Say hello to my lil' friend...this is Chappie James, our metrosexual miniature pinscher. I am his stylist. He especially enjoys his Ralph Lauren cable-knit sweater, "Bitches Love Me" wifebeater, and faux-shearling pimp coat (he's often mistaken for Lenny Kravitz in that thing). I DARE you to make fun of him.

The Williams Sisters, circa 1982! From left, Lauren aka Laur-Laur, Devon aka Brownie ('cause she's sweet, warm, and brown--it should be noted that I'm the only one who calls her that) and me. Check Laur's message tee, Brownie's denim mini and my skinny Jordache jeans...so ahead of our time, right?

And here we have my sweet Adam, in 1976, plucking away on his Playskool guitar and wondering where on earth I am.

He found me! This is our wedding day, June 12, 2004. Could he be more handsome? Could I be more toothy (I'd just gotten a sparkling set of dental veneers two weeks before...thanks Dr. Rosenthal).

Laur and Brownie about to give their toasts. Now for the bragging: At only 23, Laur's a top reporter at Newport News' The Daily Press---and she's just been accepted to culinary school in Paris (she's decided to be a food reporter)! And next month, Brownie's graduating cum laude from Howard's Law School. I'm beaming as I write.

My beautiful mommy having a moment at my wedding reception. Sadly, my very, very special grandma (her mother) died three days before my wedding, so the day was quite bittersweet. Instead of the usual bouquet toss, I decided to present it to my mother, as a sort of 'passing of the torch' from grandma to her. I think for the first time that week, she took a minute to be the daughter who lost her mom, instead of the mom holding it together for the daughter/bride-to-be who lost her grandma. This is my favorite picture of her.

My gorgeous, unimaginably witty dentist-daddy assaulting my sister's ears with an EXTREMELY off-color joke. He's always the life of the party, no matter if it's a PTA meeting, a wake, or in the middle of one of my readings--yep, he's a shameless thunder-stealer (imagine my luck sharing his birthday)? But he's also a brilliant writer, loving father/brother/husband, and a lt. colonel so fearless that he was awarded a special medal of honor for his countless acts of bravery during the September 11th attacks on the Pentagon, where he ran the dental clinic. My daddy.

Me and Iman working it out to Shelia E at my book party! Along with my dearest friend Lola Ogunnaike, a New York Times culture reporter, Iman co-hosted the party. So surreal! I first met her as an associate beauty editor at Elle when I profiled her I-Iman makeup collection launch--my first big, Gilles Binsemmon-photographed, celebrity story! A mere 24, I was shaking in my pointy-toed camel boots the whole WEEK before our first lunch, but we ended up hitting it off and she's sort of become my Fairy Supermodel! I was beyond-flattered when she asked me to work with her on THE COLOR OF BEAUTY, her beauty book coming out this Fall. It's GORGEOUS, ladies, you'll love, love, love it!!!

Me and Boy George and Lola--oh my! My friend, uber-fancy publicist Winnie Beattie, not only managed to get Mr. George to deejay my party, but she threw it at Jay-Z's exclusive 40/40 club . I don't know what's more impressive, Winnie's pull, B.G.'s spirited makeup application or Lola's excellent socialite-on-safari ensemble.

Lola, me, Iman, and bad lighting.

So much fun! This was a benefit party for Love Heals, and everyone had to dress up like a 60's era Andy Warhol superstar. From left, me, Nicole Young (girl-about-town, event planner, publicist), and Lola.

The Glamour Crew! We all met while toiling at Glamour five years ago, and we can't seem to shake each other. From left, Kevin Lennox (fashion stylist & TV personality); Rebecca Sample Gerstung (freelance beauty writer; executive editor, Fashion Week Daily; co-author, THE COOKING CLUB COOKBOOK series); Minya Oh, aka "Miss Info" (radio personality, Hot 97; tv personality, VH1's Best Week Ever); Lori Bergamotto (freelance beauty writer); and lil' ole me.

This is my blonde bombshell friend, Charlotte Rudge. She's the beauty director at Vitals Woman--it's a new, sort of upscale-ish shopping mag. We met when I started working in Lucky's beauty department, and became inseperable when I discovered she had a thing for old-school stars like Natalie Wood and Marlon Brando and she knew Keanu Reeve's dialogue from Paula Abdul's "Rush" video by heart. If I were a man, she'd be carrying my mulatto love child.

My godson, Conlan aka Gurgles! This was the first time I met him. I was apalled that Karen, his mom and my oldest friend (we go back to our high school's dance team, The Precisionettes), would expose his young mind to such filth.

