Hot Chocolate

Things Unseen: Busy Signals

2010-10-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

When you've been calling on God for weeks, months even...and can't seem to reach Him, what do you do? Keep leaving voicemail? Call again?

Hang up?

Do You Like to Eat?

2010-08-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

New Yorkers: If you enjoy not being hungry, read this blog. Just do it. You're welcome.

If you're not into eating (obviously, you're lying), but enjoy looking at pretty pictures of food, still read it. Seriously. The blogger is my go-to person when I'm searching for hot restaurants in the city, and her blog is like a little manual that I can keep in my cyber back pocket. Next time your touristy friends come into town and ask you for recommendations, you can sound like you're in the know and tell them "oh, I know this cute little place..." And, who doesn't want that? Isn't that the reason you live here...trying to convince people that you're cooler and more sophisticated than someone who lives in Idaho?

Kua Designs: For Girls Who Like Color/When Boring Department Stores Are Not Enough

2010-08-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Kua logo featuring cover girl Kemi with her namesake bag. $48.

I've featured one of Ruby Buah's lovely handbags before, but her collection of handbags and jewelry, Kua ("Keeping Us Authentic") Designs, is officially on next level shizzle! After months of waiting, I finally stumbled upon her updated lines of clutches and jewelry, and my general reaction ranged from "wow" to "must.have.NOW." In a day and age where everyone is ripping off African prints and cloth (read: Anthropologie and other unnamed offenders...hey, Anthro, Ghana and Nigeria are not the same country. Thanks...) and claiming to have been "inspired" by African this and African that while charging Rodeo Drive prices, it's really awesome to be able to get one's hands on genuine African couture creations.

What I enjoy most about Kua in general, and this new collection in particular is its blatent, honest opulence. The designs are absolutely decadent, but in an easy, natural way. It's almost as if no effort went into the pieces at all, and they just all happened to turn out absolutely perfect--not so different from stumbling onto a gold mine! In a time of recession, the complex pieces are tasteful in price, but deliciously gaudy to wear, while the simpler pieces are fresh and basic staples suitable for any occasion. My biggest issue with the collection is that there is really no piece that I don't want in my closet, and if I had my way, some of the bags would be hanging on my wall as art (I'm not joking, and don't dare me). As a whole, the collection really is authentic--it's 21st century Africa and Diaspora together in crystal clear micro-cosm--modern, trendsetting, fun, grounded, complicated, true, and full of life and promise.

FAVES

The Calypso collection: Somewhere between graffiti for your body, and a tribute to Makola market, it also remind me of my father's native West Indies and our bejeweled, bedazzled, flashy-nuh-ra@# women...so, you know I need this necklace and bracelet in my life on an IMMEDIATE basis.

Calypso necklace and bracelets...enough to make your eyes fall directly out of your head. Starts at $84.

The Yaaba clutch: Sweet, sweet nectar for the eyes. For the woman who knows her worth...

Yaaba. $70. She speaks for herself, and you want to know her.

More...

Mantebea, from the "Axim" line. $70. And yes, that's dupioni silk--bright yellow dupioni silk. It's hard being a show-stopper. Enjoy.

Flowers of Fuschia earrings. $34.

Dubai bloom earrings. $38.

Akasi, from the "Kumasi" line. $90.

Afua, also from the "Kumasi" line. For the woman who wants to be the life of the party. $102.

<Ekleba flower pin. $5.

I missed the Kua Shop & Mingle event held in NYC this spring due to the demands of my round-the-clock corporate gig, but am begging my sister--who currently lives in Accra--to attend the Shop & Mingle event being held there tomorrow. In honor of Kua's successes, I've featured my favorite pieces from her collection, for your perusal. Madame Buah will be receiving my order shortly, as my birthday is around the corner and this ohemaa plans to step out in true regal style. You, too, can place your orders here. Happy Indulging!

Follow the designer on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates, or find out more about Kua in general on Facebook!

You Better Work: The Utilitarian Boot

2010-08-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

Fave Fashion Muse Rihanna in her work boots. Hot!

I'm really into the utilitarian boot trend...mostly just because it always looks so deliciously inappropriate with any outfit when done properly (the irony...). If you're not a fan, I'm sorry for you, because this will definitely be a major look for the late summer and fall. In terms of look, heel hight, and price point, there is just about something for everyone, so unlike many other trends (read: skinny jeans), this one is fairly democratic and egalitarian. To help you take advantage of the opportunity to channel your inner construction worker, I'm presenting the 10 utilitarian boots that I think are the best that the high street currently has to offer.

1. The Nine West "Buren" Boot
I always like to think that I've somehow outgrown Nine West, but they always manage to draw me back in with their magnetic little claws. I first spotted these while shopping with my mom in Montreal last week, and as she can attest, it was love at first sight for me. The Buren fits perfectly into my fashionatrix alter-ego--tough and edgy, yet feminine and ultra sexy. I bought my pair in black (hence, the "atrix" in "fashionatrix"), but you can also get them in a rich dark brown or a two-toned camel. With free shipping and $10 off the purchase from Nine West's website, and with a 1.5" platform, these boots are definitely made for walking. LOVE! $139 before any applicable discounts.

2. The Sam Edelman "Sanford" Boot
These boots are both rude and polite, both semi-formal, and casual, both for the day and a very fashionable night out. Nothing wrong with a little versatility! It would be said of the woman who is fortunate to wear these roach-killers, "when she was good, she was very, very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid"--which is the point, as all empresses should strive to be the best at everything. $275 at Nordstrom.

3. Trouve "Jenna" Boot
These are for bad girls. Buy them (in Whiskey). $129 at Nordstrom.

4. Steve Madden "Harllem" Boot
The shout out to my beloved neighborhood alone is enough to make me run out and grab a pair, but the boot itself is the icing on the cake. They're flat. They're well-priced at $130. They're hot, and you can wear them with anything from teeny weeny shorts to skinnies, to skirts, rompers, and leggings. These are particularly cute with strong shoulders (which, as you know, I love) and boxy sweaters a la the '80s. Alternatively, or in combination, pair with retro chain handbags, elbow length gloves (leather or lace will do), and/or the annoyingly hipster-ish hat of choice. And walk it out like you own the place.

5. Dolce & Gabbana "Torino Mouflon" Boot.
Thousand dollar boots are stupid and unethical, if beautiful, so just drool over these beauties from afar, and judge anyone you see who actually has the gall to wear them.

6. Michael Kors "Joplin" Boot
Grungy, military, chic, comfy, expensive. $425. Smart girls will wait and catch them on sale.

7. Lucky Brand "Blake" Boot
Love it in green. Roll-down cuff is an added bonus, and the affordable price is a definite incentive. $109 at Bloomies.

8. DV by Dolce Vita "Prince" Boot
Fit for an urban princess. Chunky heel adds grit, height, and comfort. $135 at Nordstrom.

9. Boutique 9 "Rivit" Boot
Nine West does it again, with my favorite in the flat boots category. Detailing, texture, and an interesting selection of colors. I fancy the gray. $200 at Nine West's site before applicable discounts.

10. Apepazza "Liverpool" Boot
Super cute in Camel, particularly with the chunky dark brown heel. Construction boot meets pump, with ankle straps--what's not to love? $200 at Nordstrom.

Honorable Mention

BCBG "Max Azria Toby"

Upside: They look like they hurt.
Downside: They look like they hurt.

While we've seen the shoot (shoe-boot) before, this incarnation is intriguing because of the toothed rubber sole. If your knees say yes, go for it! $250.

Dishonorable Mention
Joie "Refugee" Boot
Naming a boot "refugee" is incredibly distasteful. Pricing a so-named boot at $535 is unfathomable, and even mocking. Thumbs down.

Tips
~Check out Endless.com to take advantage of Free Overnight Shipping, featured for several of the featured boots!

~If you can, wait on the Labor Day sales, which are rapidly approaching.

~ Finally, enjoy!

Happy Stomping!

Hope

2010-07-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

Hope is the story of today.

Even if this exam doesn't work out, I will work myself out. God will provide for me.

In the meanwhile, I will continue to study.

The New York Bar Exam

2010-07-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

...is my excuse for everything: why I can't talk to you, why I'm eating junk food, why I'm not at the gym, why I can't sleep, why I feel like I'm dying, why I feel like I want to die, why I cry all the time, why I'm too busy to pee, why my chest is tight, why I don't give a subway rat's left thigh about any of your problems, why my dreads look like a group of armpit hairs got into a huge and violent fight, why all I can think about is causes of action and admissibility and things like no lo contendre, inter vivos, res ipsa loquitur, fees simple determinable with the possibility of reverter, the Privileges and Immunities Clause, holders in due course, the bloody Rule Against Perpetuities, abstention/adequate and independent state grounds,and "winding up" (even more so than I did before), and finally, why this blog hasn't been updated in ages.

Come back in August. Buh-bye. (*Insert primal scream*)

Who Is Slim Thug, and Why Should We Care?

2010-06-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

So, I'm just now hearing about this whole Slim Thug controversy (who is he?) and his opinion that black women need to "do all the shit that [he] say" and lower their standards. Frankly, I'm confused.

Apparently, he's a rapper. I feel really stupid that I'm not more (read: at all) familiar with him, but alas, here we are. Anyway, Mr. Thug had the following take on everyone's favorite topic these days: WHY BLACK WOMEN ARE NOT DESIRABLE AND WILL ALL DIE ALONE WITH 9 CATS AND ARTHRITIS FROM ROLLING THEIR GHETTO NECKS SO MUCH. Says Slim in a recent interview with Vibe magazine:

It’s hard to trust a Black woman [sometimes] because a lot of Black women’s mind frame is that the man gotta do everything for her; he gotta pay for this, he gotta pay for that, and if it ain’t about money then a lot of them ain’t fu*king with him…

“Most single Black women feel like they don’t want to settle for less. Their standards are too high right now. They have to understand that successful Black men are kind of extinct… It’s hard to find us so Black women have to bow down and let it be known that they gotta start working hard; they gotta start cooking and being down for they man more…”

“My girl is Black and White. I guess the half White in her is where she still cooks and do all the shit that I say, so we make it. She just takes care of me and I like that. She don’t be begging and I don’t gotta buy her all this crazy ass shit. And she’s a smart girl too… I’ve dated girls that will buy a $3,000 bag and don’t know how to pay it off on their credit cards. They walk around in these Louis Vuittons and red bottoms but they’re riding around in raggedy cars, so it’s just getting your priorities right.”

“White women treat they man like a king and Black women feel like they ain’t gotta do that shit. Black women need to stand by their man more. Don’t always put the pressure of if I’m fucking with you, you gotta buy me this and that. Black men are the ones that motherfuckers need [but] I think a lot of them need to step it up too…

Oh...I get it, Mr. Thug...not only are you not a fan of black women, which is your right, but you also think that white women are doormats who are incapable of possessing self-esteem! You're basically racist AND sexist...and a Neanderthal. Sooooooo sexy!!!

From what I gather, this has caused somewhat of a firestorm on the black blogosphere, but it's hard for me to take insults from rappers seriously...particularly when I am clueless as to what it is for which they're "famous". However, I do have a couple of questions regarding the distinguished gentleman's thoughts:

1) Is slamming back women some kind of new trend or something? I mean seriously, what gives? Is the media actively looking for an anti-Michelle Obama? Is this some black guys' version of Tea Party-style conservative backlash...decades of unjustified anger and resentment towards women boiling over because their wee-wees/salaries/senses of self-respect are too small?

2) When he says that I need to lower my standards, does he mean to imply that I should be willing to talk to black male individuals who wear Bluetooths instead of wanting to sentence them to hard labor just for being tacky? That's a tall order, and something I'm neither willing nor able to achieve. Or, am I still not doing enough? Should I be keeping it all the way real and cruising the state penitentiary for Mr. Right? Or, fasting and praying for God to send me a Chris Brown?

And does he also mean to imply that I as a black woman am somehow wedded to the idea of being involved with only black men, especially those as intellectual and well-spoken as himself?

Finally, 3) will someone please tell me wtf a Slim Thug is? Was he popular before 1998 (i.e., when I started listening to secular music)? Why is his name Slim when he looks like a linebacker? Why is he still wearing cornrows? Does any of this even matter?

*Shrugs*

If someone wants to fill me in apropos the identity and significance of this verbose individual, I'd be grateful...but don't break your backs, people. I'm actually more interested in the (white) hotness that is Jackson Hurst, and that's real talk.

Vom.

Nom.

What I'm Listening To: May 2, 2010

2010-05-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

Because I'm a remix queen, a reggae/dancehall/house junkie, and a hater of anything Nicki Minaj...

Old-but-good

1. Jazmin Sullivan "Bust Your Windows" (Attacca Pesante Mix)
2. Heather Headley "In My Mind" (Freemasons Mix)
3. Lady Saw "It's Like That"
4. Ding Dong "Holiday"
5. Etana "Closer"
6. Sean Paul + Estelle "Come Over" (Crazy Cousinz Mix)
7. Amanda Wilson "Love on My Mind" (Sunset Mix)
8. Wayne Wonder "Friend Like Me"
9. Mokobe ft. Youssou N'Dour "Profitez"
10. Mokobe ft. Viviane N'Dour "Safari"
11. Lady Gaga "Paparazzi" (Moto Blanco Remix)
12. Bracket "Yori Yori"

New and New-ish

1. Rihanna ft. Assassin "Rude Boy Agent Sasco Remix"
2. Vybz Kartel "Oye Deh Gal" (Clean Version)
3. Nneka "Mind vs. Heart"
4. Beres Hammond "Feels Good"
5. Vybz Kartel "Party Nite"
6. Jah Cure's new stuff (due to my internal ethical dilemma about supporting the music of a convicted-yet-unapologetic RAPIST, I'm uncomfortable actually endorsing any of his music in particularity, but I can't front like I haven't been listening...)
7. Gyptian "Hold Yuh"
8. Mavado "Starlight"
9. Sean Paul "Lately"
10. Gyptian "Love Against the Wall"
11. Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA" (Don't judge me).
12. Toni Braxton ft. Treysongz "Yesterday"

Music Spotlight: Sizzla, "Crucial Times"

2010-05-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

To be honest, it's really hard for me to keep track of Sizzla. The man releases tracks faster than I can do doc review (lawyer joke). Therefore, while I was a little late in finding out about his newest album, Crucial Times (which is actually a compilation of old and unreleased tracks), the news came as no surprise...and as usual, I'm not disappointed.

My favorites below:

Enjoy!

Project Beautiful: Skin Deep 3

2010-05-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

So...the skin is looking good these days. That's the short of it.

The long:

1. Water. "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only" ~James 1: 22. Real talk. We all know that water is nature's panacea, but really, IT'S NATURE'S PANACEA! DRINK LOTS OF IT!!! Stop thinking about drinking more water, or promising to drink more water. Just drink more water. I've always prided myself on being a huge consumer of water, but I realized that life as a working woman really stole my water-drinking credential from me. Sure, I'd get a glass of water here and there, and drink water at the gym or at a dance class. I'd even wake up in the middle of the night and find myself stumbling down my hallway to the fridge in search of water, but I still wasn't getting enough. Now, I make a point to buy a bottle of water to keep at my desk--and I make a point to drink it. I still could drink more, but it's already making a big difference. I feel better, and I pee a lot (TMI, yes, but getting up and walking around the floor of the office is good for you, and wee-ing means that you're body is eliminating toxins....all good!).

2. Water with lemon and ginger. It's good for your insides and outsides, and it's delicious. Just do it.

3. Chill a little on the makeup. I'm still doing the au naturale thing, and the compliments are still pouring in. My makeup regimen now consists of mascara and lip glosses, and eyliner when I'm feeling fancy. I'm really trying to save the full face of mascara for more special occasions. Right now, while my skin is looking much better, I'm still at a stage where it feels like I require foundation in order to wear eyeshadow. I either need to change my perspective/perception of myself, or my skin still has a ways to go. I recently bought Sephora's gi-normous eye color paletter, so I'm feeling impatient, I must admit...

4. The disgusting tasting roots. I'm still drinking them...kinda. I haven't noticed an effect yet, but they're supposed to be so good for me that I'm not going to give up just yet. I have some on boil as I type.

5. Exercise. I'm also struggling to drop a few pounds (more on that later), but exercise is necessary for skin, too. Sweat= eliminates toxins. I currently average 5 days a week of intense exercise, and am currently trying to increase my weekly minimum from 350 minutes to 400 minutes (just under 7 hours a week). My exercises of choice are spinning, boxing and various forms of African dance, but yoga (not just bikram), urban rebounding, capoiera also, in my experience, cause participants to leak like faucets. Saunas = also fantastic.

6. Products. My Purity by Philosophy finally ran out, so I'm now experimenting with the Fabulous Foaming Face Wash by Bliss. I've heard really good things about it from a friend with flawless skin, and so far, I'm not noticing anything miraculous, but I'm going to give it a chance. I'm still using the African black soap on my body, but NOT on my face, due to suspected sensitivity. So far, I'm noticing some gradual improvements, but nothing as dramatic as the improvements I experienced with the exfoliating body masque treatment I had in Jamaica in March. When I'm ready to treat myself to something, I'm definitely going to get another one.

