Friday, November 1, 2013

Feelings

That is the first thing that came to mind when I looked at this empty space, and before I could even think of what to post.
Then the melody of the track by Floetry appeared.
The track will be listed below, but lets talk about feelings, shall we?

We all have them: despite how many may deny or compose quotes about their lack of them, fact of life is we ALL have them. You have to feel a way about them to acknowledge your alleged lack of them, but anyway...

Yep, we all feel. Ouch, Ooh, Ah. Wondrous, isn't it? As opposed to dismissing feeling, let it fester. You may surprise yourself with how good it feels to just BE.

As promised, allow me to present; Floetry- Feelings

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Friday, October 11, 2013

Words.

"Those words will still be there. The words are always there." -?uest Love
The above quote is from my newest read, Mo Meta Blues: The World According to QuestLove by Ahmir "QuestLove" Thompson and Ben Greenman Copyright Ahmir Thompson (2013) Grand Central Publishing.

This book is amazing to me! I've only just begun. Shot out to my local library for having this as well. Definitely got to add this to my library ASAP. But since I'm ballin on a budget, library it shall be until further notice. ^_^

SIDEBAR: Here's some fun facts about my relationship with the library of late. When I went to renew my card, I found out my membership was still under a juvenile account -I turned 23 in July. AND TODAYYY, I roll up to the library thinking it's all good and what do ya know? Doors don't open, mass confusion enters my brain. I look over at the sign FRIDAY-SATURDAY 8-5. Defeat conquers my face. To add insult to injury, they're closed Monday for the holiday. Hopefully I can make it tomorrow to print out glowing recommendation numero dos.

Back to life, back to reality. That quote sums up the very essence of my being. I've been reading for about twenty years now. Words are my passion. Being a writer/poet/artist, I'd say they're quite important to me.

Sometimes they're all I have, others I feel and don't have any to describe said feelings. Music, words. Even jazz/instrumentals can bring them to me. I can barely find the words to describe my affinity for them.

What gives YOU that feeling?

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Victory!

For the first time My brothers football team WON! This is his junior season and the first win for my high school in the 4th season since I graduated five years ago. Proud of them.
Hanging with the girls right now. Would've made the deadline for a Friday posting but I started it and that counts lol
Mañana!

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Scandaaaaalous.

The title is in the collective voices of The Ashley's from one of my favorite childhood cartoons "Recess".
Shonda Rhimes is AMAZING! So inspirational to me as a writer. That's what I want to captivate through my craft, my ART!
Not only the writing, but the acting is phenomenal.
I watch this with the eyes of another wordsmith, and dissect it, and devour it.
That woman is a game changer.
Snaps for Kerry as Olivia.
Going to continue to enjoy life day by day but next Thursday it is ON!
Stay tuned for my breakdowns of the plot beginning next week.
Cíao!

Musical Musings- River Emeli Sandé

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I caught the song and searched it when watching "The Game" S6Ep9. This beautiful song, about letting go of fear and allowing love to do its thing, closed out the episode when Blue kissed Kiera and she let him take it all the way after revealing earlier in the episode to Tasha and Chardonnay that she was a virgin.

Give it a listen and let me know what ya think! /(^o^)\

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Pickle Juice.

Had somewhat of a tough day today. What made me smile and change my attitude was thinking about a sermon where my pastor said "some people walk around looking like they've been baptized in pickle juice!"
Things are never as bad as we make them seem. The world is your oyster, but it can also be your undercurrent. You have the choice to receive great treasure from it or being pulled down by it.
I encountered some kind people today. You never know how much you can help a stranger or how much a stranger can help you. Kind words and conversation can go a long way without you even knowing it.
Your worst days can turn into your best of you just let them.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

October.

Today is the first of October, yaaaay! I'm excited because homecoming season is literally right around the corner. I was unable to make it to my alma mater last year so this will bw my very first as alumna!
I am also very excited in general. I'm finally over my end of summer blues, summer baby effect I suppose.
I never noticed how big an audience my blog has been generating so I'm challenging myself to post more. Very therapeutic for me because I've loved writing for as long as I can remember, waited all day to share with you all!
Stay tuned for some amazing content coming this month, and that won't be the end of it.
Please don't be afraid to comment, follow, and request post subjects. I'd love feedback and communication with you.
Peace, love, light. Xo

Monday, June 17, 2013

Musical Musings: Next to Me- Emeli Sandé

Next to Me - Emeli Sandé

I've just discovered this song. I love it! That's pretty much it. Enjoy =}

The Importance of Planning

Today, June 17, 2013, makes FIVE years from my high school graduation. I would like to say it's mind boggling, but as most of us may have heard at some point in our lives; time flies...

