anything, gives me life. I love the efforts on behalf of Chess Challenge in DC and my kids coach who instructs them weekly at Clubhouse #14 of the Boys and Girls Club of America. My son won one game, my daughter zip but in my eyes they are winners nonetheless. We'll get 'em next time!

And I wouldn't be doing the weekend justice without providing you my top 5 Grammy moments. I spent most of my time on Twitter while watching and the commentary had me in tears. All jokes aside, the buzz about Jay Z and Beyonce performing together is why I watched although after they performed, I seriously considered changing the channel. But alas, I actually watched The Grammy's in it's entirety. MY TOP 5:

Robin Thicke performing with Chicago - Say what you will but I LOVE Chicago! Download some of their old stuff and don't forget to thank me later

Photo Cred: redcarpet-fashionawards.com 

Pink banging that Johanna Johnson red dress out on the red carpet - Her bawdy is sick and the fit and cut just looked amazing on her against the contrast of her blonde hair. 

Pharrell, Stevie Wonder and Daft Punk - I mean anything with Stevie Wonder is just …I would've preferred to hear from Stevie more. And did you notice he missed his cue at the start of the song?

Cyndi Lauper - My 9 yr. old daughter asking upon seeing her take the stage, "is that the girl who sang the song in Goonies?"

Jay Z and Beyonce - I mean their opening performance was one thing but was I not the only one who loved Jay's acknowledgment of God blessing him with his Mrs. Carter?

Leave me a comment and share your fave moments from last nite's Grammy's?

Weekend Update is back for the new year! What is it you ask? A theme, a weekly update during which I regale you with my weekend activities which includes what's happening and where you wanna be (or wish you were).
--
Click to Subscribe to #BagLadiesLIVE newsletter and don't miss all that's happening in 2014!

New season lineup soon to come to the online airwaves of Bag Ladies Radio. In the meantime, OnDemand/iTunes are 24/7. Check out my fave show picks and access recent shows and the full archive at bagladiesradio.com/listen.  Follow on Twitter and Instagram

Last Nite on Bag Ladies Radio OnDemand

Last nite's dish was so sexy, it had us prepping to Barry White which we cue'ed literally during the show. Last nite was an all new "Tales Of Singledom." A recurring segment ever growing in popularity. We kicked things up a notch and the dish got real sexy and a bit racy even!! It was so empowering to join forces with Candace Amos, Founder of CultureBlaze.com, NuNu Fairville who penned an article on CultureBlaze.com which spawned last nite's topic of dish and Shanel of The Sex CEO to lend a voice to sex (yes, I said it), a topic we don't dish on often but a topic that is nonetheless relevant to the reality of life, living and being a woman. It's reality!

We also went in finally regarding Beyonce's chop. Myself and my Co-host's, Trina Small and Danielle Gray weighed in and shared our thoughts as a show-opener. My fave quote from last nite per my Co-host, Danielle Gray "If she could, Jesus would come down from heaven and pluck out her mane." LOL! 
Press play to listen OnDemand:

Discover Women Internet Radio with Erin Martin on BlogTalkRadio

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For #BagLadiesLIVE segments, showtimes and more, visit www.bagladiesradio.com. Click to follow me on IG and Twitter @ bagladies.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Catch up on the dish you missed by going to www.bagladiesradio.com/listen. Scroll down to OnDemand and press play.

First Oprah's Hair, Now Beyonce's Hair!!!!

And here I thought this week would be known ...The week that was Oprah and her fabulous hair. How naive of me cause this latest stunt chop by Beyonce' has left most saying Oprah who? Of course rumors abound as to whether the pics are real or if as did Oprah, Beyonce' is sporting a wig. Personally, it looks real to me and she was waaaaaay past due for a change. I literally just spoke on air with guest and Celebrity Natural Hairstylist, Felicia Leatherwood to being tempted myself to chop, chop again on last nite's #BagLadiesLIVE before this news even broke and this stunt chop is tempting me that much more. But a few questions come to mind (feel free to answer):

• What will the millions of women who invested in weaves in an effort to mimic her tresses now do?
• How many will follow Beyonce's lead and run to the hills their stylists for a chop?
• Will Jay hold a press conference to profess his feelings on her new look?
• How will Beyonce' supplement her shows minus the wind machine and her tresses blowing feverishly in the fake wind?

Just curious is all. What do you think about the look? Would you rock it?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For #BagLadiesLIVE segments, showtimes and more, visit www.bagladiesradio.com. Click to follow me on IG and Twitter @ bagladies.

Catch up on the dish you missed by going to www.bagladiesradio.com/listen. Scroll down to OnDemand and press play.

We Got Ours ...You Got Yours?

The result of the fashion industry having rallied around Haiti, is a nation-wide effort to raise monies for the victims w/ proceeds from the "Fashion For Haiti" tee going to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. The campaign was organized by the The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), which appointed Beyonce as the face of the limited edition tee, and efforts are endorsed by fashion leaders such as Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Donna Karan, Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta.

