My Nail polish color of the week is Navy Blue, I read somewhere that dark blue represents: Knowledge, Power, integrity and seriousness. This week I possessed all those traits from taking initiatives to look for a job to looking up tuition rates for law school...tomorrow Im going to take a practice LSAT and on Sunday I'm going to volunteer with Campus Girl Scouts, I love the career path I'm on... :)
Somebody almost walked off wid alla my stuff not my poems or a dance i gave up in the street but somebody almost walked off wid alla my stuff
Like a kleptomaniac workin hard & forgettin while stealin this is mine/this aint yr stuff/ now why don’t you put me back & let me hang out in my own self
Somebody almost walked off wit alla my stuff & didn’t care enuf to send a note home sayin i was late for my solo conversation or two sizes to small for my own tacky skirts
What can anybody do wit somethin of no value on a open market/ did you getta dime for my things/ hey man/ where are you goin wid alla my stuff/ to ohh & ahh abt/ daddy/ i gotta mainline number from my own shit/ now wontcha put me back/ & let me play this duet/ wit silver ring in my nose/ honest to god/
Somebody almost run off wit alla my stuff/ & i didnt bring anythin but the kick & sway of it the perfect ass for my man & none of it is theirs this is mine/ ntozake ‘her own things’/ that’s my name now give me my stuff/ i see ya hidin my laugh/ & how i s it wif my legs open sometimes/ to give me some sunlight/ & there goes my love my toes my chewed up finger nails/ niggah/ wif the curls in yr hair/ mr. louisiana hot link/
I want my stuff back/ my rhytums & my voice/ open my mouth/ & let me talk ya outta/ throwin my shit in the sewar/ this is some delicate leg & whimsical kiss/ i gotta have to give to my choice/ without you runnin off wit alla my shit/ now you cant have me less i give me away/ & i waz doin all that/ til ya run off on a good thing/
Who is this you left me wit/ some simple bitch widda bad attitude/ i wants my things/ i want my arm wit the hot iron scar/ & my leg wit the flea bite/ i want my calloused feet & quik language back in my mouth/ fried plantains/ pineapple pear juice/ sun-ra & joseph & jules/ i want my own things/ how i lived them/ & give me my memories/ how i waz when i waz there/ you cant have them or do nothin wit them/
Stealin my shit from me/ dont make it yrs/ makes it stolen/ somebody almost run off wit alla my stuff/ & i waz standin there/ lookin at myself/ the whole time & it waznt a spirit took my stuff/ waz a man whose ego walked round like Rodan’s shadow/ waz a man faster n my innocence/
Waz a lover/ i made too much room for/ almost run off wit alla my stuff/ & i didnt know i’d give it up so quik/ & the one runnin wit it/ don’t know he got it/ & i’m shoutin this is mine/ & he dont know he got it/ my stuff is the anonymous ripped off treasure of the year/
Did you know somebody almost got away wit me/ me in a plastic bag under their arm/ me danglin on a string of personal carelessness/ i’m spattered wit mud & city rain/ & no i didnt get a chance to take a douche/ hey man/ this is not your perogative/ i gotta have me in my pocket/ to get round like a good woman shd/ & make the poem in the pot or the chicken in the dance/
What i got to do/ i gotta get my stuff to do it to/ why dont ya find yr own things/ & leave this package of me for my destiny/ what ya got to get from me/ i’ll give it to ya/ yeh/ i’ll give it to ya/ round 5:00 in the winter/ when the sky is blue-red/ & Dew City is gettin pressed/ if it’s really my stuff/ ya gotta give it to me/ if ya really want it/ i’m the only one/ can handle it
Source: ntozake shange. “For coloured girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf”
This is such an empowering poem. Just a little food for thought....
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then
Where are your people from? Maybe Mississippi or an Island
Apparently your skin has been kissed by the sun
You make me want a Hershey's kiss, your licorice
Every time I see your lips, it makes me think of honey-coated chocolate
Your kisses are worth more than gold to me
I'll be your almond joy, you'll be my sugar daddy
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then
Every time you come around, something magnetic pulls me and I cant get out
Disoriented, I cant tell my up from down
All I know is that I wanna lay you down
Every time I let you in, abracadabra magic happens as we swim
Higher and higher finally we reach heaven
Come back to earth and then we do it all again
Yeah:..