Does it really? Depending on whom you ask, the span of five years can be long and drawn out or very rapid. Factors such as age, life experiences, job/career, marital status, parental status, to name a few also has impact on the outlook of time.

Five year plans: Have you ever had one? Would you ever consider making one? Why or why not?

Here's my stance. Throughout life, we clearly experience many different stages. Not just in terms of physical features, age, income level, spiritual maturity.

What we may want today could be on an extremely different level than five years ago. What may have seemed too ambitious at one point we could have checked those off our list, with far more accomplished in between.

Flashback to my 8th grade graduation. (Side note: my middle school and high school are located right across the street from each other) At the conclusion of the ceremony, we were told to imagine ourselves holding our high school diplomas in our hands in the next four years. Now being a visual person I was ecstatic at the thought! I had known from my youth that I wanted to go to college, by my own merits not just at the encouragement and confirmation from my parents. On this day five years ago, no similar notion was suggested.

My high school principal had went on to speak of changes in the world that we could not only assist in bringing someone else's vision to fruition (see President Barack Obama's Fall 2008 triumph)but creating our own. Instilled in us were several quotes and affirmations plastered in the halls; one that stuck with me was "To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable!"

I had determined that I would see the day my degree was in my hands! Now, had I made an actual five year plan, my collegiate endeavors would have taken four out of those. Alas, we get to now. As I like to say, Life happens to everyone, and to me it surely did. It was not in my plan that I would suffer the loss of my grandmother, whom I was very close to, the spring semester of my third year. Nor was it in my plan to need an extra year to finish my degree requirement for something I should have and was well able to prevent through proper planning.

As a former baby of the family, I try my best to gently instill into my younger brother (16) and sister (14) the importance of choices in life. I always tell my younger brother No matter how big or small the decision, it will have an adverse effect on the desired outcome you have for your life. Through my experience, I cannot force them not to do what is the best for them through their own journey in life despite mistakes I have made and learned from to save them from similar growing pains.

Plan your work, and work your plan is another quote I live by. I am by NO means perfect, nor do I have desire to attain perfection. Life has taught me that valuable lesson as well. I just do what is best for me at the time. I plan as much as possible with the assistance of a daily planner, which I covered in magazine clippings to create a mini-vision board, sticky note to do lists and reminders. I keep affirmations and quotes on hand as well; things I picked up from my dean and advisor from my undergraduate studies.

Overall, I am extremely grateful for each lesson no matter how great or small that made me into the woman I am today. One thing I know for sure is in the next five years I will be a better woman, because it is my aim to grow with each day!

Sunday, March 31, 2013

The Never Ending Circle of Life

So, tonight as I assisted my mother and watched her work in the kitchen to pick up some things and techniques prior to our big day tomorrow: Resurrection Sunday as well as my younger brother's 16th Birthday! --we watched some movies. And may I say BET did not do too shabbily as they normally do in my humble opinion, we watched a couple of movies. A refreshing end to our long and busy day of running errands gathering rations for our feast, as well as luaghs, memories, and grand times with my Aunt Lisa, one of her three older sisters, closest in three years in comparison to the two eldest.

I must say, I love my family, down to their bone gristle. They helped nurture me, like a gardener with their careful hands, into the woman I am today. I am digressing from this post's intended purpose...the movies we watched were Tyler Perry's "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" which I was finally able to see through to the end, despite it's premiering in 2009, and Funny Valentine's starring Loretta Divine and Alfre Woodard. Their on screen chemistry is amazing, as it should have been seeing they had played sisters in the film. In the movie, the woman who delivered Dearie B (Divine's character) was approached by Joyce Maye (Woodard) after Joyce discovered Dearie B's birth certificate and discovering they were indeed sisters, who shared the same biological mother, and not first cousins -Dearie B was raised by their aunt as her own child.

Before this specific visit to the doula, Joyce visited with Dearie and had her tell the story of how she was born breech, which she had loved to hear. The doula had confirmed the story, adding more--including how she always buries the placenta from children she helped bring into the world beneath a rosebush, and not a tree.