My Projects:

A good friend highly recommended that I use aloe vera for my skin. Apparently, it's another old school Jamaican remedy, which explains why my father is so obsessed with aloe vera. He used to force us to drink aloe vera juice as kids, but I had perfect skin back in the day, and wouldn't have noticed any impact it was having on me. I'm going to give it another go. Check back with me for updates.

I'm also moving on to my hair. My beloved locs are having moisture issues. Not only do I have naturally super-dry hair, but it's also colored, AND the constant sweating from exercise also affects my hair. Another good friend suggested that I use jojoba oil for my skin. I did try it, but mostly, I've been applying it to my scalp! Will report back both as to both.

My diet. As I mentioned, I'm also desperately trying to drop some weight (this is nothing new). I haven't lost any weight since Christmas, and while I've steadily increased the intensity and the amount of exercise I'm doing, I'm still eating too much (maybe even more, to compensate for all of my physical strenuous activity). Exercise sculpts one's body, and builds muscle, but it does not induce weight loss. I'm really working on my diet. Despite my first failed attempt at Weight Watchers, I'm hopping back on the food log train tomorrow morning. Not only will I be monitoring my caloric intake, but I'm going to be taking a hard look at what I'm eating, and I bet some of my vices are not so good for skin and hair. Again, will report back.

Have a good week, everyone!

Headstrong: 1 year on Loc

2010-04-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

You'll never find no one in this lifetime to love you like I do/So, never mind things that people say/I would never hurt you ~"Never Find" by Jah Cure

This time last year, I got my first set of comb twists before taking a train ride up to Edinburgh with one of my beloved LSE classmates and her friends. They loved the twists, and I've gotten almost nothing but love from people concerning my baby-cum-teenaged locs ever since.

It's probably not a coincidence that this first anniversary is occurring at a time when I'm actually struggling a lot emotionally. So many things are on track in my life, and yet, a few areas of my life are a constant source of disappointment to me...and I don't feel like there is much that I can do to change my circumstances. As I creep towards the big 25, I definitely have my share of fears and even a few regrets, but my decision to let go the lies and illusions surrounding straightened black hair has been nothing but a blessing. Each phase of the natural journey--feeling rebellious, offbeat, un-feminine, exposed, anxious and impatient--has taught me valuable lessons. Now, a year and a half after going natural, and a year after locking, I feel sheer pride...pride that has been gradually building ever since my first appointment with my loctician in London. It's not just the inherent sexiness or current trendiness of a full head of well-groomed locs (though that definitely helps). My hair tells people that I'm confident, and that I don't give a damn about oppression or stereotypes or anything else that might hold me back. They tell people that I'm good with how God made me, that I respect my ancestors and my heritage--African, West Indian, African American, female, human. They expose Western racist standards of beauty for the fraud that they are, and they contradict the flawed belief that one can't be a successful professional unless she "conforms".

A couple months ago now, a friend of mine let me know that one of my colleagues was telling people at other firms throughout the city that I "didn't have a future at my firm" because, presumably because of my appearance, I was "making waves" at my office, and "didn't fit in." Back in my permed days, I would have freaked out. The new me gave the unfortunate gossip the finger and pat myself on the back; after all, if I ever "fit in" with the likes of that person, then I'd have a real problem (it's also appropriate to note here that the ONLY person who has been uncomfortable with my appearance at work has been a fellow black woman...says a lot, doesn't it?). A year into this journey, I'm realizing that if I make you mad by just BEING, then good on me!

When I wake for work later this morning, I still won't have the perfect body, perfect resume, or the perfect anything else. Even some of my locs will, inexorably, misbehave and give me grief in the mirror. I will still have to commute to the office with crackheads, and I will be tired. I will still have issues to deal with, externally and internally to myself. But at least I will know who I am, and I will love what I stand for.

Shoutouts to the leading lady! Can't wait to get there! :)

Project Beautiful: Skin Deep 2

2010-04-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

On this, my dreadlocks' first year anniversary, I'm going to ignore them for a hot quick second so that I can provide a promised update on my skin saga. A couple days after the initial post, I treated myself to my first ever facial treatment, courtesy of Groupon, at Nuvision Med Spa near Grand Central Station.

The results were nothing less than traumatic. What began as a soothing, exhilarating experience, became painful and horrifying during the "extraction" process. Whatever the esthetician was doing was not only extremely uncomfortable, but also resulted in a breakout that was much worse than anything I have EVER had in my life. I left the spa looking and feeling like I'd lost a fight. And also, I was a hideous beast.

However, a week and change later, my skin is clearing up, and the positive effects of the facial are shining through. My skin is super soft from the microdermabrasion, and the breakout I had even before the facial is now a distant memory. The horrible self-inflicted scar above my lip is also a shade or so lighter, which is a huge encouragement to me. Furthermore, the esthetician gave me some really helpful tips.

First off, my M.A.C. foundation and brush need to be put on ice. It's not like I can't use them, but I wasn't washing my brushes regularly (read: at all), and my pores were clogged. It was never an issue before I started working because I never started wearing makeup on a daily basis before I began my job. According to the esthetician, M.A.C. foundation is notorious for its pore-clogging qualities--while she acknowledged that M.A.C. is great in terms of variety for black women, she insisted that I wash all of my brushes (with common bar soap) after every single use. I have decided to take the advice a step further, and am basically eschewing foundation at all save for necessary occasions (important client meetings, social outings)--not because I'm becoming an anti-makeup fundamentalist, but because it occurred to me that not only did I have flawless skin before I became foundation-dependent, but that all of the perfectly-skinned people I know are basically au naturale...my own mother included.

The second step I took, at the esthetician's behest, was to chill on applying the Dudu Osun (African Black Soap) to my face at this point in time--just because it might be too strong for me. Jury's out. I have, however, been using elsewhere on my body and I think I'm seeing positive results. For now, I'm sticking to Philosophy's Purity until it runs out, and then I will be giving Bliss's foaming face wash a go.

My current challenges are several fold. The lasting downside of the facial treatment was that the facial-inflicted breakout went away, but left dark spots behind. Scars are my big issue. My second big issue is skin irritation. My new OMG-my-job-is-stressful nervous habit seems to be picking at imaginary hairs on my face (I swear, I'm not going to become OCD)--and I have to put a stop to that for more than a couple of reasons. First off, it's weird. Secondly, my face constantly tingles after I've been on a picking spree, and finally, that has resulted in scarring, too. Not cute. My new mission is to keep my hands off my face and to resolve my feelings of excessive hairiness by keeping regular appointments with the spa across the street from my office. I'm also using the retinol treatments I mentioned in the first post--I'm not sure if they're working, but so far they've done no harm.

Other things I've done are: order the yellowdock and burdock root (I'm sipping my first cup of yellowdock root tea now--it tastes like burned rotten baby flesh, fyi), up my water intake, and to also go hard with the water/lemon/ginger drink habit. While I haven't discerned any benefits to my health, weight, or appearance, yet, water and ginger are always good (and lemon, too, if you don't have issues with acid), and it's just really refreshing and delicious. I start my morning with a cup of boiling water, ginger and lemon, and optionally, some yerba mate or goji berry tea. Really looking forward to the results! So far, just in the last week, I've received quite a few compliments on my skin--compliments I wasn't necessarily receiving avec the full face of makeup and before these little life changes, so I'm planning to move full speed ahead.

Will keep you posted!

Spring Jacket Fabulosity: Urban Outfitters' "Terry Moto" Jacket

2010-04-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

It's perfect. It's warm. It's comfy. It's soft. It's structured. It's beautiful. It works with EVERYTHING. Get one. I have mine in green. $58 and done.

Project Beautiful: Skin Deep

2010-04-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

Cleansing's been on my mind a lot over the last few days, ever since one of my good friends from work invited me to do the trendy, super-hyped, acclaimed (and super expensive) Blueprint Cleanse with her. I'd been advised to absolutely NOT do any cleanses for weight-loss purposes, as they throw off your metabolism and actually lead to weight gain (I don't know if this is true, but I definitely do not want to find out).

Over this weekend, I made up my mind, that in anticipation of a formal event I'll be attending this coming weekend, I'd do something a bit less risky--go hard with fruits and veggies. I generally eat a fair amount of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis, but for this week, the plan was to actually eat almost nothing else (within reason...protein is necessary and good). To that end, I went out of my way to buy fresh avocados, bananas, cucumbers, carrots, ginger, berries, oranges, and mushrooms early this afternoon for juicing and to also make a very delicious Thai stir fry (more on that later). Then, I dragged myself off to my newest obsession--Congolese dance at Alvin Ailey.

After warm-up, the superbly fabulous instructor, informed us that not only could she offer us a great dance class, but that she also had tips for us concerning summertime skin. As it happens, I've been having a terrible time with my historically clear skin--breakouts, dark spots, and so on and so forth--and I'm tired of caking on the makeup. Her recommendation? Do a cleanse!

You've got to be kidding me, I thought to myself.

But she was serious. And she didn't recommend a $300 cleanse either, but instead prescribed the same back-a-yard herbal remedies that my father forced on my sibs and I as kids (when we had perfect skin). Burdock root. Yellow dock root. Carrot juice. All three times a day.

Heretofore, I've been experimenting with various products--most notably, Dudu Osun, or African black soap which I stupidly applied after trying to wax my own lip--causing a hideous scar that I'm now desperate to get rid of. For the scar, I've been using by Help Me by Philosophy, and as a facial cleanser, the black soap (which still scares me), and Purity by Philosophy (which is a great makeup remover). The breakouts cleared themselves up instantaneously on my recent trip to Jamaica, but upon returning to work and its accompanying hells, my skin has decided it hates me yet again. And I currently hate my skin.

Clear skin? No. Makeup? Yes.

Like everyone else, I want to be beautiful. Desperately. I want to stop hiding my skin and flaunt it. Furthermore, I want to be beautiful the right way. That was the point of working out 5 days a week, and growing dreadlocks, and giving up meat. I want to be healthy.

So, now, as I type this and promise myself that I will in fact not have more carrot cake-flavored soy cream, I'm actually going to have a cup of homemade fruit/carrot/ginger juice and I'm going to experiment with some things until I'm able to toss my M.A.C. foundation out of the window (not that I actually would).

For this week, I've decided to start with focus on daily juicing, and I'm going to get my hands on some herbs that I can drink as a cleanse. I think this will have a couple of benefits--for one thing, when I initially went vegan 2. 5 years ago (I'm just a pescatarian now), I had so much energy because my body wasn't bogged down with crap. Now that I work 12 and 16 hour days, and workout for a minimum of 300 minutes a week (reaching 350 is this week's goal), I could totally use some extra energy. Secondly, if I can actually exert the willpower to eat well (no law firm cafeteria red velvet cake or french fries), then I think the cleanse may actually help me lose these next extra stubborn 5 pounds. I guess we'll see.

Next, I'm going to make an extra effort to ensure that within my strict exercise regimen, I incorporate extremely high sweat activity. I sweat like a pig already, but according to the dance instructor, the goal is hydro-therapy--sweating out toxins. I don't have time to use the gym's sauna (steam= good), but I can sweat my brains out in spin and boxing class a bit more so than I do in my fairly vigorous dance classes (with the exception of Open Guinean, which is sweaty and strenuous glory).

That's all I can handle right now: Eat better, drink lots of fluids and herbs, and poop a lot. I'll experiment and report back! Stay tuned.

Info on yellow dock root here. Info on burdock root here. Happy, healthy, inexpensive cleansing!

A Few of My New Favorite Things For Spring: Candy Colors, Cage Sandals, Bags, Bangles , and Angles!

2010-02-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've done any blogging, and it's been an even longer time since I gave my $0.02 on fashion. After all, I've been forced into the world of business casual, where my sense of style is not really supposed to matter; indeed, after several weeks of long hours, I would just as soon come to work in sweats (or not go to work at all). However, I've really made a conscious decision during the last few weeks to not allow work to define or change me--I'm much better suited and prepared to define and change a work culture that has traditionally told women and minorities that they need to squash and hide their femininity, individuality, and/or culture in order to be successful. So, here we are with a few ways to kick off your spring wardrobes in ways that are work-appropriate--or not!

It's like Candy...

The New York Times recently did a piece on the re-emergence of bright cosmetics, right before fashion maven Rihanna blessed us with her psychedelic video (and face) for "Rude Boy" last week. Similarly, New York Fashion Week has, so far, also featured no shortage of dynamic hues. Emerging urban fashion lines Boxing Kitten, Ohema Ohene, and Kua have introduced colorful collections which pay homage to the Motherland, while established designers splash black, greys, and other neutrals with bright blues, corals and berries.

Particularly exciting to me, as a guinea pig in the corporate world, is the takeover of brightly colored accessories. You might not be able to wear a melon hued dress to the office, but you can definitely take advantage of jewelry, eyeshadow (not too much when you're meeting clients, though), and handbags in various hues too outlandish to be found on the primary-colored edition of the rainbow. And be sure to indulge your excesses on the weekends!

Bracelets and Baggies: Less is Not More

Nordstrom is currently carrying a lusty collection of jewel-toned bangle bracelets in various patterns and sizes, available for $28-58 each. Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Lucky, Juicy Couture and others also offer brilliant metallic and multicolored bracelets for the spring, at various price points.

From Sequin, available at Nordstrom.

Gold Filigree Fetchness from Nordstrom

Courtesy of Lucky Jeans

Loveliness from Kate Spade

The "Salimatu" clutch by up-and-coming Ghanaian designer Kua.

"Jaden" by Tory Burch

The "Howard" satchel by Botkier--love the Magenta...

Eyeshadows and Lipglosses: More is Not Necessarily Less!

Blues, purples and greens for the eyes. Pinks, reds, and purples for the lips. All of the above for your nails. Just do it. M.A.C. is a great place to start, but Christian Dior also hosts enviable palettes. Among them, I particularly fancy the 2 Coleurs High Contrast Palette in "Tropical Look" and "Watery Look". Bold colors can definitely be worn to work, as long as you're also applying common sense. For example, if you're going with a bright eye, pair it with a neutral lip--and a neutral ensemble. Conversely, don't come to work looking like you were cremated and buried: all charcoal grey all the time is not cute, unless you're arguing before the Supreme Court. And you're not, so... live a little! Tip: Blues are a big deal in 2010, according to an associate of my sister's who works for Dior. (It's true: blue is everywhere this year).

(work it, Rih!)

Best Foot Forward

It is no secret that I love a caged shoe: they perpetuate the beautiful legacy of two of the best shoe trends ever, IMHO...the gladiator sandal, and the ankle boot (or "shoot," as I like to call them). They are not particularly new, either, but I'm still extremely into them, and you should be, too. Worn properly, these can totally be office appropriate (unlike hyperextended lime eyeshadow), and can break up the monotony of whatever blouse and slack duo you've been forced into for the day. Even better, they can show off a (slightly) limit-pushing pedicure.

Sigerson Morrison

From Dolce Vita

Charles by Charles David. Definitely rock these in the office.

Miss Sixty...nom.

Thank you, Mr. Kors. Thank you.

Your Shoulders Are On The Guest List, So Bring Them To The Party!

I used to hate my broad shoulders, which have only become broader from boxing, but the return of the shoulder pad as of 2009 has given my self-esteem a real, well, boost. Shoulders are in, and real women wear them...and you don't necessarily need Balmain's help. Angular springtime looks for less (or not) below:

BCBG

Aqua, available at Bloomingdales

Torn, also at Bloomies

From Theory

Fabulosity from French Connection

Wear with caged shoes, blue satchel, bright makeup, and lots of bracelets and party like it's 1989 in 2010. Sexytime!

Big You, Little Me: A True Story.

2009-12-08T19:48:00.000-08:00

So...this post could land me in a lot of trouble, but by the time you finish reading it, you'll probably understand why I just don't care.

Having recently read Junot Diaz's mesmerizing The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and feeling that I had way too much in common with Oscar for my comfort, I think it would be fair to say, at this point in my life, that I'm notoriously unfortunate when it comes to the realm of love and romance. As in, neither of the two happen. Confusion, disappointment, heartbreak, and rejection? A dime a dozen. A BF? No, not really.

This is not to say that I'm not attracting anyone. The truth of the matter, however, is that if a man wants me, it's because he's: married or in a relationship (I really don't want to call anyone out on the Internet..so don't ask about it); homeless; misogynistic; more emotionally damaged than me (which is a problem); potentially or actually abusive; proudly related to drug dealers (again, don't ask); or otherwise worthy of the labels "miscreant," "useless," and/or "disgusting."

I mean, seriously, if I didn't have two law degrees and a lucrative job, I would begin to wonder if I were related to Precious or something, since I'm so clearly incapable of attracting a normal man. Alas, here we are. I have the degrees, the job, a great apartment (shoddy landlord), a gym membership that I actually use the hell out of and a fairly unoffensive visage...and am still incapable.

The point of this post is not to bemoan my love woes, but rather to share with you an experience I had with a "normal" man. Normal is perhaps quite an understatement. By normal, I mean "not an ex-con/not a teenage father"--i.e., somehow "extraordinary" in our horribly mediocre society. I'm talking about someone who did his homework and went to college...someone who bathes and opens the door for women. You know...a demi-god, basically.

