My Scene

It is very sad how I have been neglecting you....

2008-07-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

Trife as Hell: Those who love me have been cursing me in public and in private. My sincerest apologies for leaving you all for so long. It is not that I lack inspiration, but that I am overwhelmed with responsibility, some of which I will share. (For those that don't know, "trife" is a little word we use in Texas to abbreviate trifling. See the 3rd definition of trifling in the Urban Dictionary.)

Needless to say, I love LA. I am recruiting my top girls to move here and it's looking good :) I have learned what it takes to please me: I love eating and I love being outside. In this wonderful city, I can eat outside at any restaurant daily. Tony Toni Tone never lied - It never rains in southern California! (ok, not exactly never, but seldom and when it happens, we get a few days of cute rainboots and then move on.) My two favorite restaurants are La Conversation on Doheny for breakfast and Caffe Primo on Sunset for lunch. I can be spotted at either usually twice a week. Oh, and when I am entertaining my out-of-towners who undoubtedly want to venture down Rodeo, I must eat the goat cheese and apple salad at 208 Rodeo.

How Do I Look? So, all of my "young adult" life I have been pretty convinced that I am cute. Seriously, all jokes aside, I'm a cute girl, no doubt :) What I have never believed is that I am sexy. I think all women can be sexy, and some even exude it, but for me, it has never been a part of my look or image. When I am out, I am often mistaken for 19, 16, even 14 once with my mom - WOAH, that's not sexy. Older women always say that when I'm 30, I will love to be mistaken for 24, so ok, it's all good, I get that. But for now, it ain't cool. I am 24 years old (important for me to state that because I went through a whole 6 month period where I thought I was 25 and you don't know what it feels like to lose half a year) and sometimes, I just want to look like it. I want to ooze maturity and sexiness - sometimes. Or I at least want to know that I can when I want to.

So, I felt that this all stemmed from my wardrobe. Over the course of a month or so, I picked up a few pieces to "up my sexy." I stepped up my new shoe buys in height and architecture starting with these D&G gems below (I have to talk in code hoping that my dad doesn't know what D&G means).
I also picked up a pair of the platform, yet delicate Fendi Runway Multi Sandal on supersale since the economy is bad or something :) Sidebar story: I saw them on Giselle in an old Bazaar in May, tore the picture out and kept it in my purse for 2 months before I finally gave up on owning them. When I found them on sale, they were less than half of the original price. It was serendipitous!

In addition to my SUPER shoes, I picked up an infamously body squeezing Herve Leger-style dress (knocked off by Bebe, inspired by Danity Kane's Dawn Richard on the left) and whipped out this little number to the right that I bought in 07 for Paris Fashion Week. I've worn it only twice and not even in Paris! (What a shame that the picture is so small. Just know that it is curve hugging and if you catch me in it, you are part of an elite club.)

The final addition to my sexiness - black eyeliner. Really eyeliner, period. I mean, I have always had a little fun with it at night, but then my friend, Shone (pronounced Shawn), discovered it and she wears it like it's going out of style. As a matter of fact, she wears blue eyeliner daily (not as 80s as it sounds). It's actually VERY cute and fun and flirty. Supporting evidence came when I watched SATC for the second time (we are so intimate that I am sure I don't have to spell it out for you). I was obviously able to pay attention to many things I had not noticed before. One such observation was that Carrie STAYS in eyeliner. In the movie, SJP always had perfectly defined eyes given her a sleekness to her look at all times. That was my next addition to my new more "adult" look. I have more frequently been wearing eyeliner and it is taking some getting used to. There's nothing I love more than a natural look (mascara, bronzer, lip gloss, and the very necessary eye brightening concealer), but the eyeliner just brings a definition that I really love. And don't rule out Shone's blue color until you try it on. Its adorable - yet sexified - and outside of the box in a great way!

In the words of Mary J., "My life, my life, my life, my life.....in the sunshine...." What's going on with me? School/workwise: For those that don't know, I'm studying film producing (different from production, people, google it or something) at USC and I absolutely love it. I love USC and my program for enlightening and educating me so much in just a year, but I have a year to go. I love my classmates to death and I am so lucky we all like each other. I just finished an amazing internship at an agency here in LA and I have optioned a book that I love and will turn into a film (more on that later).

As I mentioned last year, I welcomed the fear and fabulousness that moving across the country would bring and now, I couldn't be happier with the opportunities that I have had here in film and the fabulous people that I have met. I fall in love everyday with a new person or place in LA. I am a happily single gal thrilled to get up everyday and learn something new about myself or my loved ones. Not to say I don't have stressful and even lonely days with my people so far away (shout out to Wall street), but something about being on my own gives me a new perspective, and I think that is something everyone needs.

For your viewing pleasure, a little slide show of LA fun (here's where you get to see all of my wardrobe repeats).

Goodie Bags My friend and fellow blogger (like a real blogger, not like my trifling a$$) receives many goodies from God-knows-where and when there's excess, she sends them to me. Everything from lip glosses to lotions, perfumes, blushes (including something whacky called lip and cheek tint), and overnight skin cream. I am bringing this up for two reasons:
1) Shouting out Johnica for her delightful beauty treats!
2) Sharing with you all my most treasured item:

A little thing I like to call Hair Glue is a waxy substance used to lay down the flyaways. The Cutler Flyaway Control Stick is amazing! My hair is not tame enough - even when pulled into a ponytail - to be slicked back appropriately, so rub a little of this into my hands and it really smooths and shined my crazy little loose hairs. It is awesome when my hair is down too, because I - oh, I just realized I didn't tell you - I have theses awful, awful bangs that take up waaaaay too much space on my head and I basically try to hide them at every turn. Well, my hair glue blends them in a bit better too so they are more like whispy strands than the mullet they would prefer to be if left natural.

Vogue India: On ME Own As I have mentioned, I LOVE foreign magazine, particularly Vogue India which grows on me with every issue. I find Indian woman so beautiful and intriguing, which I could talk about for days but this isn't the venue. And I am of course obsessed with the country's fashion trends and how they are similar and different from ours. But I love reading the magazine because I honestly learn about women and their culture, not to mention it's a bit of The Fabulous Life of ....(enter Bollywood star name here). The January issue (which came out in June here in the US) discussed the rise of ME-centric lifestyle evolving among women in India as they learn to value themselves and develop an identity independent of their parents, husbands, and children.

"ME culture is set to thrive thanks to three changes affecting today's woman: greater access to quality education, social emancipation, and a thriving economy...Now we're exploring a side of ourselves that has nothing to do with the men -or anyone else- in our lives."

I was struck by the piece because it taught me a lot about where women are in the country and they are much further along than I was aware. But, as it discussed women in school, and women in the boardroom, and woman traveling the world because they can, it also touched on the woman who is simply learning to be on her own. It was truly a parallel to me, personally, but also to a stage I believe that all woman, have gone through, are going through, or SHOULD go through. I would encourage everyone to go out and buy the magazine, but it's expensive and I am the only one obsessed enough to buy $13 magazine. So, here is a highlight just for YOU:

"ME culture is like owning your own home: It isn't all fun and games. Identity and emancipation are all very hip and evolved, but traveling the world or buying yourself the latest Burberry bag requires the discipline to balance a cheque book, organizational abilities and time-management skills. It means putting in the work so that your company or business can manage without you for a while, but is happy to have you back. It also involves working on relationships, so that they don't disintegrate with distance. It means pursuing your dreams even when things get rocky. Finding -an being- yourself is hard work. Fortunately, we women are used to that."

Whew! Gotta love that. That last line is especially powerful. Lastly, the magazine gives recommendations "TO LIVE YOUR ME LIFE TO THE FULLEST" and one of them in particular just tickles me:

ON THE BOOKSHELF: Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat. Pray. Love: One Woman's Search for Everything. Part soul-search, part travel guide
IN YOUR BED: Manrico's cashmere sheets. Indulge yourself in luxury.
ON YOUR MP3 PLAYER: Destiny's Child's Independent Woman.
ON YOUR KITCHEN TABLE: Rosenthal's Andy Warhol home collection
ON YOUR OFFICE DESK: Prada Notebooks

Things I love....
My anthem: I Decided by Solange. The lyrics, the sound, ALL ME.
My summer movie: There are 3, yes 3. Sex & The City. Iron Man. Dark Knight. Woah. All of them. Each was a fantastic film, but SATC definitely made me whole :)
My fascination: Gladiator Sandals. I used to hate them, but they have totally grown on me and now I have a pair.
My mantra: Just Say No. Nancy Reagan is cool and all, but this has nothing to do with drugs. I have no problems saying no there. It's EVERYTHING ELSE. I am sure I am not the only one. It's time we learned our limits, people. You know who you are. Let's no longer stress about something we're doing for someone else when we should just learn to say "no" in the first place.

I think that's enough for today....happy to finally share...here's to trying to DO better!

BADassedness

2008-03-18T01:25:00.000-07:00

Shout outs to my favorite show and my favorite groups - I mean bands- right now!

Cutting a Rug...

2008-02-09T01:06:00.000-08:00

...on roller skates!!!
I used to LOVE roller skating, but like many of you, I am sure, I fell off. No, I didn't, like, fall off of some roller skates - that would be totally trife and I was a damn good skater. I fell off the sport (which was trife as well). But I rekindled that love with a workout on wheels early this semester. See above flyness for proof - that's not some random outfit I thought up. It was an 80's birthday party and folks were SERIOUSLY decked out. I am talking Cyndi Lauper/Madonna skirts and sweatbands. These people were not playing games. And I found out it was 80's nearly 2 hours before the party so I promptly cut a sweatshirt and paired colored tights with tube socks. Hey, nobody said anything about cool 80's, as long as it was 80's, and my hair was on only one side of my head so that counts for something, right?

So, the verdict is in and roller skating is just as bangin' in '08 as it was in '88. I LOVE it all over again. Apparently, I am not alone, because there is an abundance of 40somethings that pop in there round midnight on Sundays and Sinful Thursdays skating backwards and freakin each other on custom skates. They ain't playin for a second. If you thought ATL or ROLL BOUNCE was a joke, they didn't. Trust. Oh, and enjoy this little gem from the same night:We are 80's divas.

What Could Be Better???

2008-02-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

There are a few things I am obsessed with: music videos, movies, and MAGAZINES. I am mostly obsessed with the dramatic covers - I adore beautiful portraits, but I noticed in recent years that there are some really enlightening articles too :) My favorite of the fashion titles is Harper's Bazaar. They consistently make me drool over their fabulous cover women and the colors they choose to highlight them with. Some currently in my collection (yes, I keep them for years) are:

Surprising to some, I am SO not impressed with Vogue (hope that doesn't bite me in the ass one day, but it's true). I know they hold the rep as the world's leading fashion mag, but in reality, that's all that's gone. That dead rep was solidified with JHud's wide open mouth last year, not to mention what Andre Leon Talley did to her on the Oscars runway (my bad, Dre, but it's true). Must I remind:

(Not that I would ever hate on JHud. Congrats for putting a black woman on the cover, Vogue, but just because she is a singer, does not mean her mouth must be open at all times. Ugh. Vogue should know better.)

But 2 weeks ago, some credibility returned to Vogue in my eyes. I am an admirer of British magazines because their articles are usually pretty funny and there's just something classy about anything from the UK, so I pick them up when I can (I even like UK Elle). They cost a bit more here though. At my favorite magazine stand in LA, I came across something new that I HAD to have. I saw a beautiful brown woman on a Vogue Cover and discovered that it was the 2nd issue of VOGUE INDIA and I LOVE IT. Take it in below. It is both Beautiful and Monumental!

This edition - written in english - highlighted the enviable careers of 6 Indian fashionistas living the Manhattan life, Hillary Clinton's traveling chief of staff, Huma Abedine, international fashion trends, great online shopping sites, and of course a story on cover girl Deepika Padukone, a 21-year old Bollywood star.

an excerpt from Vogue's website:

"Vogue's launch in India symbolizes India's arrival onto the global fashion scene," says Priya Tanna, editor of Vogue India. "India is ready for a magazine that is intelligent, sophisticated, and that understands the stylish, modern woman. Every issue will celebrate the women who define and influence the new Indian modernity with grace, style and achievement. We want our highly anticipated readers to fall in love with fashion, beauty, and celebrate their own personal style."

Vogue India speaks to women all over the world, covering India as a major fashion hub and exploring the lives of Indian women living conquering fashion in all countries. I think the magazine and its presence in the US is a huge milestone in sharing cultural influence with the fashion obsessed here. Of course, it's expensive more to pick this mag up in the states (mine was $11.99), but this is history, folks! Fashion history!

Also, this week Tia (come on, if you haven't heard of Shake Your Beauty by now, What Are You Doing!?) was covering NY Fashion Week for Fashion Week Daily and she noticed an influx of black models on the runway. Stereohyped highlighted the event as well. It seems like brown girls are running things! - sort of :)

Congrats to Vogue India and NY Fashion Week!

Learning to Love Reading

2008-01-12T10:03:00.001-08:00

First, let me start off by saying that Halle Berry is the picture of nature's perfection as a pregnant woman. Obviously a gorgeous woman already, but she wears pregnancy with such beauty and a goddess-like quality.

Whether it’s Halle, J-Lo, Juno Spears, or another, this post is for the belly toting mother-to-be in your life. I have yet another amazing reading suggestion: A few years ago, I went through a little pregnancy obsession where I wanted to know the gross details of the miraculous transformation a woman’s body goes through, so I read this book, Jenny McCarthy’s Belly Laughs, and it was hilarious, honest, informational (subsequently disgusting), and I pass it along whenever I can. So if you're preggers (at first I hated it when people said that) or you are just looking out for a friend, it's a quick read so you can show your support by reading it together.