This photo ran with a New York Times front-page article by Lola about the new group of black chick lit authors--a MAJOR moment for us. We met on move-in day freshman year at University of Virginia, were roommates all through college, got our first Brooklyn apartment together the summer after graduation, lived together for five years, and suffered through horrible jobs, relationships, twenty-something drama--and the whole time, we were working towards one goal. I wanted to be a novelist, and she wanted to work at The Times. And we finally made it! I was in an article about glamorous black writers (check) that she wrote for the Times' front page (check)! FROM BOTTOM LEFT: Tonya Lewis Lee (co-author, GOTHAM DIARIES), Charlotte Burley (co-author, COSMOPOLITAN GIRLS), Erika Kennedy (author, BLING), me (author, THE ACCIDENTAL DIVA), Lyah Beth Leflore (co-author, COSMOPOLITAN GIRLS), and Crystal McCrary Anthony (co-author, GOTHAM DIARIES).

I just loved this promotional counter-card that ran in select stores last fall. I had a special "Billie" lip gloss custom-made, and for a limited time, buyers got one with a purchase of THE ACCIDENTAL DIVA. I think it's special because we included the darling Lucky item written by my mentor, Jean Godfrey June. Who cares if my boobs look lopsided?

Glamour made my apartment look so GROWNUP, didn't they? And, yes, Chappie the Dog is aware that he's a superstar. Just so you know, he practiced that over-the-shoulder, front-paw-slightly-cocked pose for weeks.

Yep, here I am on this fab new website(www.glam.com) engaging in self-indulgent blabber about my favorite stuff. Basically, what I do best. How hot is that handbag, though?

Me and Yummy Adam, enjoying a very Brooklyn Christmas. I ADORE my hubbie's grown & sexy sweater-over-the-button-down look, but his friend Wyatt said he looked ready to do someone's taxes.

Chappie the Dog in his Air Force jacket...tres butch! When he wears it, we call him "Maverick." Or sometimes just "Mav."

Check out my still-in-love parents making out in the shadow of the Eiffel tower! My father was lucky to get that kiss...during Mommy's increasingly frequent hot flashes, all physical contact is strictly verboten.

Me in front of Seville, Spain's Club Catedral, during our July '05 Euro Vacation. Long story short...during my brief sabbatical in Seville, I was elected Miss Catedral International 2001 when my sneaky friend Ana secretly entered me in the discoteque's annual pageant (the contest involved nothing more than a provocative dance down an ill-designed runway). My winning song was Madonna's "Music," and I was awarded with a plaque, a bouquet of roses and a tiara with flashing lights. Not one of my proudest moments, but certainly cute in a campy sort of way.

More Euro trip pics...this is me, Adam and my sister Lauren mugging at an adorable cafe around the corner from her apartment in the Bastille district. At the time, Lauren was attending the hoity toity Cordon Bleu culinary institute. She and my other sister, Devon, apparently soaked up all the cooking genes, as I have trouble heating up Toaster Streudel.

Okay, the last vacay shot! Adam made me include this shot of me outside our Cannes hotel, because I'm wearing my second favorite dress and he thinks I look hot.

My first favorite dress! And a fabulously glam night. This is me and Lola at the book party for THE BEAUTY OF COLOR (the beauty book I wrote with Iman!), which was held at Cipriani's. The fete had a "Seventies Sexy" theme, hence my carefully curled Farrah flip. To all it may concern, I'd like to be buried in this dress.

I am fiercely proud of this contraption I found on the internet, called the Port-a-Pup. Similar to a Baby Bjorn, you simply slide your doggie into the jumper, attach the straps and wear him on your chest. Lovely for a hands-free day of shopping. No laughing.

Halloween '05! Adam is obviously Zorro, and I'm a flamenco dancer (though, much to my frustration, everyone assumed I was Catherine Zeta Jones' character in the movie). With Adam's skinny little mustache and caramel skin, my husband is mistaken for Zorro on a regular day.

Mi familia, extended! My mom's side is a bunch of gumbo-loving, etoufee-eating French Creoles, and this shot was taken during our family reunion on Louisiana's Cane River (where generations of Chevaliers have lived for, like, two hundred fifty years). It was outrageously humid, hence my very controlled Princess Leia buns.

Here, my scintillating lil' sis, Devon, is graduating magna cum laude from Howard Law School. Next to her is her dashing fiance, also named Adam , who I'd like to eat up with a spoon.

Lauren and her cock-a-poo, Charlie. She'd just grown out her relaxer-Lauren, not Charlie-and was delighted to see that she could still successfully blow-out her stubborn curls (anyone who's suffered the trying perm grow-out period will appreciate this small moment of triumph).

And this is my grandma Loretta Chevalier, circa 1942...this was one of her first traipses around Washington DC after she moved there with my grandfather from small town Louisiana. So pretty!

Me and my darling co-host, Taylor Streck, at the launch of "Wake up With Cosmo," Cosmo Radio's sassy new morning show (to get it, you have to register with Sirius Satellite Radio...its channel 111!). From 7-11am, Monday thru Friday, we chat about sex, love, celeb gossip and articles ripped from Cosmo magazine's headlines. My dress, by the way, was FAR sexier in person. Maybe the red beads were a bit much.