Dwayne Wade & Gabrielle Union’s Holiday Photoshoot–Behind The Scenes Video!

Shortly after actress Gabrielle Union and Miami Heat player Dwayne Wade announced their engagement on December 21, the soon-to-be-married couple gifted us another treat via social media — an adorable behind-the-scenes look at their family holiday card!   “Happy holidays from my family to yours. Check out our full family holiday photo shoot,” Gabrielle tweeted along with a link to the YouTube video on Dwayne’s page.   Set to “What Christmas Means to Me” by Cee Lo Green, the video shows Gabrielle and Dwayne goofing around with Dwayne’s two sons and nephew.

Check it out and let us know what you think.  There are so many folks who absolutely LOVE this couple and then there are those who are oh so not impressed with them……because of the rumors of how they got together. How do you feel about these two?

 

 

 

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Snoop Dog Shares The Scoop On Being Married For 16 Years

There’s one line in this interview that’s gonna have many woman saying “See, I told you”.  That same line is gonna have many men saying “Whateva!”  Although you may agree or disagree with that one line…..the fact remains that there’s some insight within it.  As many people say, “Happy Wife…Happy Life”.  It appears that Snoop finally understands that message.  Keep on plugging away Snoop…be the Priest of your home.

Check out the interview below.

 

Snoop and His Family

US-ENTERTAINMENT-BET AWARDS

Snoop and His Wife Shante Broadus

 

 

 

 

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Brandy Shares Engagement Details!

Brandy’s on a roll these days! Not only is she lighting up the small screen with The Game, but she’s hitting the big screens this Friday in Tyler Perry’s Temptation. And despite working around the clock to boost her star status, Brandy’s taking time to plan for her upcoming wedding.

 

The starlet stopped by the The Wendy Williams Show recently and shared a myriad of details about her engagement to Ryan Press and what the big day will bring. She revealed to the talk show queen that he proposed on Christmas right after her father blessed the food. “We all had a feeling,” said Brandy. “We didn’t know when he was gonna do it, but we all had a feeling. He asked for my parents’ permission. You know, the whole traditional thing.”

 

Brandy also let fans in on a little tidbit about her personality—she’s not really into diamonds. But says that her fiancé did a good job picking out her circle diamond ring. “I’m not a big diamond girl at all, but I like this diamond.”

 

As previously reported, Brandy will enlist the help of her 10-year-old daughter Sy’rai to be her maid of honor on the big day. “I love her unconditionally,” said Brandy. “Everything that I do in my life is for her. Every decision that I make, I have her in mind. It’s just beautiful to have a bond with her and I just thought that would be a special moment for the both of us. You know, for her to share in that happiness on that special day.”

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Black Love: Secrets To Success

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the AFRO spotlighted famous African American couples’ secrets to marital bliss. Enjoy!

Barack and Michelle Obama:

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In a 2012 interview with O magazine, Michelle revealed that one secret to their 21-year marriage is to not sweat the small stuff. “I might want to talk to him about an issue I have with what he said the other day, but you know what, it’s really not that important,” she said. “I’m stockpiling a list of issues that I’d like to discuss with him in 2016, though.

The president added, “When you’re under all of these pressures, to come home every single night…and have Michelle and the girls there…they are my balance and keep me grounded, and that’s truer now than it’s ever been.”

Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.:

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Soul singers Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. told PR Newswire in 2009 that their marriage, which has spanned over four decades, is successful because of their faith and friendship.

“In our case faith and friendship keeps us together,” McCoo said. “They may not be the sexist of ideals but they sure work for us! Our friendship carried us through our early years of challenges, and our faith has given us the strength and answers to work through problems that could have destroyed our marriage.”

Davis added, “Our relationship started out with us becoming very close friends before we even dated. We shared our lives and philosophies and our love of music with each other. As we found our spiritual direction and grew in our faith, we became even closer.”

LL Cool J and Simone Johnson:

ll cool j and simone

Rapper LL Cool J married his teenage love, Simone Johnson in August 1995. In an interview on Oprah’s Next Chapter, Johnson said God was the reason that their marriage has lasted over the years.

“We both come from a spiritual background,” Johnson said. “[We also] pick our battles, compromise and respect each other.”

Bill and Camille Cosby:

Bill Cosby and wife Camille during The Heart Fund at Cedars Sinai Honors Norman Brokaw with the Steven S. Cohen Award at The Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by Michael Rozman/FilmMagic)

Bill Cosby and wife Camille have been married for 49 years. In a now-famous quote, Bill Cosby stated that creating memories is the key to marital bliss.