For a review of the book, check out this excerpt from Bookslut.com

Any chapter dealing with hormonally induced emotional changes, especially if it involves fights with her husband, is quite humorous. Chapters dealing with complete strangers feeling like they could tell her how to live her life just because she was pregnant made me fall over laughing. Also, perhaps predictably, all chapters dealing with bodily functions such as puking, peeing, farting or pooping merited reading aloud to whoever was nearby.

See the rest of the article here.

Finally!

2008-01-10T21:12:00.000-08:00

I had to wait two whole months to share my joy!! I have fallen head over heels for the debut book from Ms. Kimora Lee Simmons:

Fabulosity - What it is and how to get it

What it is and how to get it, honey! Oh - I love it, every page if it! Seriously, no matter what you think about Kimora and her booming (or I've heard 'bitchy') personality, she is a confident business woman of color who has created an inspiring and comprehensive guide to truly living your best life (I am stealing Oprah's phrase), both socially and professionally, and from the inside out. She's a mogul and a mom and, undeniably, a glamorous woman - and her book has inspired me so much that I bought 13 copies as necessary Christmas presents for women I care about. I would have bought 20 more if I could afford it - That's how much I LOVE and BELIEVE IN this book. And don't even get me started on her E!/Style Network show: Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane. Love it!

And in the spirit of my new handbook, I must share my newest must-have beauty item. Prepare yourself for what it, to me, is an uncomfortable, or shall I say revealing, conversation on my part:
So, I had always had pretty nice, clear skin until about 2 years ago. For some reason, right after I graduated from college, I began to look like I was going through puberty, as in pimples, people - really bad, hide out in your basement, teenage puberty (not pretty, pretty eeeew). Disgusting and humiliating to me to say the least. And what's worse, I could find NO cause and NO cure and my cousin is a dermatologist! Nothing! Awful medicines that dried my skin out or required timed routines, I seriously considered Proactiv, but was discouraged by my doctor cousin. Anywho, suffice it to say, it was frustrating.

Well, in reading Fabulosity, Kimora gave a few tips on the importance of eating better - Nothing that she claims to have mastered, but like many of us, she recognizes that there are many things a woman can do to take care of her "Goddess" (ahhh, Kimora, you know what to say to a lady) and starting with what we put in our bodies is a good idea. Cut to the chase, right?! She mentioned POMEGRANATE JUICE. I began drinking it just as a way to treat my body better. I knew I liked the fruit, so I figured I'd like the juice, and something about antioxidants and such being good for the skin, blah, blah, I didn't really know what was going to happen. I found that it has been phenomenal for my little face problem. In three weeks of having 4-8 ounces (a glass) of pomegranate juice a day, I noticed that the unpredictable, untreatable little gremlins had gone and were staying gone. Even when I thought it was just a coincidence, I was traveling and stopped drinking it for 4 days and one of the little bastards (pardon me) popped up! I immediately took to the supermarket for my antidote and that sucker was untraceable in a few days. I have all of my friends hooked, because they were with me - they saw the "Thing" arrive and they saw it go and now I preach the antioxidant power of the POM. (If you don't like pomegranates or pomegranate juice, my dad - another doctor - says you can also take a multivitamin with antioxidants in it.) I must warn you, if you're like me, and are facing some serious skin issues, the juice is like crack. I am totally dependent on it now, I must have it in my fridge at all times and I must have about 8 ounces a day.

Kinky Boots

2007-12-16T02:03:00.000-08:00

Not long ago, I blogged about some beautiful boots I was obsessing over. However, the price tag is ridiculous. Well, my sister searched for some affordable options and I will share her findings with you. Click on any of the pictures to get to their website:

Several Treats

2007-12-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

If you ever have an opportunity to see a performance by the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, take it. Really, no matter the title or subject matter, I am certain it will be worth the trip. Thursday Night, I attended the Gala performance for DADA's Alex in Wonderland, a show which Ms. Allen brought to life at the Kennedy Center in DC and revived this year in LA. With music by James Ingram and children of all ages dancing from ballet to hip hop and tap, it was a phenomenal experience. It was also an amazing fundraiser complete with a silent auction, all the proceeds of which provide scholarships for dancers at the academy - talk about Save The Music. With school, work, tv and computers, enough of us don't remember to get some culture from time to time and participate in the arts, so get on it. You won't regret it.

All in a day's work: Before attending Alex in Wonderland, I had a major priority and that was to go to Revival, a vintage boutique our here that I read about in Vibe Vixen months ago (Rihanna edition...OMG, did you know that magazine is now defunct? That's a whole nother story). I made a mental note that I would go when I had a little money, but either the dollars weren't right or school was kicking my butt, so I couldn't make it out there until this past Thursday....Finally! I am so glad I made it at all. I went with my mom who was in town for the gala and we had a ball. The owner, Nicole Swasey (left) is adorable and fabulous and I can't wait to go back. I found a beautiful magenta cape with fox fur around the neck, but I couldn't justify the nearly $400 purchase. However, Nicole gave us a coupon for our next visit and I have been pondering all of the places that I can wear my future fox cape (another gala, my living room, the grocery store).

To LA girls and visitors hoping to stop through Revival, it's important for me to mention the website (http://www.revivalvintagela.com/) because there are a few other Revival locations in the LA area that ARE NOT Nicole's, but this fabulous vintage collection can be found in Sherman Oaks, CA (which I learned yesterday is "The Valley"). Check it out.

Behold: Paul & Joe beautiful draped tunic which I tried on at some boutique store on Sunset and thought it was hot! But it was outrageously priced! $596! UGH! Anywho, it is also on shopbob so I have been able to lust after it for a month or so. It's so fly that I thought I must share and take my word for it, because it is even more beautiful in person than in this pic. [This is really a shameless ploy for my sister to devise a plan for me to receive this gift on Christmas. Of course, if I have inspired someone to splurge on this fab top, it's all good. I don't mind a twin.]

Delightful & Inexpensive

It appears that Supermodel Iman has created her own line of affordable accessories inspired by worldly finds from her own personal collection. Tia Williams, of the blog Shake Your Beauty, quoted Miss Iman as saying "[The collection is] inspired by the vintage jewelry that my husband has given me over the years...You're never fully dressed without an accessory! They're the stars of your wardrobe." Iman's handbags and accessories are available on HSN.com. Take a look at my favorite piece from the collection below (under $50):

Oh Happy, Conflicted Day!

2007-12-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

Until today, I had sworn off all things Sex and the City, the movie that is. I didn't want to see a trailer, a production pic, nothing. I was at peace with where it ended and I didn't want to see something that ruined such a perfect memory in my mind. Well, while checking for movie times, I came across the debut of the trailer and I couldn't resist, nor was I disappointed! View here! Love it!

Where Have I Been?

2007-12-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

I have no excuse other than the fact that I am a student, and a hard working one, like never before. I read and write, and have 3-4 hour long classes, shoot films on weekends, and see a lot of movies. My favorite this fall was We Own The Night with Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg. It was fantastic, but didn't get the attention it deserved. Catch up if you can and see the film. Oh, and Stardust I loved as well. Michelle Pfeiffer plays a hideous witch, and that's reason enough to see it!

So, in an attempt to ensure that I blog more (because my loyal readers sent me nasty emails), I am adopting the Bossip, YBF, and Perez way of life: Big pics, short, more frequent posts. Cross your fingers!

So, here you have it: my life in LA, a pictorial...

USC Codie

Here is a pictures of me and some of my classmates at Area. I am awful, because I have been out to a club fewer times than I can count on 1 hand since I moved to LA. I need to step my "nightlife" game up. Nevertheless, those are a few of my classmates and I think they're all fab! (I hope they don't kill me since I put their pics on the web.)

My guardian

Trudy A. Williams, Esq. - My godmother and my mom's friend since they were in preschool. You will be surprised to learn that she is, in fact, a Delta! (Despite the fact that she is completely decked out in all red, she usually wears pink. We were on our way to a Greek picnic.)

My cousin's 21st Birthday Party
Darling Tyler turned 21 in October and we went to this amazing and beautiful Indian restaurant on Wilshire (which I can't remember the name of). The birthday girl is next to me in the center with the midnight blue dress.

Why Is This Happening?

2007-12-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles: Ahhh, so beautiful and warm. Don't you just want to stay here forever?...Lies. I've been BAMBOOZLED! HOODWINKED! Los Angeles is COLD. Ok, so it's not New York cold, no snow and whatnot, but it does have a winter. It gets to the 40s at night and maybe 60s at different times during the day and chooses to be a sunny 70-someodd degrees at 2 in the afternoon. So the key, I have learned, is layering. Problem is, you need tanks to layer, you need simple shirts to layer, you need a nice drapey sweater to layer. All of this is necessary so that when you are walking to your car, class, lunch, etc in the middle of the day you don't die, or at the very least, sweat your clothes off.

So, I have been on a poor woman's search for the perfect "wear with everything" (or most things) sweater, but for some reason the trend right now is sweaters with SHORT SLEEVES. What is that about?

To the left is a Juicy sweater that my psyche was lusting after - much cuter on than in the photo. I imagined it with leggings and boots, jeans, pumps, etc. Just a casual little diddy to enjoy on a lazy afternoon. I passed on it once or twice, because I didn't want to spend the $198 (I know, ridiculous), but after so many mornings waking up to 60 degrees and reaching for it, disappointed, I decided to make it mine. I went to make my purchase and it hit me - I will have to wear a shirt under it, just to stay warm! WTF?! I had just plain forgotten, didn't realize that a sweatershirt/hoodie could possibly have short sleeves! UGH. Back to the drawing board, walking through the outdoor mall a block from my house and I found myself at Bloomingdale's with the same observation: Short sleeved sweaters. What is this torture? Then, the sweaters that are full length are $500+ or just plain ugly. Like this $598 number below:
Luckily, I have found a solution. The day I arrived in LA (August 10th), I was in awe of a black Tibi draped neck cardigan at Bloomie's. It was hot then and I didn't know what was to come, plus it was also damn near $500, so I passed reluctantly (I guess if passing is begging my mom, her saying no, and then going back each week hoping for a sale). I also searched for it online - Sometimes you can find your favorite items cheaper online - but no luck, except that Net-A-Porter had a cream colored one, but still expensive. Well, I must have done something right, because as soon as I was getting really depressed about these awful temperatures, the cream colored one went on sale! 40% off!

My Apologies

2007-11-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

About a year ago, I said some things I am not proud of about my new best friend, Kim Kardashian. A night of sleeplessness a few weeks ago led me to catch up on my DVR and even tune to E! for a few extra hours. I caught two episodes of Keeping Up with the Kardashian's and I was dying for a few more (and have since DVR-ed the Thanksgiving marathon). I was drawn to the close-knit family: Kim's 3 Kardashian siblings, Khloe, Kourtney, and Robert Jr., their mom, Kris, and her husband, former Olympian Bruce Jenner, Kim's Kardashian-Jenner siblings, and Bruce's son Brody. In the first episode I watched, "Photo Shoot," the family rallies around Kim as she must decide whether or not to pose for Playboy - which she is terrified to do because she is aware of her unfavorable and trashy reputation. In the second episode, the family is remembering the anniversary of patriarch Robert Kardashian's death. The special thing about this family, in my observation, is the reverence the kids all have for their step-dad, Bruce, and the respect that he has for their father. You probably have to see it to understand, but for sure, Keeping Up With The Kardashian's is worth a watch.

I say all of this to say - I retract my original estimation of Kim Kardashian. No hard feelings :)

Why? Why? Why?!

2007-11-28T07:32:00.000-08:00

If you're a woman and you have seen Common's "I Want You" video, then you probably couldn't take your eyes off of Kerry Washington's boots. Problem is, she is sneakily sashaying around Common's apartment and you never get a clear view of them. She wore what appears t be some adorable ankle high, cinched, dark gray-maybe black, suede boots - and I have searched madly for them and found only these by Paul & Joe on Shop Bop. The problem now becomes -Why? Why? WHY? are the beautiful shoes $825?! Why must I lust after them and concoct ways to come up with the money or justify the credit card debt? Please, someone, find me some similar shoes for an appropriate price - I'll owe you one.

Sensual Seduction

2007-11-28T07:17:00.000-08:00

What a title - for anything - a blog, a song, a Morris Chestnut film! Snoop's newest song and video "Sensual Seduction" is HILARIOUS and WONDERFUL all at once! Somebody finally figured out that T-Pain and Akon don't have to be on every track if you have your own voice synthesizer. (All my love to T=Pain, nonetheless) Congrats, Snoop!

Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction [EXCLU]
Uploaded by PeteRock

P.S. I know I am not the only person looking forward to Snoop's new reality show, "Fatherhood," on E! Then again, I know I am reality tv show fiend, so maybe I am the only one. Below is the commercial.

I know it's been a while, but expect more from me....soon.

Is That Yo Chick

2007-08-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

Do you remember this look? I don't mean, like, do you remember when this look was cool. I mean, do you remember when Eve looked like this!! What a transformation this style star has made. Lately, I have been admiring Eve's fashion choices. From make-up and hair to an entire wardrobe overhaul, she has become a stylish performer. With her first album in 1999, she greeted us as a hardcore Ruff Ryder, a former stripper (I am not here to spread rumors - that is supported by her imdb page) with tattoos and colorful cornrows. I have to give it up to her because her latest videos “Tambourine” and “Give It To You” really caught my attention. As you know I watch videos day and night, so I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur. Not only do her newest videos have bright color and cute dance sequences, but Eve, herself looks amazing, absolutely adorable, and the videos are speckled with creative and classy high fashion ensembles worthy of my sincere envy. (I think I spotted the highlighter-yellow pumps she is wearing in the “Tambourine” video at Barneys – Christian Louboutin.)

