We at Heirloom wanted to give a huge thank you to First African Presbyterian Church and organizer Euell Nielsen for inviting us to participate in their Black Art Showcase this past weekend. It was such a pleasure meeting the ladies of the church and sharing knowledge on herbs, health, aging, and community. When we work together, beautiful things happen!
Year End Review: Heirloom Gift Baskets
So 2015 saw the creation of the Heirloom Gift Basket and we had no idea that it would be such a huge success. We are super thankful to everyone who supported our business last year and we are already off and running in 2016, creating new baskets along with new products. To order one of our fabulous gift baskets, please check us out at heirloomphilly.storenvy.com! We can’t wait to build the perfect basket for your loved one!
See more awesome baskets after the jump!
We Love our Customers!





Read more awesome testimonies after the jump!
Let’s Talk Resistance! | December 4, 2015
Come join Heirloom at the Let’s Talk Resistance workshop and conference tomorrow featuring amazing conscious music, African marketplace, vegetarian food, and interesting speakers. We will be vending our all natural, organic teas, metaphysical tools and jewelry, cultural books, and much more! We are excited to be apart of this community event and we look forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions, contact us at heirloomphilly@gmail.com!
Thank you 21st Annual International Locks Conference!



See more pictures from the Conference after the jump!
Continue reading “Thank you 21st Annual International Locks Conference!”
Crossroads Bible Church | August 8, 2015



Last night I was a little bummed that the Black Buttafly Expo was canceled on such short notice. However, Omar led me out of the pity party by finding an alternative event and calling Jose who answered the phone at 5 p.m. on a Friday. He said that we could have the last spot at their church market. The Universe provides! We had a great time conversing, laughing and talking tea to the folks of Abington, Foxchase, Huntingdon and other surrounding neighborhoods. Our organic, herbal teas were a huge hit and we are looking forward to vending again next week at the Jazz on the Ave. event in Philadelphia near Temple University.
Copyright 2015 Ajua Hawkins
Pop-Up Tea Lounge Phase 3 Renovations

So much work went into our first pop-up with the help of some amazing people. I want to start off by thanking Omar Hawkins, Juraee McNeil, Cheryl Moore, Linda Sim, and Claudia Hawkins for being such stars. Without them, the event could not have happened and been such a success. I would also like to thank Joy Pinkney-Davis of Just Joy Photography for the beautiful pictures of the pop-up store, which I will share with you in the next pop-up related post. The pictures below are the final stages of our process before our first customers walked in the door. I am so pleased…
(Click on the header or the link below to see the renovations in progress.)
Pop-Up Tea Lounge Phase 2 Renovations

So our first solo mission pop-up is in a mere six days!! Yes, daily meditation will be essential for keeping calm because there is so much to get done! Ack!! I will not even go into all of the unforeseen headaches that have popped up in the last week offering up a plethora of distractions and inviting self-pity. But, Omar and I are like two determined work horses feeling the weight of our future on our backs. Don’t stop, won’t stop. This pop-up will happen and it will be a success for the heavens have ordained it as our purpose in this moment. Of course, as always, we share with you our journey.
(Click on the header or the link below to see the renovations in progress.)
Nature is My Muse


Today’s mantra: I attract everything I need to successfully accomplish my goals.
Pictures taken by Ajua Hawkins at the 2015 Philadelphia Flower Show.
Copyright 2015 Ajua Hawkins
Pop-Up Tea Lounge Phase 1 Renovations

Every moment not spent working at the tea store job and not sleeping is spent on building my business, cultivating my baby – Heirloom. Omar and I spent the last year selling at markets and joint pop-ups. Now we are focusing on building a prototype tea lounge in our home. The test pop-up event takes place in about a month and we are full speed ahead with renovations, product development, and marketing. So much to do but so rewarding when it is all for your future. I wanted to document our journey through it all. We are currently in phase 1 of the transformation and all is on track for a wonderful bohemian boutique, tea lounge experience. Excitement growing…
(Click on the header or the link below to see the renovations in progress.)
Details, Details, Details!

Soooo, planning this pop-up tea party is so much freakin’ work! So many details and lists. Incredible. But I am enjoying the process immensely. I love planning everything – the colors of the walls, the light fixtures, the type of tea, the cups, the menu, the merchandise… All of it! And I am taking my time. I am not letting the clock stress me out. Instead, I am working on divine timing. I am being diligent, focused and organized in my work while going with the flow. Letting the things that I need come to me in a natural, unforced way. (Click on the heading or below to read more.)
Meaningful Work
You know those times where you are so tired that you start becoming agitated about things you normally don’t care about? Well, I’m there. (Click on the heading or below to read more.)
Continue reading “Meaningful Work”
Experiencing Dreams In Manifestation
I am enjoying this entrepreneurial journey so much. I can’t tell you how happy I am. Everyday I take steps towards realizing my dream. For ten years I’ve had this idea of a magical, enchanting tea lounge and I can see the vision manifesting into the physical. (Click the heading or below to read more.)
Continue reading “Experiencing Dreams In Manifestation”
Heirloom Hustle
I am gearing up to open my store Heirloom!! So much to do, so much to do! The main focus at the moment is to build the initial inventory. To ensure that I stay on track, I am eliminating distractions – including signing off from my beloved Twitter handle Ajualuv. Oh yes, I am so sincere. 😉 Focus and dedication are the mantras of the day.
Today’s mantra: proactive dreaming.
Copyright 2014 Ajua Hawkins
East Falls Flea & Crafts | June 14, 2014
Good beautiful day everyone! I’ll be selling at the East Falls Flea & Crafts on Saturday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You’ll find the following thrift and new items for sale at Heirloom, my traveling store:
- men’s casual and dress apparel,
- designer wear for both men and women,
- women’s casual wear, shoes, and jewelry,
- paintings by moi, and
- books, books, books!
Thank You Uhuru for Another Successful Market!
Uhuru Flea Market | May 17, 2014
Uhuru Flea Market | April 26, 2014
Mean What You Say and Say What You Mean: Strengthening the Throat Chakra
If you have not heard about chakras and their connection to a healthy mind, body and spirit, no doubt you will soon. As we become a more globally interactive society, the wisdom of the East increasingly permeates into our American culture. This is indeed a good thing!
A chakra is a spinning vortex wheel of energy located at particular points throughout the body. This article focuses on the chakra found at the throat. It is an especially important chakra for business oriented people, entrepreneurs, and attorneys because it facilitates the ability to communicate clearly and concisely – to mean what we say and say what we mean. Not only is balancing the throat chakra crucial for effectively connecting with our clients and colleagues, but it is also necessary for optimal physical health and peace of mind.
Please click the heading to read entire article.
Continue reading “Mean What You Say and Say What You Mean: Strengthening the Throat Chakra”
Risk Averse? Practice Going Into the Unknown
It’s been said that many lawyers are risk averse, that we like to play it safe. Now I’m not sure if that means the type of person who chooses to become a lawyer is by nature risk averse, or rather if it is a trait acquired in law school or while practicing. In any event, it is a characteristic that we at times must overcome to stand tall in who we are and follow our dreams with vision and purpose.
A book that has inspired me to live courageously is Osho’s, “Courage: The Joy of Living Dangerously”. This philosophical piece, bursting at its binding with wisdom, begins with this sentence: “Courage means going into the unknown in spite of all the fears.” Osho further states, “[c]ourage does not mean fearlessness.” Yes! Courage does not mean fearlessness. However, Osho goes on to explain that the more we are courageous, the less fear we will feel.
Continue reading “Risk Averse? Practice Going Into the Unknown”