Right. So, anyway, I kinda had a crush on this normal guy. A big one. I didn't think he was perfect in any way, but I chose to recognize his personal fabulousness and appreciate that he was contributing to society and not half-bad looking, either. However, I didn't really know him at all, aside from the fact that we had mutual friends and he called on occasion, "just to see how the weekend went." I chose to overlook some things, too, but that's really neither here nor there. And so, one day we met up...

I decided to have green tea, to calm my nerves while I finally got to know this nice, normal guy a little bit...perhaps enough to verify the good things I'd heard about him and to firmly disqualify the bad. It began easily enough: I asked him about himself, and he informed me that he'd done his "research" on me. Interesting. Then, he began fidgeting, and getting nervous. "So...let me ask you a question..."

"Yes?"

More fidgeting. "So, this is kinda awkward...but, I've been wanting to tell you this..."

I take a definitive swig of calming green tea. "What could you have to say to me that would be so serious? We don't even know each other."

More fidgeting and man-giggling, too, now.

Then:

"YO, I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU, AND I'MMA LET YOU FINISH...BUT I'M ONE OF THE GREATEST MEN OF ALL TIME, AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT THERE IS ANYTHING GOING ON BETWEEN US, AND THEY MIGHT, SO I NEED YOU TO DO A HUGE FAVOR FOR ME. CAN YOU, UH...WELL I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW ME BUT I JUST NEED TO LET YOU KNOW IN ADVANCE THAT I DON'T LIKE YOU AND IF I LIKED YOU I WOULD TELL YOU I LIKED YOU SO LET'S JUST BE FRIENDS. YOU HAVE TO DO THIS FOR ME. HUGE. QUICKLY. BYE."

"Wait...wait...wow..." I pour the rest of my boiling hot cup of green tea into my mouth, scalding my tongue, throat, and chest, and presumably my instantaneously crushed ego and heart as well.

"What?"

"Um," I stammer, grinning on the outside but not on the inside, "did you just break up with me? I feel like you just gave me the 'let's just be friends' speech when we're not even friends yet."

"No, we're totally friends. I definitely want to be your friend."

"Um...okay. Okay--"

"--I just have to have a disclaimer, you know? I don't want drama. And it's lose-lose, because then I look like I assume that you would like me..."

"Who? Me? Think that about you? Of course not! I totally understand where you're coming from..." I'm now sipping my tea, even though there is no tea left, and biting on the cup, wishing I could fit inside of it and be thrown into the trash.

"So..." he takes my hands, which are holding onto the little cup for dear life. "You're okay with just being friends, right?"

"Um, yeah. I'll live," as I actually die inside. "I promise. I'll also try not to tell people that you proposed."

"Good." Wide smile. Plus a chuckle.

Smile. No chuckle.

To everyone who reads this entry, there is a high probability that you know me, so... IF I AM REPULSIVE OR GROSS OR SHOULD KILL MYSELF, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, BECAUSE THE MESSAGE THE NICE, NORMAL GUY SENT ME WASN'T LOUD OR CLEAR ENOUGH, AND I MIGHT STILL THINK TOO HIGHLY OF MYSELF.

Could you just do that for me? Huge. Quickly. Bye.

In the meanwhile, I'll just continue to be dazed and confused. And humiliated. But only just a little.

Music Spotlight: Sade, "Soldier of Love"

2009-12-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

I'm at the borderline of my faith
I'm at the hinterland of my devotion
In the frontline
of this battle of mine
But I'm still alive...

I'm a soldier of love
Everyday am I
I'm a soldier of love
All the days of my life

I've been torn up inside
I've been left behind
So I ride...
I have the will to survive
In the wild, wild west
Tryin' my hardest...doin' my best
To stay alive..."~S. Adu, "Soldier of Love"

There is no need for elegant prose. Sade's back, and music is alive again.

After almost 10 years, the physically/musically timeless songstress is set to release her new album in February 2010. I wish she'd push that release date up, so maybe Chris Brown/Taylor Swift/screechy teenager #847 would sit down and STHU. Alas, here we are, and Ms. Adu has blessed us with a taste of what's to come. Her new single, "Soldier of Love" is PHENOMENAL! It's rock, it's jazz, it's real, it's ethereal, it's sweet, it's raw, it's healing, it's addicting, it's classic, it's vanguard...it's perfect. I've personally had it on repeat all day at work, and at home now, the cat and I are vibing out to musical perfection.

As an added and very personal bonus, the song speaks directly to some things I've been going through lately, both lyrically and melodically. As some of you will read later, "still waitin' for love to come...and turn it all around..."

Check the track out here, on Sade's website.

Jaded in the City

2009-11-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

From my mother's Halloween visit to the Big Apple last weekend, at 125th Street 2/3 train stop:

Me: "Heehee. Mommy, look at the mouse on the tracks."
Mom: "*SCREAMS* Mouse?! That rat is the size of a WHOLE RABBIT!!!"
Me: "Haha, are you kidding me? That's hardly a rat."
Mom: "This city has destroyed your soul."

Truth to Power, SubAltern to Mainstream: Monday Morning Inspiration

2009-10-12T06:51:00.000-07:00

This has been circulating on my Facebook newsfeed for a few days, courtesy of some of my most intellectual friends...and for good reason. I thought I would share it with you. Upon listening, you'll definitely find yourself experiencing a Hot Chocolate Moment--a need to curl up with a hot cup of something while you let the knowledge flow into your head.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, one of my favorite writers, speaking on stories and power, at a TED conference this month:

Truth, served on a plate of Brilliance and Elegance: What's not to adore?

Haute Culture: Yinka Shonibare, MBE, at the Brooklyn Museum

2009-09-29T21:53:00.000-07:00

The original plan for my last summer of freedom, before I plunge myself into the corporate world, was for me to do a whirlwind tour of North America (Miami, Vegas, Cali, D.C., Atlanta, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Philly, etc) but instead I've actually just been getting to know New York a little bit better. It's something I've learned to accept.

So far, the rendez-vous has been lovely: My latest encounter, for instance, with high-brow culture was the dazzling Yinka Shonibare exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, described as a "major midcareer survey" of his work. The UK-based Shonibare is known primarily for his use of mannequins dressed in Dutch wax (the beautiful "African" cloth that is actually printed by European companies who refuse to hire African workers) that he purchases from Brixton Market in London to comment on African identity and colonialism (and neo-colonialism). He also uses photography and videography in his exhibits, and his work reminded me very much of a 3-D version of Kara Walker's work, because of its thinly veiled anger and critique, the homage it pays to the Victorian and its twisted notions of respectability, and the usage of inanimate human figurines (mannequins in Shonibare's case, and silhouettes in Walker's case). While Walker's work is based in the American slave and antebellum experience, Shonibare's is markedly international, and universal.

Walker's work has the added sensitivity that can only come from a black woman's voice; in the Shonibare installations present at the Brooklyn museum, black women were rendered nearly invisible. Indeed, in Shonibare's world, the black man is finding his way in the world, fighting against white male forces, and always in the love/hate/mate struggle with white women. White women square off against each other, and in one instance, white women interact with black women (in a piece on beauty...obviously). Presumably, most of the black women are at home cooking or nursing someone else's babies, but certainly not competing for attention with the black man, who inevitably represents the race, Africa, and struggle all by himself.

While I found much to criticize from a feminist point of view, there is no denying the progressive nature of Shonibare's work. He brilliantly deconstructs questions of identity, and manages to narrate an entire history of colonialism and today's neocolonialism using the aesthetic medium of cloth, and the impact could not be more powerful. He critiques frivolity, guilt, assimilation and social status (most notably via his Dorian Gray/Oga-Big Boy series), ever playfully, but always delivering the message with a swift jab right hook to the chest. Quite simply put, he is genius. Apparently, the British "empire" agrees, because in what is perhaps the ultimate irony, he has been granted a knighthood, and made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his work.

Photographs I took of the exhibit below:

Scramble for Africa

Mother and Father Worked Hard So I Can Play (featuring Yinka Shonibare):

I won't lie; I'd love to see that chaise in my apt, sans the hologrammed football players

a critique of assimilation/exploitation of workers/big-boy mentality...

a critique of Victorian "civilization"...the grand tours...

yeah....no pun intended, but he went all the way IN...

The Sleep Of Reason:

Dorian Gray (featuring Yinka Shonibare):

More:

video

The painful truth about Dutch wax (I had no idea myself until this summer, when a couple of African friends broke it to me, slowly):

The exhibit is now closed, but another Shonibare installation, entitled Party Time—Re-Imagine America: A Centennial Commission by Yinka Shonibare MBE, is showing at the Newark Museum until January 3, 2010. I plan to go sometime before the installation closes, not only because Shonibare work is among the best I have EVER encountered, but because I honestly can't think of a better reason to go to Newark...

More on the Brooklyn Museum exhibit here

More on Mr. Shonibare here

You

2009-09-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

One day alone, sometimes it suits me.
When that day is through, I'm hoping you'll walk in.
I just miss you.
I'll be ok, but it's better when we're two...
my patient love
ever enduring...oh, you...
~ "You" (Goapele ft. Dwele)

"J'ai mal...sans toi..."
~"Le Remede" (Thayna)

"When the heartache is over/I know I won't be missing you/Won't look over my shoulder/I know that I can live without you..." ~Amanda Wilson/Freemasons

I wouldn't say I'm love, but I would say that I have a problem. This fact went from obvious to painfully so when my good friend N asked the very pertinent "Um, why do you even like him?" and I couldn't present an acceptable answer. The truth is that I don't know, I know I shouldn't, and I don't want to. But as I told N, "alas, here we are"

My life has somehow become a zouk song, featuring a chanteuse who is inevitably heartbroken, wanton, and/or scorned...a neo-soul solo...a black-and-white r&b video...all on repeat, and dedicated to someone who can't hear any of it.

This unrequited love/like thing a classic and horrible problem, one that I've dealt with (never gracefully) before. However, on his occasion it's particularly frustrating because I want no parts of it. I also simply don't understand it. How is it that I can be trapped like this, in my own web of emotions, for someone who is totally indifferent? How is it possible for me to feel such a sense of powerlessness because of another person whom I don't believe I even know that well?

I've been telling myself that it's just desperation--the result of living in a city where all the eligible guys are caught up in hustle and the appearances of being an alpha male. Women like me catch a raw deal: we've all seen the harrowing statistics concerning the ability of educated black women to attract similarly situated black guys (assuming that one wants to limit herself to so narrow a pool). Also, in New York, I'm not uber-glamourous. I'm 5'4", not skinny, and currently not in a position to buy my looks...we're keeping it real here. Therefore, I've reasoned with myself, all I really need is for someone else to come along and distract me for my attentions to shift completely.

Problem is, I think that while the aforementioned scenario has validity, it isn't wholly accurate. Yeah, I'm not Chanel Iman, but I don't need to be. As hard as I am on myself, I do have a decent number of guys banging down my metaphorical door. However, regardless of how eligible/respectable/qualified they are/ are not, they have the inexorable, impossible problem of not being You. You see, I'm not just looking for a winter side piece, as I earlier suspected. It's not a matter of loneliness, or boredom. On the whole, and in general, I'm actually just not that interested, except as it pertains to one person.

Since when do I indulge in this sort of errant foolishness? I set my heart on ice years ago, and never gave it any permission to thaw. If anything about me has changed over the last couple of yeas, I've become less naive, and more in control of my emotions. Supposedly, my skin is thicker: my feelings don't get hurt, I don't become fazed, and I bounce back from rejection. I don't have time for games, unspoken words, or any of the passive-aggressivity that I loathe but so freely employ with you.

Supposedly.

Supposedly, I can see a jerk coming from a mile away, and I can spot a guy who might be good at core, but not serious about me/his life/anything, and compartmentalize accordingly. Supposedly, I can recognize that mutual feelings are not enough to create a sustainable relationship. Supposedly, I also just don't give a damn, and am not trying to be caught up with anyone anyway...good, bad, or otherwise.

Supposedly. But I think someone lied to me...probably me. I know this/it is all about You, but I can't help wondering what the hell happened to me!

I've been sitting on this problem for longer than I care to even admit. Due to my so-called newfound maturity, I've been an expert at squashing it, putting it away, killing it, suppressing it, ignoring it, deflecting, denying, distracting, but my emotional immune system is down now, and the disease has taken complete hold over me. How do I get rid of You? I've already tried giving you up, cigarette style, and thing is, you probably didn't even notice because You are just not than into me (thank you, Greg Behrehdnt). It didn't work, anyway. Not that it matters, because it's not like you've ever asked me to get over You...even if you've noticed my teeny weeny ginormous crush, I've never had the chance nor the courage to tell you about You and how I really feel.

One day, maybe. Hopefully, one day soon. Not that it will change anything, but I'm really tired of You. Don't take offense. No, seriously, nothing personal, but I wish I'd never met You. Since I have, and get can't do anything about it, however, I'm really hoping that one of us will give me the ability to move on. That can be the one thing we do together. But since I can never tell You, because there is no point, and because I have no courage, no grip on reality, and apparently, no dignity...I might as well continue to sing my song for You in my head, where no one else has to hear it.

Comfort Food...From South Africa to New York, With Love: Madiba

2009-09-21T22:29:00.001-07:00

As I previously alluded, I went through some things this past week. I'm still going through, but I trust that multiple blog posts in one day + hours at the gym (2.75 today)+ lots of reading and Food Network will help me cope (again, more on that later).

Sunday the 13th was the day that the sky fell on top of my family. The sister and I decided to console ourselves with the use of the gift certificates I'd scored for 90% off the day before, on Restaurant.com (check it out...crazy sales...the recession is good for SOMETHING). Since we attend church in Brooklyn, we decided to begin our bargain eating in Fort Greene, at a restaurant named Madiba that we'd heard about earlier on in the summer. Madiba (Nelson Mandela's nickname, and the honorary title given to elders of his clan in SA) is a South African restaurant, and the sister and I are Afrophiles (with heavy emphasis on "and I"), so we were into it. And then, Madiba's food was, quite literally, into us.

We could not have made a better choice for a place in which we could eat away sorrow. As soon as you walk in the door, you are literally transported to a faraway land...namely, South Africa. While the restaurant was designed to be reminiscent of a South African shebeen (basically a chop hall, as I understand it), it is somehow gorgeous and posh, and rustic and humble all at the same time. The music alternated between gospel, kwaito and reggae, just loud enough so that you could hear it over the patrons' lively chatter and still sing along/sway in your seat/vibe. We chose to sit indoors, despite the lovely weather on that day, so that we could take in the fascinating decor as well, which included newsclippings, subway signs, South African ad campaigns, a super large poster of the African continent, and a large painting of Fela Kuti. The restaurant doubles as a store, where one can get rare South African/British goodies (like Ceres juice and Digestives and South African wine!)

Madiba, Fort Greene, Brooklyn

The bar

I love the atmosphere of the restaurant, and I'm into cowskin (weird for a vegetarian, I know...don't judge me!)

But, the food...oh, the food. Okay, so I opted for the seafood roti, in order to compare it with my beloved West Indian roti, and had Nelson Mandela's favorite dish, samp ( a savory corn and bean stew) as a side dish. The sister did the same--her roti and curry was filled with chicken, while mine was filled with shrimp, lobster, squid and salmon. Pray and eat. *Insert magnificent chorus of angels here*. The roti and curry were totally different from their West Indian counterparts, but different--more of the emphasis on Indian instead of West. Whatever the emphasis, however, it was one of the most delicious and satisfying experiences I've had in the city since I first moved in 2006, right up there with my faves Spice Market and Negril Village. I will most certainly be back, as often as the Lord allows, hopefully to try the Durban Samosas and the Kalk Bay Fish Parcel. Hopefully, I'll also have room to try dessert on the next occasion, but I won't count on it. I have a $25 dollar gift certificate and a $50 gift certificate to Madiba, so if anyone wants to come with on my next excursion, just shout!

More (mouth-watering) pictures below!

The samp

The sis and her chicken curry. She said it was excellent.

South African roti....nothing like the abundant, doughy, flaky, and dusty West Indian roti to which I'm accustomed, but delicious all the same. It was very reminiscent of a cross between a pancake and the crust on an extra flaky pie.

My incredible seafood curry...isn't it gorgeous? Look at the ginormous chunk of lobster! The entire dish was only $14.00.

Check it out!
Madiba Restaurant
195 DeKalb Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205
718-855-9190

The Best the British Have to Offer: More Funky House Music

2009-09-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

I will continue to stand by my word without apology: The only thing I miss about London is the music. I LOVE HOUSE MUSIC, and am particularly obsessed with funky house which is basically a combination of all my favorite types of music--house, dancehall, r&b, hip-hop, and ambient. It is truly a thing of beauty. When I go back for graduation in the winter, I seriously need to stock up. Anyone interested in raving should hit me up!

Have a listen to what's currently blowing my sub-woofers out, courtesy of duo Fr3e):

Yes, the video is 3 parts hot (slightly-racist) mess, and 1 part hilarious...and the track is HAWT.

Oh...and if you'd like to know how to DO the tribal skank...

Slightly reminiscent of the Soulja Boy instructional video of 2008...but awesome because of the accents, naturally. Enjoy!