The "Fashion For Haiti" logo was designed by Peter Arnell. Peter Arnell designed another tee per a previous campaign also organized by the CFDA to lend support following 9/11. The black and lime green logo features the tag line "Hope Heal Heal Haiti" underneath a block design of "To Haiti With Love," with a map of the nation standing in for the word "Haiti". The sleeve will be marked with the "Fashion for Haiti" slogan and the inside collar will have "CFDA" printed on it.

The tee is manufactured by Theory and is now available for men and women at retailers nationwide or online at http://www.cfda.com/. We feel much the same as you in that how can we ever do enough for the victims of this tragedy but we can lend support. It's the least we can do and for just 25 bucks. We got ours ...so the question is, you got yours?

-- Lady Erin

Check Bag Ladies Reality Radio, every Tuesday at 7:30p EST only on http://www.bagladiesradio.com/

It's fashion at your fingertips!!

It's time to get Minx'd! You want twinkle toes like Beyonce' or pinstripe fingernails like Fergie, well Minx is for you. A flexible film that's applied to the nail bed like a sticker and heated, Minx nail fashion, a new and glamorous way to extend fashion to your fingertips. Bag Ladies first became interested after reading about the interview Beyonce' did with Glamour UK during which she boasted about wearing Jay-Z on her fingertips. And Bag Ladies went, huh? After reaching out to the folks at Minx, we found out just how popular this technique is in Hollywood and how every celeb from Beyonce' to Rihanna to Christina Aguilerra are sporting this new look.

Minx is all over the red carpet, in videos and on the scene being sported by all the celebs. Bag Ladies being the celebs that we are certainly weren't about to be outdone simply because we aren't on the West Coast so I paid a visit to Natasha Ray's Ms. Dainty's Mobile Spa/Nail Louge which is the first Washington, DC salon to offer Minx.

Natasha does Minx parties and other exclusive, promotional events. I had the pleasure of meeting Natasha and hearing the story of how she met Master Minx, Janice Jordan who is one of the founders/owners of Minx, Inc. and how she fell in love with the technique. I loved Minx from the first moment I laid my eyes on the available styles and designs. It took me a few minutes to decide between the animal print design which was hot or the metallics but I opted for a magenta design and as Natasha advised, I did a bit of a contrast by applying a black and white design to my one pinky ...very chic! As Natasha says, "the simple application process allows clients to be glammed up in half the time." And this Bag Lady guarantees that once you've been Minx'd, you will never go back to a regular manicure again. However, as simple as the process is, it absolutely can't be done by just anyone. You need someone like Natasha Ray who has the skill and expertise to make you look fab. You leave her not being able to take your eyes off yourself nor will anyone else.

You can take your pick of sparkly metallics, personalized graphics and photo-quality designs that can be customized to feature your fave colors, photos or designs.

Visit Bag Ladies Radio OnDemand and check-out Bag Ladies interview with Natasha during which she discusses the Minx technique and why it's so popular and why her clients love it so. If in the Washington, DC area, don't go anywhere else to get Minx'd ...check out Natasha online at http://www.msdainty.com/ and contact her via email at msdaintynaillounge@gmail.com

To find a salon near you, check out http://www.minxnails.com/Minx-Salon-Spa-Finder.asp

Now get Minx'd!

-- Lady Erin

Our Providers BAG ...

Bag Ladies are definitely disappointed in our network, blogtalk and the technical difficulties that occurred yesterday and tarnished an otherwise great show. Thank you to all of those who tuned in and stuck it out. We have great shows to follow but it was such a pleasure chatting with Kelley Styring about what the style of a woman's purse and the contents of it says about her and how companies took that which she was able to obtain per her study and implement strategies to better target us as consumers. When you consider all that you carry around in your own handbag, it was hilarious listening to Kelley's stories about that which she came across to include weapons, sex toys and more!! And how she maintained her composure is just unbelievable. How many of you would give anything to be a fly on the wall? Kelley was great and Bag Ladies definitely looks forward to having her on again to discuss the release of her upcoming book, In Your Car which is all about in Kelley's words, the junk in your trunk. I am cracking up even as I type this. But In Your Car takes the same concept/study of In Your Purse but it speaks to that which we haul around in our vehicles and what it all means. So Bag Ladies can't wait for the release of that and what her findings yield. I will say that one thing that this Bag Lady walked away with post-show is a ton of motivation to finally clean out my Marc Jacobs hobo which for those of you that tuned in, no doubt know that a hobo being the bottomless, pocketless pit that it is, implies that I am a woman with no structure and no organization in my life. But Kelley quickly addressed that by saying basically that's a load of crap and in a split second, I was redeemed. But I am going to challenge myself to clean out my purse which I haven't done since before I purchased this bag. I wonder how long it will take to rummage and sift through everything and determine what stays and what goes which I'm sure will be difficult in and of itself b/c as Kelley's book specifies, your purse is at once, a financial center, a medicine cabinet, a pharmacy, a cosmetic counter, a communications hub, a safe deposit box, and a stash for keepsakes!! Perhaps I will post a before pic and our blog followers can in fact follow me through the process.

