By Rebecca Brody, Certified Empowerment Coach
Q: How do you balance the love and financial aspect in a relationship? My husband and I know we need to support each other, and we are both working toward the same thing, but there is financial stress and it is affecting the relationship. We are both hardworking individuals, and we love each other, but the financial stress is causing problems. How do we balance love and finance?
A: Balancing love and money can lead to stress and this in turn can lead to strife in the relationship. The key here is to not only have a clear financial end goal, which it sounds like you both have, but to sit down and decide what is the best route to reach that goal. The journey that you two take to reach your goals is just as important as the goal itself. You are individuals and your perspectives and values are uniquely different. The first step is to understand your personal relationship with money and when that relationship was originally created. Think back to the first experience you realized that money was worth something. Ask your husband to do the same. How did that experience shape your current relationship with money? If you understand how you and your husband approach money, you can take the steps to create a path toward your shared financial goal that plays on both of your strengths. The second step is to create short term goals that can be accomplished each week, and to acknowledge their completion. The third step is to check in with each other and make sure that you are on the same page. This reconnection will not only move you toward your financial goal, but intern will solidify your loving relationship.
Q: I am newly single and ready to get back in the dating scene, but I feel like I've forgotten how to flirt. I went out with some girlfriends the other night and proceeded to stare down this guy for five minutes straight. He began squirming and sinking lower into his seat. Eventually he got up and left. Help!
A: The art of flirting takes many forms, and the glance is a wonderful method of communication. Eyeballing someone with a death stare is overpowering and intimidating. In order to create a desirable flirtatious eye dance, first you want to glance at the intended person. You want to get their attention, and once you have it give a slight smile that says I acknowledge your presence and then turn your attention back to your friends. Wait a moment and then glance again. Once you make eye contact, try giving a warm or coy smile and then turn your attention once more to your friends. This is known as baiting, and it gives you the opportunity to read the other person and their response to your warm and open invitation. Lastly, you want to make eye contact and hold it for a longer time, to confirm that you are both interested. If he holds eye contact with you, give him a big welcoming smile. You can now proceed to move forward and introduce yourself or wait for him to come to you.
Before the '90s, it was rare for a black woman to be signed to a major endorsement contract in the field of beauty. These women are pioneers of style who have parlayed their grace and fame into dollars. We salute this diverse array of gorgeous women who have taken the politic of beauty all the way to the bank.
Photo 2 Credit: Monica A. Washington, AOL
Rebecca Brody is currently a Life Empowerment coach in New York City. Her area of expertise is in relationship coaching. She is a graduate of Vassar and Ipec, and has trained with the Relationship Coaching Institute. She is ICF certified, and has been studying social interaction, relationships and coupling for over a decade. To work with Coach Brody contact Brody@theluvcoach.com, or go to www.theluvcoach.com
Famous Black Couples
- Famous Black Couples
12 Usher & Tameka Raymond
Certainly marriage is not always a walk in the park, but for Usher Raymond and Tameka Foster, there was high drama before the wedding. Yet, against the odds, the May-December relationship,who wed in August 2007 (he 29,she 36) seems to show no signs of fatigue. Last November, they welcomed their son, Usher Raymond V into the world. (Photo by Johnny Nunez, WireImage.com) - Famous Black Couples
11 LisaRaye & Michael Misick
No need to pester Disney for a Black princess -- we've got a real live one from the South Side of Chicago. Who cares that actress LisaRaye McCoy became the First Lady of Turks & Caicos, when she married the Premier of the island nation? Details, details. Princess! The two were wed in a lavish event in 2006. (Photo by Rick Diamond, WireImage.com) - Famous Black Couples
10 Martin Luther & Coretta Scott King
The truth of it is that a young preacher from Atlanta finds his lovely lady in wait from Alabama and they marry in 1953. The fact that they came to change the world was icing on the cake. Theirs was a union that must have been tested -- bombed homes, great separations, four children to feed. Through it all they were the epitome of courage and dignity. In this 1956 photo, a young Martin is welcomed with a kiss by Coretta after leaving court in Montgomery.(Photo by Gene Herrick, AP Photo) - Famous Black Couples
9 Nas & Kelis
Talk about a ride or die chick. If your man takes a controversial stand, why not you too???? And so Nasir and Kelis Jones came to the 50th Annual Grammy Awards with the N-Word spilled all over them like Hennessy. This also just happens to be the name of Nas' next album. The eccentric singer and critically acclaimed rapper have been married since 2005. (Photo by Johnny Nunez, WireImage.com) - Famous Black Couples
8 Colin & Alma Powell
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell wed Alma Johnson in 1962, while he was stationed in Massachusetts. Some say that Alma, the Alabama born audiologist, held his career back; she always remained adamant about his safety and the time politics would take from them. The two retirees are now actively involved in the The Colin & Alma Powell Legacy Campaign with America's Promise, a charity for children. The Powells themselves have three children and three grandchildren.(Photo by Paul Hawthorne, Getty Images) - Famous Black Couples
7 Samuel Jackson & Latanya Richardson
When we saw Latanya Richardson at Kai Milla's Fall 2008 fashion show, it was like Jay said -- the rock on her finger was like a TUMOR. Upon closer inspection, the so very down to earth Miss Jackson revealedthat the many, many diamonds surrounding the rockiest were all gems Samuel had given her over the years. ''These two were the first pair of diamond earrings that Samuel gave me,'' she beamed. The Morehouse-Spelman couple have been married since 1980 and have a daughter, Zoe. (Photo by Maury Phillips, WireImage.com) - Famous Black Couples
6 Creflo & Taffi Dollar
Being married to a highly visible preacher can be likened to being married to a rock star. There is notoriety, fortune, fans. But Taffi and Creflo Dollar, both ministers, both with unique names, seem to handle it all with aplomb. They truly seem in love, with Creflo mentioning Taffi often in his sermons. Dollar's first son, who is white, was adopted when he and Taffi were engaged. The Dollars now have five children together. (Photo by: World Changers Church International) - Famous Black Couples
5 Grant Hill & Tamia
The vow through sickness and in health must have taken on new meaning when beautiful Canadian songstress Tamia was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005. This is the real test of a marriage, and she and Grant Hill have made it clear that they are fighting together. The attractive couple, who were reportedly introduced by Anita Baker, have been married for almost nine years. Last August, Tamia gave birth to her second baby girl, Lael Rose.(Johnny Nunez, WireImage.com) - Famous Black Couples
4 Rev. Run & Justine Simmons
Meet me at the altar in your white dress...Who could forget the remix video to 'Let's Get Married' where Reverend Run and wife, a young Justine Simmons, danced together at the wedding reception? As the hip-hop generation's Healthcliff and Claire Huxtable on the MTV ''reality'' show, 'Run's House,' we have laughed with Rev. Run and his family and cried when they lost their youngest member last year. The Simmons' have recently adopted a baby girl which brings their beautiful brood to six. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images) - Famous Black Couples
3 Barack & Michelle Obama
Stand by your man, or behind him in this case. Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama gets real love from his equally accomplished wife Michelle before the New Hampshire presidential primary on Jan. 8, 2008.The couple met at a law firm (she was his boss) and have been married since 1992. They have two daughters, Malia and Natasha. (Photo by Stephan Savoia, AP Photo)
1. Usher and 'that woman' are more of an infamous couple, than a famous couple.... they haven't been together long enough to be put in the category of the other couples.
IPress at 3:11PM on Apr 14th 2008