I found this highly interesting, so of course I had to search it! My search was 'why do women bury rosebushes or trees on top of a woman's afterbirth?' and after a condescendingly gentle correction of women to people, I came upon this and several other webpage results.

Such amazing traditions and analogies I had found! From the continuance to everlasting life from being buries under a tree to affecting a woman's future fertility.

This makes me want to look further into the natural birthing process, and also watching The Business of Being Born, produced by talk show host and author Ricki Lake.

I hope this brought new light on an occurrence that takes place the world over each second of each day, and you take away some information with you that will open you up to more in life, if anything more appreciation of how you got here in the first place! :-}

Here are some supplemental links on similar topics:

Placenta Encapsulation 
The Spiritual Art of Natural Birth
Placenta Benefits
How Home Birthing Helps Black Women Connect With African Roots
Erykah Badu on Natural/Home Births & Importance of Birthing Plans


Musical Musings: Not Tonight- Elle Varner


Not Tonight- Elle Varner
From her debut album, Perfectly Imperfect. I find this record absolutely captivating. I believe several people have felt this way at some point in their lives (despite gender/sexual orientation). That’s a part of the beauty in music; what we can’t find the words or courage to say, someone has. Speechless on how much these kinds of records mean to me.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Lessons From My Niece & Nephew

My brother made some BEAUTIFUL children! The next generation of greatness. Although they may not know it, a lot of things I aspire to do is to make the quality of life and opportunities they will have beyond their wildest dreams. Just being able to experience their pure love, joy, and laughter is the greatest blessing. And I’m just their aunt! Seeing my brother become a parent has helped me see what a magical gift from God life truly is! These two are so inspiring to me, when I have children of my own someday, I will be thankful for the experience gained from these two!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Raised Rich (Episode Recap/Opinions)

Lala's Full Court Life "Always Bet On Lala" S3E5

In this episode of Lala's Full Court Life 3rd season of hit reality show, Alani "Lala" Vasquez-Anthony accompanied with her "entourage" (quoted because they feel like family and you can obvs see they are indeed REAL PEOPLE not a whole bunch of jerks pumping fluid into an egomaniac's brain) goes on a business trip with her son Kiyan, brother Diego --who is a total FOX by the way!, cousin Dice, longtime friend Po, stylist Jason (recently married CONGRATS!), and tons of beefcake security to host a pool party in a casino in Connecticut.
Po "dived in" --a la  Trey Songz fully dressed. Now that's gangsta!


In this 30 minute installment, we witness her battle weaning herself off a love for gambling --as a native of Atlantic City, NJ I have seen how many can fall into the hype of the slot machines and commend her for trying to cut back while she is on this business trip. Some people walk around like zombies from machine to machine, table to table.
Jason Po & Dice turn things upside down at the golf course to keep La's mind off gambling


She also witnesses her only child, who is only 5 years old, experience something she and her husband, NY Knicks Forward Carmello Anthony, have become quite accustomed to due to their lifestyle. He is approached by fans at an event because he is the face of Jordan kids. So he's signing autographs and taking pictures, Dice said he signed his autographs like his dad, and after later in the show (Ep 6) when they're in Puerto Rico you can see he surely does! How adrobs is that?
The Great Kiyan Anthony signing autographs for his legions of fans :-}

Being only five, Kiyan gets a little agitated after some time and much to Lala's dismay, begins to forget his manners. She kindly reminds him to say thank you to the children, and to the store manager who had fit him with a New York Giants Victor Cruz jersey, in addition to some other gifts.

A talk with Kiyan stressing the importance of appreciation

To get her mind off of the itch to gamble, Po and Dice find a bowling alley in the casino and think it's perfect since that's one of Lala's favorite hobbies. After creating a scheme to "go to a meeting at the club" she skips out on the trips down the lanes, and hit the slots. Her good luck charm happened to be her friend Ashley, after a bribe of 300 bones. She made a nice comeup on over 2,000 on two machines that we've seen.
Lala celebrating her vicotry

So she gets busted, and Po and Dice come to her hotel room with her Neon Yellow and Clear pointy cap toe Loboutins that she left behind during her "meeting" with the slots. Dice poked some fun at her on how she left her Loubs behind to gamble in bowling shoes. "What do these mean NOTHING to you!?" Shoot, those bad boys are a couple of thousand, AND to die for. If you want to donate any shoes this way La, I wear a 8.5/9 and they would have a VERY happy home! lol