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then:oh hey:
Skin so brown, lips so round
Baby how can I be down?
Beautiful mahogany, you make me feel like a queen
Tell me what's that thing you do that makes me wanna get next to you, yeah
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then
Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin
I cant tell where yours begins, I cant tell where mine ends
Brown skin, up against my brown skin
Need some every now and then
Black love is like no other love. I support any song that makes it feel good to be black,brown, red, yellow, purple because we live in such a jaded world where eurocentric standards of beauty and fair skin is considered "better" than a darker hue. I think this is the most tainted issue faced by many blacks, indians, asians, latinos etc. We need to embrace our color as a symbol of beauty and not be outcasted or insecure about it. I think artist like India Arie are amazing because they raise awareness about these issues and encourage people to embrace what they perceive as their flaws. We are who we are and its all about self-acceptance.
My Mom randomly emailed me saying she googled me(weird, I know)and found really cool stuff about me that she didn't know....so I took the liberty of googling myself and I found on the school's Alumni website that someone featured my scholarship essay on the site...I'm actually really proud of myself. I got a Liberal Arts Scholarship for the 2010-2011 school year and they thought my essay was so good that they put me on a website...The funny part is I wrote that essay in less than 15 minutes to meet the deadline...pretty darn cool :)
The Last time I remember Oriental Influenced fashion being explosively popular was probably around 1998 but hey I could be wrong. Louis Vuitton, the trendsetters of all trendsetting was influenced to bring back this eastern style of fashion in an explosive way. The colors are bright and it kind of has a 70's twist to it as well. I love how fashionable this style is, very chic and very sexy. There's also something very mysterious about the clothing meaning it shows just enough skin but can leave a man's mind wandering for more...I'm actually fascinated by Louis Vuitton Spring 2011 show because it screams UNIQUE! &VIBRANT! The purples, yellows and reds are all bright and attention grabbing. Meanwhile the silk dresses and Lace Louis Vuitton printed bottoms equates sex appeal. Im sure these bright colored dresses will be the highlight of Summer 2011 fashion. I'm excited :)
Would treat his woman so cold
Treat you like you're nothin'
When you're worth more than gold
Girl to me you're like a diamond
I love the way you shine
A hundred million dollar treasure
I'll give the world to make you mine
I'll put a string a pearls right in your hand
Make love on a beach of jet black sand
Outside in the rain we can do it all night
Out to tour the places he would not
And some you never knew would get you hot
Nothin' is forbidden when we touch
Baby, I wanna do
All of the things your man won't do
I'll do them for you
Baby, I wanna do
All of the things your man won't do
I'll do them for you
I'll take you out on a night cruise
On a yacht, just can't lose
Cause we got a lot to look forward to
1-2, what ya gonna do
What good is a diamond nobody can see it
I hear he got you on lock down
But I got the master key, yeah
I'll light a thousand candles all around
Show me to the subway, I'll go down
Nothin' can be sweeter than the sound of makin' love
Baby, when I start I just can't stop
I'll love you from the bottom to the top
Nothin' is forbidden when we touch
I wish R&B music can go back to these days, where listening to songs like this made a women feel appreciated...I love how eloquently Joe describes this woman "Girl to me your like a Diamond I love the way you shine." Comparing her to Diamonds and Gold. Why is chivalry dead? Why is it that guys these days would rather degrade a woman than smother her with compliments and admiration. I miss feel good R&B music where the guy is willing showing his romantic side and not afraid to. He's willing to do everything that it takes to bring a smile to your face. Now most men would rather brag about how good they are in bed as opposed to how romantic they are...it's really devastating, but this song gives me hope...it makes me feel like the diamond Joe is talking about. It also illustrates that what one man can't do another man will do...
