My new motto for 2020 is “If they thought we were unapologetic in 2019, wait ’til they see us in 2020”.
So I’m going to take this time to applaud Mrs. Beyonce Knowles Carter and Duchess Meghan for being in the news lately for doing what’s best for themselves after a week, a month, a year, a lifetime of people just riding their jock and dissing their every move…and child.
Naturally, both writers were dragged to the filth on Twitter and had to say their mea culpas (and half-arse weak ones at that) but still.
Somewhat equally, ever since Prince Harry and the former Meghan Markle came out with their relationship a few years ago, the British press and trolls have called Meg every dirty and racist name in the book, accused her of being difficult, of driving away all the staff, of driving a wedge in between Harry and his brother (I’m not gonna hyperlink these stories to the give them traffic. Google it yourself if you want.)
So today, when she and her husband released a statement saying “adios mofos” to UK, I smiled.
To me, it embodies the essence of what we all need to be doing this year:
If a situation, workplace, relationship, community or environment no longer brings you peace or is too toxic for you to function, you should be allowed to buck it and say no more.
Not the same level of shruggery as packing up your whole household but similar vibe.
I can dig it.
And to quote part of actress Michelle Williams’ speech when she received her trophy for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for her role as Gwen Verdon in Fosse/Verdon Sunday night, “When it is time to vote, please do so in your own self-interest. It’s what men have been doing for years and why the world looks so much like them.”
Tina Knowles Lawson hosted her family including daughter Beyonce Knowles Carter, son-in-law Shawn “Jay Z” Carter, grands and her “play daughter” Kelly Rowland, her husband Tim Witherspoonand their son Titan.
The designer and music group manager posted a photos and videos from the Sunday event that included food, fun and Easter Egg hunt. Lawson captioned a photo of herself with Bey and Kelly, ““3/4th of my girls❤️ Missing link at Cochella?” referencing Solange who is performing at the Music Festival, Coachella. Queen Bey was scheduled to perform during the two weekend event but canceled due to her pregnancy.
Mrs. Carter donned an off the shoulder cream dress, Mrs. Lawson looked cute in a striped pepum top and black pants and Kelly went with a mint creen top and white distressed denims. Looks like a fun time!
During a February 2, 2017 interview, Beyonce’s dad Matthew Knowles suggested that Queen Bey is expecting a baby boy and baby girl this year but in DJ Khaled‘s song “Shining” that she and husband Jay-Z guest performed on a week later, Jay seemed to suggest that he didn’t know what the sex of the babies are.
Let’s back up:
Knowles, who currently is an entertainment assistant professor at Texas Southern University, learned about the pregnancy the same time we all did because Bey didn’t tell him before announcing it to the world via her artsy pregnancy announcement.
But during a sit down chat with Insider, the ex –Destiny’s Child manager shared the circumstances under which he learned/
“I was shocked,” Knowles told the site. “Let me tell you what happened. I got a first text, and I was like, ‘Why is this person saying congratulations?’ Then I get a second text from one of my students at Texas Southern, and I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ He was like, ‘Go to the web.’ I didn’t know myself.”
That might have been a good decision by because Matthew might have accidentally spilled the beans too soon.
During the Insider interview, the talent manager and university instructor went on to possibly reveal the sex of the babies.
“And Blue Ivy is going to have some brothers and sisters. She is already excited,” he said.
When the interviewer pressed for a confirmation that Bey was going to have a girl and boy, Knowles quickly flipped the script.
He said he was just talking in general.
Mmmm hmmmm! No wonder Yonce didn’t tell dear old dad the news in advance. He plum would have revealed it too soon but he wouldn’t have been the first. In 2011, Kelly Rowland also slipped up during an interview and let people know about Blue’s gender before Bey and Jay could.
Both Rowland, who is like a sister, and of course Matthew, who is a grandfather to Mrs. Sean “Jay-Z” Carter’s 5-year old daughter Blue Ivy and Solange Knowles‘ 12-year old son, Daniel, would be forgiven.
He may be right about guessing though.
A week later, the same day Beyonce performed on the Grammy Awards, DJ Khaled released a single from his upcoming album titled, “Shining” (that’s my jam) but any way, on the song, Jay-Z has a few bars which seem to indicate that he is clueless (or was clueless back when he penned the lyrics) as to the baby’s gender. On the song, he raps:
One ain’t enough, I need two That night I mix the Ace with the D’us’ Hit a triple-double in the Garden I done my left wrist like I’m Harden (swish) Ran to the dealer, bought twin Mercedes’ The European trucks for the twin babies Don’t let me have a son, I’m a fool (ooooh) Send him to school in all my jewels I want a boy and girl I fight for truth Whatever God give me, I’m cool
LISTEN to the entire thing here:
We imagine what those twin European (his and hers) Mercedes would look like in the above collage, specifically, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63. Below, check out actor-comedian Kevin Hart in front of his own Mercedes truck that he showed off his truck on social media recently. Something tells us these trucks will grow in popularity soon especially after the twin babies are born.