It is not as though Eve ever appeared one-dimensional. She showed an interest in fashion early on with the launch of her clothing line, Fetish, and in 2003, her UPN sitcom, "Eve," where she starred as clothing designer/store owner. Somewhere in that timespan, she developed into an enviable fashionista. I am not the only one who has observed Eve's style blossom. This New York Times cover I found online stunned me. It associates her with "Fashions of the Time." The photo itself is hot and sexy and a look that couple years ago one would not expect of Eve. Also, check out this article about Eve’s new album and her transformation both physically and lyrically. She has really reinvented her image for the better.

Saving R&B

I have a friend who will kill me for writing about this artist – as he has had some unfortunate experiences with him and his ex-girlfriend - but I write as I am compelled and I must give props when due. J. Holiday is a talented new artist whose new single "Bed" is dominating radio and music video channels. However, I have been a fan since his first single “Be With Me.” The video was filmed in the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl in DC and, as a semi-native Washingtonian, that was the first thing that peaked my interest. I found, in that first video, an attractive guy with genuine lyrics and a seductive talent. I was a fan of "Be With Me" and rocked the song on my mixed tapes (y'all know I mean cds, but mixed tape sounds official, like I'm a DJ or something). Now that he has released "Bed," everybody knows who he is and it's hard not to listen. ("Bed" lyrics here) I have heard the song and seen the video over a hundred times, and with the signature "Aye, Aye, Aye, Aye--, Aye, Aye, Aye," I am drawn in. Anyone, who has heard it knows exactly what I mean. I get chills waiting to hear the repetitive pre-chorus, and ohhh, I am lost in the song now, completely taken from whatever I was previously doing.

If you don't know J. Holiday, get to know him. Jump on itunes immediately. If you do know him, together we will hope that "Bed" and "Be With Me" are some indication of his album, Bac of My Lac, due out in October.

And So It Begins...

2007-08-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

I have always been someone who decided very quickly whether I was comfortable enough with someone to divulge my personal business. If so, I am an open book. By the same token, it doesn’t take me long to decide one should not be privy to that information. So I have walked a blurry line on this blog deciding exactly how much to say. I always wondered how Carrie Bradshaw was able to write about sex, love, and relationships to New Yorkers once a week and not feel completely naked in the street. Nevertheless, it’s probably good therapy for me and a bit of entertainment for you if I am candid.

August 10th began my life as a resident of Los Angeles. But the week before brought me much trepidation about this move for God knows why. My sister got married July 28th, one of my best friends had an engagement party (left), I lived out of suitcases and spent the whole week FedExing my belongings cross country, I got in a fight with my best friend, and I left a good man in DC. All of this left me exhausted, cautious, and insecure - insecure in the sense that my support system is seemingly disintegrating.

So, I found myself sitting on the plane leaving Texas for LA, and it is more than apparent where I am headed as two fake-breasted women sitting more than an aisle apart from one another are having a conversation. Two friends who didn't care to ask another passenger to exchange seats apparently could not go 2 hours and 43 minutes without talking to one another at the expense of the entire plane.
"Hey girl, are you sleepy? Can you believe all of the people on the standby list?"
"Like, no. A lot of them didn't get on the plane."
Woah, are they serious? Do I have to be in this conversation? That was the most ghetto, but I-live-in-LA-now-where-everyone-thinks-they're-special conversation I have ever heard. (It was almost as trife as my mom thinking she could use her blackberry to check emails while in flight.)

So a stressful and lonely couple of days followed as my mom and I unpacked my car full of ish, 13 huge boxes, and more than enough suitcases. My initial sadness slowly turned into acceptance mixed, of course, with excitement about school. Oh, and when my mom left me on Tuesday, I was again sad, especially when I was driving home from the airport and I saw a car with both a Howard sticker on the window and a USC license plate. I reached out from inside my car hoping they'd stop and say, "Hey girl! You went to Howard?! And now you're moving here? Me too!" Didn't happen. Ugh.

Things began looking up when I made plans to have dinner with my cousin, Tyler, who's in town living the bourgie life. (She is in college and travels around the country, asking her parents permission only after. If only I would have thought of that.) Don't get me wrong, she is definitely my rolldog, but much flyer than I was at 20. Me and the gals had dinner at The Belmont Cafe and I basically hung out with them until the following afternoon when my sister began emailing me about Pinkberry. I'm like "What the hell's a pinkberry?" (I thought it was some kind of fancy new Blackberry coming out or something.) Turns out it's some frozen yogurt concoction that P erez Hilto n apparently blogs about (uhhh, my sister seems to be a huge fan of his blog). So, I don't even like yogurt and was ready to move along but Tyler loves it and insisted we go and now I am a fan. Like, it was REEEAAAALLLLLLY good. They have toppings like Capt'n Crunch (or however you spell it) and Granola, fresh cut strawberries, blackberries, and mangos. It was outstanding - a true treat. So here's to Leigh (my sis, if you didn't know).

I certainly can't forget about the personal highlight of my week...On Tuesday, when I went to The Belmont with Tyler and her friend, Sarah, I finally had a chance to proudly wear my pink satin avec rose Manolos. Early in the year, I saw these adorable shoes in Bazaar (my favorite of the fashion mags) with no price listed. I couldn't find them anywhere on the web, so I called the NY store and bought them (a bad habit I began in Novemb er of last year and can't quite shake). I haven't been able to really do them justice wearing them with the one sexy black dress I own, so in Dallas last week, I found this really simple and casual dress with a hint of pink and wasn't even thinking of the shoes until I got it home and I broke 'em both out on Tuesday and was SO happy.

Tidbits

As a student in television and film producing, it was not difficult to convince my mom that all the premium cable channels and a DVR are necessary parts of my life. In preparation for school, I have a list of classic films to watch, but it is important for me to keep up with current shows and films that influenced my passion to be where I am. So, even though I am in a new city with new people to meet and new sites to see, I am a slave to my tv set. While waiting for the premium cable to arrive (I should have been watching one of the films on my list), I got caught up in what is now one of my FAVORITE shows in existence. Oxygen's Tori & Dean: Inn Love is fantastic. It's a reality show that follows a Tori Spelling and her actor husband, Dean McDermott, as they embark on the business of owning and operating a bed & breakfast. The catch is - she is majorly pregnant and increasingly unable to participate in all the work that needs to be done, they are on a budget, and needing to move into the B&B (as they call it) get the business up and running before she has the baby. I am on the edge of my seat in suspense at every moment as well as totally enthralled with the dynamic between the two of them. Of course, it's tv, but I find them to be incredibly cute and loving toward one another and ridiculously HILARIOUS. I watched the entire first season in a day and just finished watching the Season 2 premiere - They are back at the B&B with the baby, the Jamiacan-born nanny, Patsy, and with some unwelcome mice in infiltrating their business. Eew. Please watch! I was not expecting to be such a fan, but I am hooked. Thanks, mom (for the DVR).

Also, thanks to HBO's Entourage for introducing me to Alice Smith. They used her song "Dream" for an episode a couple weeks ago and I bought the album on iTunes immediately (yes, I BOUGHT it). Check out her website or iTunes to hear the song and others.
Then, last night, I caught up on last week's episode with Mary J. Blige and they ended that one with a new track from Mary J. that I can't find. I am not the only one though - I have read a couple of blogs looking for the song "Grown Woman Complex." It was a hot song and I am not the biggest Mary J. fan. Hopefully, you can find it and listen to it.

A Pictorial History of My Summer (well, some parts anyway)

This is for all of y'all who keep saying, "When are you going to blog about me?" and for those who text and email me angry messages when I don't update you as to what is going on:

Miami, FL - Bye Leigh Brooks...Hello Leigh Butler. Isn't that a gorgeous cake?!

Miami, FL - A long time coming....Me and Mercedes

Coco Beach, Puerto Rico - Me & my boo. Yes, he has huge hands and it looks funny with his hand on my belly, but there's nothing under it. Ain't we cute, though, y'all?

Washington D.C. - Pre-fish fry dinner. I had a fish fry in DC to say goodbye before I moved away. Tyler, Shone, and Chervonti were my helpers. Thanks, girls!

Washington D.C. - Love blossoming!
(Yeah, I said it. I put y'all on blast) I chose this picture to celebrating the blossoming romance between two of my friends - If it doesn't work, I'll delete the pic :)

Baltimore, MD - That's Keyshia Cole, y'all and I know you think my picture sucks, it doesn't! Why? Cuz I took it. Keyshia came to Artscape in Baltimore and performed. I love Keysh (as I affectionately call her) and with her fit new figure and short haircut, she looked great (unlike in her new video which really disappointed me), but her performance in Bmore was WONDERFUL, of course. LOVE HER!

Washington D.C. - Shone came in town to see Ibiza and I gave her this dress. What you don't realize is that leapord print Escada number used to belong to my mom. That dress is HOT and she gave it to me, but I never could come close to filling it out, so I gave it to the well-endowed Shone. (a compliment of course - one of our male friends actually licked this picture when he saw it)

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (Grapevine) - Kim's cousins, Janeen and Janelle (the two between me and Kim), the gorgeous women I look toward for guidance for when I try to get my "grown woman" on. Whether they know it or not, Kim and I find hope in everything they do and say. This pic is from a night at home with them, Brittany, Kayla, and Cindy to celebrate Kim moving to New York.

Fort Worth, TX - My love: Anthony, my godson. He's so cute!

B.F.E., TX - My ladies. Erika, Kim, and I representin' at Andrew's engagement party.

Downtown L.A. - Tyler's friend, Sarah.

Manhattan Beach, L.A. (or right outside of L.A., I don't really know) - one of my favorite line sisters is on her way to Berkley for grad school and stopped in L.A. with her boyfriend to visit his mom. Turns out, they're from Dallas and she is one of the sweetest (and chicest) mommies I know! I love Texas folk all over this country. It is no mistake that we are known for our Southern Hospitality.

The Devil Gave Me Prada

2007-07-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

The Date: Christmas morning, ‘06.
The Location: My living room in Texas
My gift from my mom: some basic black 1-inch Prada pumps for me. The thought was there but they were just not my style. I like high high heels…and she said I could exchange them….so, duh. It was a process though. It’s not like I could go to a department store and turn in my Prada pumps. She bought them through her stylist in Chicago, who got them from Prada in Chicago. So I had to send them to the Chicago store and wait for my credit to return. $375 – OK, everything at Prada is, like $400 plus, but whatever, it’s something. So, there’s no Prada in DC where I live, but it was cool, I go to New York all the time. Ugh! But then, I kept forgetting the credit receipt every time I went up there, so finally, 6 months later, someone suggested that I take it to LA since I had to go for a visit.

In June, I went to LA to try to obtain an apartment, meet some of my future classmates, and visit with my line sisters and friends. I was there for 5 days and had lots to do, but it was a priority to go to Prada. I had to use my credit! My friend, Candace, and I went to Prada minutes before closing because I had it in my head that I wanted this black wallet I had seen in Paris during fashion week. I wouldn’t have to spend much more than my credit, so if I couldn’t find anything else cheap, that’s what I’d get. Well, with some convincing from the salesgirl and Candace, I decided on this amazing vintage-looking clutch they just got in. It was a bit more than the wallet, but how often to I get a chance to buy Prada and not pay full price anyway?

Checking out, we were hurrying because the store was closing and I pulled out my credit card ready to pay the difference and be happy with my selection.
“Umm, you don’t owe us anything, and actually you still have some credit left.”
“Really?” I said, in complete disbelief, but I didn’t want them to renege. “Uhh, how much?”
“Like $200. I can’t look it up right now.”
With that, I slid out the door too scared to try and buy my wallet and risk Prada realizing they made a huge mistake. I was plotting my next trip already. The next day, I called to make sure their computer system still reflected my $200 plus credit and ran to the store as soon as I could. I got my wallet and I couldn’t believe it! A fabulous Prada clutch and adorable wallet for a grand total of approximately $1000…and I paid $200. $200! I was baffled and grateful all at once. Oh, and don’t tell anyone ☺

Look at my flyness when I carried the clutch to the BET Awards and afterparty. First of all, I LOVE this French Connection dress. It's perfect! I have worn it to a wedding, the BET Awards, and a presidential debate. (It's on sale now at French Connection.) Check out the pic of me, my hot dress, and my fabulous bag - and my proud stylist, Mark Gill.

Ibiza!!
On Friday, July 6th, the newest presence on the DC night scene opened its doors with a couple celebs and, of course, the fantastic ME. Ibiza, named for the popular and wild Spanish party island, had its grand opening with bright lights and a swarming crowd of thousands. All jokes aside, several of my friends are involved in the creation of Ibiza from financing to PR and promotion and I couldn't be more proud! We had a ball and I am sad to leave DC because I will miss the club's imminent growth and prosperity

If You Don’t Know, Now You Know PART II

2007-07-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

I am moving to LA in 31 days!!! If you recall, I took the GRE a while back and “failed” horribly. Well, don’t think I stopped there. I took it again a few weeks later and “passed” with flying colors. I received a score well above that required for my application and that plus an essay, 3 strong recommendations, a resume, and an ambush interview and I am going to USC, ya’ll! (That's Southern California, NOT South Carolina, folks.)

Time to share some things I have been keeping quiet. I love movies! I love TV! And I love entertaining! Years ago, I was a theater and (minor) television actress in Texas, but I stopped to pursue a “regular” life playing sports and focusing on school. (Yes, that is my old headshot. on the right) I have always absolutely adored the excitement, drama, and emotion that the big screen brings and I finally found and outlet so that I can actually enjoy my career by doing someting I love. In 2 years, I will have a Master of Fine Arts from USC’s Peter Stark Producing Program. The program grooms students to be television and film producers as well as executives in the industry. I have been completely in awe of the program since the moment I discovered it’s existence on the web (thank God for technology) and On March 14th they called me to congratulate me on being accepted into the program. What a dream! USC has an outstanding reputation for it’s Cinema-Television department and there is no better place to learn about the industry than Hollywood!