New York's Answer to Argo Tea? Amanzi Tea, Tribeca

2009-09-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

People who know me--I mean, really know me, know that I'm in love with Chicago, and in love with Argo Tea. I mean, I'm obsessed with tea, just as a general rule, and as a result of growing up with a Jamaican father who loves his British traditions. I would love for Argo Tea to come to New York, and have even requested that they do so, but so far, to no avail.

It was to my great delight, then, yesterday afternoon when as I was on my way to visit a friend in Jersey after church, I ran into a friendly woman offering samples of a "Mojitea Teaser" outside of a shop on Chambers Street. My favorite drink from Argo is their Mojitea (I wonder if someone copied someone...just saying...). I definitely went into the shop, named Amanzi Tea, with my meager bank account and bought one...delicious! Not as delicious as Argo, but delicious nonetheless.

The inside of Amanzi Tea, at 166 Chambers Street, in Tribeca. The lovely baristas were nice enough to allow me to take a couple of photos.

New York has it's fair share of trendy tea spots, but I wonder if this one will eventually expand and become New York's Argo Tea. At this point, Amanzi only has one New York location, a location in New Jersey, and a location in South Carolina, but one can hope...

More tea in New York:

Uptown: Settepani has a lovely selection of house teas, but is not a tea bar like Amanzi or Argo. Delicious brunch and gelato, yes. Mojitea and Hisbiscus coolers, no.

Union Square: The well-known and uber-chic Tavalon/Tea Bar New York also has extra delicious tea, and a deejay too boot, but it feels more like Pinkberry than my warm and fuzzy Argo Tea...

Music Spotlight: I'm from the city in the midwest/best city in the whole wide wide world... Snippets from the Lupe Concert

2009-09-20T22:21:00.000-07:00

"...I feel like murder, but hip hop has saved my life..."

The Lord works in mysterious ways. The last week has been, well...something else. More on that later. However, in between tears and confusion, God gave me friends, including the lovely TKY who blessed me with tickets to see Lupe Fiasco in concert for my birthday.

The concert began really late, because Lupe is a practicing Muslim, and needed to wait until sunset to break his fast. The opening act, 88 Keys (of Kanye's "Stay Up" semi-pseudo fame), was a hot mess, so the sister and I were a bit worried. However, once Mr. Wasalu Jaco hit the stage, it was all good on Governor's Island. He was nerdy, sexy, energetic, and all that good stuff that Lupe fans need and want in their lives, and the crowd gobbled it up and swallowed it whole.

Pics below; I'm having issues uploading video:

View of the water taxi from "The Beach" at Governor's Island, where the concert was held

Lower Manhattan

Starring...The "beach", featuring downtown Manhattan in the background

The stage

*Update*

After spending all day uploading video to YouTube, the videos have come out really badly, so
I'm resorting to posting other people's videos of the concert. Enjoy--the upside, is that now you don't have to hear my sister and I singing in the background!

Performing "Shining Down"

"Dumb it Down"--during the encore, after the jacket came off

I'm still working on uploading my videos for "Hip Hop Saved My Life" and "Daydreaming" just because the performances were so amazing to watch, so come back and check it out when you get a chance...

Rachel Roy: Shoes Jovanna-SOLD OUT! - Leather knee-high boot with pull over detail.

2009-09-16T08:25:00.001-07:00

...a thing of beauty...sadly, sold out. We can all appreciate it, though...albeit on some other lucky chick's feet. Carry on with your busy days, lovelies (or go check out the Rachel Roy's new Rachel line)... :)

Rachel Roy: Shoes Jovanna-SOLD OUT! - Leather knee-high boot with pull over detail.

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Music Spotlight: Squeeze All the Juice Out of Summer with Zoelah + Some Labor Day Parade Photos

2009-09-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

As Carnival Week ends here in New York, it is a time for reflection on what was hot and what was not. The 2009 Labor Day Parade was most decidedly not, as the police placed too many restrictions on people's ability to "jump di fence" and participate with the trucks, which were also slowed down considerably by the cops. However, the trucks themselves were wack...artists didn't show up, and the band deejays resorted to playing old tunes that were popular two years ago, as if they totally hated Soca Gold 2009.

As a result, I went home and had a close listen to my own soca collection. As a Jamerican, soca is not my forte, but I do keep up. Aside from everyone's fave---Iwer George's "We Like It" ("winewinewinewinewinewinewine....")--my favorite is newcomer Zoelah from St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Cursory research reveals that she's been active since at least 2003, so I suppose she's only new to me, but I'd argue that her freshness renews the entire soca music industry just a bit.

Listen to my two favorite Zoelah tracks and see if you don't agree:

The track that caught my attention:

The track I currently have on repeat:

Other tracks from Zoelah include "Go Down Low" and "Fly Away", which samples Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone" in rather adorable and Destra-like fashion. Enjoy!

Also, just a couple shots of this year's parade, including one of Rupee--the only artist I spotted the entire day:

You LIE!!!!

2009-09-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

Keith Olbermann, on this occasion, for the very obvious win:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

And, from the screaming toddler who is too cowardly to have his website up and running, but too stupid to just go away and shut up:

Just...WOW.

24

2009-09-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

My birthday is in less than 45 minutes, and I'm not that into it. It's weird. I guess I feel that law school took my early twenties, and now I'm just old. I've always had a fear of growing older, but I have been distinctly unprepared for this birthday, largely because I feel so unsettled and because 23 was a large, Transatlantic blur of culture shock.

There's really nothing I can do, however. The only alternative to what will happen at the stroke of midnight...ok, technically, I was born at 4:30 am...is sudden and unfortunate death while my 1 year old cat is trying to play Fight Club with my sister and I, and the 11pm news is on. Obviously, being 24 is better. Right now, my sister is dragging Marley along on his leopard print kitty leash and trying to convince him to walk instead of hiss and scream at her. If I were dead, I wouldn't be able to laugh my behind off right now, so I guess I'd rather just get older. Just a little bit.

Sigh. Here's to 24, then. May it be filled with dreadlocks that grow quickly, a constantly shrinking hip-to-waist ratio, a strong start to my career, and lots of love, happiness and peace of mind.

*Update*: So far, the first hour of 24 is not so bad. Wish I could say the same for the disgusting smoked cheddar chesse kettlecorn I'm eating.

*Update*: I think 24 is technically still early twenties. If you have evidence to the contrary, don't bother sharing it; I'm not interested in objective truth. Thanks.

*Update*: I'm in my late early twenties. Hahaha. Yusss! Semantics and compromise, for the win!

More Classless Trailer Trash Antics from the GOP: Rep. Joe Wilson heckles President Obama, and Drippy Sex, too!

2009-09-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

"Now we got one of our congresspeople to drive our reputation to a new low" ~Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.

"No other president has been treated like that. Ever." ~Rahm Emanuel

"It is a tribute to the First Amendment that this sort of vile contemptible propaganda is so freely propagated" ~ Barney Frank, at that infamous town hall meeting...

President Obama decided to finally assume his role as our duly-elected leader, and he gave an awesome speech tonight about the necessity of true health care reform--public option included. However, people are still mad about an eloquent black man literally talking down to them--he was on a podium, people...height happens--and they continue to disrespect him as if they wouldn't just disappear or be shot on site in other countries for similar antics.

Tonight's offender wasn't some fool from Arizona with an assault rifle, or the rabid, beady-eyed likes of Glen Beck...no, a CONGRESSMAN from South Carolina decided to interrupt the President's speech and scream insults at him. INSANE, and truly representative of what the Republican party and their sympathizers have come to. You can see the madness for yourself here:

For the record, calling the President a liar is expressly prohibited by section 370 of the House Rules, as are demeaning accusations against the President or other fellow Congressmembers. See for yourself here.

I've had quite enough of South Carolina's antics. No, I'm not even referring to Mark Sanford, but rather to the sheer disrespect that the state's Republicans have shown to President Obama since he was elected. Earlier this summer, Republican activist Rusty DePass likened First Lady Michelle Obama to a escaped gorilla from a zoo, while Republican activist Mike Green tweeted that the President was going to place a tax on aspirin because "it's white and it works", and Audra Shay of South Carolina's Young Republicans was caught LOL-ing on her page when someone suggested that the country needed to be recaptured from "mad coons". It's absolutely out of order. If you've also had enough, please contact Joe Wilson's office, and tell him how you really feel about his classless temper tantrum. He's apologized, but it would be nice to make him so miserable that he vacates his office by week's end. That would be a great birthday present for yours truly!

In other, more hilarious, news, there is this: a Conservative, anti-gay , pro- family values California assemblyman who was caught talking into a hot microphone in graphic detail about his affairs with two women--one of whom is an energy lobbyist. Before his resignation today, Mr. Drippy Sex was Vice Chairman of the Utilities and Commerce Committee. Hmm.

Just one more thing: Rep. Charles Boustany--the no-name doctor/Congressman from Louisiana who tried to respond to President Obama's speech--has been sued 3 times for medical malpractice. His adamant advocacy for malpractice reform is just a little coinkydink, I'm sure.

It's Not All Glitz and Glamour

2009-09-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

I'm back. I've been gone for so long that I don't even know where to begin. I also don't even know what I'm really willing to share/vent. But, here goes:

For starters, I'm done with school. I've never said that before, and I've never ever finished a level of schooling without immediately going on to the next level. I've never not been a student. I always imagined that I would experience an intense grieving period when I reached this point because, in theory, I've always loved school. However, the few months of my education have been so onerous that the only thing I'm mourning is the fact that I STILL have to take the Bar exam in a few months.

The entire year, what with everything I went through in London, was one of the most difficult experiences of my adult life, but the last few months have been a complete nightmare. I thought I was going to starve to death for part of July because I'm THAT broke. Writing a dissertation and holding down an intense internship when you're not eating is not loads of fun. Unfortunately for me, I still don't start work for well over a month...and I'm likely to not even have the money to get to work on my first day.

Truth is, I've floated on the promises of "what will be when...". I would be so happy when exams were over. I would be so happy when I left London for the U.S. I would be so happy when my summer advance arrived. I would be so happy when I finished my internship. I would be so happy when I finished my dissertation...

Yeah, well, it all worked until I turned in my dissertation; on the contrary, since I turned in that long, horrible paper, I have been distinctly miserable. Not that I wasn't miserable before, but miserable with the expectation of future happiness. After spending my last $88 dollars binding and fedexing the little devil, I was faced not only with the misery of my immediate circumstances, but also with disappointment and the distinct feeling of having been somehow betrayed and deceived.

With nothing to slave over, I realized that the lion's share of my closest friends had left the city, many of them scattered across the city, country and world because of the forces of the recession. Not having enough money to eat or do anything else would be easier to deal with if one had friendly distractions, after all. It was compounded by the fact that I was also disgusted by the reactions of some of the people in my life to my burdens and limitations. I realized that anyone who snaps at you for not being able to hang out because you're exhausted, hungry, broke and encumbered is just not a friend. It's a helpful thing to know, but quite inconvenient when you're lonely to the point of desperation.

Things further deteriorated when I realized that I was going to turn 24. I don't even remember being 23, to be quite honest. Yeah, I traveled a lot. I got to live in the UK. Via Facebook, I'm sure it looked like I was having a fabulous time.

Via Facebook...

In real life, I spent it agonizing over a weight problem that happened suddenly and won't go away, even though I exercise fervently for hours upon hours every week. I was isolated from my family in friends in a foreign country, and living with people who mistreated me; I traveled to get away from them. I was studying and working harder than ever, only to watch from a distance as all the promises that Ivy League law schools make to their students evaporated. As one of the few people I know who still has a job offer, all I can think of is "what's next?" while knowingly that I'm powerless, no matter the answer to the question. And I'm technically one of the lucky ones.

So, this business of turning 24 has not been exciting at all, because I don't feel that I have much to look forward to. I'm grateful for all I've been able to accomplish, but now..."what's next?" Will my life be ever-increasing labor with no real rewards? Does it really matter if you have two graduate degrees at 24 if you can't even celebrate your accomplishment properly because you're literally indigent? Even if and when I have money, and can buy my fun, what will be the point if no one is there with which to have fun? What exactly is it to which I'm supposed to be looking forward? Certainly not Bar Exam prep!

This is not a complaint, nor is it a cry for help. I just want my similarly situated friends to understand that they're not alone in their confusion and senses of loss. I also want other people to understand that all that glitters is not gold, and that it's not all glitz and glamour. Obviously, I'll never put all my business on blast, or post pictures of myself crying on Facebook, but my life is not all smiles. For every success or blessing, there have invariably been hundreds of internal screams and sobfests, and thousands of moments of sheer struggle. When I want company, often there is no one available and I have to bear my burdens alone; indubitably, then, when I want time to recover from my lonely struggle the next day, I have people g-chatting me to vent about absolutely inconsequential matters. Always, the boring/trifling conversation is always about them, and then at the end, "so how are you?" before they bluntly sign off with one excuse or another. Or there are the people with whom you never hang out, but they suddenly want to be in touch with you for networking purposes... "soooo...I wanna go to law school...what did you get on the LSAT? What was your GPA?" Or they're just coming into NYC for the weekend and want a free place to stay, even though they don't really like you all that much... It's annoying, insulting, and it happens all the time.

No, it's not all glitz and glamour AT ALL. Usually, it's hell and headache...which is okay, because it's the life I chose. There is, after all, no progress without struggle. However, there is a struggle, and I'm definitely struggling in a huge way at the moment. If everyone could just understand that--no pity necessary--it would be the best birthday present I could ask for.

"Dating in the Dark": A guilty pleasure and a reminder that when you relax your dating standards, you lose

2009-07-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

It’s official. ABC Network’s “Dating in the Dark” is my new guilty pleasure. After watching the premiere last Monday, I quickly programmed a DVR recording for the entire series. In case you missed it, you can watch full episodes at abc.go.com.

While the first episode was enough to get me hooked, I found it to be pretty tame on the compelling / controversial spectrum. It was more just a true pilot episode--one that gets the viewer familiar with the show’s main premise, etc. Sure, I was taken aback when Christina ditched Seth as he looked on from the balcony, especially when they seemed to have such great chemistry (i.e. make out sessions) in the dark room. It also didn’t help that I found her to be far from “the fairest of them all,” but that was another interesting aspect of the show for me: the fact that human beings can have such inflated notions of themselves. For her to turn down Seth based on looks when I, as a third party, placed them on equal footing was quite interesting. It was even more entertaining to watch Christina sob during her testimonial about how she’s not a shallow person when all of America had witnessed just the opposite. All the same, the episode failed to deliver any real surprises.

The second episode was another matter as it raised some questions for me. I have to admit, I couldn’t wait to see this one when I found out a black woman would be involved. I wondered how race would play into the experience and was shocked when Matt made the comment about Chrystee sounding like a “light-skinned, African-American woman” after everyone met in the dark room. Initially, I was surprised that her race was uncovered so early in the show; then I was just confused and appalled. Since when can you determine skin complexion (i.e. light-skinned v. dark-skinned) by the sound of a person’s voice? I guess it just lends itself to the subconscious judgments we form about people, but I really wish I could ask for his rationale on that one…but back to Chrystee. It was established that she was black, and somehow, despite her warmth and winning personality, none of the guys took enough interest in her to ask her for the initial date. She, however, takes an interest in Jason, a Caucasian male from Boston who works in marketing. They seem to be getting along fine until she begins to discuss her Christian faith. Jason admits that he isn’t religious, and later in his aside, expresses discontent with Chrystee for broaching the topic on their first date.

Next, as done in the first episode (and most likely to continue in future airings), the participants are told which person they are most compatible with based on their pre-show interviews. Oddly enough, the couples who had the most chemistry during the first dates also had the most in common, so Chrystee and Jason are paired once again. They play a little game of “find the football,” roll around on the floor a little, and all is well. God and Jesus don’t come up during the date. They show up on the final date, however, when Chrystee asks Jason if she can pray before they eat. He agrees, but later reveals his discomfort during his testimonial.

Finally, Chrystee and Jason see each other. This is always the most interesting part of the show, but I was much more curious this time because after seeing Chrystee, Jason admitted physical attraction to her, but was conflicted about seeing her again because of her faith. In the end, he chose not to pursue a date with her after the show, and she was left standing on the balcony where she watched him walk away.

This is where the blur begins for me. If Matt could get past Megan’s “thick” build, and if Doug could get past Lindsay’s lack of a “clear complexion” (i.e. zits), then why couldn’t Jason get past the God-factor long enough to grant Chrystee at least one more date instead of humiliating her on national television? I also wonder if it really was her religious views that sent him packing. If Chrystee had been white, would there have been a different outcome? We’ll never know.

What I do know, however, is that Chrystee should not have been on that balcony in the first place. Why let your guard down and allow yourself to be vulnerable to a date who doesn’t share the religious viewpoint that you hold so dear? Why wasn’t his lack of faith just as much of a big deal to her as her piety was to him? His personality was lackluster and his looks did little to supersede reason what with the faux-hawk and all. So why even bother? The bottom line is, some people become so anxious for a date or a relationship that they relax their standards and fail to take a firm stand on the qualities and / or beliefs that matter most to them. I’ve been guilty of it myself--several times. A few years ago, I found myself in Chrystee’s shoes: struggling in the dating scene as a Christian, black woman and trying to fit a square peg (my beliefs) into a round hole (secular-based companionship). After one particularly bad, extremely offensive date, I had a candid conversation with God about my situation and decided afterward that dating just wasn’t for me. Not a new thing for most of the Christian community, but for some reason, my black sisters just don’t want to let go, and most of us end up like Chrystee, standing helpless while the men reject us and our core values, and walk away.