This time, pop icon Madonna recently announced that she has officially adopted twin girls from Malawi, the land of birth of her 11-year old adopted daughter and son Mercy and David Blanda.
She posted an Instagram photo of herself holding her 4-year old girls’ hands, she in a yellow frock under a light cardigan and they in matching blue polka dot dresses.
“I can officially confirm I have completed the process of adopting twin sisters from Malawi and am overjoyed that they are now part of our family,” the Material Girl captioned the photo. “I am deeply grateful to all those in Malawi who helped make this possible, and I ask the media please to respect our privacy during this transitional time. Thank you also to my friends, family and my very large team for all your support and Love!”
On Tuesday, Malawi Judiciary Spokesperson Mlenga Mvula confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that the “Ray of Light” singer had been granted an adoption order so that she can proceed with her adoption in the African country.
“The father is still alive but the mother died a week later after delivering the little kids on 29 August 2012,” the Judiciary Spokesperson also told ET about the girls’ background. “Madonna came to the court on Tuesday with her lawyer Mr. Mvalo. The father of the children was also in court together with the uncle of the little girls. She looked very happy in court. She left with her two new daughters.”
In addition to her now four adopted children, the singer also has two biological children, 20-year-old Lourdes Leon and 16-year-old Rocco Ritchie with ex husband Guy Ritchie.
This news comes after revelation that Amal and George Clooney and Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z Carter are expecting biological twins.
Editor’s Note: So your break from Beyonce pregnancy posts is over. Sorry to the non-fans but the Bey Stan in me has a few more things to share. (smile)
This week, not only did Beyonce Knowles Carter give us pregnancy twin news, but she also overwhelmed fans, followers, haters and the like with tons of maternity photos…present and past.
As many know, the multi-platinum selling mega star’s first pregnancy was dogged and plagued by rumors that it was fake and that she used a surrogate to bring her and husband Sean “Jay-Z” Carter’s daughter, Blue Ivy in to the world.
It all stemmed from an interview with an Australian television show in October 2011 where the folds of her dress as she went to sit down made it appear as if her bump had caved in. In actuality, as conspiracy sites have discussed incessantly, her belly, then at 24 weeks was below the dress. But it hasn’t stopped many from thinking Mrs. Carter never carried Blue at all.
From an Instagram share of a beach trip with her bump covered in sand, to a snippet of a video Jay took while they vacationed in Croatia and shared on Tumblr revealing a very early bump, to silhouettes shots and post birth images seen in her 2013 HBO documentary, “Life is But a Dream”, she has subtly given the doubters visual proof that she really was pregnant. But they are relentless. Even a paparazzi capture of her in a sheer blue caftan by the pool didn’t sway them.
She didn’t seem fazed by the rumors, tellingKatie Couric in an interview before a performance at Roseland theater while still expecting, “You know there are certain things that are so far, it doesn’t even affect me…I am cool, it is so ridiculous and over the top.”
And in the HBO documentary, she addressed it again:
“A stupid rumor, the most ridiculous rumor I’ve ever had about me.To think that I would be that vain. I respect mothers and women so much. To be able to experience bringing a child into this world, if you’re lucky and fortunate enough to experience that, I would never ever take that for granted.”
Being private about her personal life may have been at the root.
She kept her relationship, courtship, marriage and pregnancy pretty private, but has opened a lot more since the documentary, to her very intimate and sensual “Beyonce” album, to the Lemonade album which many have hypothesized was autobiographical and about her marital struggles with Jay.
And now this time, she is being a lot more open about showing off her bump with not one, not two, but several nude and semi nude maternity portraits.
This week, her team also pushed out belly progression photos she took while pregnant with Blue, perhaps to head off new allegations and rumors before they start. Because her head is not in the photos, I’m not sure the suspicious will be convinced. They are certainly not stopping brand new allegations about this pregnancy either.
Oh well. The new photos are buzz-worthy, for sure.
The one that was released with the news is part of a session with famed Ethiopian-American photographer Awol Erizku, a Bronx, NY-raised graduate of Yale‘s Master of Fine Arts program. Not everyone could appreciate the eclectic purposefully gaudy look to the background and props (the car is part of a previous pop-up installation called “Ask the Dust“, PEOPLE reports), but it is signature to Erizku’s style. (by the looks of his other works) He says they are made up of the images that surrounding his upbringing in the Bronx.