Since I was accepted into the program, I have met a few of my wonderful classmates as well as communicated with everybody and their mama’s cousins, sisters, brothers, daughters, and friends living out in LA. Though all of my loves are in Texas and the east coast and I am terrified to separate from them, LA and USC are a welcome change in my life, which I wholeheartedly believe is something we all need. This is MY YEAR! Of course, it is the first of many successes, but with confidence and determination, I found my way to USC and I plan to proceed with success in each step.

Why the belated celebration? Until Friday, I had a full time job and it was best for me to conceal my news from the public until I could inform the j-o-b. (I told them a couple weeks ago, but it was best to write, once I was unemployed.) The last two years out of college have been a time for me to learn to live on my own, attempt to support myself, and find a way to fulfill my passion for entertainment. I am here and there's one thing I must explain:

The title of my blog – My Scene: I selected it back when I was ready to begin blogging in November and certainly did not want to delay the process because I didn’t know what to call it. I love movies and entertaining. If money was no object, I would go on auditions all day everyday and pursue acting. However, I am also a businesswoman. It would never be enough for me to receive a check when I could be the one writing them. I came up with “My Scene” because I knew I wanted the title to have something to do with film, but I didn’t want to give myself away. So, my blog is called My Scene because it is where my opinions, my activities, and my stories shine. If my life is a film full of intricate plot twists and an assortment of interesting characters, each of my blog posts is my scene, where the reader sees my side of the story.

Our World is Changing

2007-07-06T13:58:00.000-07:00

June 29th marked an important milestone in American life and history if this conversation I heard while waiting for Transformers to begin on the 4th of July is any indication.

A: Rob, are they talking to us? She said turn off all cell phones and pagers. Is she talking to us, Rob?
R: Naw, she can’t be talking to us.
A: I don’t have a cell phone. I have an ipod-laptop-cellular…
R: I have a multimedia device. I have an MD.

My boyfriend and his cousin picked up iphones on their release date, a total of 3 – one for each of them and one to sell (when times get tough, I suppose). I can’t say it’s not an impressive little machine. If you have any doubt: It is exactly as it appears in the commercials, except thinner. And apple provides web tutorials/advertising walking you through its easy-to-use technology. Anywho, the phone really is hot, y’all. As long as you have a mac, you can sync your calendar, contacts, photo library, and probably a bunch of other stuff that I don’t do with my mac, but they do. They, meaning my boyfriend and his family, are apple people. The entire weekend was about the iphone: showing it off, playing with it, talking about it. The picture is crystal clear like a flat screen plasma tv making coolest thing about the “device” the ability to pull up and watch youtube videos quickly and clearly. Aside from Ciara’s “Promise” video and Beyonce’s “Me, Myself, and I” both purchased from itunes, any music video or movie trailer that is on youtube is accessible with totally clarity on the iphone.

This is the the most accurate and succinct article I found pertaining to the multimedia device:

Amazing iPhone "matches most of its hype"
“The phone is so sleek and thin,” reports David Pogue (New York Times) in his review of iPhone, that “it makes Treos and Blackberrys look obese.” And the software transcends. “It’s fast, beautiful, menu-free, and dead simple to operate.” If you need “to answer a call, you can tap Answer on the screen, or pinch the microscopic microphone bulge on the white earbud cord. Either way, music or video playback pauses until you hang up.” As for email, it’s “fantastic. Incoming messages are fully formatted, complete with graphics; you can even open (but not edit) Word, Excel and PDF documents.” And “the Web browser,” he points out, “is the real dazzler.” No “stripped down, claustrophobic My First Cellphone Browser; you get full Web layouts, fonts and all, shrunk to fit the screen. You scroll with a fingertip — much faster than scroll bars. You can double-tap to enlarge a block of text for reading, or rotate the screen 90 degrees, which rotates and magnifies the image to fill the wider view.” In short, Pogue calls
the iPhone, “the most sophisticated, outlook-changing piece of electronics to come along in years.” [Jun 26, 2007]

So, when it comes to the iphone, I’m definitely a fan…and as for Transformers, it was outstanding! As someone who had no feelings for the transformers toys or cartoons, this movie wasn’t exactly on my To Watch list. However, I was excited about Josh Duhamel (right, an actor that I adore and respect dating back to his days as Leo on All My Children. Soap acting is like boot camp), Shia LaBeouf (left, from Disturbia and Disney’s Even Stevens), and Tyrese (y’all know who Tyrese is), so I had no problem escorting any true Transformers fans (who, as a whole, clap and cheer throughout the film).

Seriously, the Michael Bay-directed film is hilarious, consistently exciting, the acting is perfection, and the creativity in providing realism to alien/robot vehicles is just phenomenal! I truly think it was one of the best films I have ever seen. It is in a category of its own, of course, but it was a wonderful experience.

Guess Who's Bi-zack!?

2007-06-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

Besides me, of course, (I haven't written in ages) but my loves, MAROON 5, are back! Who else can put out 3 albums in 5 years with the exact same tracks and each one be incredible, forcing me to forget the fact that there was still no sophomore release from my boys. Between 2002 and today, Maroon 5’s debut album, Songs About Jane, has gone quadruple platinum and they followed it up with and acoustic version of the same album and a live performance CD and DVD. Only maroon 5 can make 3 albums with different versions of same songs and each be the hotness! If you have never heard of them, you are certainly missing out. If you have, I know you’re a fan. Like me, I know you remember the moment when they won the well-deserved Grammy for Best New Artist….and you rejoiced in the moment you heard about their newest single “Makes Me Wonder,” even if I am the first to tell you. I am certainly not Maroon 5’s publicist here to promote their new single and album, It Wont Be Soon before Long, but I had to share the love!!! Get the album - it's a new style for Maroon 5, but it is nothing short of fantastic!

Hear the song on their official website now and see the video.

Welcome to my MUSIC ISSUE!

Over the last couple months, among other things, I have “discovered” a great new group, uncovered a guilty pleasure in a certain Akon protégé, and delved into some gross details about one artist I am compelled not to live without.

As all my friends know, when I get up in the morning, I don’t turn on the radio or the news – I watch music videos. Thank God for VH1 Soul, MTV Jams, MTV Hits, and yes, even TR3 (MTV's Spanish music videos channel). Several mornings I caught this really cool video from a band called Gym Class Heroes with 2 little dancing cupids. You know how entertaining it is when artists find uninhibited young kids who can break it down and drop it like it’s hot (think Missy's videos), but in a cute way (how corny do I sound)? The name of the song is “Cupid’s Chokehold” and, in addition to the two cool cupids, the song was hot, the video was creative and the lead singer, Travis McCoy, had such an intriguing look that the song became one of my hits of the spring.

I did a little research on the group, downloaded, I mean bought, their album As Cruel As Schoolchildren where I found another cool single and video, “The Queen and I.” One weekend, I happened to turn on the radio (which I never do) and I caught the end of Ryan Seacrest’s top 40 hits of the week and “Cupid’s Chokehold” was #1! Can I pick ‘em or what?

See the Gym Class Heroes “Cupid’s Chokehold” video here.

My guilty pleasure is an artist whose songs, originally, made no logical sense to me, his musical style displaying no talent, clear studio distortion, and useless, racy lyrics. Under Akon’s label Konvict Muzic and with hit’s like “I’m in Luv (Wit A Stripper)” and “I’m Sprung,” while catchy, I didn’t take T. Pain very seriously….until now. With my newfound ability to put ringtones on my cell phone, I thought it would be funny to hear “I’m in Love (Wit A Stripper),” when my sister or mom calls, and hilarious it is! I love people's reactions when they hear the song and they I answer, "mom."

Of course, it started as just a joke until I found myself lost in R. Kelly’s “I’m A Flirt” Remix featuring T. Pain (and the always satisfying T.I.). I find myself singing his verse, “When I pull up to the club, all the shawty’s be like, damn, 28s/ And I be like, Girl you know just who I am, Don’t hate!” Why? I don’t know! Something about that Roger and Zapp-type sound entertains me, but I am ok, right? Well, I thought so….but then there was Bow Wow’s “Outta My System” featuring Johnta Austin (whom I love) and T. Pain, and that song was HOT. And finally, “Can I Buy U A Drank,” T. Pain’s latest collaboration featuring Young Joc. The hotness!! I had heard it maybe once before when I went to Miami in April and heard it again in the club (another place I go, like, never) and something about stunning in the club to the beat under T. Pain and Joc just put me over. I was officially a fan. To my credit, T. Pain is also a dedicated producer, having created his own studio in his Florida bedroom at the age of ten (according to Wikipedia). So he is more than just a robot sounding hip hopper with crazy lyrics about liquor and ladies.

View the “Buy U A Drank” video with a cameo from Jay Z, here.

Kudos to Vibe Magazine

Obviously, it’s easy to be banging a song on your ipod or car stereo and overlook some of the ho’s, b!tch*s, and some other words. We, as a music loving culture, have been able to ignore certain language when we are feeling the beat or the melody of the hook. But what acts aren’t forgivable? I love R. Kelly’s music. I loved TP2, TP2 Reloaded, TP3, and several tracks and collaborations in between. His blunt and overtly sexual lyrics creatively entertain me, his voice is appealing, and he is a brilliant producer and a hit-making writer. And it’s not just me. The man’s songs blow the charts, his albums are several times platinum, and he doesn’t stop. I know it’s not just me. So, I recently wondered why we don’t seem to care that he is facing child pornography charges. Many of us even rushed out to watch the tape and with a laugh declared, “Yeah that’s definitely him.”

Kells was on my mind because with the “Make It Rain” and “I’m A Flirt” remixes in heavy rotation (and bustin speakers in my car), I felt a sort of guilt finding such joy in his music. Apparently, Vibe felt the same way because their May cover featured R. accompanied by a detailed timeline of his criminal charges (orinigally filed 5 years ago) and recording history. There was coverage from his estranged wife to his lawyers and colleagues. I never saw the famous sex tape, but Vibe's play by play was more than enough for me to visualize the grotesque behavior. I have to admit, just one paragraph made my stomach turn and for a moment, I wasn't sure if I could ever listen his voice again - for a moment. Then, of all people, Wendy Williams brought me some insight. She was disturbed by his alleged behavior as well as the paradox of celebrating this artist who she describes as having some very serious issues. Wendy says, "I love the music, but the man is disgusting." I never thought I would be quoting Wendy Williams, but she has a point.

I typically don't read Vibe Magazine, not for any reason other than the fact that I prefer not to read about music, but to listen to it. I am also totally overwhelmed with fabulous fashion magazines, but I read this particular issue from cover to cover as well as their new mag Vibe Vixen with Janet Jackson on the cover. That's a hot little magazine. They've had covers from Kelis to Tracee Ellis Ross to Kelly Rowland and, currently, Mya (not my favorite). Inside, you'll find useful beauty and lifestyle tips designed for black woman with a colorful and playful layout I adore. I am very proud of Vibe's new, feminine spin-off, so I wanted to give them a loud congratulations for their new success (in my eyes).

A Little About Me

2007-05-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

We have all gotten those emails that ask a thousand questions and then say 'forward this to all of your friends and see what they say.' Cute, but I hate forwards. Instead, I'll fill it out to share a little bit about me.

Smoked a cigarette? Yes, but I was in, like, the 8th grade and haven't been that dumb since.

Drank so much you threw up? Totally, but I certainly don't make a habit of it. I had to leave my own 21st birthday party because I was throwing up everywhere.

Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back? Who me? Never.....Yes, of course I have.

Gone on a blind date? Nope.

Skipped school? One of many times I skipped school my senior year in high school, my friends and I spent hours in Super Target. That was, by far, my favorite skipped school day.

Seen someone die? Only on tv.

Been to Canada? Nope.

Been to Florida? A thousand times.

Been to Mexico? Yep, spring break sophomore year in high school. I guess I was 15.

Been on a plane? Duh.

Been lost? Of course. In the car and in life.

Been on the opposite side of the country? Yes. I could count the times on one hand, though.

Gone to Chicago? Yes, for the NBA (National Bar Association) Conference and when my mom was on Oprah.

Swam in the ocean? Yes, but I am deathly afraid of the ocean. I stay close to the shore. You never know what will sneak up on you in that wilderness.

Felt like dying? Of exhaustion and depression - we've all been there.

Cried yourself to sleep? I'm a girl.

Played cops and robbers? Hell no.

Recently colored with crayons? Within the year, I'm sure.

Sang karaoke? Not recently.

Paid for a meal with only coins? Naw.

Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Hmmm....yes, but some things just come with time.

Made prank phone calls? Yep.

Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Ugh! Yes, and it hurts!

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Eew.

Danced in the rain? Back when my hair was curly.

Written a letter to Santa Claus? Not in a year or two.

Been kissed under the mistletoe? Possibly, but obviously, it wasn't that memorable.

Watched the sun rise with someone you care about? Yes, Fisher Island, on the balcony of our first place.

Blown bubbles? Yes, but not in a while. It's not that cool.

Made a bonfire on the beach? Why the hell would I do that? And where? Who does that?

Crashed a party? No, I do not go where I am not wanted.

Gone roller-skating? I LOVE roller skating!!

Ice-skating? Yes, I am deathly afraid of that too, and the last time I went, Robbie was showin' out with his cousins and busted his head open pouring blood all of the ice. It scared the kids and I was crying.