“The heart of marriage is memories; and if the two of you happen to have the same ones and can savor your reruns, then your marriage is a gift from the gods.”

Rev. Run and Justine Simmons:

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Hip hop legend Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons and wife Justine were married in June 1994. In a 2009 interview with Hiphopwired.com, the couple said putting aside big egos is a crucial key to having a successful marriage.

“You just have to give in,” Run said. “You have to want to love this person more than you want to put your opinion across to be right. You have to get rid of ego and say, ‘Okay, I might even be right but it doesn’t matter, I love you too much.’ I just give in a lot and if I make a mistake, I’m ready to say sorry. I want my marriage more than I want my ego.”

Source: Afro

Ayize & Aiyana Ma’at Talk About Ebony’s Black Love Edition On The Toni & Griff Show Today At 11am..Tune In!

By Team BLAM

We’re excited to have another opportunity to talk about black love on the National Airwaves.  This morning at 11am we will be on the Toni & Griff Show of Atlanta’s WWWE Am 1100  talking about the Black Love edition of Ebony Magazine. Tune in if you can. This year Ebony has done something unique, in the issue their celebrating the 10 “hottest couples” and has 3 different covers with 3 different couples.

This is apparently the first time each of the couples have landed an Ebony cover together. How cute!

Here’s what T.I. had to say about his commitment to Tiny:

“Once I made my mind up that I was going to be committed to this relationship, I started being married then and there. Since I’ve been married, it’s the same relationship, we’re the same people. We treat each other the same way, and we’re just as happy now as we were before.”

 

 Meagan Good on her romancing (is that a word? smile…) skills:

“What do I do for him that’s romantic? I try to surprise him whenever he comes to town. I wear nice things…Wink!”

 

Bishop T.D. Jakes golden advice on marriage (listen up ya’ll):

“Marriage requires work and expecting the unexpected. Don’t let other people design a marriage you can’t live with. Keep other people out your business. Every marriage is different.”

 

 Ooooo Weeeeee!!!! We love Black Love!!!!

Don’t forget to tune in this morning if you can!

Stop Paying. Start Pushing. 😉

 

Congratulations!!! Amar’e Stoudemire And Wife Alexis Are Expecting Baby Number 4

In a recent interview with People.com the Stoudemire’s share the news that they’re expecting their fourth child.  Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Stoudemire…we at BLAM wish you the best.

The couple tells People.com:

“We’re blessed that we were able to extend our family,” the New York Knicks forward, 30, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“We’re both huge on having a nice size family. It was something we’ve been talking about for a while. It happened naturally and at the right time so it all worked out.”

“It was just perfect timing,” adds Alexis, 29, who says she’s had some morning sickness but overall, “can’t complain!”

The duo, who already have three children together — Ar’e, 7,Amar’e Jr., 6, and Assata, 4 — say everyone is thrilled for the impending arrival.

“They’re very, very excited,” says Alexis. “They just keep guessing if it’s a boy or a girl.” And it won’t be long before the sex is revealed, “I can’t wait to know what it is,” says Amar’e.

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Bet You Didn’t Know. Celebrities Known To Celebrate Kwanzaa.

By Team Blam

Kwanzaa is celebrated all over the world. As an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world. Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense. It has profound significance for African Americans and indeed, the world African community.

Check out these celebrities who have been known to celebrate Kwanzaa. Bet you didn’t know! 🙂

(In Order of Picture Appearance): Dr. Maya Angelou, Author & Poet

Jim Brown, Actor & Former NFL Star

Holly Robinson Peete, Actress & Singer/Rodney Peete, Former NFL Player

Chuck D, Author, Rapper, & Co-founder of Public Enemy

Oprah Winfrey, TV Network Owner, Producer, Philanthropist, & Actress

Synthia Saint-James, International award-winning artist, Designer of the first Kwanzaa U.S. postal stamp

Angelina Jolie, Actress & Director who celebrates a variety of cultural holidays in raising her multicultural family of adopted children.

Former NBA Star Keyon Dooling Opens Up About Childhood Abuse On Katie Couric’s Talk Show. #TakesCourage

Retired NBA player Keyon Dooling and his wife Natosha Dooling made an appearance on Katie Couric’s new talk show, “Katie,” and opened up about him being sexually abused as a child.

 

During the interview, Dooling recounted how and when the abuse first started and what’s he doing now to deal with the situation. Keyon said the abuse began when he was 5-years old at the house of one of his brother’s friends. He also said his father showed him adult movies at the early age of 7.