Regardless of your race or your religious beliefs, please do yourself a favor and stick to your guns about what you want in a mate. It never pays to settle and you deserve better than to allow yourself to be judged by someone who doesn’t have an open mind to accept you as you are. Leave them standing on the proverbial balcony feeling undesired. Maybe that will lead them to some much needed progressive self-reflection.

President Obama Clowns the CPD: Take That, Take That!

2009-07-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

While giving his pitch for the health care reform that we DESPERATELY NEED, the President took a moment to hold his friend Henry Louis Gates down, and it was beautiful.

HAHAHA, Prezzie is CLEARLY still salty about not being able to get cabs, and rightfully so. But not as salty as the Cambridge Police Department must be feeling right now. Earlier today, I was all about getting an apology out of the CPD, and tomorrow I may contact them and ask them what's good with some expression of true remorse, but you know what? They were just clowned on national television, and that works for me, too.

Mid-Week Foolishness: So Much To Choose From This Week

2009-07-22T10:26:00.001-07:00

...I've decided to go with the most outrageous and embarrassing, because that's just the type of person I am. Warped. But not as warped as these ASSNUTS who call themselves America's mainstream.

My first reaction was annoyance. Deep annoyance. However, then I saw the waving flag in the hand of the screaming termagan, and it turned into the feeling one gets when one sees someone getting caught picking his nose or netherparts...a squeamish sort of discomfort. Then, there was the shrill suggestion that the Pledge of Allegiance be recited (because, you know, they all want their country back, and saying the Pledge in unison will undoubtedly restore conservative law and order across the rolling plains of wheat of the Heartland...), and then the actual recitation...not quite together at first, but then in complete patriotic wingnut unity. Yes, that part made me come close to losing control of my bowels. But I pulled it together, and decided to blog instead, about the proliferation of angry-a** people who are losing their minds over the fact that we have a president who isn't white and a future Supreme Court Justice with both swarthy skin and a pair of boobs.

So, that was bizarre...but this next video is just the regular good old infuriating stuff to which minorities and women in America have by now become accustomed. Enjoy, and when you decide to begin throwing feces at Mr. Buchanan, remember that wiping off your computer screen will not be that much fun afterwards...

Since my ancestors and I haven't built this country up at all, maybe I should just leave work now and go home. Maybe then I'll have time to have sex with multiple men, fry some chicken and make some red kool-aid, and then go pick up my welfare check...but I sho iz feeling lazy so maybe not...I'm finna just lie down and listen to some gangsta rap...

Mid-Week Foolishness: The Other Loud and Tumultuous Behavior

2009-07-21T21:26:00.001-07:00

Who keeps putting Joe Jackson on TV? Who's responsible for this?! Every time that man speaks on camera someone should be held accountable! ~ Frustrated friend's Gchat status
Joe Jackson is a piece of scum. ~ my little brother

...um, euw.

Joe Freaking Jackson...how we hate him and his gross Michael Jackson post-mortem publicity stunts. I promise, every time his embalmed face shows up on my TV screen, my cat gets up from his perch on top of his cat condo and RUNS to his litter box. I mean, the parts of Michael that are biodegradable haven't even begun to properly rot yet, and his tyrant father is doing the Al Sharpton Circuit AND trying to pimp out his son's kiddies. STOPPIT! The last Facebook quiz I took--I know, I know--was "Top 5 Celebrities I Hate", and Joe definitely copped that number 1 spot, followed by the entire Republican Party and Ward Connerly, of course. And boy, did it feel good.

I also hate that he is still being allowed to open his mouth. Not only is he a human demon, but he makes black folks look TERRIBLE. If you haven't already, see for yourself:

...the hell?!

FIRST OF ALL, why the heck does this swine insist on appearing on televison dressed like Pastor Don Magic Juan and Kat Williams at eighty years old?

Second, what is "bull-ESS?" And, "Michael was never beat-ed by me"? WHAT?! What sort of embarrassment is this? After all the work we put in to put Barack in office, we still have to deal with this old fool and his slave-speak? WHYYYYY?

Thirdly, why is he even still alive? No, seriously...He's like 188 years old and just as fiesty, stubborn and ridiculous as EVER. UGH. STOP DI FOOLISHNESS NUH MAN!

Anyway, this is how I feel about it, Mr. Joe Jackson:

Loud and Tumultuous Behavior

2009-07-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

If your head is not in the clouds, you've no doubt by now heard about the disgusting profiling, harrassment and arrest of Harvard's Henry Louis Gates, Jr. This horrendous situation will hopefully turn out to be a blessing in disguise, because so many poor minorities are profiled and harrassed by police every day, with no media outlets to which to turn.

I'm so pissed off by this incident, that I considered re-naming this blog after the charges the KKKambridge Police Department hit Professor Gates with. I won't, because we already keep it loud and tumultuous around these parts. Please know that the BigotAlerts will continue, and that I will continue to call out the racist and colorblind foolishness that is destroying the lives of the world's masses!

Feeling Angry? Join the movement on Facebook.

Mini Music Spotlight: Ras Penco "Sledge Hammer" , "Most High" & "Thousand Miles Away"

2009-07-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

Most High, be my guide, I know Jah will provide... ~Ras Penco, "Most High"

I was worried about the state of reggae music for a minute...seems like I went through a bit of a dry spell...but it looks like we've got a keeper here. His sound is like a refreshing mix of Gentleman and Munga...I love it. Anyway, more on Ras Penco later...gotta keep moving on the dissertation...but please believe I'm over here slow windin' at the desk!

Enjoy!

Sledge Hammer - Ras Penco

And the hit single, "Most High" can be accessed here.

To all the lucky people who get fi go Sumfest this year: I'm TOO JEALOUS!!! It really is time for me to get back to JA...let's hope and pray that Jah will provide THAT. *Smiles*.

Peace.

Eye Candy

2009-07-14T11:20:00.001-07:00

Sawwwwy...not the male variety; so much better, actually. Have a look at this piece of fashion porn, courtesy of Robert Rodriguez:

$583 at Nordstrom. We can all dream. Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens...

The Thin Line Between Bliss and Death: An Afternoon with Marley

2009-07-11T16:37:00.000-07:00

I DON'T WANT TO WRITE MY DISSERTATION!!!! I'd much rather bore you with the banalities of my cat's life. For those you who know me personally, you know that--at least in my own mind--my cat is legend. Marley P. Jackson is a 14 month-old divo kitty with a perfect, glossy coat, adorable face, boundless energy, dog-like personality, and serious emotional issues.

Times have been well hard with us since I returned from London. I'm darn near indigent at the moment, after closing on a new apartment---"do you REALLY need me to give you last month's rent?" and having lived on American dollars in London for over nine months. For me, this means several things--a broken computer that cannot be fixed, no groceries, no Metrocard, and lots of hunger and inconvenience. For Marley, it means that he gets dry food instead of fresh cuts of snapper in shrimp sauce. Which, obviously, is unacceptable. Like, how could he ever be expected to abide such disrespect? Don't I know WHO HE IS!?!!!

Marley also has become my sister's cat since I've been gone. I don't know if he remembers that I'm the one who adopted him when he was basically feline fetus and that I basically weaned him, but he has been treating me with a general suspicion and ambivalence-slash-hate since I've returned. He cries when I want to play with him. He hisses. On Wednesday, he tried to attack me when I offered him some of the tuna in my sandwich. Meanwhile my sister could literally kick him in the behind and he would purr and try to cuddle her. It's been a bit hard to take, especially because I've been so hungry that I would consider eating meat again and beginning with him.

Marley has also become jumpy; He hasn't completely abandoned his prostitute ways with regards to my guests, but he is very picky about men and has decided that he hates my super. As soon as he smells the superintendent's presence in the building, he runs straight under my couch, or in extreme cases, down the hall at top speed and under the bed until he deems it safe to come out. The super doesn't even know Marley exists, because Marley patently refuses to meet him.

Yesterday, Time Warner came out to install internet--this is why I am blogging, obviously, lol--and, well, Marley did try. He sniffed at the installer dude, sniffed him real good. And then he was like "nope, don't like it" and disappeared. The installer dude was a little bit incompetent and had to call his foreman to come and help him out after about FOUR HOURS...by this time, Marley was getting cabin fever under my bed, like "ZOMG, I CAN HAZ FREEDOM, PLEEZ? WHY YOU STAYZ MY HOUS?!" About a half hour later, I finally had internet, and was deep into the horrors of online research on refugee law and thinking about how annoying/embarrassing my stupid cat was when I looked up and saw that Marley had resumed his perch on the windowsill, chirping at birds and trying to catch them...except it was not his usual, preferred windowsill. No, he was on the windowsill that the internet dudes had opened to wire cables up to the rooftop and HAD FORGOTTEN TO CLOSE...and he WAS OUTSIDE...ON THE LEDGE...AND I LIVE ON THE THIRD FLOOR!!!

My heart almost stopped. For the first time since I'd been back in New York, Marley was absolutely happy. I couldn't smell his attitude from across the living room. He wasn't a snarling mess, nor was he loudly wondering "WHY I HAZ TO EATZ SLOP AGIN!"
He was enjoying one of his favorite activities without the usual obstruction of a window screen and he was actually reaching for birds, chirping at them, and preparing to pounce on them. For the first time in his one year of life, he was about to live the dream, with no idea that he would plunge straight to his death.

I stood up, and thought about what to do. I didn't have treats with which to lure him...no money. I had just run out of cat food completely, and couldn't lure him in with a regular meal. Marley hated me, too. If I ran up on him, yelling, or at all, he would likely back away, and certainly fall off the ledge. Then I saw his brush, which we used to brush his glorious coat, lying on the floor near my food. Marley loves being brushed, and he will roll over and move your hand until you get all the spots. When he's had enough, he hisses at you, bites you, and walks away...kinda like a man, now that I think about it. Anyway, I digress. I picked up the brush and started cooing like an idiot. "Marleeeeeee, you want a massage? Marleeeeeeee". I beckoned for him to come to me. As usual, he ignored my request, but he did hold my gaze and meow--not hiss--meow at me. I slowly walked over, absolutely horrified that on top of all the horrible things happening to me lately, that I would lose my beautiful, one-of-a-kind cat just because I was too poor to have come-hither treats for the little beast. I realized that the knot in my stomach was also comprised of some level of guilt for being so annoyed with him. He was bratty, true, but all he wanted was happiness. He wasn't supposed to know or appreciate struggle...he's a house cat. Just because I'm miserable doesn't mean he's supposed to give up his dreams.

I called him again, much closer to the window now. "Marley, baby, you having fun? Having fun looking at the birds?" Marley chirped back...he was so happy, it was actually quite cute, if you could forget that he was an inch away from a one way trip to Kitty Heaven. I opened my arms..."Marley, come over here...let's have fun over here!" He actually turned around and stretched his paws out as well and leaned just slightly forward towards me, as he had when he was a kitten and thought I was his mother. And then I grabbed him, and literally tossed him across the room, quickly slamming the window screen down after him.

I did not yell at him. I did not sigh loudly, or freak out otherwise. Not just because I was so happy that he was safe, but also because I realized how happy he had just been, and how happy I should be for him, my own circumstances notwithstanding. I went to the freezer and found the dregs of some ice cream, and made him a saucer's worth. Ice cream, as it turns out, is another one of his great sources of happiness. I even topped it off with a piece of leftover curry shrimp that I had wanted to eat for lunch. After his snack, he immediately walked over to where I was sitting and hopped directly on my lap...first time ever since I'd left him for London. I was tired and still shaken on the inside, so I took a nap, but when I woke up, he was lying next to me. We've been fairly cool ever since.

Mid-Week Foolishness: CAN'T SWIM HERE, POOL'S TAKEN

2009-07-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

...changing the "complexion" of the club? WOW.

Not Just Another Celebrity Death: You Can Call it Karma if You Like

2009-07-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

Steve McNair, former NFL Quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens. McNair was found shot to death in his girlfriend's condo on July 4th..

The last few days or so have been replete with the tragic and somewhat sudden deaths of a number of celebrities--Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Karl Malden were not so shocking, but Michael, the OxiClean guy and Steve McNair's murder yesterday were quite another matter.

The coverage of these deaths has been even more interesting to me than the deaths themselves. Steve McNair's tragic passing yesterday is the chief example: the media, to their credit, are doing their best to avoid creating premature scandal in covering his story, but I'm becoming annoyed. Anyone with a fully-functioning brain, and the ability to think critically on a middle-school level, should have noticed by now that SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT about this story.

Shocked and saddened? YES, for his wife Mechelle and his FOUR sons, whom he abandoned in Mississippi while he was with his teenaged...ok...twenty-year old... jump-off in Nashville, allowing her to drive under the influence in a vehicle they SHARED and being a "frequent visitor" to her condo. Shocked and saddened, indeed!

Call it karma if you like. I'm off to church right now, so I feel justified in being a little bit preachy: The wages of sin are death. But don't get me wrong; Yes, I totally feel bad for him, and for the girlfriend as well, particularly because I don't know the details of what actually occurred. He didn't deserve to be murdered at all. We all care because he was a great athlete, one of the few black quarterbacks in the NFL, and a popular human being. However, it is becoming clear that 36 year-old Steve McNair may have also been selfish and unwise enough to have walked right into his own grave, and the death of what could have been a great reputation and legacy.

Live your lives well.

Ghana Fashion Week 2009

2009-07-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

From Ghana Fashion Week 2009, courtesy of blogger Karen Nicole

Just a couple weeks after Arise Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg--which was amazing beyond belief, the continent's Black Star presents its own national Fashion Week to the world. Also amazing? YES. For exclusive access to the goings-on, and front-row pics, check out my good friend's coverage here.

For the full run-down on the Arise Africa Fashion Week and the fabulous designers who participated, head over to Bella Naija. My personal favorite collections were from Ituen Basi of Nigeria, Ghanaian Aisha Obuobi of Christie Brown, and the Ghanaian, London-based Sika Designs.

Look What I Found: Mojo Lounge

2009-07-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

Mojo, 185 St. Nicholas Avenue. Picture stolen from Metromix.

Because God was merciful and didn't allow the New York City skies torture us with torrential rains today, I was able to take a leisurely stroll from my internship through my old West Harlem/Morningside Park neighborhood to my new apartment in Central Harlem. Not only did I notice that everything west of Lenox and below 121st is basically now the Upper West Side--blonde hair and strollers included, but I also stumbled across the poshest-looking little jewel of a lounge named Mojo located on 119th and St. Nicholas Avenue. Clearly, I rushed home and did my research. Uptown Flavor offered a review of the lounge that can be accessed here.

Just from the outside, I can tell that a lot of work has gone into creating an intensely sophisticated vibe. The windows were covered in a delightful psychedelic print, and from what I was able to see as I was walking, the place is somewhat Asian-themed, with lush interiors and a great ambiance, even in the daylight! I really need everyone to hurry up and take the Bar Exam already so we can go check this place out. According to Uptown Flavor, Mojo will be offering Mediterraneian fusion fare until 11pm, when the restaurant will become a lounge. I don't know about Mediterraean fusion, but I will most definitely be arranging a girls' night out when all of my loves are available again, and when I am no longer experiencing 3rd-world poverty! Maybe we'll eat at Native, which I absolutely adore, and then bring our thirsty tongues a couple avenues west to Mojo to see what Harlem nightlife is really all about...

Note to self: bring camera to work and take pictures of Mojo...and post.

I'm Back!

2009-07-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

...not just blogging, but BACK home, BACK to the US of A! The feeling is still a bit surreal, but I do indeed feel at home in a way that I certainly never felt in London. Now that I've made it home, I feel much more comfortable admitting that, aside for a select few things about the city, I hated London and I hated the United Kingdom. To anyone I told differently, chances are that you're British, and I was being polite in that very passive-aggressive British way that I also fundamentally loathe from the bottom of my heart, and the heart of my bottom. I'm really banking on my extra degree now, because what I went through in that country better be worthwhile in the long run. I will say, also, that I met some fabulous people during my prison term in London, and had some great experiences across the pond--in other countries--but on balance, England is just not for me. Good riddance, and a good evening to you, dear sir.

And in the spirit of my beloved North America, Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians I love and cherish...there are quite a few.

This Complicated Life

2009-06-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

You already know that today has been one of the saddest, grossest newsdays in a while.

When I left the house this evening to meet a friend for dinner, it was mostly because I'm leaving London this weekend and am saying goodbyes, but also because the news of Farrah Fawcett's death really bummed me out.

When I walk through the door after dinner, a good friend of mine began to g-chat me, asking me if I knew that one of my ex-boyfriends had a school-aged child. I didn't know. I guess he forgot to mention that tiny fact about his life before he disappeared on me on Valentine's Day. Yeah, I had to sit down for a moment to try to take that in.