Gone skinny dipping? Yes.

1. Any nicknames? Co, Sonrisa, Mine All Mine, Renee

2. Mother's name? Renee. (Little known fact: That is not my mother's first name, but it's what she has gone by since she was like 5.)

3. What is your favorite drink? Alcoholic? My new favorite drink is a Citron Sour. Other than that strawberry lemonade.

4. Tattoos? Nope. I have thought about it, but I can't figure out what I would get that I would still love at 70. I even know where I would put it: it would be on the top of my left foot.

5. Piercing? Ears, of course, and belly button. There was a time when I had five wholes in my ears.

6. How much do you love your job? Eh

7. Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas

8. Favorite vacation spot? In the continental US - Miami. Abroad - Right now, I'd say Italy. Ask me again in 5 years.

9. Ever been to Africa? No. Hopefully soon.

10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Oh please, sometimes all day without dinner.

11. Ever been on TV? Yes. Wishbone.

12. Ever steal any traffic signs? Who the hell does that?

13. Ever been in a car accident? With my sister. She hit the column in the parking garage when my dad used to live in downtown Fort Worth. Nothing major.

14. Was it your fault? Leigh's...Oh wait, I just remembered another one. I hit someone, kinda rear ended someone, junior year in college. Brooke was in the car and I was out of a car for 3 months. It was pretty bad - for the car.

15. 2 Doors or 4 Doors? I like SUVs, so 4. Nothing wrong with 2 though. My current car has 4.

16. Salad dressing? Oil and Vinegar.

17. Favorite pie? Ms. Smith's Apple pie from the grocery store. Or just about any pie my Aunt Cat makes.

18. Favorite number? 7

19. Favorite movie? I love movies: Moulin Rouge, The Best Man, Romeo & Juliet, ATL, Harold & Kumar go to White Castle, The Notebook...and so many more.

20. Favorite holiday? Halloween! Then there's Christmas.

21. Favorite dessert? Dessert. Period.

22. Favorite food? junk food: nutty bars, goldfish, graham crackers and peanut butter, etc.

23. Favorite day of the week? The ones that I am not at work.

24. Favorite TV show? Sex & the City, Girlfriends, Entourage, Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? (I am obsessed with both the Style Network and wedding shows.)

25. Favorite Toothpaste? Colgate, I think.

26. Favorite smell? Cookies.

27. What do you do to relax? Watch tv and movies.

28. Do you have a message to your friends reading this now? Does any of this surprise you?

29. WHERE do you see yourself in 5 years? Wherever my fabulosity takes me.

30. What do you do when you are bored? Read magazines.

Staples, boo. Staples.

2007-04-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

I must brag about a couple of items I acquired recently....

The perfect flats: Dying for a flat black shoe for quite some time now, I finally came face to face with the look I was going for. When visiting Saks for a couple of spring wardrobe updates, I was met with the flat shoe I had pictured in my mind. It turned out to be the Tory Burc h Reva Ballerina flat, which apparently, everybody and their momma knew about but me, because now I see them everywhere. However, on this rainy but fulfilling Saturday, I had found my shoe. I absolutely love it for its bright gold accent and effortless ability to accent any simple ensemble. Oh, and I especially love the way the black and gold shoe compliments my Damier print LV Speedy bag. These details are minute compared to the fact that the Tory Burch Reva flats are the most comfortable shoes I own...and I own a lot of shoes.

My mascara: Just as celebrity make-up artist Tim Quinn recommended, no matter the brand, mascara is built to last 6 weeks and then be thrown out. For the last almost 2 months I have been testing mascara and, because I always feel the desire to splurge when in Target, I decided to test cheap Covergirl mascara: The Queen Collection, Queen Latifah's line of beauty products for women of color. For the first six weeks I used only Covergirl Lash Exact mascara followed by six weeks of the Volume Exact. I can’t speak for all mascaras by brand, but I have tried many others: Lancome, YSL, the pink and green Maybelline that everybody has (y’all know what I’m talking about), and I can say without hesitation, Covergirl Volume Exact is perfection. I constantly get compliments and it has maintained the same consistency, curl, lash length, and, of course, perfect volume over the six weeks. I highly recommend Volume Exact mascara and at worst, you're out 8 bucks.

Irrelevant, but necessary sidebar...

“The Last Kiss”

Not long ago, I spent some down time with my friend of (OMG I'm old) 10 years, Chervonti. We rented some movies equipped with Red Bull, roasted chicken and Chinese food, and Starbursts and just relaxed. Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette was a disappointment, but the usually consistent Zach Braff provided us with some "edge of your seat" entertainment in The Last Kiss. This wasn't 007 Casino Royal-type excitement by any means. The Last Kiss followed several interconnected relationships through different realizations and frustrations. It was an interesting and memorable film about relationship drama from a male perspective. There was a level of suspense involved worrying about the fate of each couple, one in particular.

I think most films hold, at the very least, an dialogue or monologue where the writer(s) obviously wants to send a message to viewers, some more powerful than others. In this film a man begging for the affection of the woman he mistreated is met with the following lines which moved me:

"I love her. I realize now that I love her more than I will ever love anybody else."

"Stop talking about love. Every asshole in the world says he loves somebody. It means nothing. It still doesn’t mean anything. What you feel only matters to you. It’s what you do to the people you say you love, that’s what matters. That’s the only thing that counts."

Amidst rooting for this guy to get his gal back (after a betrayal) and the uncertainty of how and if it would happen, We, the audience, and of course, the character, were hit with those strong words. "That's deep," I thought. It wasn't complex or revolutionary, but a reminder that at times when we know just the right thing to say, as well as times when we have no idea, we must exhibit the behavior that displays our commitment. And it wasn't just an "actions speak louder than words" speech, but a statement that said, "be there." You gotta see the film.

The Rosses

2007-04-01T19:51:00.000-07:00

There will be no coattail-riding in this family.

I saw Pride last night, the film about Jim Ellis, a black swim coach in the 70's who founded a competitive all black swim team in a rough area of Philadelphia. Of course, it was a tale of overcoming racism, overcoming one's past, and inspiring hope in a community. Okay, okay, GREAT film, but that is not why I am writing.

Even more inspiring than this powerful film is my growing affection for one, Evan Ross, son to Diana, brother to Tracee. I am a huge fan of the 2006 film ATL in which Evan first made an impression on me as an Atlanta teen named Ant. As any fool knows, I think the world of Tracee Ellis Ross, so when I found that her little brother would be starring in a film with the fine T.I. under the direction of Chris Robinson (a music video director), I was even more interested. I fell in love with the movie, it's characters, the individual actors, and certainly, Evan Ross. I have probably seen ATL 10 times thanks to HBO and Cinemax and it was no question that I was eager to see anything in which he had a role.

Enter Life Support, the HBO film released last month that focuses on the devastating AIDS crisis and how it effects families. Evan played a convincing AIDS victim, famished, weak, off his meds, and clearly not "living with AIDS" but dying from it. He was amazing and once again, I was impressed. (I am not here to write a review of the film, but it is a breathtaking must-see.) Last night solidified my admiration. In "Pride," each young man on the swim team has a a personality, a story, none of them are bad looking, and the acting was flawless. But I couldn't keep from looking into Evan's eyes, watching his talent unfold even when he didn't even speak. As an actor, he stands alone and he stands strong, and as biased as I may be because I am awe-struck by his fabulous sister, he has won me over in under a year with his undeniable onscreen abilities.

Just listen to this excerpt from an article in the Detroit News:

"Every now and then, you see someone and you think you are watching them at the very beginning of a big career,"[a media and pop culture expert] says. "I watched every episode of 'St. Elsewhere.' It was amazing how little that show used Denzel Washington, and I never got that sense watching him that here is a really big star. I didn't get it when I watched Jim Carrey in the sitcom 'Duck Factory.' "Evan Ross is 18 years old, and you can see this guy could really be a big star. … If I was asked to invest in the futures market of stars, he would be a good bet."

In 2007 and early '08, he has at least 4 films coming out: "Life is Hot in Cracktown," "Brooklyn to Manhattan," "Gardens of the Night" and "Burning Sands" If they are anything like the first 3, you won't be disappointed.

There seems to be no coattail riding in the Ross family.

Paris!

2007-03-18T19:56:00.001-07:00

Finally, I am able to sit down and write about the last couple of weeks (ok, well maybe a month). I have been going nonstop since I returned…but that’s not what you want to hear about.

Paris Fashion Week was an amazing departure from my life in DC. Of course, the shows were beautiful. The first one I saw the day I arrived was Valentino. It was classy and chic (the word for the week) and I just absorbed the experience – I was at Fashion Week – in Pairs – in the Valentino show – at the Louvre! How exciting, but wait, why does it feel a little like the Superbowl?! OMG – some security guard just tackled a PETA activist. Awww, man, I couldn’t help but stare, ya’ll. He took this woman out on the floor - in football, I think they call it a sack. It occurred almost discreetly, silently talking place in the front corner of the runway. It was odd how the show still moved fluidly so the audience could choose which to watch. I could still focus on the runway, but I didn't want to. Oh - and another woman was tackled immediately after the first. Both naked women were defeated and forced out of the room. (Yeah, they were both naked except for the "NO FUR" sign painted on their backs.)

In the days that followed were Mark, Fay, and Carly - three personalities I can't even begin to summarize. Mark, a handbag designer and my mom's stylist. Fay, a personal shopper/stylist from New York City. Carly, Mark's muse, client, and friend - a Lindsay Lohan look alike (Carly on the left).

Together, we saw the Stella McCartney, Celine, Giambattista Valli, and Alexander McQueen shows.

Everyone keeps asking me how the seats were. Well, the shows are not very big which is a plus, so there were usually no more than 5 rows on either side of the runway and sometimes 3 or 4 rows in the middle. That said, we were never far from the action. I took some less than fabulous pictures, but, to me, they are priceless because I was there! Style.com has pictures of every look from every show so people like Anna Wintour never really have to get out of bed if they don't want to. And yes, I saw Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Tall ey. Jessica Beil was there for God know why and Scarlett Johansson was in attendance representing Louis Vuitton.

In addition to Fashion Week events, I met many fantastic Chicagoans (Mark is from Chicago, so many of his friends and colleagues were in Paris) and my friend Porsha was working in Paris so we got together as well. We went to some clubs, we lounged in tourist friendly hotels, and we went to a great house party, thanks to a french jewelry designer named Natalie.

Aside from the beauty and excitement of Fashion Week, there were a few reminders of my true feelings on Europe:

1) The shower system. Why do French people have that stupid shower head that you must hold over your body? Who doesn't want water pouring down on them from above?! Who wants to HAVE TO hold the water over them just to get clean? I mean, I understand having the option is great, but as soon as I checked into the hotel, I had flashbacks from my time spent in Italy sitting in a sad, empty tub with one hand holding the shower head over my body and the other trying to keep a healthy balance of soap and water on my loofa....not ideal.

2) European outlets! Why did no one remind me before I left that I would not be able to flat iron my damn hair?! And don't think that a converter helped me any. I BLEW OUT my flat iron. It is useless now, something about the wattage. I am without a flat iron (even as I write this a month later). I was pissed to remember that little detail. Blogging, emailing, skype phone calls, itunes in the morning - didn't happen, because I couldn't even charge my computer.

I really can't complain though - I had a fantastic time watching Fall 2007 Paris Fashion Week on display before my very eyes and I will never forget it. Oh! And the coolest thing about Fashion Week is that press photographers take pictures of the people that attend the shows. Carly constantly got her picture taken and of course it was fun to watch BUT Japanese Vogue took a picture of me before the Stella McCartney show. It was amazing!

Here is a picture of me and Mark the day of the Stella show. You really can't see my outfit but it's MY memory :)
What did I learn?

Of course when I left the country, I was the designated civilian to report back to my friends with the hottest trends from Paris and the fashion forecast for the upcoming seasons. I was apprehensive about this, because as much as I do consider myself a fashionista, I have never been one to listen to what someone else said was the new IT-item. I observe what people are wearing: people on the street, the magazines, celebs and I separate my likes from my dislikes, but I have never been one to say "I HAVE TO HAVE THAT" just because some magazine tells me it's in this season. That said, I didn't absorb the runway looks dissecting the fall colors and shapes. Honestly, they all looked like slight variations of today's looks. I did, however, notice a street look that I was not ready for.

My wardrobe has been a union of two influences for about 5 years. Thanks to Carrie Bradshaw's eclectic and colorful wardrobe (courtesy of Sex & the City costume designer Patricia Field), I live with the knowledge that not matching is what's HOT, use bright many colors and mix them! Secondly, my sister Leigh told me a long time ago to never wear black shoes, and if you know my sister you would listen to her fashion advice. She was Carrie before Sarah Jessica was Carrie. I understood that no matter the outfit, black shoes just weren't necessary - Spice it up. Anyway, equipped with this wisdom, I have lived happily for quite some time. But in Paris, I kept seeing everyone in black...all black: black shoes, black outfit, black bags. At first, I thought, "OK, that looks nice on her."
"Ooh, nice bag...and I typically don't like black."
"Oh, I love that black coat."
and then it became,
"Where the hell are my black tights?"
"I need a black bag. I wish I had a big black shoulder bag."
"Oh! Black is so chic, so simple, so classic."
Now, I'm hooked. I am dedicated to finding the perfect black oversized bag. I don't shy away from black clothes anymore, as a matter of fact, I recently purchased some perfect skinny black slacks by Theory. I love them! I have a new little black dress and I am also hoping for a black Burberry trench. Believe me, I am so shocked that I have done this 180, but I love the look. It's fabulous! And I am not over color - I still love bright, attention grabbing shades, but I definitely admire the fierceness that black can bring.