She admits to a problem and creates a solution for her and Kiyan's bout of selfishness: DONATING! I absolutely adored this because ever since I can remember, my mother would always have us gather toys, shoes, clothes, WHATEVER it was that we could no longer fit, or didn't enjoy anymore to donate to various centers who would give them to families in need. It's a very beautiful thing to be in a position where you can give new or gently used items away so someone else can enjoy them. Kiyan was very enthused, and picked out several footballs/basketballs, dolls, and an uber cool toy snake which he seemed to love. He also had a great time with the kids playing with them and the toys.

Kiyan picking gifts to donate to children

She also took her crew to a nice fancy dinner, which she picked up the tab to. You've GOTTA love having those special people around you who keeps you grounded and level headed when you start to act a lil Cray!

Good times with even better people

In conclusion, I would like to express how much of an inspiration Lala is to me. She takes care of her business, and her family. Never leaving them behind or playing them second to her career. She clearly loves both, but family is FIRST, and despite how many opportunities one may have, you only have one family and we don't know how much time we have with them.

She does her best to instill morals and values in her son, and has amazing people surrounding her who also adds that to him.Watch more of the show and see how Lala manages to balance being a mother, wife, and career woman, as well as the hijinks she gets into with her crew!


New episodes of Lala's Full Court Life Monday's 10 and 10:30pm Eastern Two new episodes back to back for the total of one full hour of La and the crew! Tune in and enjoy
Photo Courtesy: Vh1 Lala's Full Court Life Season 3 Gallery

There is absolutely NO copyright infringements intended, or claims of ownership on these photos. I am simply a fan of the show, and network, expressing my personal opinions.

Original Post Date: Monday, March 4, 2013

Life is But a Dream



Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! The BeyHive is surely buzzing today after an eventful night for the "Diva". It all began with Beyoncé appearing on Oprah's Next Chapter, where they chatted for an hour on various topics concerning Bey's career and home life. 
My favorite parts of the interview were:

  • She may have been nervous, but seemed very comfortable with Oprah. Just like talking with a friend, except with several cameras and other people in the room. Extremely intimate setting, as in all of her Next Chapter interviews. But there was something here that just emanated off the screen and into my home. As a result of this, she didn't seem like an airhead, as she may (or may not have due to varying opinions) in the past.
  • How Oprah called her out on keeping her marriage a secret at first. Of course we all knew anyway when rumors began to swirl. If you're proud of your love, why hide that from anyone? Making a statement saying "Yes, I am married" is in NO way shape or form allowing anyone to pry in your personal life. Many of her fans may have been hurt and that could've caused damage to her fan base, loyalty of her fans, and her brand as a whole.
  • She gave insight into being the mother of Blue by sharing her little girl's personality and saying "I'm gonna have me a time." Tres adorable.



Immediately after the "Next Chapter" Interview, her documentary "Life is But A Dream", premiered on HBO. My favorite moments she captured in her documentary were:

  • First and foremost, I have to speak on how courageous she was to share the pain she felt about the miscarriage of their first child.
  • When she and Jay-Z were, what appeared to me to be sitting dockside in Italy, having dinner and singing ColdPlay's lyrics while looking in each other's eyes.
  • How she tried to show us just how human she really is. She emphasized that she gets angry, and cries, etc. She also touched on how crazy it is now compared to when she first emerged into the music industry. I also feel for her because even when she decides to stop making music, she will probably never be able to live a normal life because people around the world will still have Bey fever and want to pry into her personal life.
  • She could have showed us just the highs, but she showed every aspect of her life. Sad moments, joyful moments, etc.
  • My absolute FAVORITE part was when she was telling how she connected the dots from every point in her life and expressed how the dots are all connected, regardless of whether we realize it or not. That is VERY profound Mrs. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter.
In a nutshell, I LOVED the Beyoncé specials and if you had not seen them, I think you definitely should even if you just remotely enjoy her works. I shall wrap this with another quote from a separate interview: "You must have your own life before you're somebody's wife."

*Above and following photos via google images search info "beyonce life is but a dream"





Original post date: Sunday, February 17, 2013