As I did, I began to notice that some of my friends' g-chat statuses said things like "oh nooo....mike, too?" And I was confused, but I knew that whatever it was, CNN.com would have it on as front-page news. I couldn't have been more shocked by what I saw, and apparently, I am not alone. Yeah, I had to STAND UP for a moment, and walk around my room to take THAT in.

Life can be like that, like it was today: disappointing, shocking, sad, disconcerting. Life is hard. And then, it's over...you can try to replay all the greatest hits in your mind, but once things and people and time are gone, they are gone...sometimes all too soon. You can spend your life seeking attention and love, only to fail to realize that the whole world loves and adores you, and would mourn you from every corner of the world via every available medium of technology if something horrible were to befall you before your time. Or, you can live with purpose, and in appreciation for all that you have, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. If there is anything I'm aware of at this very moment, while I'm still too sad to fall asleep, it's that life is for the living. Live your life well.

Under A Rock

2009-06-05T09:54:00.001-07:00

...Taking exams until June 22nd! I won't be posting until July, after I go home---to the United States! If you see any posts, please tell me that I'm going to fail my exams and that all the work I've put in since I was 3 years old is about to go to waste.

Thanks.

Just when you thought you'd had enough...

2009-05-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

...I've saved the most foolish bit of foolishness for last...courtesy of YBF....

this is not for the workplace. just wait until you get home, and it's better if you are wearing a diaper when you press play.

As one of my good friends said, he needs to go play in traffic. I'll be suing him for emotional damage in the morning.

Even More Tuesday Foolishness: Rush Limbaugh Calls Obama and Sotomayor Racists

2009-05-26T15:29:00.000-07:00

Rush Limbaugh is like a chest hair on a woman--unsightly, unseemly, unwelcome, unwarranted, unnecessary, horrifying, and deserving of immediate plucking and destruction.

I fully expected Limpballs and the other Rethuglicans to deliver ridiculous critiques of Sotomayor, steeped in indignant liberal anti-racist rhetoric. However, Limpy, we JUST heard Huckabee admit that Steele was an affirmative action pick, a pawn, and a token so go pop some pills and SIT DOWN, you rabid BAT FROM HELL.

Just when I was getting worried about Obama securing a second term in office, the right-wing demagogues offer him victory on a silver platter. I love it. SI SE PUEDE!!!

More Tuesday Foolishness

2009-05-26T14:00:00.001-07:00

Since everyone's talking about Sonia Sotomayor today, I suppose many people didn't notice what Mike Huckabee said about Michael Steele last weekend. Watching the paradoxes of conservative colorblindness betray themselves is nothing less than delicious.

Black Republicans= Fools. I've said it in private, and I'm proud to say it in print. Don't do it to yourselves! This is not to say that Democrats are perfect--I don't consider myself a Democrat at all, but there is a long history of Black conservatives being PWND/exploited by their party (Alan Keyes, Condi, Gen. Powell before he woke up and got out, etc). It doesn't pay to hate yourself so much that you'll do anything to be accepted by the people who hate you. Because they'll still hate you, and the people who would have loved you will hate you, too. Word.

Spread this one around, folks.

Tuesday Afternoon Foolishness

2009-05-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

I WAS taking a mock exam, but all my ink pens ran out of ink...so I started doing this instead.

Not sooo bad for no vocal warm-ups, lessons, or performances in a year...don't know when I became so pitchy though...

Monday Morning Foolishness

2009-05-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because if the white kids start dancing with the black kids, the black kids will begin to overheat, and their black skin will melt all over the white kids and ruin their rented tuxedos and frilly dresses...and we can't have that...

Stoppit.

So You're Graduating, Are You? Part Two: Let's Take it There...

2009-05-11T06:25:00.000-07:00

Forget the niceties. Let's get straight to the point:

Check your credit score, and if necessary, clean it up. Yes, I went there. Take care of your business.

You need good credit, especially in the current economy, for the following things:

Admission to the Bar (for my lawyers)
Leases
Cars
Homes
Credit Cards
Peace of mind
A Decent Life
Um, like, EVERYTHING

It's not easy. I found out the hard way myself. Someone opened up credit cards in my name and abused them when I was a little kid. Combining that with the fact that I had to use a credit card to pay part of my college tuition, and some immature spending habits, I had terrible credit when I graduated college, and it took me about two years to fully repair. The experience was extremely traumatic, but has taught me a lifetime of important lessons, the foremost being to ALWAYS PAY BILLS ON TIME, and to keep credit card balances low. I just paid one off completely last week, and am hoping to pay the second off by July. It's all very possible, folks....it just means that I won't be buying new shoes for graduation, and that I'll be happier for that decision in the long run.

We're actually in the perfect season for paying off debt and learning to live within our means! The recession is basically a collective butt-whipping being served on the entire world for our previous greed and irresponsibility, and it's actually not that much fun. Even for those of us who haven't really suffered, it's depressing to watch people we love go through the wringer. The way I see it, we owe it to our loved ones and friends who have lost jobs to get our own finances in check so that we can possibly be a source of uplift to them as they struggle to recover their livelihoods. (Too altruistic for you? Well then, just handle your business, so you won't be broke, because no one is going to look out for your selfish @$$ if you screw up! HAHAHA.)

From a Christian perspective, I'd refer back to the sermon I heard yesterday on work and idleness. In 1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12, Paul commands the Thessalonians to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." Leading a quiet life is what more of us need in the world's present crisis. This is certainly no indictment on fun, but moderation is in order when you're only of moderate means. There is nothing worse than someone who is clearly pretending to have more than they really do--such a lifestyle does not win anyone respect, and it will eventually lead to dependence and shame. The Good Lord knows we deserve better.

Or, as my soon-to-be alma mater's financial office advises, "live like a student now so you can live like a lawyer later." Like a financially-savvy, disciplined lawyer, that is...

Everyone, just pay your damn bills...and maybe cook tonight, instead of ordering in...AGAIN. Congratulations, grads!

Resources:

Free Annual Credit Report

Tips on How to Clean Up Your Credit

How much rent you can afford

HAHAHAHA....OUCH!

2009-05-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

Wanda Sykes, for the slightly mean-spirited win at this weekend's much-talked-about White House Correspondents' Dinner....Barack was pretty hilarious himself, but Wanda gave the Rethuglicans (Rush Limpballs, in particular) their behinds on a platter.

Yep, even if you're in the library, or at work...like Wanda said, you're laughing inside.

Hate Mail!

2009-05-08T01:47:00.001-07:00

I do love haters. But hate mail? I didn't even know I was so major...

Yeah, someone is PISSED at me for de-friending him on Facebook, and sent me the following message to prove it:

Trust me I think its a very good move, I considered doing the same thing many a time, but then I tot we are both people of high intelligence and there is nothing wrong with that. But yeah, I would take that instead of u making a fool of yourself on my notes. So that I can write on my page with a peace of mind. I found out u deleted me from your friends just cos I was going to tag u on another note and the reason I tag u first is cos I suppose u are a ___alumni and a ___ Law student who might make intelligent comments on my articles and review them as a highly educated-soon-to-become a lawyer, who will be charged with the responsibility of objectively review cases and whom people's life might be entrusted upon. I think if u said it or thought about it a million times, I still am not a male supremacist. Now am gon get ready for some so much drama from u in my mailbox or some very long reply. Can i suggest u be matured and just ignore the email and maybe consider being objective for anything's sake.

Hahahahaha...WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN? Can I suggest that you grow up, and get a command of the English language along the way?

It's not that serious. I kept things simple:

As someone once told me, "responding to ___ is like an elephant fighting with a mosquito."

The message you've sent me is just the reason why I no longer wish to be bothered with being your "friend". I was actually hoping that you would give me a reason to want to re-add you, but instead I received "some so much drama from u in my mailbox or some very long reply."
Grow up, stop trying to insult people who don't give a damn, and move on. Bye!

The only reason he received any response at all was because I felt a little bit bad about de-friending him in the first place (which is weird because I don't feel like we've really been friends for several years now...Facebook does that to you) , with no warning from myself. Still, the de-friending had to be done. I've put up with a lot from the kid...this is a guy who once expressed a desire online to "pea in feminists mouth" (sic). Without being too specific about his increasingly ridiculous facebook activities (everyone deserves some measure of respect and privacy), they were public, offensive, and hard to stand. I did try to reason with him, but doing so was actually a waste of my time, because it would get me all upset for nothing, and never made a bit of difference. A couple days ago, when he put up a status calling someone a "FAGOOT", I'd had enough. And then he goes and shows me exactly how gross he really is, with his little stinkbomb message. Good riddance, man.

Facebook, what hath you wrought?!?!?! I mean, I'm going to laugh about this one for a minute, but on a more serious note: Internet thugging is for Blackplanet and MySpace. If you want to keep your friends, then be a friend. And if you're not a friend, then why do you care if you're not on someone's list of "friends"? And why send nasty messages to people online, when you can politely ask them if they want to sort things out over the phone or in person? What is the problem?

Because I want to be a woman of my words, if anyone is offended by this, or by me in general, and would like to de-friend me on Facebook, please feel free! I won't mind...really, I won't! Honestly, I know that I really don't have 906 friends in real life...but my real friends prove time and time again that they are real men and real women (and real cats, lol) who know how to act, online and in the streets, so...

Seriously, folks, GROW UP.

Mini Music Spotlight: Gotye "Heart's A Mess"

2009-05-05T19:49:00.000-07:00

I love Gossip Girl, and I often love the outro songs featured on the episodes. The latest episode was no exception. Gotye and his intergalactic music video FTW!!!

But, to all my fellow GG viewers, was anyone else not annoyed by the passive-aggressive-indecisive-sacrificial lamb Chuck Bass, Rufus' temper tantrum, and the fact that Gabriel seems to have gotten away scot-free with his crimes? And was it necessary for Georgina to be cast as such an annoying (and apparently fake) Christian? Note to the CW: Not all of us Jesus freaks are like that...sorry to ruin your stereotype... ;)

So, What Was That About Us Transcending Race, Again?

2009-05-04T03:39:00.001-07:00

It's too early in the morning, and too early in the week. I just can't go there today. I cannot. Just make sure you watch/listen to this one (thanks to Huffington Post) ALL the way through. I need to go back to bed and pull my blankets up around my nose and mouth. Perhaps if I die of strangulation, I won't have to deal with the Jay Severins of the world...

The anchor better preach...especially because if I get started, I'll be bedridden for the rest of the week.

Oh, and on the off-chance that you haven't had enough hate in your life today, a classmate posted the following to her Facebook page last week:

WOW. Where is Jeremiah Wright when you actually need him? WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY?

Oh, but there is some good news from the White House about what President Obama (I still get kicks from saying that) plans to do with the nation's Neanderthals...The Obama administration has come out against a group of white firefighters from New Haven and their wacky reverse discrimination claim. The case was a holdover from the Bushies, and was the one of very few discrimination cases even before the Supreme Court this year. Obama and his people plan to re-commit to less of the b.s. "omg-the-blacks-and-mexicans-and-gays-and-manhating feminists-are-taking-over-EVERYTHING-and-they-shouldn't-because-this-is-my-country-because-I'm-white-and-straight" and more of the ACTUAL discrimination cases that have been ignored by the Rethugs since 2000.

I can't wait. Mr. Holder, please get on your job. We know you want to.

Music Mini-Spotlight: More D'Banj, New Olu Maintain, and How to Be Silly Without Defiling and Entire Religion

2009-05-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

Naija music is gettin' it for me these days, let me tell you. First off, when I was in Ghana, MELTING in the car in Accra during rush hour one day, my little ears perked right up when I heard this (apparently not new, but new to Ghana and new to me) track from D'Banj. Getting to hear him perform it live at the Ghana Music Awards After-party Concert right before I left was just icing on a large cake.

For all the non-Yoruba speakers like myself, "Gbono Fe le" means "I'm hot". The song is hot, too. Love D'Banj.

Gbono Fe Le - DBanj

D'Banj, via jumbo-tron (hey, the crowd was huge...it was the best I could do) at the GMA concert

Performing "Why Me"...Yeah, I was excited...

I also heard the disaster that is Busta Rhymes' "Arab Money" for the first time in Ghana, right before the Ghana v. Benin match in Kumasi. Yeah, I shook my hips a little...until I was informed that the chorus was actually part of the Qu'ran. And then, I shook my head.

Busta...WHY!?

The song is banned here in the United Kingdom. Some deejay thought he'd be a saucy minx and play it in a club. Too bad...his license is suspended now. He shoulda just played some Lady Gaga. British Muslims are NOT HAVING IT, and can you really blame them? The evangelical Christian is very much anti-sacrilege, but we also welcome any Christian influence in virtually anything. Mr. Vegas singing hymns in his generally ridiculous/vile dancehall lyrics= probably sacrilege, but many Christians would feel that him singing Christian music is generally a good thing. But (and I know this will shock many people), NOT EVERYONE IS A CHRISTIAN. Rap music is already widely considered to be haraam (forbidden) in Islam, so why on Allah's good green earth would you insert sacred Islamic scripture into a song in which you are glorifying crass materialism and referring to Arabic people as "AY-RABS"? Busta, who dropped you on your fat head? FAIL.

That being said, there has been a lot of flagrantly racist backlash by Arab Muslims against blacks because of the song (google the "Arab money" video on Youtube and see for yourself...I won't dignify it here). That ish is not cool. And furthermore, Busta is a dummy, but he probably didn't mean to offend Islam...particularly since he considers himself to also be a practicing Muslim, as do several of the artists featured on the extremely wack video. So, folks need to calm down, just a little. Racism isn't cool when they're randomly checking your ass at the airport because your last name is Hassan, so it's not cool at all. Ever. Thanks.

Conversely, Nigerian artist of "Yahooze" infamy, Olu Maintain, straight bit off Busta, and also made a song entitled "Arab Money" (thanks to my friend O.I. for putting me on to the track). It's stupid as all get out, but it's also unoffensive and an extremely hot track. I've tried to come up with different reasons for why Busta failed so miserably here, while Olu Maintain didn't...maybe because Africa is closer to the Middle East, and Africans are less ignorant about Middle Eastern culture? But, it's not really that convincing to me. I think Busta is just a turd, and Mr. Maintain has one more hot single under his belt.

(I hate him for his photo shoot. Hate.)

As usual, enjoy...and feel free to dance in your room. We can't see you.

Mini Music-Spotlight: Keri Hilson ft. Timbaland, "Return the Favor" and Keri Hilson "Control Me" (Rihanna Demo)

2009-05-03T18:26:00.000-07:00

I don't know where I've been, because apparently this video was released in the fall. I first saw in the gym over the weekend, on MTV Base...and was like, "Hey, this is mildly hot..."*

So, full disclosure: I have a girl crush on Keri Hilson, sorta like the one I had on Rihanna until you-know-what. It's not that she has a particularly phenomenal voice, but she's an absolute muse. Like, I stare. As in, "ZOMGIWANNABEJUSTLIKEHERRRRRR!"

Moving on...I actually give the track itself 3.5 stars out of five. It has dance potential, and it's cute, festive, and tres sexy...BUT it's also very reminiscent of "The Way I Are". And none of us really requested a remix. However, I love the video...mostly because Keri Hilson is in it, being fabulous and mod and futuristic, which I'm not.

I will say that I don't envy the fact that she doesn't have boobs. I quite enjoy mine.

If the song is somehow new to you as well, enjoy!

Audio:

Keri Hilson ft. Timbaland - Return The Favor (Full) - ``°´´fineZtblackvibeZ.com``°´´

Video (sorry, but the quality is iffy):

* Would "mildly hot" be the same thing as "very warm"? Or, like, lukewarm-hot...'cuz that makes so much sense...bear with me. It's late.

And speaking of my other girl crush, Ms. Fenty, here she is singing Keri's "Control Me." This song is also new to me...and I actually can't tell who's actually singing...Keri or Rihanna. Doesn't matter...I love it. If we could just get her to get some control over her life...

Control Me [Rihanna Demo] - Keri Hilson

Enjoy!

OMG, I HAZ LOCS!!! And other natural hair stories...

2009-05-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Finally, the long-promised photos:

The night before, before trying to pick out my fro. I was a bit more nervous than I appear here.

Close-up of the fur. It's fair to say that I have thick hair!

Close-up!

I'm well into week 2, and the "dreads" are still just comb coils (single strand twists), but I love them as they are right now. They're cute, springy, and holding up fairly well (except for in the back, where my hair is randomly wavy-curly. Most of all, they do a great job of showing off just how much my hair has grown in the 8 months since I cut it all off. I love my hair right now. I don't do ANYTHING to it, besides keeping it from getting wet and tying it up when I sleep. It's particularly convenient since I'm at the gym all the time now, sweating it out in a big way. I'm expecting great things!

Getting my hair coiled was a great experience, in general, but I was particularly excited to discover a new product. In fact, I was so excited that I sent an insane email to my family and closest friends about it: mint oil. The locktician washed my hair, and then mixed pure mint oil into some Organic Root Stimulator conditioner. It was heaven, and did wonders for my hair texture as well. When I go in for my re-twist in about 10 days, I will definitely be buying a bottle of the stuff. Wherever you are, find some!