2007-03-07T22:02:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Tracee Ellis Ross for winning an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series!

Y'all know I went to Paris, so I owe you an update. It's COMING SOON....

Something or Nothing?

2007-03-07T20:59:00.000-08:00

Written February 19th
I absolutely adore movies and my father is a huge movie buff as well. He never vacations and is always working, but in the little free time he allots himself, he sees just about any movie. Sometimes it’s hard for me to keep up. Early last week, he called me to discuss Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, but I had not yet seen it. I was aware of the plot: A man trying to gain custody of his 3 young daughters is working as a driver and finds himself driving a successful attorney. Some how, some way love blossoms and the two must deal with scrutiny from her friends and, of course, her own self-consciousness. My dad was concerned. Does class discrimination exist in dating in the black community (or any community for that matter)? I pondered his inquiry and with cautiousness and replied, “Dad, I think, for women, it is important to consider whether or not someone can take care of you.” He wasn’t buying it and basically decided it’s a shame that we behave that way. Hmmm, I thought. I take my father’s thoughts very seriously. His words always move me to think, act, or reconsider a position. At this time I still hadn’t seen the movie.

Daddy’s Little Girls, starring Idris Elba (Stringer Bell from the Wire) and Gabrielle Union in the lead roles, Monty and Julia. The fabulous Tracee Ellis Ross played a supporting role as one of Julia’s scrutinizing friends (the other was Terri J. Vaughn). Julia, the uptight lawyer, is more than hesitant to date Monty…her driver…with 3 kids… a ghetto, crack-selling baby mama…and some serious prior legal trouble. Are Julia’s apprehensions reasonable? In the film, every situation is exaggerated. Julia is insanely uptight and judgmental and Monty’s circumstances are abruptly and dramatically thrown in her face. Obviously, their incomes were significantly different too. These are the things that any woman considers when choosing a partner, and even more likely for Julia, these are the observations she assesses instantly. Some people, like my father, find this thought process unfair. I thought very seriously about it all week intending to justify my position to my father.

I got a lecture from a male friend about the fact that black women, women period, will forever be unhappy because we won’t date the poor man. We fought all night because I refused to accept that factoring in a prospective mate’s present career and/or financial security in the selection process is negative. Well, he was very passionate about this. “I know there are [women] I have on layaway.” Meaning: There are women that, if his financial situation was different or when it is different, he knows these women will want him. He obviously feels this is ridiculously unfair, but accepts it as fact, assisting his conclusion that women worry about the wrong things when choosing a partner.

My opinion is, as I stated to my father, women typically want a man who can provide for and/or assist her in the lifestyle of her choosing. I am willing to bet that men think similarly. It is about more than money, too. We want to know that our partner isn’t uncomfortably placed in our social circles, professional activities, and interests. (I hope this makes sense in my attempt to be both diplomatic and precise in my assessment.) Additionally, any person that has an abundance of wealth probably doesn’t care what their partner’s financial or social status is – more than likely they 1) aren’t worried about being the financial stability of a significant other and/or 2) have no need to impress any professional superiors. Now, know that I believe in LOVE above all. I don’t care how much money you have (yeah, I said it). That is my personal belief, BUT first impressions are the world and while my father did make me feel a little bad for the prejudgment, it is no more superficial than judging someone based on their looks. As easily as we hope the ugly dude doesn’t come over and holla, I will avoid the Greyhound employee loading my bags on the bus (let’s not talk about the fact that I ride the bus). Unfortunately, we may not get to know a great guy, but just like your friends say when you have a bad break up – “there are lot’s of men out there.”

However, like I said, my dad’s opinion matters to me a lot. He is seldom wrong (in my eyes), so I did a little research. The most significant of which was Nanette* (clearly a fake name) who dated and is currently engaged to the security guard at her job, a man who held his security post while in law school and has since graduated. So, naturally, I asked her what she thought of him before she found out he was a law student. He was cute and that was the extent of it. CASE AND POINT – she would not have got into a relationship with this man had he not been pursuing higher education.

Many other women also confided in me that they shied away from the garbage man, the waiter, or the cabbie for the same reason I had expressed to my dad - security. But is this a female phenomenon? I analyzed many male responses to the quandary. I asked my coworker Lewis* if he would date the fine-ass cashier at McDonald’s. He said no and we established that we don’t mind paying for dinner every once in a while, but breakfast, lunch, and dinner on me when he or she is contributing only a McDonald’s employee discount is not whatsup.

I was frustrated by my research, because, to a certain extent, I wanted to see the injustice in my belief and show my dad I was behind his criticism. That just wasn’t the truth. My vetting process in the dating pool was nothing but natural and MOST PEOPLE with which I consulted agreed. It’s not that we can’t fall for the “poor” guy, but we have to consider compatibility and potential along with physical attraction and we have to do so as early as possible. If, somehow, you make it past the process of elimination, and your charm permeates my heart, that’s a whole ‘nother’ conversation. DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLS SPOILER: Of course, the succesful lawyer and her driver with the three kids made it work and it was all beautiful in the end...but what you didn't see was what happened the next day. Did the relationship work? Was Julia able to survive the instant family a man with 3 kids brings? Was Monty ok with Julia making tons more money than he did? Who knows the answer to these questions. I only set out to discover if there was something wrong with women screening potential dates based on their job or career and I found that it was as shameless as the first look.

A Legacy Not to be Forgotten

2007-02-20T21:03:00.000-08:00

In honor of one of my favorite episodes of Sex & The City which aired tonight on the CW, I have decided to post an article that I wrote in college that will always ring true...

The Phenomenon

Dazzling Chanel suits, Prada and Cavalli ensembles, Fendi and Dior handbags, the signature Manolo Blahnik stilettos, and the endless jewelry ranging from a gold name plate to the large colorful plastic earrings of the 80s. But for trendsetting and fascinating fashion ideas, we can all just turn to an E! Red Carpet or the Style Channel.

Sex and the City is a guaranteed 30-minute vogue runway, but that’s not why we are drawn to it week after week and buy the DVD sets. So it must be the amazing, multiple orgasm, “scream his name” sex the ladies talk about in every episode. Actually, it is the exact opposite. Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes, Charlotte York, and Samantha Jones are your best friends. They don’t sit around talking about their unattainable love lives, because they don’t have them. Besides Carrie’s thousand-dollar shoe fetish, little about them is unattainable. They are four women whose experiences cross emotional, sexual, heterosexual, and racial boundaries. Beyond that, they cross television boundaries. Since 1998, Sex and the City has been like watching a 5-year movie. But their sexy anecdotes definitely don’t go unnoticed.

In the book Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell, writer Amy Sohn discusses the way the show’s creator, Darren Star, refused to deal with sex as an awkward topic. “He didn’t like the way networks tended to handle adult sexuality: in a wink-wink, nudge-nudge style, euphemistic and adolescent. Instead he wanted to create a true adult comedy in which the sex could be handled in an upfront and honest way.” And what followed was an epidemic.

The show can be easily criticized on the surface for its blunt sexual narratives, but that is also its charm. We tune in to get an objective view of situations that affect us every day, both in sexual and platonic relationships. Oh, and please believe the opinions are objective; There is a tendency to accuse television of inaccurately representing people and subject matter because their goal is entertainment. However, Sex and the City’s writers, directors, producers, and actors base the material on real events and experiences in their own lives, which personifies why we soak in every word. These four ladies really are human, because their stories are based on human experiences.

In Sex and the City’s six seasons, the themes and development of each character have been a major component of its success. They talk, they disagree, they laugh (at one another and themselves), and they fight loudly and honestly. They also cry, and we understand each moment of each emotion, not just because we relate, but because we know them. They’ve tackled anal sex, phone sex, baby talk, marriage in your 30’s, and alternatively, death, abortion, cancer, divorce, and adultery. Nothing is too outlandish and nothing is too serious for these ladies.

So, in season 4, in an episode called “Time and Punishment,” when Aiden asks Carrie never to talk to Big again after she has cheated on him and she tells him she can’t do that, we gasp having expected her to lie and promise him whatever he wants. Instead, she stands at her door repeating one statement, “You have to forgive me.” She never touches him. She is begging Aiden for his forgiveness with her sincere eyes, fearing he will leave her doorway, but overflowing with honesty. And with that truth that she repeats 7 times, we watch Aiden realize its magnitude as Carrie accepts that she has to forgive herself as well. He walks forward and embraces her, slowly pasting their relationship back together. While we breathe an enormous sigh of relief, as the end of another episode clutches some powerful emotion from us, and we are reminded of the marvel that is Sex and the City.

For The Little Person in Our Lives

2007-02-12T06:30:00.000-08:00

“If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even know where to pee.”

That’s what I plan to say to my godson when he gets grown enough to talk back and have dates, you know, just to put him in his place. For Christmas, I bought him a potty training kiddie toilet picked out by his mother, my lovely friend, Erika.

Last Friday, February 9th, Anthony Crenshaw Jr. turned 2-years old and I wasn’t able to be there because they are in Texas, but Erika made sure to include me in the festivities. “We are going to have a party with ice cream and a C-A-R-S cake,” she said, Anthony playfully screaming in the tub while she bathed him.
I didn’t get it, “What? The cake is shaped like a car?”
“No, like the movie.”
“Ohhh.”
“Girl, he loves that movie. We can’t even say the name of it in front of him or we’ll have to watch it.” We laughed.

Don’t you just love the little people in our lives (especially when they don’t belong to us)? Chervonti has Michael and London. Kim has Trey Trey (and Jordon, new baby Nyla, Isaiah, Alyssa). My boyfriend has 5 cousins under 8 (that I know) and probably 100 more (he has a huge family) and they make such an adorable difference. They give us someone to invest in, someone to nurture, and someone to remind us of innocence. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my baby (as I adoringly call him, thanks to my baby’s mama, Erika, and my baby’s daddy, Anthony Sr).

The GRAMMY’S

As tired as I am of hearing the song, “Listen,” I sat through it one more time just seconds ago (I am writing this as I am watching the Grammy’s). [Sidebar: Fergie looks a thousand times better from a distance and does Will I Am has a Swarovski crystal Bluetooth earpiece?] I am overwhelmed with a feeling of awe for Beyonce Knowles. You may have feelings about her talent as actress, House of Dereon, or any of her many other endeavors, but she is a staple in our culture, our generation, and musical history. Her voice is incredible, her very natural beauty: undeniable, and her image of sincere kindness and purity is remarkable. SHE is breathtaking – and maybe I don’t feel it every time I see her, but whether she is singing “Freakum Dress” or “Dangerously In Love,” her voice, her passionate energy reverberates within any critical music lover. I respect her for that and was totally moved by her performance no matter how ‘over’ “Listen” I am.

WHAT A F-ING TREAT! I am currently pacing back and forth from my bed to my computer totally enthralled in John Legend, Corinne Bailey Ray, and John Mayer, dying to listen and absorb every word, note, and melody but also trying to write about this emotive experience as it is occurring. Thank God for music – that’s all I have to say. What an awesome trio they just made. I hate to be such an entertainment groupie, but I absolutely love award show performances and wish that the Grammy’s, Academy Awards, and other shows would make an album of the live performances and see them! Wouldn’t that be a huge money-maker!? There has to be a reason that it hasn’t happened yet. Ah well.

Unfortunately, I only got to experience the first hour of the show (and tivo-ed the rest), but check out this site for a nice breakdown of Grammy night.

**Also, for an entertaining, but very truthful look at the "day of love," Valentine's Day, view RAW Magazine's HE SAID/SHE SAID column. It's dead on!

It's Whether You Play The Game

2007-02-05T20:50:00.000-08:00

While my beau has left me for Spain (not permanently; He’ll be back Sunday), I occupied myself with a couple of friends, a great movie, and the artist formerly known as-and then re-known-as Prince.

On Friday, I celebrated 24 years of the life of my friend of almost 10 years, Chervonti. We had a birthday dinner at the mexican restaurant, Lauriol Plaza, complete with balloons, ice cream cake, and fajitas! Every minute of the weekend was interesting and productive, but it was also one of reflection. I was finally able to see Little Miss Sunshine and it was a fantastic movie! I couldn’t be more pleased and enthusiastic. I worried that it would be the dry humor of, say, The Royal Tenenbaums, but it wasn’t at all! It was downright hilarious with an adorable little girl and message of family and life. It centers around a 10-year old girl getting to a beauty pageant without being a flowery PG film (it's rated R). The film was a reminder that, “It is not whether you win or lose…” The film focuses on winning versus losing, fulfilling people's expectations, and going for what you want. Life is an everyday test of courage and determination – SEE THIS FILM.

I was happy to stay awake past 12 (which is late for me) laughing at Little Miss Sunshine even though I knew I had to get up early for another activity that I don’t participate on often - I went to church, y’all, and the message continued. The sermon discussed the "warrior spirit," and the mountains we can move with faith the size of a mustard seed. It was a perfect touch after Little Miss Sunshine.

A couple of hours later, I was geared up for the most exciting time of the new year: Super Bowl Commercials, but I was met with an unbelievable surprise - Prince! It wasn't that I didn't know he was the halftime show, but DAMN. That was no ordinary halftime show! Prince SHOWED OUT, as we say in Texas. That concert was amazing and it reminded me that (a) Prince is the greatest entertainer alive and (b) Prince is so damn feminine, I think I'm a lesbian. How can a petite man who wears 3-inch heels, has hair straighter than mine, and sings songs like "Do Me, Baby" in a high pitch be so sexy all the time? There is no rhyme or reason to the phenomenon, but he is an outstanding performer and musical genius. Who would have thought a 10-year old girl, church, and a tiny Minnesotan would make my weekend?

