thoughtful food

“When I was a young person, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town, and as an older person, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old person, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.”

--An Unknown Monk, 1100 A. D.

my lip gloss is poppin

just finished catching up on all that i missed during the VMAs and still can't seem to get myself together. the awards showcased nothing but pure buffoonery, including lady ga ga's insanely unfathomable nightmare before christmas/the wizard of oz costumes and performance, kanye's liquid courage unscripted (?) out roar during T. Swift's acceptance speech, Beyonce's 25th millionth pants-less performance that reminded us all that her body is by far the hottest, and Wale's dehydrated sway and breathless mumbles due to his inability to sit during the hours his was standing on stage under hot light in that hot ass jacket... but what stood out amongst all the above mentioned nonsense was LIL MAMAS unannounced appearance during one of the best performances of the night. despite the fact that i don't know her, she really does scream "attention hungry annoying muskrat girl" whenever i see her. did she not measure the fame level and untouched caliber of the two artist (Jay-Z and A. Keys) already on stage and think to herself, "i don't meet the requirements... i don't fit in"? obviously NOT. because she felt it was okay to "shoulder lean" her drag-queening ass onto stage. as an everyday girl, with fame that doesn't extend far past the next chick's lip smacking nonsense, i am well aware of when i am not welcomed or disliked by others. with outlets like twitter, myspace, and facebook and the mere fact that she is a "celebrity" (d-listers do count), you would think that lil mama would realize that she is always DOING THE MOST and learn to act accordingly.

after her unwelcomed cameo, all of twitter was buzzing about a particular trending topic and i couldn't help but to share: #lilmamais

• @TaraKnowaItAl #lilmamais jayz's 99th problem
• @Tiff_Jerz2ATL #lilmamais AAHHHH Real Monsters!
• @TLtheAries #lilmamais not covered under Obama's health care plan
• @Naveen_Ishh #lilmamais the reason why the plan b pill is over the counter now.
• @bkjamdown1 #lilmamais the little engine that couldn't
  
• @nursekaren #lilmamais the best mama joke ever!
• @beatroc #lilmamais at the bar right now with Kanye talking bout "man, you know we f**ked up"

bahahha... those all gave me the good laugh that i needed. but in all seriousness, i feel bad now for encouraging the "going in" sessions on lil mama. ready to go to sleep and say my prayers. hope you all enjoyed this year's video music awards... definitely entertaining.

achieved.

today, as i was editing my layout for "lets go little kitty kat", i came across a blog that i posted a few months back which included my to-do list for summer 09. unfortunately, i didn't complete everything on my list, but the most important items are definitely checked off... take a look.

1. buy and wear grey nail polish [CHECK]
   
2. new car [CHECK]
3. become official [CHECK]
4. get back on top of my surfing game
5. photoshoots like shit [CHECK]
6. read Kaffir Boy and Black Boy again [CHECK]
7. see Hannah Montana movie on DVD [CHECK]
8. spend lots of quality time with him [CHECK]
9. start to change my style... less girly, more edgy (we'll see how this goes) [CHECK]
10. take care of my hair because it always gets damaged during the summer months [CHECK]
11. take out that sick ass sewing machine i had to have and actually put it to use
12. work on my singing skills
13. tan, tan, and more tan [CHECK]
14. learn how to bake my own pound cake
15. wii fit while drunk [CHECK]
16. kayaking lessons
17. good concert(s) [CHECK]
18. save money... instead of spending all that i have [CHECK]
19. continue working out in the gym [CHECK]
20. and plan for the best fashion show that will be taking place in fall 09 [CHECK]

happy to know that i can look back on my summer and pin point the meaningful things i did, rather than recalling long bummy days and night. going to work on #4, #11, #12, #16. but in the meantime, i'm in the process of setting goals for the fall... will update you all.

feng shui

in the house the decor is obvious obscure

its clearly the theory of less is more

a plant. a pet. and books on the shelf.

and a frame on the wall where you can picture yourself.

and you're welcome to stay.
but even your company must compliment
the feng shui.

task at hand: acquiring a sense of feng shui in my new place... i've moved all of that into a room about 1/3 of its size and it doesn't quite feel like home yet. so many problems coming in to my place & i desire a space in which i can escape and feel at peace no matter what. any suggestions on developing a sense of home-away-from-home?