I love weddings. Matter fact Im obsessed with weddings. For every little girl its that one day we look forward to, for our whole lives.Weddings sundays on WE TV is definitely my favorite. The first time I heard Monica, Love All Over Me, I knew that would be my wedding song. My fear is that people are more concerned with the wedding than with the idea of spending the rest of your life with the person you love.We spend our whole life savings on one day and when that day is over we are left in debt and unhappy. Which is why when I get married I don't want to lose the true essence of why people have weddings in the first place. I want the love to exude from that alter. I want the audience shedding tears. I want to marry my future husband knowing that we are going to grow older together, fatter together and sicker together but as long as I have that one guy by my side everything is going to be alright. I want to know with or without a wedding our love will perpetuate for years and years to come. That's the true essence of why people have weddings. I was inspired to write this after watching Cynthia from Real Housewives of Atlanta having an emotional episode with the thought of not being able to go on a Honeymoon. For the first time in my life I realized how the idea of a having a "wedding" is overshadowed by the actual vows two people take, "for better or for worst"meaning marriage is not about the wedding or the honeymoon, its about longevity. I don't want to be married to someone and miserable, I want to be married to someone knowing that its because of the love we have for each other that will surmount over any obstacles we may face. I envision not the wedding part of married life, but the actual life. The cooking, the buying of our first house, the children, the sending the children to college, the anniversaries, the aging, the professional elevations as well as the professional down falls, the laughter, the tears, the family dinners and the family vacations, the weekend vacations, the intimacy, the life long companion, the friendship, the ups ,the downs, the highs and the lows. Most people don't see past the fantasy wedding. Personally, if it means marrying the man that I love at city hall I will do it because reciprocated Love is what drives me.
Female circumcision is when the genitals or part of the genitals of a female's body is cut off or mutilated as part of religious and societal beliefs and customs. Female Circumcision is not associated with any one religious group. It is practiced by Muslims, Christians, Jews and members of indigenous African religions. Female circumcision is often performed by lay practitioners with little or no formal knowledge of human anatomy or medicine. In most cases, the operation takes place under unhygienic conditions with dirty unsanitary instruments. Circumcision can have many immediate and long-term consequences. These consequences vary considerably by the type and severity of cutting, with the most serious complications associated with infibulation. The immediate consequences include difficulty in passing urine, urine retention, hemorrhage, infection, fever, stress and shock and damage to the genital organs. Over time, circumcised women may also develop menstrual complications, vulvar abscesses, obstetric complications, urinary tract infections, chronic pelvic infection and low fertility or sterility. In addition, female circumcision, especially infibulation, may make intercourse per- functory or even painful. Despite these grave risks, its practitioners look on it as an integral part of their cultural and ethnic identity. In societies in which few women remain uncircumcised, problems arising from female circumcision are likely to be seen as a normal part of a woman's life and may not even be associated with circumcision. Societies with a high rate of female circumcision support these practices because it so inbred in their cultural conditions. Many societies believe if you do not get circumcised you are not fit to be a wife and you are outcasted. Some people in these cultures look at you as inferior if you don't get circumcised because it's a practice that everyone partakes in. Nevertheless the consequences are grave. The psychological, emotional and physical damage inflicted on these women are detrimental. Some women are infertile, others have painful sexual encounters and experiences, while others suffer from the memories of that wretched day where their bodies were mutilated. Female circumcision is currently practiced in at least 28 countries Many nations like France and the United States forbid such practices because not only it is a violations of a person's rights to life but it's somewhat barbaric, for lack of a better word. Some consider these circumcision as a form of child abuse, a violation of women's rights and human rights. Evidence shows that very little can be done to stop female circumcision even though many efforts have been made and continue to be made. It seems that it's very hard to break traditions no matter how deleterious they may be to the welfare of a human being.
Source, A study of Genital Mutilation, facts information etc: International Family Planning Perspectives
Volume 27, Number 2, June 2001 Female Circumcision in Sudan: Future Prospects and Strategies for Eradication
I was told the true definition of a man, was to neva cry, Work till you die, got to provide,
Always be the rock for my fam,
Protect them by all means and give you the things that you need. baby.
Our relationship is sufferin trynna give you what I neva had
You say I don't know how to love you babe, well I say show me the way,
I keep my feelings deep inside I, shadow them with my pride,
I'm tryin desperately baby just work with me.
Teach me how to love, show me the way to surrender my heart,
Girl I'm so lost, teach me how to love, how I can get my emotions involved,
Teach me. Show me how to love
Show me the way to surrender my heart,
Girl I'm so lost, teach me how to love, how I can get my emotions involved,
Teach me...how to love
I was always taught to be strong, neva let 'em think you care at all,
Let no one get close to me, before you and me.
I done shared things wit you girl bout my past,
That I'd neva tell, to anyone else, just keep it to myself.