Found It In A Magazine

The January In Style Magazine (with Beyonce on the cover) had an outstanding story called “The Bargain Hunters Guide to Style” which confirmed some of the shopping rules I already know as well as gave me some amazing tips to share.

First, thanks to Mark Gill, I have already got this one down: Invest in shoes and handbags. Spending your money on some beautifully crafted shoes can make a simple outfit look immediately chic. I have been shocked at the countless people who are drawn to my $--- pair of shoes and compliment them.

In Style quoted “How to Be a Budget Fashionista” author Kathryn Finney on valuing your purchase. If you think about how many times you will wear something, divide the price by that number. She says, however, “If you got something on sale for $5, but you just don’t use it, you just wasted $5.” So true! And sometimes we don’t mind the waste because we think, “Well, I may wear it,” but that money adds up and it’s just not smart shopping.

When shopping at the Forever 21s, H&Ms, etc, neutral colors work best. The magazine recommends chocolates, nudes, or whites. They quote stylist George Kostiopoulos, "Wearing a color like hot pink in a cheap fabric is like holding up a sign that says, ‘I didn’t pay anything for this.’" If you don’t believe him, think about anything you have every purchased on a designer level in a bright color and think about the vibrancy of that piece. Again, it’s about the quality of the materials.

I won’t quote the whole magazine, because you really should read it, but between my pre-Paris shopping trip and In Style’s tips, here are a couple more suggestions:

When shopping, write down your findings. You may be able to find it cheaper on the web.
Check department store jewelry for great items that sparkle and shine like the real thing. At Lord & Taylor, I spent 40 bucks on an amazing pair of Betsey Johnson earrings that dangle like no other! They are dramatic and classy showstoppers. (See the ghetto picture of my earrings to the right.)
If you don’t buy something, but you can’t get it off your mind, go back. Destiny calls! I bought some boots that I'm totally in love with after I saw them several times without making the purchase - it was fate. When I finally bought them, they were half the original price.

Lastly...
Say what you want about Diddy. Say what you want about Kim Porter. But the two of them made some beautiful babies and you can't say these pictures aren't adorable!

If You Don't Know, Now You Know

2007-01-29T22:05:00.000-08:00

I am going to Fashion Week in Paris! Mark Gill, designer and stylist, invited me along to view the Fall ’07 Collections and I jumped at the opportunity. What a dream! So, in preparation, I need new hair (style, that is), a completely pre-arranged stylish wardrobe, and to calm my nerve so I don’t look like a crazy fashion-groupie for a week. To top off this absolutely amazing event, my darling friend, Porsha Summerville, will be there too!

UPDATE: I took the GRE again and did an awesome job! I am so glad to have that test behind me and for about 3 days, I was totally relaxed, but now I am back to juggling a million things at once and can no longer be free. While waiting to hear back about graduate school, I have a full-time job, PR duties for R.A.W. Magazine, 4 magazines to catch up on (I just got around to reading the January Vanity Fair this week), a great book about leadership and some scripts to get through for a film project. As usual, somehow I find myself with a million commitments. Oh, and my sister is getting married and I am the maid of honor….you can’t imagine…

The First Lady

Miss Renee (my mom) came in town this weekend and we met The First Lady! When I arrived at my mom’s hotel (her DC home) Sunday, three darling men sat in the lounge where we meet, eat, and drink, among other things. Greg, Luke and the fabulous Istvan (right). Now, all three were fantastic, but to the left you see the Pepto Bismol pink robe that was the topic of conversation. Purchased in the hotel’s giftshop, it was hilarious to see the adorable man bearing the title, “First Lady.” Our three companions were amazing: Luke, the PR prince, George, the Luis Vuitton toting lush, and Istvan, “The First Lady,” a make-up artist and master of disguise. The sexy brown haired hottie showed me several Myspace pictures with blonde hair of all lengths complimented by dramatic make-up. The afternoon was blissful, having a lot to do with the fact that George gave me a beautiful and warm taupe Fendi wrap, but also because the gentlemen were delightful company.

2007-01-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

Recently on TBS, I watched a Season 4 episode of Sex and the City just after Carrie cut her hair. Because I am searching for a new hairstyle for my trip to Paris next month (I will discuss this at a later date), her color caught my eye. I love the two-toned look! I am sure you can imagine how many pictures there are of Sarah Jessica Parker on the web, but these are the only ones I could find with this look, you get the idea.

I often wear my hair with a similar wavy texture, but my hair has been only a few shades away from extremely dark brown for as long as I can remember. Therefore, it would be a huge change to lighten such a thick top layer. I think the style is beautiful, but it is seldom seen on black women. The same look might be ghetto on a black woman…which brings me to my contemplation: Why is it that black women have so few examples of unique and chic hair icons? The same rings true for the celeb make-up tips magazine’s give. Often, I will go through a magazine and spot a beautiful make-up job or hair color or style, but the model will be white. Those looks are almost guaranteed to look completely different on me.

In fact, when I did my best to search for more two-toned looks on the internet, I found only limited options: two beautiful looks by two women who wear hair peices. I love the look, but neither of them has to live with it for more than an hour. (But, let me just say: GORGEOUS, B.)

Now, maybe I am frustrated because I don’t wear weave or wigs. Not that I have qualms with either, but Tyra’s locks are automatically disqualified because I can’t strive for a look that’s’ completely fabricated. (I hope I am not assuming too much by believing we are all aware that Tyra wears wigs.)

Here is my best attempt to demonstrate the selection available to black women:

Tracee Ellis Ross – She transformed her beautiful natural curls into what appears to be a roller set or large barrel curling iron version of the same do. Her volume is probably the hardest part of this look to imitate.

Beyonce – B is a great example of the various color and style options a various black women have. Because she goes through so many dramatic looks using wigs, and presumably, weave, she serves only as an inspiration to anyone whose natural hair texture might match hers that particular week. (I mean, come on, if you can successfully pull off the Foxy Cleopatra hair, it is not likely that your hair texture can also fulfill B’s smooth, straight tresses.)

Keyshia Cole – Another creative representative for fake hair. I don’t care if it is ghetto – I LOVE her two-toned red and blonde hair, but there is a certain level of celebrity required to pull it off. FYI – Most of us don’t have it.

Meagan Good – I am beginning to think Ms. Good has a large forehead, because she does not leave the house without those predictably placed bangs. Pretty style, but tired!

Tamia – I will give it to Tamia. When I “google imaged” her, a plethora of striking looks came up and I am sure she has brought about some “Girl, would this look good on me” discussions for many black women.

After only a few names, I am back at square one. Gabrielle Union, Brandy, Golden Brooks, Nia Long (thanks for the pixie cut, girl, but we can’t all pull it off), Sanaa (is it weave or not? I can’t figure it out), Kerry Washington, Thandie Newton, Zoe Saldana, Jada Pinkett Smith, Reginas King and Hall. Between weave or the typical black girl permed hair, little else is presented; When I think about cute hairstyles to try, I am seldom provoked to bring my hairstylist a picture of a black woman.

The moral of my story is much less detailed than my deliberation. I truly love the two-toned hair color worn by Sarah Jessica after season 4 of Sex and the City and I really want to know what it would look like on a black woman without having to be the test dummy myself.

FYI – While searching for black female superstars from which to steal hair ideas, I found this really cool website listing many notable black actresses and short bios: http://mahoganycafe.com/

MY OWN MAKEUP TIP:
I spent last week taking pictures of myself before I went to work. Sounds REALLY vain, but it was mostly because I tried some new make-up and hairstyles and I wanted to see what I looked like from different angles (ok, maybe a little vain). In the process, however, I discovered something for us all.

Do you see the pink highlight around my eyes? If you love it as much as I did, here's how I did it.
Application:

CVS sells a brand of make-up brushes by Essence of Beauty. I used the Smudge Eye Shadow Applicator, which comes with 2 brushes that are really just pointed sponges. I used the larger of the two (it’s smaller than your pinky so don’t try it without the brushes. Click here to see a product similar to the brushes I am talking about).
After the concealer and a nude shaded shadow over my lid, I applied the soft pink shade from my Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze (everyone needs a Shimmer Brick) in the part of my eye closest to my nose (as you can see). You can basically apply it wherever you like around the eye, but I had always seen celebrities in magazine with this look and thanks to my friend, Brooke I was able to find the right color and tools and recreate it.

In the first hour of the new year, I was in a foul mood and wondering how great of a year this could possibly be if, during the first hour, I was miserable. Well, I have no complaints about the last two weeks and I am actually hoping the act of one man may influence us all...

NEW YEAR'S NEWS:

"My Blue Hat Got Dirty"

Describing the moments the subway cars were going over him, Welsey Autrey said of the worst part about laying on top of a stranger in a drainage trench in the New York City subway, “My blue hat got dirty.” R E W I N D…A drainage trench in the subway?! Eew! This is the center area between the two tracks that guide the train on its path. Yes, the area where rats frolic and bums urinate, and mud, dirt, and grime collide to form new diseases.

Who is this guy parlaying dangerously in the filth of a dirty subway...and for what? On the afternoon of January 2, 2007, 55-year old Wesley Autrey was taking his young daughters to their mother’s house and witnessed a young man having a seizure dangerously close to the subway tracks. After trying to calm the college student and allow him to sit with his back against Autrey’s legs, the young man had another seizure and fell off the platform and onto the track.

Long story short, Wesley Autrey made an instant decision to cover the convulsing victim with his own body to prevent his flailing limbs from suffering the force of the oncoming train. There was roughly 21 and 24 inches from the teenager’s back to the bottom of the train, as the train traveled over the two of them. Autrey hugged the young man to lessen their mass and tried to make conversation to calm them both.

Autrey’s motivation was simple: he didn’t want his little girls to see a violent and bloody accident; His act of bravery was unparalleled. The humble construction worker and former navy man made an appearance on The Late Late Show with Dave Letterman shortly after the event. It is an outstanding interview that starts out slow because Autrey is nervous, but I have so much respect for Dave Letterman for recognizing the importance of this man’s story and drawing attention to it by interviewing the hero. I encourage you to view it on youtube.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

Will Smith, everybody. Will Smith. Not since Ali has his talent shone so evidently as in The Pursuit of Happyness. This time, I didn’t even waste a night to express my feelings about the film. Honestly, you have seen it already. If you have seen 1 preview or read any sort of synopsis, you have seen this film, but the experience of it, is worth the trip. Hearing of someone struggling to feed and provide shelter for his child is not new, but watching him do it, with fear in his eyes, but assertion in his step is inspirational.

If, for some reason, you have been living under a rock and don’t know what the Pursuit of Happyness is about, allow me: Chris Gardner was making very little money living with his girlfriend and raising their son. After she got tired and left him, he fought for a couple dollars here and there and faced homelessness. He is now making millions and it has nothing to do with the sales of his book or the film depicting this part of his life.

Often, I joke that if I had a child I would be more motivated. Cathy Hughes bought a radio station, then went through a divorce and lost her home. She had to sleep in the radio station with her young son eventually building a radio and television empire (Radio One & TVOne). Chris Gardner accepted an unpaid internship with the slight possibility of becoming a stockbroker and you don’t need to tell me that the idea of spending a night in a homeless shelter with his son fueled him in his pursuit to excel.

I know what it feels like to see yourself making a certain amount of money or fulfilling your dream career, but for whatever reason, we are not taking the steps. Whether it is our generation or maybe just me, our obstacles range from laziness to fear, but we must overcome them. For Cathy Hughes and Chris Gardner, they had a mouth to feed, a life to nurture, and that served as just the motivation they required to achieve greatness. In retrospect, they did just that, and we can all now see the extent of it, but greatness is an everyday feat, completely attainable to you and me. Commit to achieving your best in all that you do and everyday you will have made a significant contribution to your own success and, undoubtedly, that of others. That is greatness.

So, climbing down off my horse, I hope that I sufficiently shared how The Pursuit of Happyness reminded me that motivation is within me. Oh, and before I step down completely, please remember to stay true to what you love, otherwise, you won’t be truly happy. On that note, have a great week and feel free to post comments on my blog if you want me to discuss something in the future.

All You've Got to do is Dream

2006-12-31T19:32:00.000-08:00

The fact that I waited a whole week to talk about Dreamgirls is in no way indicative of my feelings for the film. I did see the film on its release date, Christmas day and I LOVED IT. Call me biased because I love musicals, but that film was wonderful – incredibly entertaining, beautifully made, and full of music and laughs.

"Jimmy got soul!"

Eddie Murphy reminded us that he has not disappeared. He is still the hilariously talented actor we have known for more than 20 years and he showed out as Jimmy Thunder Early! It was fantastic to see his Saturday Night Live James Brown imitations come back to life with depth.

It is no secret that Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce can sing, and you don’t have to have seen Dreamgirls to know that Jennifer’s voice delivers in this movie. However, sitting in the theater experiencing it is completely different. Her voice was made for Effie; It was made for “And I Am Telling You” and nothing I will say here can do it justice.

In terms of acting, Beyonce and Jennifer were blessed to have the easiest role of their lives. I don’t say that to trivialize their performances, but singers playing singers…it can’t get much better. I am not aware of any future aspirations JHud (she uses this abbreviation to sign off on her blog), so I won’t comment on her potential on the big screen. However, for Beyonce, this was the perfect role for her to hone on her abilities as an actor. (She said in an E! Network special that she hopes to win an Oscar before she’s 30. Before Dreamgirls, I thought that was a lofty objective.) I found her depiction of Deena very honest. It was obvious that she stepped outside of her comfort zone to fulfill a character that, although they had similar backgrounds, was unlike her. She did a good job and, if nothing else, showed her sincerity in the craft. I want to also bring attention to Miss Anika Noni Rose (left). While the characters garnering the most attention are the well-known ones, the well-credentialed theater actress did a fine job in the movie as well bringing some dependable talent to the Dreams.