Not only did Kelley join Bag Ladies but we also had the pleasure of being joined by Tiffany Warner, entertainment and celeb gossip columnist for the LA Examiner as well as reporter and red carpet staple. Oh, and she's also a gossip addict. Tiffany took over Bag Ladies, What's Poppin with Paparazzi segment and provided us all the juice on your fave celebs to include the naked pics of Rihanna circulating all over the place, the fact that a potential Black James Bond is being sought for an upcoming film, Russell Simmons touching Mother's Day message to Kimora, Nick Cannon's response to Eminem about backing up off his wife Mariah and Beyonce turning her apartment into an entire closet!!! Beyonce revealed to Glamour UK that b/c she receives bags upon bags of free clothes on a regular, she requires a BIG closet so she turned her entire apartment into one and Bag Ladies is gonna figure out a way to sneak a peek into that thang. So stay tuned.

And we have more to come to include a review of the Cadillac CTS4, a sip of E&J Gallo, New Amsterdam Straight Gin and more ...But we leave you with Miz Adams, Words of Wisdom and Madame Myra's Top 10 from yesterday's show:

Today’s Words of Wisdom tackle Strong Shoulders

We need those shoulders to lug around that stylish HOBO bag. But what are you really lugging around in that bag?
Are there heavy problems weighing your shoulders down?
I have a girlfriend whose purse was so full of junk that it looked more like a trash bag than a handbag. Most of the stuff she kept inside was old and useless—she had empty mint tins, gum wrappers, used pens, empty lip gloss tubes, just straight up junk. More and more junk accumulated in her purse until it became so heavy that the purse made her shoulders ache.
Sometimes in our lives we hold on to worries and stress. Just like the unnecessary junk in my girlfriends purse, we let troubles and burdens weigh us down until it hurts. Well, Miz Adams is here to tell you – it’s time to clean it alllll out! Clean that junk from your purse, get rid of those fake friends, stop honing over the that sorry dude that dumped you last year. CLEAN THAT PURSE OUT and remember God will never give you more than you can bare.
So How strong are your shoulders? And what’s in that purse that you know you need to throw way!

Madame Myra's Top 10

1. Miniature Swiss Army Knife, This classic pocket knife can perform a wide variety of tasks. With scissors, knife and a file, this is the perfect tool for wrapping a gift in the back of a taxi when you're running late. You won't be able to slice a sandwich in half with it, but you can open boxes, fix a broken nail, or cut a flower out of the garden.

2. Pocket size tape measure, This baby has come in handy at many a garage sale, department store, and gallery. No more passing on that perfect print, vintage wing backed chair or lampshade because you're not sure about the size. A tape measure also saves the day at the Christmas tree lot when that tree that looks five feet turns out to be seven feet tall instead.

3. Mini Mag-Lite flashlight, Lost somewhere, trying to find an address on some God forsaken mail box? Dropped a contact? No problem if you have your little beacon of light handy. One of the survivors of the New York City Twin Towers disaster made it out of the second tower because he had a flashlight in his desk drawer. While the odds are slim you'll ever need to find your way out a burning building with no lights, isn't it nice to know you'll always have light with you?

4. Pocket Corkscrew, You'd be amazed how that little tool can come in handy at parties, on the beach or at a picnic. The screw can be used to tear things open and the notched level will open bottles.

5. Two pens, Always carry two pens- one of them a keeper, the other one, a "give away". Why two, you ask? Well, that's simple. One for you and a spare for that time in the Starbucks when the Adonis you've been watching asks you if you have one he can borrow.

6. A lighter, and a book of matches It doesn't matter if you smoke or not. There's a great selection of lighters out there that will attract attention at a barbecue. Mankind has survived in large part because of fire, and if you ever have to set anything on fire, you'll be ready!

7. A pocket mirror, Your best friend may or may not tell you that you have a piece of spinach stuck on your front tooth, but a pocket mirror will. If you need to touch up your lipstick on the run, that little mirror in your Prada bag could save the day.

8. A note pad, Small spiral notebooks have been around since I was in grammar school (that was a long time ago). Keep one of those little pads handy for taking notes and phone numbers or giving away directions or a shopping list. Believe it or not, the entire world does not carry a Palm Pilot or Blackberry. But everyone needs to carry away information from a conversation now and then. You can write down what they need, tear of the page and slip it into someones pocket in under a minute. Unlike the volume of crap that ends up in your Blackberry, a single piece of paper stands out.

9. A decent size wallet, No matter how sophisticated your phone or laptop may be, there will always be a need for a wallet. This is where your "papers" go, along with and emergency twenty dollar bill, a bandage, and a stick of gum. Sophisticated fold over wallets like those from Luis Vuitton or sturdy little zipper wallets from Coach are the best out there for keeping those little things in there place.

10. Aspirin, Last but not least, is the wonder drug of the twentieth century, Aspirin. When doctors are asked what the one medicine is they would choose to take with them to a deserted island, the mighty Bayer aspirin is their number one choice. Once again, it doesn't matter if you use it or not. Many a headache or toothache can be cured by having a few of those travel packs lying around at the bottom of your purse.


-- Lady Erin