Girl I know I lack affection and expressing my feelings, It took me a minute to come and admit this
But see I'm really trynna change now,
Wanna love you betta, show me how, I’m tryin desperately baby please work with me.
Teach me how to love, show me the way to surrender my heart,
Girl I'm so lost, teach me how to love, how I can get my emotions involved,
Teach me. show me how to love
Show me the way to surrender my heart,
Girl I'm so lost, teach me how to love, how I can get my emotions involved,
Teach me, teach me (how to love)
Ain't nobody eva took the time to try to teach me what love was but you.
And I ain't neva trust no one enough to let 'em tell me what, to do,
Teach me how to really show it and, show me how to love you baby,
Teach me please just show me yea cause I’m willing, to let go of my fears,
Girl I’m serious, about all that I say
Girl I wanna love you, with all of my heart,
Baby show me where to start Teach me how to love.......
Teach me how to love, show me the way to surrender my heart,
girl I'm so lost, teach me how to love, how I can get my emotions involved,
teach me. show me how to love
show me the way to surrender my heart,
girl I'm so lost, teach me how to love, how I can get my emotions involved,
teach me how, how to love
Teach me, how to love you baby
Girl just teach me how to love you betta
You know I wanna love you betta, girl
Humility is Key...in any relationship. I love Teach Me how to Love by Musiq Soul Child because it illustrates a MAN putting his guards down all in the name of love. Humbling himself so he won't loose the only thing he's ever loved and trusted with all his heart. I love that he illustrates with his lyrics how his masculinity was formed and how he was socialized to be a man, disconnected from his feelings and void of emotions...I think this song is so deep and I always say, EVERY MAN SHOULD LISTEN TO THIS SONG...because women are not trying to emasculate a man by asking him to love us the right way and it takes a real man to realize this and ask his woman to teach him how to love...Its a beautiful thing.
I'm loving how sexy these colorful pants are. I remember being extremely afraid of wearing pants to the club back in November because since I was 18 wearing Freakum dresses was the thing to do, but they turned out very sexy just like the pants I'm seeing on the runways. They're comfortable and they have a certain swag to them. When I wear these style pants I feel very confident. I think these array of color adds a certain femininity and style to the pants that makes them irresistible DIANE VON FURSTENBERG 2011 Spring - DIANE VON FURSTENBERG Collections on ELLE.com
I love these looks that I created their so cute and somewhat similar to the clothes we see on the Runway. From the jumpsuits to lace tops to some 70s influence fashions. Street Chic at its best...
H&M has a really cool feature of seeing how the outfit would look before you actually buy it online or in the store...I decided to use this feature to recreate some of the styles seen on the runway...
Gucci's Runway show Spring 2011 was nothing short of Breathtaking. The show encompassed all the trends expected for Spring/Summer 2011 including the return of the 70's fashion, beautiful stand out square shaped dresses, one-piece pant garments, military jackets, and bright vibrant, vivacious colors. I'm literally in awe! Speechless. Commencing with the bright colors, they are exuberant reds, teals, orange, purple, blue and gold (I love Gold) very sexy . The trousers are sophisticated and androgynous; ironically, they are so classy paired with a beautiful sexy top that shows the right amount of cleavage. Two Words: Show Stopper. Gucci's spring 2011 line is gracing magazine covers and fashion layouts all over the world. Every time I see Beyonce or Katy Perry wearing items from this collection I get chills up and down my spine and once again I am speechless because Gucci is literally the blue print for the funky fashion that will be illustrated this summer. GUCCI 2011 Spring - GUCCI Collections on ELLE.com
Lauryn Hill....We need her back...she dropped such a paramount album like the "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" and completely fell off the face of the earth...was this her plan all along? Change the music business as we knew it and disappear? Lyrically her words move mountains. Ex factor...a song, a poem, a way of life describing the thoughts of a once powerful female, losing herself over a man who doesn't see her self-worth...the age old story of LOVE and heartbreak...you can hear the passion in her voice, the love, the soul this song is indescribable... and I always have it on repeat but the words is the core of the song...simply put...Classic. I always wonder how deep someone has to be to create a song, but Lauryn was a genius to be able to express her pain in such a brilliant way for all the world to empathize and understand because we all been in this situation called the Ex Factor
It could all be so simple
But you'd rather make it hard Loving you is like a battle
And we both end up with scars
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me
And no one ever will
Is this just a silly game
That forces you to act this way Forces you to scream my name
Then pretend that you can't stay
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me
