Kanye's Work Boot Swag

Since I'm on a new work boot fad, I couldn't help but post this pic of Mr. Best Dressed himself (Kanye West) rocking a pair of Timberlands (a la east coast with tongue hanging out). Everyone better run to the stores now, these work boots are going to be a hot commodity come this September.

Image via Concreteloop

Solange in Dr. Martens

I was just talking about Dr. Martens yesterday and today I see Solange rockin the work boot swag with a latex mini and tee ensemble. I am not exactly feeling the tee or how tight that skirt is, but I love the risk and of course, I heart these boots! She's always walking on the edge of fashion and I'm not mad at her. I think my corset boot may be worn with a denim mini, inspired by Solo.

Image via Concreteloop

Work Boot Swag.

Normally my work boots sit on at least 4 inches of stiletto (don't judge - I'm a corporate girl) but I'm thinking about switching it up. I got these from my coworker CS and I actually love them, so I'm looking for the right outfit to pair these with...Hopefully I can pull them off without looking like a grunge-reject. Looking for outfit suggestions!

Dr. Martens Corset Boot

Hervé Léger

Every girl needs a Hervé Léger bandage dress! Trust me ladies. it's worth it: you'll look 10 pounds lighter and they'll last a lifetime.Check out http://www.theoutnet.com/ (net a porter's outlet site) they have a bunch for $500-$800. Not bad at all...

The best boss ever: Oprah

Not only is Oprah my "shero" but she is one damn good boss! I love my job and all but nothing compares to this. The AFP is reporting that Oprah Winfrey celebrated her 55th birthday in Barcelona with 1,700 of her employees and their families. The party took place over the weekend at Poble Espanyol, a popular tourist destination with shops, bars and restaurants. Her lucky guests will spend three days in the city before embarking on a 10-day Mediterranean cruise aboard the Norwegian Gem liner sailing to Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Malta. The ship has 11 bars and lounges, 12 restaurants, pool, hot tubs, a beauty salon, spa, casino, cigar club, library and even a bowling alley. Oprah is said to be spending around $5,400 per person on the cruise.
Talk about employee benefits!

Drool-Worthy

I've been told it ain't trickin' if you got it and you better have it if you're even thinking about buying this fabulous alligator luggage by Bottega Venetta, retail: $157,000. Yep - that's three zeros!

RIP Vibe

I don't know what magazines I'm going to have left to stack on my desk if everyone keeps closing their doors...Today Vibe magazine shut it down. Vibe was one of the first magazines that I actually read from cover to cover (all the way though the fashion credits and diamond grill ads).

I'll miss you!

My favorite VIBE Covers

Last night at the BET Awards...

I wasn't so impressed with the show. I loved all the shout outs to The King of Pop (RIP Michael Jackson) but the show lacked a freshness that is due to the awards show scene. Mix that with bad lighting, missed camera cues, and not one standout performance (sans Jay-Z), the best thing about the show was the fashions! And you know I'm not mad at that. Here's some looks that I loved!

It was all about the long-sleeved mini...

Alicia Keys

Beyonce

Cassie

Amerie

Amber Rose (w/Kanye)

*Looks like Amerie and Amber Rose (Kanye's Boo) were wearing the same mini. Both looked hot, but it's true that I actually like Amber Rose's look better. :-)

Favorite Tribute Look!

Estelle

What a cute and classy way to pay homage to the King!


My number one choice of the night...

Miss Keri Baby

She looked absolutely fabulous with just the right amount of edge.

Good job Keri!

Looks I didn't really love...

Melody Thorton

Omarosa

How to Date an Urban Girl...

Recently I've been taking a look at my friends and I have plenty of fabulous friends and majority of them...hell, all of them are single. And perhaps I'm a little bias, but trust me, I know quality when I see it and my girls are top-shelf. So for the life of me, I cannot understand why these beautiful, intelligent, self-sufficient women are single. And by single, I mean that he didn't like it enough to put a ring on it...
I've pondered this question time and time again...and to no avail, I come up empty. And then after watching a man walk up to my girl l(in front of all her homegirls) and smelling like all outdoors, has the audacity to ask her for her number...it came to me. We are urban girls. And men, they don't know how to date us. So here's some help...