There is more good news, y'all: ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE DOING IT! Going natural, that is. Seriously, I have never been so encouraged or affirmed in this hair journey as I have been in the last couple of weeks. When I did the Big Chop in September, I was confident enough, but very much aware that not everyone thought it was cool (some people--so-called men, to be specific--felt it appropriate to express themselves to this effect). That is, I definitely felt as if I was still outside of some sort of mainstream, and putting myself at risk for all types of various rejections.

In fact, the journey has been very affirming. For one thing, I was able to cut out social fat--in this case, stupid people (again, mostly very ignorant, generally misogynistic males) who tried to persuade me to "do something" with my hair. Such people were never meant to be around me, in the first place. Most others, however, have been very positive, inspiring, and even inspired by my little experience with natural hair.

Even better, however, is the fact that more of my friends are taking the natural plunge now, as well, Bestie included! In fact, with the exception of two persons, all of my closest friends are either fully natural or actively transitioning--all of them highly educated, sophisticated, extremely beautiful, professional women from various walks of life. Some of them plan to press/flat iron/blow their hair out, while others, like my sister, alternate between braids and huge, ginormous sexilicious afros. Virtually all of my professional role models are also natural headz, including my partner mentor at my law firm. Even my mother is now considering natural hair, even though "your father would hit the roof if I had dreads." It's a beautiful thing. To all of you lovelies who are still LYEing about your hair, no offense, but you'd better stop while you're ahead...hehehe...'cuz even Michelle O is trying her darnedest to tell the truth!

Selah.

So You're Graduating, Are You? Part One: The Graduation Dress

2009-04-26T16:09:00.001-07:00

My favorite aspect of most events...surprise, surprise...is the ensembles involved. Graduating from law school and facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt is absolutely no exception! The speaker might be wack, and the school might have gotten me for all kinds of cash to rent an ass-ugly gown, but I'll be remiss if I don't look amazing. My suffering at the gym these past few weeks must not be in vain.

I've pretty much decided on my dresses, which I will reveal below (If you have objections to my choices, feel free to call "foul"), but also, I've set out what I believe are the cutest, most appropriate (don't want that collar poking out of your grad gown!), and least expensive spring dresses out there. Per usual, virtually all of the selections will be below $300.00, and I think I've found something for everyone.

What I looked for: Clean lines, simplicity, texture, and color. Graduation attire is difficult because it's a formal event (especially as far as your parents are concerned), but usually held in the daytime. At the same time, while you want to look great, you don't want your outfit to be too busy. You don't want your outfit to clash too much (or, at all) with the color of your gown, but you have the rest of your life to wear black! Ideally, whatever you're wearing should be formal enough for a noon wedding and not much more...ie, you should be able to transition whatever you're wearing to the fabulous after grad party/lunch/dinner you'll be rushing off to as soon as they butcher your name while you walk across stage...

What I also looked for...dresses with some versatility--that you can wear with ridiculously high platforms or flats, and dresses that are easily accessorizable in other ways...because you should be able to wear it all summer long.

Let's do this.

The classic white: From Spence, at $108 (Lord and Taylor). Hard to go wrong with this dress, regardless of your size or shade. I particularly recommend this for those of us ladies who have glowing skin, and more of it! Crisp, like a glass of Prosecco...

(Also classic, in pink...this dress, at $128 at Nordstrom, reminds me of Easter Sundays and college graduations past...)

White with a twist: From INC of Macys. Not everyone is going to enjoy crochet (like Bestie), but to me it's excellence. Furthermore, the price will make you sing. $89.

For the more conservative ladies who fancy jewel tones, Adriana Papell offers a lovely shantung at an enviable price. $138 at Nordstrom

Jewel tones, abound actually...like this simple sheath from Trina Turk, in a deep purple...a bit pricier at $268.

or this azalea-hued sheath from Maggy London, at $158 from Nordstrom. The value of dresses such as these lie primarily in their versatility...I see bangles, clutches, and insanely sexy shoes...

Also, from Maggy London, this belted sheath in a royal blue animal print. Also $128 at Nordstrom.

...A gorgeous coral Nanette Lepore that'll cost ya:

$375, at Nordstrom

...or this turquoise Evan Piccone:

$74, Macy's

You can't go wrong with Nicole Miller...ever...

$245, at Nordstrom

$290, at Nordstrom

And if you've got a little extra cash, this tomato red number is also a winner...

$318, at Nordstrom

I've purchased a couple of dresses for my upcoming ceremonies this month...and I'm really not sure what I'll decide to wear. For one thing, there is the matter of how much I'll weigh on commencement morning, and what the goods are looking like...but also, it's kind of the last time I'll actually care about what my parents think...since they're flying across the country, I feel a bit inclined to not horrify them (though I can promise you that I'll be wearing shoes that my dad claims "will destroy your feet, knees and ovaries"). The dresses above would probably keep them in a decent mood, but maybe not so much these....

All the rage, the faux two piece tank/mini skirt dresses. I love them. Casual, but not too much so, extra-versatile, simple, and chic. Yeah, maybe not for the law school ceremony, but definitely for school-wide commencement...and at two digits? Please believe...

At Nordstrom, for a whopping $58:

At Bloomies...

Dresses by Aqua, $88 at Bloomingdales

From BCBG, a bit less leggy, and quite amazing:

$178

"But Daddy, I don't WANT to wear something befitting a Christian/Attorney/Future Wife/First-Generation American/Woman....Mommy, keep your shawls to yourself!!! I pay taxes!" Muhahahaha.

And finally, there are the goddess dresses. Usually seen in longer lengths, and at more formal events, the one shoulder dress is also a great idea for those of you who want to do something...different.

In a classic black (if you must...)

A decidedly more casual blue:

$218

And in an expensive-yet-delightful lemon yellow. Je les adore...

$394, at Lord and Taylor

If you like yellow, but not at that price, and fancy something a tad more classic, Max and Cleo comes through:

$118, at Nordstrom

Finally, what's in my online shopping bag, also from Max and Cleo:

$118, at Nordstrom and Macy's

Dark pink, inexpensive = perfection in my book. Now off to begin the prowl for requisite clutch and shoes...

WTF and WHY? Mid-week Foolishness

2009-04-16T17:06:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Natasha at The Young, Black and Fabulous...

Sigh and good night.

Ok, wait, just one more:

muhahahahaha.

What to Expect

2009-04-16T17:01:00.001-07:00

I've been slacking on the blog, but I'll be on the grind soon. The problem is that right now I'm on my travel/workout/academic grind...gotta get it in. But I do have some stuff up my sleeves:

1. Music: I heard a lot of tunes while I was in Ghana, and I'm ready to share.
2. The most gorgeous man in the world. Full stop.
3. Travel digest...I'm more than halfway to my goal of visiting 10 countries while I'm in Europe, so it's probably high time that I share my thoughts on what's hot and what's not.
4. Spring and summer fashion....of course!
5. I'm starting my locs on Wednesday....YESSSS!
6. New designer in Britain....new store in Harlem.

So, bear with me while I get my act together. Back from Denmark on Monday!

Minor Celebrity Fit Club: Too Much of a Good Thing?

2009-04-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

I've been going hard with my workouts...and have had a really bad headache for the past couple of days. Everytime I leave the gym, I feel worse. Does anyone know what this means? Do I need to chill, or should I keep going? Anyone who has a clue, please enlighten me!

In the meantime, I've been focusing a lot on the mental and emotional aspects of working out. I'm weak, right now. Not nearly as weak as I was a few weeks ago, but I'm still really out of shape, in general. However, after getting some pep talks from my mom and my youngest brother (who I've retained as my long-distance personal trainer), I'm realizing that a lot of exercise feeds off of positive--or absolutely sadistic--thoughts. Exercise is really an exercise in faith as much as it is physical activity.

It's probably for this reason that every time my spinning instructors yell at me or insult me, that I find myself spinning harder than ever...or why I find myself working harder when I'm aware of other people around me...it's all subconscious competition, and it means that I usually probably have more that I'm not giving. So, my question is, should I be giving it all in my workouts? I decided to try to push myself beyond my limits for the last couple days, and now I have a massive headache. On the positive side, I've lost a bit more weight, and I'm feeling myself. But am I pushing too hard?

Send me your thoughts...and your stories!

what exactly do you call those? arm boobs?

Mid-Week Foolishness...on Monday

2009-04-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

This was sent to me by my sister. And it ruined my lunch. Most of you will find this extremely cute and funny...and in theory, I do, too. However, for whatever reason, it embarrassed me to the point of tears, AND I WASN'T EVEN THERE!!!

http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000089?v=4816051&l=100022574

I think it's just the fact that the spectacle kept becoming bigger and bigger (the beat dropping was especially painful)...and old girl in the black tights and white pumps (you know who I'm talking about)... and also knowing that I have family members who would have joined in if they had been there (probably my sister, a particular brother, and my mother). I have never felt so awkward in a room by myself EVER.

And yes, after that, there is the hip-hop flight attendant. I just can't. (Pulls hoodie over face and pulls drawstring.)

Ok, I'm Back, Kinda.

2009-04-11T06:20:00.001-07:00

Yes, that is indeed a goat. In a house. In my arms. Tunic? Topshop, Istanbul, 14 Turkish Liras. Should be available elsewhere, as well.

Ghana was FABULOUS, per usual, but wow, I'm tired! I haven't been feeling tremendous, either...I had two bouts of food poisoning in Ghana, and the last hasn't passed yet. Like, seriously, everytime I run (yes, RUN) to the bathroom, I come out panting and dizzy and weak. It's like that. I'm pretty sure someone slipped meat into my food...

Also, there is the little matter of the HUNDREDS of mosquito bites...have you ever done a spinning class when your ass and feet are covered in itchy bites? It's an ISSUE!

Finally, there is the piece I'm supposed to be having published. The journal I'm working with is a bit...difficult. I came back from my semi-relaxing vacation with an absolutely impossible deadline and even more ridiculous demands from people who would rather point out my typos than remove them themselves! So, basically, I've been so stressed out that my chest, teeth and gums hurt.

With that said, I have a lot to blog about. So, stay tuned!

Spring Break!

2009-03-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

My spring break lasts for four whole weeks (gotta love England), so I'm spending two in Ghana. I leave for Heathrow in just under two hours, and will be gone for two weeks. Depending on the internet situation, I'll update from time to time on the mini-blog (which is in DESPERATE need of updates, as I've been doing a lot of traveling and have a lot of pics to share). Other than that, wish me safe travels filled with happiness and sunshine...See you in early April!

Pics from my last Ghanaian excursion in '07, below:

My SOLE cries out...Early Spring Looks!

2009-03-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

Now that London Fashion Week is over (and New York Fashion Week....and Copenhagen Fashion Week...and Paris, too....)and spring begins, spring trends are forming quickly over here. As far as shoes go, here were some of my favorite finds over the last few weeks or so:

Tulip shaped dresses. They are EVERYWHERE. London shop Oasis has a nice collection, as does French Connection. But really, you won't have to look hard if you're looking for this trend. It will smack you in the face. Such a good look...it's definitely keeping me in the gym.

loveliness from French Connection

From BCBG, a twist on the look, which also captures the continuing obsession with sweaters and cardigans...not quite tulip-y, but shape-hugging and gorgeous, nonetheless...

Basically, the legging is still going strong. Particularly trendy is the high-shine, wet-look legging, in various colors and prints. A lot of women have taken the ish waayyyy too far...wearing stockings as leggings and wearing leggings as pants= FOUL, but worn right, it's a really cute look. Tights are also going strong particularly because of the new emphasis on tulip-shaped and structured tunics and dresses. For those of you who, like me, are growing a tad weary of the whole celebration of the waif, there is some hope to be found in short and long jumpsuits (as I mentioned in a previous post)--not the hoe-fits of last fall, either. Nine West even has a jumpsuit checklist on its website. If you want to go half on the trend, the harem pant is back in a humongous way...basically pants with no crotch whatsoever. It's weird, but tres chic when done correctly. Of course, the appropriate shoe is required...

For those of you who only want to go half on the baby (yeah, I said it)...harem pants are also hot. BCBG.

From Missoni, for those of us not affected by the credit crunch...

From See by Chloe, summery chic and very accessory friendly in the neutral gray shade

It's the tulip shape again...this jumpsuit offers a tailored look. Pair with bolero for maximum effect. French Connection

Also from French Connection, a twist on the same concept

From Forever 21...cute, chic, CHEAP!

With this overall continued emphasis on waistlines and legs, we're definitely seeing more twists on the gladiator shoe and the shoot (what I like to call shoe-boots), including gladiator shoots, lol. Platforms also are becoming increasingly out of control, to give life to what could otherwise be boring combos of long shapeless cardigans,skinny jeans/tights, and balloon pants (I call 'em like I see 'em)! For the shoe lover, it's a total festival of color, texture, and insane heels.

First, from Steve Madden, absolute rocker-chic fabulousness at a price that will make you smile. This shoe + a jumpsuit= success, and probably free drinks as well!

Almost missed my flight to Istanbul several weeks back staring at these in the airport. Ironic, since my flight back was cancelled and I spent 20 freaking 6 hours in a Turkish airport with no internet, no reception, and no Kurt Geiger store to distract me... Anyway, the shoes are gorge, and totally unexpected. BCBG offers something similar in the Monroe, with a patent peep toe.

Kurt is really holding it down, too, via his Carvela line:

"Giddy": I'm obsessed with the multi-strap open-toed shoe. Sam Edelman also has various renditions of the shoe, as does Zara (at crazy beautiful prices, I might add). The Carvela shoe also comes in black.

Also from Carvela, "Artist". Hot.

Carvela "Hoola". Should have called it "Hoopla", quite frankly. Color and texture gone beserk. Love it. The same goes for its cousin, "Aroma".

Hoopla

Aroma

The Carvela "Griddle":

For those of us on a budget (like, all of us), Nine West has DIRECTLY ripped off the L.A.M.B. shoe featured here.

The Nine West (Boutique9) rendition, for $160.00, as opposed to $350.00. It's available for shipping as of this Tuesday, March 24th!

Also from Nine West, the Ellis is a thing of beauty.

From Pied a Terre, more hard-core, structured delights in the form of the colorblocked "Imola".

And to end on a strong note, a strappy show-stopper from BCBG Max Azria that is too expensive for me at $328, but great for lusting purposes...

Happy Spring Shopping!

Music Mini-Spotlight: Videos from Ikechukwu, "Shobedobedoo" and D'banj

2009-03-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a semi new-ish tune from Ikechukwu of the World Famous Academy Clique, for all you Naija music lovers. I like the song, just because of its catchiness, but I personally don't love it in the same way I loved "Wind Am Well". The video for "Shobedobedoo", however, is further proof of Ikechukwu's creativity and professionalism...he should seriously be producing Nollywood flicks.

Dbanj's video for "Suddenly" (which also features Ikechukwu) is also generally really well done--especially, if you're a heterosexual male (lots of T & A). However, the song is sooooo much better than the video. D'Banj has been putting out high-quality videos for some years now, on par with any American hip-hop video you'd see on MTV--but at this point, no one expects anything less from D'Banj. Still, it's a fun watch...hopefully, in the future, he'll pick video hoes whose acting skills are slightly less terrible (snickers). Between D'Banj and the WFA, they're definitely ensuring that Nigerian hip-hop is continuously on the come up.

Enjoy the videos (sorry for the shabby YouTube quality), and leave your thoughts!

The Weigh In: Wildfiyah to 190!

2009-03-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

The title is for loyal Above the Law readers. The rest of you won't get it. No worries.

So, I definitely draggggged myself to the gym for my last-chance workout (yes, I watch Biggest Loser), and punished myself for 50 minutes. It felt great, actually. The gym was pretty empty and I didn't feel all self-conscious while I was working out. I also faced up to the scale like a real woman for the first time in months, and it wasn't all bad. I mean, I'm def a fatty, but I'm 12 pounds lighter than I expected to be. Most importantly, for the first time in months, I'm below the 200 lb mark! I mean, it's sad for me to even celebrate that because I still have no idea how I even got close to that. What's important now, however, is that I'm below it. I'm still in danger of creeping back up--and I ate too much today (either that, or my appetite is finally shrinking). But I feel like I'll probably starve in Ghana for the next two weeks, so maybe nature will take care of itself. To 190lbs, it is! And beyond...

Weekend Foolishness: Rihanna Revenge Video

2009-03-21T15:55:00.000-07:00

This ish has gone too far...

Omg. I wish it were true, though... Too bad...

Music Spotlight: Karina Pasian

2009-03-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

Since we no longer like Chris Brown (I'm still ambivalent about Rihanna...I officially have no respect her, but can't stop singing her songs when they play them in stores...), I'm directing your attention to another teeny-bopper. I heard her first single, "16 at war" last spring in D.C. and my reaction was basically "what the heck is this depressing ghetto-ness?" but I was just being pissy. The little girl can sing, and it was evident then. I didn't know her name, but my beloved Bestie listens to her, and she played some of her tunes when she came to visit me in Londontown the other week. I have since gotten all of the tracks of hers I can get my paws on.

According to Wikipedia, she's Dominican and Armenian (interesting!), and sings in six languages. I'm personally more impressed by the fact that she plays the piano, and that she has an AMAZING voice. Her work is pretty socially-conscious, so far ("16 at War" included). Let's see if Def Jam allows her to stay down to earth--no, let's hope... My favorite track so far is the uber-powerful, uber-uplifting "Can't Bring Me Down". I'll definitely have to bring this one to the gym with me for the moments when I feel like I'm going to fall over and meet Jesus.