If you haven’t seen the movie and are still in need of some convincing, check out Popcornreel.com. That site is also good for people (like my friend Shone) who are obsessed with the movie and all of its characters. It reviews each character’s performance. Oh, and don’t think I forgot about Jamie Foxx, but I guess it is true what they say: Everyone’s performance upstaged him. It isn’t that he didn’t do a great job, but that was expected. He was a convincing Curtis Taylor, Jr. and let everyone else steal the show.

Did You Know? Sheryl Lee Ralph (center) was Deena in the original Broadway cast. Ever since Moesha, she has seemed oddly popular to me, contributing commentary on BET, MTV, and E! Network specials. Not that one has to be particularly qualified for that, but I always thought her appearances were weird. Knowing that she was in a hugely successful Broadway play at one time kind of sheds a light on that.

FOUND IT IN A MAGAZINE

I was so blown away by this information that I had to share. Fact: We already know that it is necessary change your toothbrush every three months, your loofa (bath sponge) about the same. Thank God milk has an expiration date, but there is another very necessary expiration date ladies need to know. According to Tim Quinn, celebrity make-up artist for Giorgio Armani, and if you are like me, this will stun you, mascara, no matter the brand, must be replaced every 6 weeks. Who knew? I certainly did not. He says,

“Old mascara flakes no matter what kind it is. If you’re wearing it daily, you need a new tube every six weeks, minimum.”

Whether it is YSL or Maybelline, throw it out after just over a month.

SOCIALITE OR VIDEO HO, I MEAN VIXEN?

Who the H- is this woman? I know there are much more important and intelligent people I could be talking about (which I will soon enough), but, really, WHO IS THIS WOMAN? There is no denying that she is gorgeous, but that is about where the niceties end and my story begins…Friday night, my hip-hop devoted boyfriend was reading SOHH.com, a Hip Hop news and gossip website where they were awarding “Best ‘Whatever’ of 2006” awards. The site selected Kim Kardashain to present the award for “Chicks we’d like to…” (read the site to understand exactly what the award was) and proceeded to explain why she was qualified. SOHH claims she has been linked to The Game, P. Diddy, Nick Cannon, and after further research, I discovered that the 25-year old daughter of one O.J. Simpson’s lawyers from the infamous trial, is friends with Paris Hilton (which is clearly a strike against Kardashain) and has also been attached to Nick Lachey, possibly BEFORE his divorce. Well, I never speak ill of Nick Lachey (the divorce really hurt me), so I will move on from this gossip tidbit and move on to why I even care to learn more about this girl.

These facts and the half naked google images of her led me to write her off as a much more attractive Karrine Stephans (I won't even dignify her with a link) then I learned that she is apparently a stylist. I say “apparently” because I have never heard of her. So, I share this seemingly pointless story because I am curious as to who has heard of her – please comment on my blog if you have and in what capacity. I am intrigued. Is she a slightly famous hardworking stylist suffering from disgusting press (with half naked pictures on google) or a slutty, rich socialite claiming to be a stylist because she can afford expensive clothes? It sounds like I’m hating, but I am just curious, I swear.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T11:30:00.000-08:00

Hello Hello Hello

2006-12-24T15:39:00.000-08:00

It has been almost two weeks since my last posting due to a very busy week studying for, taking, and FAILING the GRE. Yep, I said it – I failed the GRE (Hilariously, my friend Walter continues to refers to the test as the GED) – after a few months of barely studying, I received a score below what is required for acceptance into the grad school to which I have applied. So, no, I didn’t get a letter grade F, but I didn’t get the score required for my dream school, so I am quite disappointed. I did, however, learn an important lesson and that is that prayer does not trump laziness. I just have to get serious and take it again with a new attitude!

Nevertheless, I have returned to my blog to share with you the more positive experiences gained from my absence.

#1. Thank God for digital cable, primarily Music Choice: Smooth R&B(channel 408 in DC). I was once addicted to VH1 Soul, MTV Jams, and MTV Hits, but Music Choice has taken their place. I next to never listen to the radio, so music videos were the only way to for me to keep up with new songs, not to mention I LOVE music videos. However, when washing dishes, cleaning my room (/living room/closet/bathroom/dining room – I live in a studio; It’s all the same), watching videos is a major distraction. Smooth R&B plays classic songs from Levert, Freddie Jackson, Sade, Babyface, and Luther and mixes them with Jodeci, Brian McKnight, more than a decade of Mariah, and a little Van Hunt, Robin Thicke, and Tamia. It’s fantastic! BUT, they aren’t videos. It’s beautiful, because, in addition to hit singles, they play songs that were never released on the radio and never a video. That opens the door to so much more music! I find it absolutely relaxing and motivating at the same time. I can get things accomplished while I listen to the hits of my time (though I am an old soul, I used to listen to nothing but old school R&B in high school).

#2. EBay. I remembered my high regard for eBay this week. For those of you who go on eBay and buy clothes and shoes and even cars and such, more power to you. I haven’t been so lucky. It’s not that I have been taken advantage of, lost my money, or bought a disappointing product, as much as I am just majorly paranoid about Internet purchases and I don’t even let it get to the point where I lose money. However, when it comes to finding random stuff to tickle your fancy, eBay is not a bad way to go. As you know, I adore Tracee Ellis Ross...Well, I have the fall edition of Vibe Vixen Magazine with Ms. Ross on the cover. Of course, I bought it for the cover story, but I found the entire magazine insightful and full of fashion and lifestyle tidbits I want to remember (Shout out to the editors of Vibe Vixen for that). Certainly, I would never taint a magazine with Tracee Ellis Ross on the cover by tearing out pages, attaching post-it notes, etc, so I had to find another way. Low and behold, someone is selling the magazine on eBay, so I don’t have to rip mine up. Crisis averted, thanks to Mandu's Magazine Megastore.

Oh, and I must credit eBay with another pleasant surprise: Christmas on eBay! The desperation of the holiday season and the desire to find the perfect gift led me to search simply for the word Beyonce and see all of the unique items that come up. I can’t tell you what I found because it would give away a fabulous Christmas present, but thanks to t-shirtmecca , my best friend Shone can show that she is Beyonce’s number one fan.

Finally...
LADIES NIGHT?? NOPE, LADIES WEEKEND.

I would be purely negligent, if I did not mention Atlantic City. While everything cannot be done Sex and the City style, my girls and I did bring sexy back to the AC last weekend.
CJ: the VERY hardworking Howard University law student celebrating the end of her first semester.
Kim: the supermodel turned “let me finish school” undergraduate who leaves the AC a butterfly
Brooke: an overworked investment banker celebrating news that is too juicy to discuss on the Internet YET
Sidney LarShone: my fiesty little Brooklyn blonde turned fiesty little red head…from Brooklyn
Kayla: one quote: “Ohhh, you look like the married one.”

2006-12-13T17:32:00.000-08:00

Congratulations, Miss DC USA Mercedes Lindsay!

It's Time I Fessed Up

2006-12-10T19:31:00.000-08:00

"Your wardrobe can always suffer for your shoes."
- Mark Gill

Mark Gill is my stylist. Well, Mark is a stylist whose clientele includes my mom and several of her friends. So, indirectly, Mark is my stylist, because I am lucky enough for those 6 degrees of separation. Mark is blunt and aggressive with his “gift.” He holds nothing back when sharing the lessons of outer beauty. A few weeks ago, Mark and I had lunch at Café Milano with my friend, Marchlena. She and I were trying to absorb as much free fashion advice as possible and Mark shared a valuable, but seemingly obvious, tidbit: “Your wardrobe can always suffer for your shoes.” I was stunned, but at the same time, I thought “duh!” Too often we neglect to care for our feet and sacrifice their beauty for some irritatingly cheap stiletto heel. Plus you can wear jeans and a t-shirt with some amazing shoes and still make a unique statement. I was enlightened.

I remembered my newest fashion rule as we strolled through Georgetown that afternoon. I contemplated a pair of $600 Cynthia McCartney black round toe pumps that I had been eyeing for a month, but passed. I loved them, but I wasn’t ready yet. I did get some fantastic skinny jeans though. Thank God for J Brand Jeans! (I wholeheartedly recommend them. Just look at Posh.)

Fast forward to today: I am poor, like really, really, really poor. I have been eating cheese and crackers at work, graham crackers and peanut butter at home, and crossing my fingers that free meals come my way through friends and colleagues. I can’t even afford monthly parking by my apartment; I have to park around the corner and it’s 30 degrees outside! I keep trying to hint to my mom to drop some funds my way, but she is not trying to hear it. But, please, don’t feel sorry for me…I brought this on myself. I spent $--- on a pair of shoes and now I am suffering by my own hand. It’s sick I tell you!

Aside from my depressing existence ever since I purchased the shoes, I still support the lesson. Shoes (and accessories) over clothes any day. I wouldn’t suggest depleting your bank account for some hot shoes, but choosing fabulous footwear to spice up your wardrobe rather than searching for a ton of new sweaters is certainly a great idea.

There's Hope

2006-12-04T19:47:00.000-08:00

An overwhelming number of my colleagues and friends in the class of 2005 have struggled to find happiness in the working world. We entered jobs hoping for a "stepping stone," a great networking opportunity, or for a good amount of money until our dreams become approachable. This process is probably very necessary, but nevertheless, it is agonizingly frustrating. Ideally, trekking through these preliminary positions will provide the motivation for greater purpose and responsibility. And with the cheerful intention of inspiring those enduring this enlightening post-graduate experience, allow me to introduce you to the first of my friends to receive a job she is passionate and excited about.

PORSHA DANAE SUMMERVILLE

Like many of the friends I graduated with, Porsha, a Public Relations major, entered the post-graduate life (also known as “the real world”) just hoping to open a door in her field. As a PR major, Porsha was one of the most stylish people I knew and her goal was to work at a PR firm representing a fashion line. She took a job as an administrative assistant for OK! Magazine, a popular British tabloid magazine just arriving to the US, just to get her foot in the door of an entertainment outlet in New York. OK! was intended to be a stepping stone, but she became increasingly frustrated not moving around within the company or finding that perfect opportunity elsewhere. She probably spent every day complaining to friends and searching the web for better opportunities until finally Showroom 7 gave her a taste of the fashion world.

Showroom 7 is a sales agency representing several national and international designers to major high-end department stores and boutiques all over the world. After 4 months as a sales assistant, the liason between the senior sales staff and buyers, still a little frustrated not being given the responsibility she desired, the company asked Porsha if she would be interested in being an Account Executive and she jumped at it!

So what on earth is an Account Executive? In her new position, she is responsible for growing clients businesses by meeting directly with stores and attending trade shows all over the world. So, that’s worldwide travel, a raise, and nurturing her passion for fashion. I could not be more proud (and jealous) of her and I can’t wait to brag on my many other friends as we outshine what’s expected of us and realize our dreams.

November is almost over, but I have a lot to share.

2006-11-24T22:51:00.000-08:00

What an evening! After another late departure from my exhausting job, I headed home thankful for finally reaching the end of this terribly long week. (I worked everyday, including Thanksgiving.) I have been looking forward to one event for a little over a month – ‘Bobby.’ Cutting right to the chase: It was fantastic. I am absolutely delighted by the last two hours of my week. I expected the tale of how a historical and tragic event changed lives, but the ability of Emilio Estevez (yes, 'Mighty Ducks' Emilio Estevez) to creatively develop and display the stories of the individuals in the Ambassador hotel the night Senahttp://beta.blogger.com/img/gl.link.giftor Robert Kennedy was assassinated was outstanding.
OH – then there was the assassination itself. As a 23-year old with little interest in politics and a slim recognition of historical data (I’m not proud of it, but it’s true), I can honestly say I didn’t know much about this man’s life or his death. Aside from being exciting and artistic to watch, it made me angry and frustrated at the audacity of hate. I can’t begin to understand what someone sees so horrible in people like RFK, JFK, or Martin Luther King Jr., so horrible that they must kill them in order to achieve – what? That, to me, is unfathomable.

Well, on a more positive note: Welcome, welcome, welcome! What a journey every day has been since entering the real world – W2s, the friendship diaspora, caring (a little) about politics, traveling the world, and learning that a career and a degree may have nothing to do with one another. I am introducing this blog so that you can join me as I recount many of my experiences over the past year and gab about the events of today. Together we will figure out how to pull it all together for a promising future. I don’t claim to have any superior knowledge, only many great friends in life, several wise and unique mentors to guide me, enough sense to know to ask a lot of questions, oh, and a plethora of reading material and TV to keep me fabulous!

Major credit to Darnell Sutton who inspired this blog. He reminded me that I have something to say and instructed me to present my voice to the world in the simplest way. And an even bigger credit to Johnica Garrett for teaching me what the hell a blog is.
Thanks, guys.

ITEM OF THE MONTH: It’s not a bag. It’s not skinny jeans. It’s a Promise. I am a total slave to music videos (among many other entertainment outlets). I work in 24-hour cable news, but when I am not at work, I am glued to VH1 Soul, MTV Jams, and MTV Hits day and night. (I take breaks for Girlfriends and America’s Next Top Model) I have to give it up to Ciara! I love the new “Promise” video! It’s so hot, absolutely outstanding! It’s so powerfully sexy and feminine and, to top it off, it was directed by a woman, Diane Martel, who has directed more than a few of Mariah’s videos. That’s fabulous! Isn’t it uplifting to see someone excelling at his or her craft, no matter what it is? (Obviously not referring to Ciara’s vocals, but her dancing ability) And the video’s obviously talented choreographer deserves never-ending credit for the inspiringly seductive moves.