 

When Keyon Dooling announced his retirement from the NBA in late September, it came as a big surprise- but after years of suppressing a history of sexual abuse, it was clear the 12-year veteran needed time to focus on himself- a change in his life.

 

After displaying signs of a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, Dooling had to spend time in a psychiatric hospital last summer which brought him to the conclusion that he would be unable to continue his NBA career.

 

NBA.com’ David Aldridge talks about the event in detail which led to Dooling’s admittance to a mental health facility.

 

Aldridge reported:

Dooling was exhibiting behaviors familiar to soldiers returning from war zones. But Post Traumatic Stress Disorders aren’t limited to those who fight in wars. Police officers, firefighters, anyone subject to a severe emotional episode can suffer from PTSD. Dooling’s problems came to a head in August.

 

He was at home, playing in the street in front of his home with his kids. A neighbor thought he was playing too roughly with the kids and called the police. There is uncertainty about how many officers showed up — 10? 12? 20? — but it was more than one. The Doolings were new to the neighborhood. They know the police were just doing their job, responding to a call. But a bunch of cops showing up, unannounced, banging on your door is a little disconcerting.

 

“So I ran to the door to see what was going on,” Keyon Dooling said. “I was like, ‘Who is this knocking like they’re the damn police?’ That’s what I said to myself. So when I got to the door, it was really the police. They was like, ‘Get on the ground, get on the ground, get on the ground!’ So I got on the ground.”

 

Natosha didn’t know what to do, what to tell her kids. She was scared. Keyon had always been the strong one, able to handle whatever. And now he was being taken away.

 

“I was just terrified,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘What is going on? Like, what are these people doing in my house?’ … And they separated us. They had the kids over here and me over there and Keyon over here. It was horrible. I was living in a nightmare. I was really living in a nightmare. I was terrified for myself, for my kids.”

 

Dooling was taken away and hospitalized for evaluation. He didn’t remember voluntarily signing into the hospital. The details are hazy, in part, because he was immediately put on medication. One of the primary symptoms of PTSD is paranoia, and Dooling was surely paranoid. He didn’t want to see anybody — or anybody to see him.

 

Much respect and admiration go out to Keyon from the BlackLoveAndMarriage.com team for his courage and willingness to tell his story….someone else will begin their healing from watching him. We guarantee it.

 

 

 

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Meet NFL Player Torrey Smith and His Girlfriend Chanel Williams

Torrey Smith has spent his entire life in the Baltimore area, having grown up in Stafford, VA before heading off to play wideout for the University of Maryland Terrapins. Prior to last Sunday night’s game, Smith went from a popular sleeper in fantasy football leagues to a name known across the country after the death of his younger brother, Tevin Chris Jones. Smith went on to have a career game in prime time against the Patriots less than 24 hours after his brother’s passing, and the world fell in love with the PPR stud.

We acknowledge the tragedy of Torrey Smith becoming a household name; both in the events surrounding his rise to fame, and the fact that it took this tragedy to get there.

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Jay-Z & Beyonce Say They Believe In President Obama’s Vision; Raise 4 Million Dollars For Him At Jay’s 40/40 Club

By Team BLAM

Beyoncé and Jay-z hosted a fundraiser at Jay-Z’s 40/40 and raised $4 million dollars for President Obama. One hundred VIP guest donated $40,000 to attend this event.

 

The beautiful R&B singer introduced our President by saying “I can’t tell you how proud we are to host tonight’s event with President Obama.”

 

The power couple has supported Obama since 2008, Beyoncé even sung at the 2009 inauguration. Although President Obama attended the event solo, he mentioned that his wife and daughters were disappointed that they were not able to attend. The President thanked his hosts and said, “Beyoncé couldn’t be a better role model for our daughters because she carries herself with such class and poise and has so much talent.”

 

One hundred donors in suits and dresses sat on sofas in a large, dark glassy room at Jay-Z’s exclusive club, according to a pool report. Each paid $40,000 to attend the event.

 

“I can’t tell you how proud we are to host tonight’s event with President Obama,” Beyoncé, wearing a red cocktail dress, told the crowd. “We believe in his vision.”

 

Obama thanked them when he took the stage. “To J and B, thank you so much for your friendship.”

 

The president told the crowd that “Michelle, Sasha and Malia are mad at me because they aren’t here.”

 

He said the couple has been so generous to his children: “Beyoncé couldn’t be a better role model for our daughters because she carries herself with such class and poise and has so much talent.”

 

Obama also said he and Jay-Z have a lot of common. “We both have daughters and our wives are more popular than we are. So, you know, we’ve got a little bond there. It’s hard but it’s okay.”