Oh, and Beyonce, watch out. If she sounds like this at 17 when she's not getting her @$$ beat by a little Virginia thug-let, just you wait...

What's Really Good

2009-03-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

Life has been SO.REAL. lately. I don't even know where to start. Well, we can start from my move away from the madhouse I was in. I'm back to dorm life, and after getting in my next door neighbor's grill for his way excessive weed smoking, things were pretty comfortable. Moving ruined my life in many ways, though. I've never been behind in school like this before--like, I have NO kind of draft for my dissertation, when I planned to have the entire thing halfway completed. I realize that most other students barely know what they want to write about, but that has nothing to do with me. I'm a bit disappointed in myself. However, the more I beat up myself about it, the more discouraged I get, and it becomes harder to actually sit down and face the paper.

In other news, I'm seriously trying to do something about my ridiculous weight problem. My problem? My problem is that I'm FAT. I've always thought I was fat, but now, I actually am, and it's no good. Discouragement is another huge issue there, especially since I'm so tired with school and the whole moving thing. Going to the gym is already hard to do when you're out of shape and out of practice. Also, I hate exercising for exercising's sake. Dancing, yes. Tennis, yes. Track and field, yes. Treadmill, YUCK.

Anyway, I have begun to really try to tackle the problem by adopting the Michelle Obama plan. She mentioned working out for 40 minutes a day, so I've been trying to do 45 minute classes at the gym--really intense ones. The problem is the "a day" part. Until this week, I've only managed two times a week, which is not helpful. This week, I made it up to 3 times, and on Monday, I did two 45 minute classes. But I know it really needs to be 4 to 5 times a week for now.

Also remarkably harder as a true fatty is the calorie control part. I have STRUGGLED to keep to my calorie target. Previously, when I wanted to lose weight, I could shave off 1000 calories a day, easy, and the weight would fall off. For some reason right now, starving is just too difficult for me to handle. I have no idea what is going on. Since I'm going to Africa--the land of ultimate meat eaters-- on Monday, and will probably be the only vegetarian on the continent (!), I will probably have that problem solved for me by default. Let's hope. Unfortunately, I can't get to my gym from Ghana... Clearly, I still have no life rhythm.

Tomorrow is my last chance for a workout, so in true procrastinator fashion, I'll probably be in the gym, on the treadmill like a madwoman. At least I'll get the chance to get on the much-dreaded scale and see if what I did this week worked at all. Truthfully, I don't even want to know.

Here's to being relatively attractive by the time I walk across the stage at graduation in late May! God, please...

So, that's my life in a tiny nutshell. I had a pretty bad reaction to a typhoid vaccination I had to take for Ghana, and the malaria pills I started today don't like me, either. I was also hit by a bus on Wednesday (um, yeah)...it was relatively minor, but I mean, that's pretty much what life is like now. Stressful and bumpy. Hopefully, Ghana will give me some peace and true happiness...

One for JASMINA

2009-03-20T13:29:00.001-07:00

I know some of you watched the Prez last night on Leno. Besides being funny and charming and incredible (Special Olympics gaffe aside), he (unsuprisingly) talked about "the values that made America" and "responsibility." He was focused largely on the economy, of course, but all we common people are implicated in his much talked about era of personal responsibility--in all areas of our lives.

With that said, and in a time of general hardship for everyone, I'm urging all those of you in New York City to give just a little of yourself for a six-year old girl named Jasmina. Jasmina is suffering from leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant.
Her donor drive takes place on 125th and Madison on March 29th. For everyone who is in the area, please consider making a small sacrifice, in the form of bone marrow, for this little girl. Giving of yourself for someone else is bound to make you feel good, no matter what you're going through at the moment.

Details below! Feel free to pass the info on to everyone you know.

JASMINA NEEDS YOUR HELP!

PLEASE COME TO HER DONOR DRIVE:
SUNDAY, MARCH 29th
Harlem Children's Zone
35 E 125th Street by Madison Ave.
11:00-4:00
Visit ONEFORJASMINA.com for more drives and more information.

I Heart H&M Again + Trendwatch

2009-03-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

H&M was my ish during undergrad (if you know me, you KNOW what I'm talking about), until the end of junior year or thereabouts--whenever it was that the store went on this dreadful barnyard, plaid/tartan tip...ugh. I still become upset thinking about it. Ever since then, I've treated the store like a frenemy (we'll hang out if we must...), but as of today, the beef is squashed.

H&M's current spring collection is the truth, and at a great time, too. This recession is getting real, but looking and dressing a mess isn't going to make any of us feel better about life, is it? Methinks "no"! Moreover, now that the sun is coming out (yes, even in London), it's time to shed the sweaters and wool coats and substitute them with...something else.

Start with the long black/white/red dress that has been flying off the shelves here in London. I saw some of the madness myself this morning on Oxford street, when I was shopping for sundresses to wear in Ghana next week (spring break). It's featured on H&M's extra snazzy website, via a campaign featuring two somewhat Monroe-esque models (Shalom Harlow and Eva Herzigova). Judging by the way the US has been borrowing trends from the UK, the craze will soon arrive in New York, if it hasn't already. (I actually couldn't bring myself to buy the gorgeous dress because I hate wearing what everyone is wearing...but it is a really nice dress. Accessorized properly, you could definitely give it a unique look.)

For the many of us who don't pull off the maxi dress look as well as our taller, leggier sisters, you juuuuust miiiight be able to find one of the fabulous tulip-shaped sleeveless black and white zebra print dresses the store is carrying. It's so cute and so chic that it could easily pass for a Lewis Cho...except that it will cost you less than 30 dollars. Featured here, on a great fashion blog.

And for those of us who, like me, are super-dieting (more on that painfulness later), and who need to look leggy and slim when we're actually not at the moment, H&M is carrying a one-piece jumpsuit that made me almost wet my pants when I saw it on the mannequin. Unlike many jumpsuits, it's not skin-tight polyester hooker-ness (nor is it uber flowy hippie-ness), and it's sooooo delicious. Featuring a spaghetti strap top with buttons down the front and a harem pant....you simply cannot go wrong. It's versatile, understated, and edgy all at once. Even if a million people had it, you'd still need it in YOUR life. Pair with the appropriate sandal, bangle and be fly. Period. I'm dancing around in mine like RIGHT NOW, in between typing!

For more of the H&M Spring Campaign, watch below:

(The fabulous dress is, unsurprisingly, the first piece featured in the video.)

Oprah to Rihanna: Love Doesn't Hurt

2009-03-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

Preach, Mama Oprah! I was waiting for her to speak out...Now, if only this stubborn, pigheaded little girl will listen to someone for a minute instead of running back to teenage penis with a lisp...

BatBoy

2009-03-02T07:26:00.000-08:00

I just can't.

On a less shallow tip, I'm glad he's loved...

BigotAlert: The "City-Freakin'-Mayor"

2009-02-27T02:19:00.000-08:00

The Mayor of Los Alamitos, CA, Dean Grose, is resigning after sending out an email featuring a watermelon patch outside of the White House. "No Easter Egg Hunt This Year", the email reportedly said. The mayor claims he didn't know that watermelons were attached to a stereotype about black folks (wow, I've heard that excuse a LOT lately...including where I used to live...sigh...), but he apparently got the joke, because he found it funny and hit "FWD"...

Read the story here.

...Mr. Grose...you're gross (sorry, couldn't resist).... and, you lose.

More tangentially-related racist foolishness here, including a member of the KKK who's last name is Black. HAHAHA. SMH.

A Rock

2009-02-26T06:13:00.000-08:00

So...I'm unpacking. That's right. I moved OUT. I feel like it's going to take me forever to recover and get back on my academic grind (which is really scary, actually), but I'm so completely happy to be independent and free again. Thanks to everyone for their support!!! Hopefully, the blog will be back to business soon...

A Rock and a Hard Place

2009-02-22T16:18:00.000-08:00

I still have nowhere new to live. The thing about housing is that it costs money, which is not a problem. The thing about housing in London is that it costs a lot of money, which is a problem. It's apparently such a problem for so many people that all of the University halls are filled to the brim, except for double rooms. I almost broke down and succumbed to the idea of having a roommate a la undergrad (yes, it's that bad, y'all) until I actually visited the room and saw for myself why the chick's roommate had been in such a hurry to move out. Sigh. And at the risk of being a choosy beggar, there is no way on earth that I'm going to PAY pounds sterling to be in a worse situation than I'm already in...crazy roommate in small room = worse situation.

It's horrible. My dad is totally against me moving out, and his criticism and temper tantrums are more than I can bear right now. It's bad enough that I'm still in the house, with these people and their half-assed apologies, which have so far been followed by yelling and crying and blaming me for being a political progressive (UGH.) But, all the fanagling to find housing has not only been futile, but draining and really depressing. All I hear from the University is, "I'm sorry. There's nothing we can do. Come back tomorrow." On Thursday and Friday, I could barely see through my own tears as I walked from one office to the next on the recommendations of officials who know virtually nothing about anything. This week will probably be much the same, and at this point, my dissertation draft is definitely seriously late.

The apartment viewings: Well, there is the man who wanted a lodger to sleep with him in exchange for free rent. There is the "luxury" apartment I spent forever trekking to, only to find out that it was in the projects, and virtually smelled of rats and dirt. There are the shady brokers who promise one thing and then say another, or who cancel showings randomly altogether. It's too much, and I'm tired.

So, what do I do then? If I got a place tomorrow, do I pack up and move across town just like that, and lose another week of school? Or do I give up and stay where I am, and continue to suffer and deteriorate and wish that I were dead? Do I move and then deal with all the tedious logistics of changing my address on every bank account, the US embassy, etc. Do I travel for an hour to pick my mail up--including my passport when it comes back from the Ghana High Commission--until everyone has a record of my change of address. Or do I stay and wait until the torture starts up again, only to find that there aren't even any double rooms left at the Uni?

Gosh, when will July freaking arrive?

Mid-Week Foolishness

2009-02-11T18:17:00.000-08:00

For Mr. Chris Brown, woman-beater extraordinaire:

Yes, Chris, all of this can be yours! For the low, low price of misogyny and rage, you, too, can utter such memorable quotes as "IwannaeatyourchildrenpraisebetoAllah"... Heck, Chris, you can even SING them!

Yes. All of it, the respect of the world included, can belong to you, if you continue down this road of manly man-ness. We can't wait to laugh with you in twenty years!

(Thanks to my little brother, MJ, for the link and the laughs)

WTF???? Chris Brown Beatdown

2009-02-09T01:53:00.000-08:00

I've been in a hole because of school, and will be jumping back into the hole immediately after this post, but I just have to say a humongous WTF to seeing Chris Brown's smiley face on CNN.com just now re: him possibly beating Rihanna into the ground?!?!??!

WHAT IS GOING ON? I see that Satan is running around BUTTnaked, ladies and gentlemen....BUTTCHEEKS OUT!!!!

Let me get back to work and turn on my gospel music before I start telling you how I really feel, because je n'aime pas le domestic violence around these parts...

Un.Acceptable.

Update: Well, looks like the alleged victim of Chris's "deadly weapon" is Rihanna, after all. I still want to get all the facts before I pass judgment, but I can say that I am NOT feeling Mr. Brown at all. This is especially since my minor morning research has turned up another (rumored) incident involving him being assaulting a South African actress. More than that. I'm NOT FEELING all the hating female commenters of these websites who blame the victim (e.g. "She probably hit him, and should be hit back. I hate that h**"). Stupid chicks. Listen up, kiddies: Domestic violence= not cute, ever! Plus, you being down for Chris Brown is not going to make him love your anonymous behind...and even if he did, he might just beat you one day...but I suppose you'll enjoy that, won't you, now?

The only thing that will make me more upset over this situation is if I find out that Rihanna is still with him.

The Return to the Gym, and other Small Successes

2009-01-29T04:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I put in two tough, full hours at the gym...1 hour of thai boxing (a form of kickboxing...grueling), followed by an hour of pilates. The day before, I put in an hour and fifteen minutes, 45 minutes of spinning with a sadistic instructor, and the rest doing various cardio exercises (elliptical, treadmill, rowing machine). Today, if I can muster up the courage, it will be spinning or a "Warrior Workout" class, which takes place in an hour. From what I've seen of Warrior Workout, it's a room full of women, kicking, boxing and screaming in unison to techno music, which intrigues me in a horrificly weird way...

Anyway, that's where I am. I did the gym last week as well, but only managed 2 hours for the week before I could no longer walk, so I have already improved. The week before that, I only managed an hour and a half of boxing and pilates before I was on my back screaming curses. So, it's all been an improvement. My goal is to come to the gym 4 days a week, and to work out for 5 hours a week. Along with my calorie counting, I should start looking, well...presentable sooner rather than later. To encourage myself, I've ordered more workout clothes...laundry will never be an excuse to stay home again.

In other news, I broke down and got some more hair products, because what I've been doing is just not really cutting it. First, I got a strong, wider-toothed comb, so that I can experiment with more styles. Then, I also got the Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise that all the other Nappies on the Internet keep bragging about. It's not nearly as gross as it sounds. We'll see how it works. I've also begun covering my head at night, and have only forgotten to do it once so far.

Lastly, I'm probably going to be able to come home for graduation in May (I wasn't sure, because my London exams were threatening to overlap), which is greater for an infinite number of reasons. Among those reasons is the fact that I'll be able to start my locs then. That would be fabulous, because then they'll have the summer to start maturing. I can't wait!

Goal: look like this!

Or, even better, look like this!

or THIS...hot, with dreads!!! (Faye-Ann Lyons-Alvarez, soca singer)

Blue Suede Shoes: Claimed!

2009-01-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

An old college friend has snagged 'em! Happy traipsing to her! :)

I'm going to Istanbul on Friday for a long weekend...may bring souvenirs back...and we can have another freebie contest then!

Music Spotlight: I Decided....that Solange should stick to Electronica...

2009-01-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

We all know that Solange can't sing. Hadley Street Dreams, or no dreams, she isn't her elder sister at all. She, however, refuses to go away and leave our ears alone...we must learn to accept it. And maybe there is a way to swallow such a bitter little pill.

I stumbled upon the solution quite by accident. While in the gym one day, I heard an awesome remix of Be-yawn-ce's (sorry, can't resist) "Green Light" and rushed home to find out what it was. Turns out, it was by Freemasons, the British dance band that remixed Kelly Rowland's "Work". However, in the midst of my illegal download, I found out that the Freemasons' obsession with the Knowles even extended to little miss Solange. Check it out:

The original, first:

What in the 8th grade talent show heck...girl, stop...

The light at the end of the tunnel:

I love it! Your girl has the perfect non-voice for heavily edited and remixed dance tracks. All a deejay needs to do is slice her thin voice and pile it high on top of some hot beats and it's done. We can dance all night...

Some Help for the Disillusioned Christian

2009-01-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

Church....le sigh.

I have a confession to make: I don't like church. I cannot stand the church I'm attending now, but alas, I'm there for a season and for a reason. Still, every Sunday, as I count down the minutes until the dry, meaningless, sometimes racist/elitist/Westocentric sermons are over, I am reminded at how disgusted I have become with people who call themselves Christians.

Granted, I have some anger issues. I come from a long line of pastors, theologians and missionaries, so I have seen ALLLLLLL the dirt, all the politics, all the hypocrisy that goes on in Houses of God. I've seen the good as well, but the bad is much more difficult to overcome, when it comes to religion. I realize that there is no perfect church--churches are populated by humans, and humans are imperfect; however, I would submit that the majority of Western churches today are so bad that they are actually doing the entire faith a disservice. Judgmental, haughty, hypocritical, materialistic, extremely right-wing and scary or just soft and useless, and usually completely void of any substantive Biblical teaching...I could go on.

But there is always a ram in the wilderness.

I know that there are so many people like me, who are believers but who have found no place to call their spiritual home. Unfortunately, the Bible tells us that it's not good enough to just stay at home. At some point, we, the disillusioned young generation will have to come together and take the Church back from the jaws of death. In the meantime, there are some great (not perfect!) churches* out there--I have been so blessed to find two in New York City--and even if you don't live in New York, you can enjoy the sermons online. And that's the point of this entire shpiel. Links below!

Times Square

The Brooklyn Tabernacle

If you're reading this, and you know of a church (of any denomination) that is particularly sound, please feel free to recommend it. I'm sure it will definitely be helpful to someone!

(If it's chock full of NRA card-carrying, gun and Confederate flag-toting folks, or if your pastor's house cost worth more than the total salaries of all the parishioners combined...don't even think about it...)

*My personal definition of a great church is a church that is diverse (no, really...and that doesn't mean just letting an Asian person read some scripture on occasion, you feel me?),open and positive, based in the Bible, and based in real life; focused on holiness and not dogma or legalism, not focused on raising money, has a pastor and not a King...you know what I'm talking about; has great worship, great ministries, and a great vision; is not dead as rocks. But that's just me. Also, I'm basically a non-denominational Pentecostal, so what's boring to me might be overwhelming for you...full disclosure, folks ;).