And no one ever will No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin'
No, It ain't workin'
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy
This is crazy
I keep letting you back in
How can I explain myself
As painful as this thing has been
I just can't be with no one else
See I know what we got to do
You let go and I'll let go too
'Cause no one's hurt me more than you
And no one ever will
No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin'
It ain't workin'
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy
This is crazy
Care for me, care for me
You said you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
The struggle of African American Hair...I love this song because not only does it exemplify a black women's battle with hair but the black man's battle as well. Dreads, Weaves, perms, All-natural, braids, long, short, black, blonde, red, brown, gold, blue, purple, pink, wigs, curls, straight, wavy etc are just a few examples of the way black people wear their hair. Hair is such a complexed issue for blacks because our hair is so much harder to deal with. Society itself places an emphasis on having long beautiful hair, which is great but the reality is not everyone fits this status quo. I love this song because for one time in the history of music someone is deemphasizing that hair does not encompass a person's worth, its the soul within that matters. Worrying yourself about superficial things like hair length or skin color is absurd and does not say much about you.She mentions a women basing her pride and glory in her hair and loosing it all as a result of chemotherapy. Imagine how traumatic loosing your hair can be for anyone, however if you base your whole life, personality and self-worth on your hair your going to have nothing to live for and thats a dangerous thing. I love when she says "Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person? Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?"This is so deep because hair does not dictate the type of person you are, the good you can do for people, the type of worker you are, the type of writer you are, the type of mother or father you are, it's the soul within you that matters, your character, your work ethic, your personality those are things we should concern ourselves with. "I am not your expectations...No" Thats another part of the song that I adore because society predisposes these expectations that we feel pressured to live up to and if you know your self and have a strong sense of identity you will be able to combat these expectations and live life for you. India Arie is someone who I admire greatly, her confidence and her strong sense of self. She addresses issues that everyone else is too afraid to vocalize and she's not afraid to be herself, I have nothing but respect for her.
So i'm randomly checking out Urban's site as I usually do and I see they custom make bikes...One style is called Aristotle the other style is called Plato(how original)...but I'm in love with the vintage style of Plato it reminds me of those old bikes from like the 60s or 70s very cool...Check out the bike I custom made...I wish they came in Pink...yummmm http://3dbik.es/hRQ7xP
I absolutely adore The Nanny. Its one of my favorite syndicated shows on Nick at Night, I remember watching it a few times when I was younger but now that it comes on every night I am literally in my glory. Everyone complains about how annoying Fran's voice is but that can be easily overlooked because of the genuine substance of the show. Fran is your stereotypical down to earth New York Jew. The kids can relate to her and have become very dependent of her. She has street smarts, personality and she's an amazing dresser. Her outfits are always phenomenal. It's known that her favorite store is Loehman's. Her mother and her grandmother Yetta adds to the relatable aspect of the show; possibly because her mother's loud mouth reminds me of my own grandmother. I think a large reason why I love the show so much is because I see my family in some of these characters. I love how cute Yetta is, she's so old yet she knows how to have fun even if its with her retirement home peers. Nile's is the laughing source of the sitcom. His jokes geared towards Cece and his sly comments about his domesticated position as the butler makes the show hilarious. The children all have their issues, but Gracie is my favorite. She's so young and cute yet she suffers from so much psychological problems. Mr. Sheffield and Cece are stuck up, high society snobs but without them the show has no focus. The Nanny is one of those feel good shows that really warms my heart. I never miss an episode.
OMG!!! Is the only words I can form to describe the artistic nature of these shoes. The abstractness and bright colors; OMG they're amazing. Once again I'm having one of those moments where I wish I wasn't a broke college student but a wealthy heiress who's able to afford all of these luxurious shoes...ALL of them. I'm loving the sneakers they're definitely on my wish list for the summer when I eventually do find work lol. Pierre Hardy is amazing, his shoes is nothing like I've ever seen before...yeah red bottoms are incredible but Pierre Hardy makes shoes that speaks for themselves. The colors are vibrant and electrifying, the shoes make a statement. Funkiness at its best...