Queen Bey accompanied the images from her photo album with the writings of another East Africa-born artist, Somali-British poet Warsan Shire. Her words, from a poem titled “I Have Three Hearts“, read:
“Mother is a cocoon where cells spark, limbs form, mother swells and stretches to protect her child, mother has one foot in this world and one foot in the next, mother, black venus.”
I agree with Quartz’ assessment, “that’s just how Beyoncé looks in these pictures, her pregnant body floating weightless amidst flowing fabric, her flower crowns undisturbed.
“Maternity photos will never be the same.”
Bustle mused: “Beyoncé’s latest photo album includes throwback shots of her pregnant with Blue Ivy followed by snapshots of her first daughter’s four years, all sticking with the rule of threes: She’s a family of three with Blue and Jay Z, and now she’s a three-hearted woman preparing for three children.”
Beyonce and daughter 4-year old Blue Ivy are down with the mommy and me fashion trend too. Only Queen Bey and her celeb royalty little girl have something many of us don’t: an endorsement deal with Gucci which provides custom dresses with the same floral and bee pattern.
The duo modeled their playful and fun dresses on a balcony in Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background! Blue wore a cute pink cat-ears headband and flat leather-and-neon sandals. Mrs. Carter’s mini dress featured adorable tiered ruffle sleeve. The award-winning multi-platinum pop singer paired her look with a black collar brooch, cat-eye frame glasses, a hot pink envelope clutch, and open-toed metallic pink heels. Stunning!
Earlier, the duo wore custom matching acid washed jackets are adorned with whimsical butterfly patches and roses, and the phrase, “L’Aveugle Par Amour,” which means “blinded by love.”
For the rest of us moms and me, we too can do mom and me fashion with our daughters. Mom and Me Fashion is bigger than ever. More and more clothing companies and brands making miniature versions of a dress or outfit for baby. Also, fashion conscious moms who are creative are taking the time to put together mini-me versions of their clothing for their daughter.
If you’re thinking of crafting a miniature look, you don’t have to do the precise design and pattern but can mix it up and have the same impact like wear one shoulder rompers together. You can do horizontal stripes and have baby wear diagonal stripes. Match the cuts versus the color. Like you and your daughter can wear a-line dresses or matching maxi dresses.
And Daddies can get in on it too with Tees! We’re loving Parker and Baby Company‘s “I make Tiny Humans” tee for dad ($25) “tiny human” tee for baby ($17)! <3 Enter “Big40” at checkout for a discount! Perfect and super unique one-of-a-kind for Father’s Day! Photos: Source
Tonight was another celeb-studded musical event at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.
Several of our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alums graced the red carpet before the event, took the stage and were nominated for quite a few awards.
Mega star Beyonce Knowles Carterwas a no show even though she was nominated for 5 awards for her “7/11” Video (Best Female, Pop, Editing, Choreography, Video of the Year). She won only one for Best Editing.
Jennifer Hudson couldn’t make it either despite being up for the Best Video with a social message award for her song, “I Still Love You.”
On the red carpet, model Lily Aldridge stunned in a black Alexandre Vauthier couture gown with a plunging neckline, Stuart Weitzman shoes, Jen Meyer Jewelry earrings, Anita Ko bracelets, and an Edie Parker clutch.
Britney Spears showed mucho cleavage in a showgirls-esque gold sequined number with cutouts in the tummy.
Kim Kardashian West covered her bump in a long sleeve draped military style dress.
Their family’s arch nemeses Amber Rose and Blac Chyna came dressed in matching nude outfits with cartoon caricture lettering featuring all the insulting names that people have called the duo who are headed for an MTV reality TV show this fall.
The show wasn’t without its dramatic moments, of course, including some toxic exchanges between show host Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj who won the Best Rap Video Award for video for “Anaconda“. It was the same video Minaj suggested was deserving for being up for the Video of the Year Award but was slighted because she felt the women featured in the video weren’t thin. Taylor Swift assumed it was a slam against her given all the women in her Bad Blood video were pretty much rail thin and the two had a brief Twitter beef which reeled their fans in on it and was more or less squashed until Cyrus added her two cents during a promo appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Cyrus said Minaj was “not nice”. The rest is history and can be seen on Twitter but since we’re about promoting positivity by and among women, we’ll leave it at that.
Ciara showed off a new bob in a fringed black outfit and Law and Order‘s Mariska Hargitay made an appearance in all black while walking with the other members of “The #SwiftSquad” from Taylor Swift‘s “Video of the Year” winning video “Bad Blood.”
(Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt, Hailee Steinfeld, Cara Delevingne, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Serayah, Mariska Hargitay, Lily Aldridge and Karlie Kloss)
My fave look for tonight came from singer Tori Kelly who looked stunning in a a laced long sleeved top tucked in a cute pair of high waisted shorts with a gold clutch and black bowed pumps, with tussled hair to complete the look. Her bronze sheer makeup was flawless. Yassss!
Florals are great to wear anytime but especially in the Spring and Summer months.
We spotted some of our diva-level Bellyitch Bumpwatch alums recently sporting the feminine pattern in sophisticated dresses and billowy peasant tops.
Jennifer Lopez wore a black and silver floral Dolce & Gabbana cap sleeve mini floral print dress with a matching D&G Sicily mini printed leather shoulder bag and white pumps at a recent event.
Beyonce, who is on active Bumpwatch, was seen recently in a billowy Lucy Paris floral peasant top with black trouser shorts and sandals. Late last month, the singer-songstress headed out in a Dolce & Gabbana knee-length dress that she accessorized with black Ray Ban sunglasses, a Stuart Weitzman Nudist Ankle Strap sandal and a nude Dannijo Lypton Chain detail cross body bag.
Model mom Lily Aldridge posted a photo with daughter Dixie, 3, via Instagram Saturday.
“When in Rome #RomanHoliday #Gelato,” the Victoria’s Secret model, 29, captioned the mommy-and-me image during their Italian getaway.
She wasn’t the only celeb mom we’ve bump watched in recent years sharing precious moments of themselves with their children in social media.
Here are a few others we spotted.
Actress Kate Hudson shared a pic of her and her kids feet.
“#HOME “In this home… We do second chances. We do real. We do mistakes. We do I’m sorry’s. We do LOUD REAL WELL. We do hugs. We do TOGETHER best of all.” #SnuggleTime,” the Good People actress, 36, captioned the image of their bare feet.
Beyoncé Knowles Carter was teaching daughter Blue Ivy how to swim.
Kelly Rowland was strolling with son Titan in tow.
Ali Landry was swimming with her daughter too.
Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh‘s wife Adrienne Bosh was celebrating a revisit to Paris with her daughter outside her tummy this time.
Another Basketball wife Savannah Brinson was showing off her husband LeBron James’ hot body having water time together with their baby girl.
Kendra Wilkinson Baskett was playing b-ball herself with Hank Jr.
One of our earliest bump watch moms, Jenna Elfman, was celebrating Motherhood.
Emily Bustamante was introducing her newest member of the family, her second son with beau Fabolous.
I love statement jewelry and my muse is our Bellyitch Bumpwatch alum Beyonce Knowles Carter.
Each outfit she wears is accented perfectly with just the right ring, bracelet, earcuff, bracelet, necklace or body jewelry to complete her look. I was most impressed with the exquisite unique pieces Blue Ivy‘s mom wore in the videos to her 2013 self-titled album.
My fave was the Black Lynn Ban PVD Armor Ringthat she wore as knuckle rings in the “Superpower” music video! They retail at $420 each so you’d be set back over $3,000 to replicate the precise look on your hands. She also wore 16 of the designer’s Pave Coil midi rings in the “Haunted” video. They are embedded with white diamonds and black diamonds which retail at about $3500 each I think that vid helped bolster the midi ring craze that following Spring.
You can get a similar style for under $20 from Free People or Ily Couture. And you can find the bold statement rings she wore in the “Telephone” jewelry at mid price range from other jewelers.
Another coveted set of jewelry are the Edie Borgowrist cuffs and ear cuffs Bey rocked in the “Jealous” video.
That was one of my fave tunes from that visual album. Can you tell I recently discovered that the videos were released to the public last November? This past weekend, I relived my enjoyment watching them all again on a larger screen. I first purchased the album back when it first came out and had to view the videos on my iPhone.
The other great thing I discovered was that the Edie Borgo pieces from that video all are in a mid-range price point under $150 so they’re totally affordable!
And when Bey‘s not killing the game in her edgier looks, Mrs. Carter steals the spotlight in her bright and vibrant pieces, like these colorful Aztec art necklaces paired with that fab Mayan-inspired ring in that photo on the right.
I was totally crushing on those eye-catching accessories and adornments.
Revisiting that album last weekend also reminded me of how much I really dug the complete layered jewels look in the “XO” video too. I curated and assembed some inspiration pieces from our partners at ShopStyle for you to consider getting or using as a guide for the next time you’re out jewelry shopping.
If you want to nab some of these glam pieces of jewelry, you can be creative and check out arts and music festivals this Summer. Those events that have vendors who are at-home jewelry makers. They typically sell interesting and one-of-a-kind selections, and usually you can find big bold selections as well.
