Celebrate we with tea

Date: Saturday, August 11, 2012

Time: 12:00 – 3:00 PM

Location: "Yvonne's House of Soul", 65 East Prospect Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550, 914-663-SOUL (7685),

Mt. Vernon, NY. Website: http://www.houseofsoulny.com/Pages/default.aspx

The experience of feeling uplifted, celebrated and acknowledged as a woman comes few and far between in many circumstances. Whether it is at work, home or in our community women don’t often get the treatment they deserve for being a powerful gender. The Women’s Day Tea Party this past weekend provided an experience that all women no matter what age should have attended to achieve a real sense of pride.

Natasha Clydesdale and Michelle Clarke of Cylesdale’s and JM Management respectively, had a vision of women coming together to celebrate the strength in being exactly that: women. In the 17th and 18th century “Tea was generally consumed within a lady’s closet or bedchamber and for a mainly female gathering.” Ms. Clydesdale and Mrs. Clarke both demonstrated their motto of helping people” bring projects to life” when The Women’s Day Tea Party came to life and gave women the opportunity to take advantage of being able to celebrate our strength and self-worth outside of the closet.

The event began with DJ. Ms. Perfect Touch who is not only a DJ, but a leader in her community guiding the youth, playing all the grooves that were required for the venue. The beautiful women, dressed in cocktail dresses and some accessorized in traditional tea party hats, were then provided with an exquisite buffet brunch which included tea as well as mimosa, hosted at Yvonne’s House of Soul in Mt. Vernon, NY. A plethora of choices ranging from gourmet waffles to flavorful collard greens and savory grilled bbq chicken were arranged elegantly for the attendees to choose.

The program continued with host Nyahalay Tucker, a special education teacher; encouraging women to think of themselves as CEO’s. Next, Ms. Tucker introduced songstress Gabrielle of Entity Music who sang a beautiful rendition of Saturday Love by Cherelle. We were later introduced to the panelists Sharmicka Drayton who came to the event from Washington D.C. and is starting her hair image company BeautiMarc, Sky Vivella who is the owner of Vida Juice and Nicole Francis, the Founder of The Art of Face.

Each of the three women were asked questions about their growing businesses and given an opportunity to inspire the audience with their experience as entrepreneurs. To get a real feel of what the panelists had to offer regarding their product the women were granted a demonstration of Nicole Francis’ expertise in applying eye shadow for a volunteer in the audience then the women toasted to a healthy living style with a shot of ginger offered at Vida Juice by Ms. Vivella.

It was truly a tasteful event as it ended with cupcakes distributed personally by the baker. The contact information for the event planners and panelists were tactfully given in sophisticated party bags. As the event came to a close everyone gave assurance that they were uplifted, celebrated and felt a sense of acknowledgement after receiving the message that women are strong beings and with success should come encouragement for other women to aspire to follow such success.