subscribe to this month's issue

haven't decided if i will go check this out tomorrow or not. i'm in the less-than-glamorous charlottesville where the movie theater is months behind and i feel like the movie calls for me to be dolled up in dark skinnies, a loose fitted beige v-neck tee, and some jeffrey campbell heels, surrounded by other model chicks, and in a fashionable city (i.e. NY). why i'm not at fashion week? i don't know.

why?

i never understood people who are so anti-something but everytime you turn around they are going on and on about how

• wack
• sketch
• stupid
• mainstream
• annoying
• unimpressive
• etc.

that something is. in all honesty, you come off as an undercover obsessed psycho-maniac. personally, if I didn't like something like MTV for example, I wouldn't make it my business to bad talk MTV every chance I get. your opinion really isn't that important. if you don't like something, you don't like it. but must you remind the world whenever you get a chance. the simple fact that you put so much energy into discussion of this thing that you don't like makes it seem like you, in fact, secretly love it. so next time you are anti-something, approach it in a logical way. if you really don't like MTV thats fine but don't bring up MTV in every other breath you take (make sure you actions are in accordance with your words). thank you.


listening to: nerd- anti-matter
reading: henry james- daisy miller

such a effing multitasker :]

TRESemme

TRESemme. TRESemme. Ouu La La.

hair update:
i am about a month into my new healthy hair spree. ends have been trimmed. strands have been deep conditioned. and that lovely wide tooth comb has detangled the knots. as for growth... some have noticed more length, but that could simply be attributed to the fact that they haven't seen me in the last 3 months. next style: roller set.

i live for this.

back at the university of virginia.
busy schedule. awesome classes.

discovered my nitch. english is the new second major. so trendy. everyone's doing it. english professors are far better than the people they have over in the psychology department. of course, i still have lots of courses dealing with african american studies for that good ole AAS major. ultimate plan: dominate the world. well not quite, but, definitely write for a top magazine. columbia university graduate school of journalism maybe?

sorry.

i'll be back soon...

stop the world.

let the world rage outside, cause when i'm here with you
the world stops for me, the world stops for me
-Maxwell

vey-key-shuhn

va⋅ca⋅tion

/veɪˈkeɪʃən, və-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation[vey-key-shuhn]
–noun
a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday

sorry for the lack of posts recently. i was on vacation with my baby. i'm back physically but, still there mentally. look out for new posts very soon.

black barbie.

after finding about Franca Sozzani's ingenious black barbie issue of italian vogue, a spin off from the successful july 2008 all black issue, i was inspired to write a post dedicated to all the black barbies in my life [and somewhat distant].

• my mother. my heart. my soul. and everything in between. shes my everything and i wouldn't be the person i am today with out her. in my opinion, she exudes what a true black barbie is because shes both beautiful and strong. she inspires all those around her and truly has and will continue to make an impact on the world.
  
• my two litte sisters. lawren & larelle. although we fuss. fight. and argue all the time. they are my road dogs and the sunshine in my life.
  
• my aunt. thalia. she's such an oprah wanna-be but shes both loving and caring and those are qualities that i admire and appreciate.
  
• my granny and momma rose. such beauties. with such grace. i'm glad i inherited their genes.
  
• god sisters. the twins. kelsey & kristal. they're such happy young ladies & i've always looked up to them.
  
• ms. karen. she hooks my hair up. she always calls me wack, but i forgive her. how many young ladies do you know with a master's degree in psychology & a cosmetology license???
• chanel iman. she doesn't know this, but i love her. shes just so beautiful and gives off such great vibes.
• yvonne vera. read a novel written by her and you'll understand why. r.i.p.
• whitney b. warner. most fashionable girl i know. such a sweetheart. everyone should have a friend like her.
  
• shannon dolphin. another sweetheart with so much talent.
  
• selam a. this girl is amazing. definitely a future ceo.
  
• joyner j. how can you not appreciate someone who always speaks the truth? love her.
  
• rachel. such wisdom at such a young age.
  
• kendall. maybe one of the sweetest girls i know.
• safiya. such creativity. future roomie.

there are more but here are just a few who've crossed my mind lately. love you all if you're reading this.

you asked for it...

many have taken offense to this commerical for one of those "text you question to..." companies in which a common sterotype about african american women is depicted... unfortunately, all i can do is laugh at this commercial because sadly, it is the truth. your "natural" weave did in fact come from that little billie goat/yak in the yard... claim it, love it, wear it. lls.




p.s. take note of the asian lady in the background doing nails...

and always remember that stereotypes are based on reality... no they do not apply to all but they are not 100% false

cross my fingers, hope to die

i saw this and immediately thought of us.