Get to know the urban girl that you want to date.
If you see her every day of the week and 6 out of those 7 days she is wearing stilettos, then do not take her to an amusement park on your first date (at least without fair warning). What does she look like digging her 4" platforms out of the County Fair mud? Really.
Chivalry is not dead.
Or at least it doesn't have to be. Open the door for her. Pull out her chair. Let her in the car before you put your seat belt on. And if none of these things sound familiar to you, do not attempt to date an urban girl. You do not qualify.
Humble yourself.
This is a harsh reality for some but if you have to tell me how humble you are, then you're not at all. Please stop talking about how fabulous you are. We know that you're educated, you have a career and best of all, you're babymama free. But we for damn sure don't want to hear you telling us that all night. Check your ego with your coat before proceeding to the dinner table.
I'm your date, not your girl.
Just as much as men do not like it when women pull the trigger and leave their belongings in the closet or start telling people about how their man made dinner for them; we don't like it when you call us your girl to your coworkers or take us on surprise couple evenings. If it's not official let's not fake it. Dating is a cool stage towards being steady. Enjoy it.
Dutch? I think not.
If you invite an urban girl on a date please be prepared to foot the bill. No further discussion needed.
Stimulate her senses...
You want her to not just see you but to breathe you. You want her to enjoy looking at you, touching you, smelling you, tasting you...ok, different blog, but you get the point. Put on your expensive smell goods. Wear the color that all the ladies say makes your eyes sparkle. Give it all you got. Just because the movie theater is dark doesn't mean that she won't be checking you out from head to toe.
Put yourself out there.
Of course, she's gorgeous and fabulous and smart. That's the reason that you want her! So put that fear of rejection aside and man up and go get your woman. Take the eye contact rule to heart: if she's staring at you for longer than three seconds then that is the green light! Go!

Please fellas, get these fab femmes off the market ASAP.

Happy dating!

My solemn vow.

A couple of weeks ago I vowed to never, ever, not even when my locks are turning gray, be caught wearing a pair of mom-jeans. This sent all of my mommy friends into a whirlwind of confusion and resulted in a ton of self-reflecting questions in which I am here to answer.

Mom-Jeans. They are terrible. That's really all that needs to be said, but I know that's not enough so I will elaborate. Mom-jeans are usually made of soft, durable cotton that can withstand 300 hundred washes. They are often very generous in the leg, waist, and tummy. They are usually designed to fit a woman's fuller figure when in fact women are out to make their figures appear smaller. Mom-jeans have no stretch in them, stretch is what makes a good pair of jeans hug a woman's curves, so when these are worn in they become loose and even more unflattering. There are a multitude of other things wrong with them: the zippers are too long, the booty pockets are too big, the thighs are so wide and the ankles are so narrow...And hands down: I have yet to see a woman look good in these jeans.

Yet, with all of these cons and not one pro, I still continue to see women in these jeans! Why? I don't understand it and if I had more time on my hands I would take a poll, but I don't. So my conclusions are based solely on my assumptions.

Starting with...

No.1 - They've never tried on another pair of jeans.

No. 2 - They are creatures of habit

No.3 - There are no mirrors in the house

No. 4- They associate motherhood style to be the complete opposite as non-motherly style

No. 5 - They didn't get the memo that mom jeans should be burned

I could go on, but why...you get the point.

Now...perhaps at one point in time, these jeans were actually in style and thus appearing the trend of last summer - the return of the high waist. But let's not confuse the two. These jeans are the opposite of everything that was previously listed. Take a look a cutiepie Dania Ramirez...Hot. Yet, I still recommend that ladies tread this trend lightly...

Blackberry Case.

I've been on the hunt for a stylish and functional case for my Blackberry for a couple months now. The styles that are offered by my wireless carrier are less than stellar although there are a couple that are very functional, with slip guards and pen holders, but still, none of them say...ME! So now, my beautiful Blackberry Bold is being held hostage in a gummy-like protective skin. (And this was only chosen because it came in three colors, giving me some options, although very patriotic.)

I've yet to find the Blackberry case of my dreams and the search is still on, but my friend Tasha over at Fashionalities did a cute and insightful post on Plia Designs. They make iPhone and PDA holders for those of us that take pride in the suiting of our communication devices. It's still not quite what I was looking for because I'm on my phone 23 of the 24 hours of the day, so having to repeatedly take it out of the holder will get old fast and I will at some point abandon the holder all together, but it is definitely the cutest holder that I've seen so far, so I'm ordering one; color undecided.

Here's a couple of the styles that I like. You know an urban girl can't resist a good animal print!

I've long ago bid ado to my iPhone, but how cute is this case?

Day Whatever...Still going at it.

This working out and blogging about it is hard work, but don't think that I've completely fallen off my 30-Day Challenge just because my journaling has taken a back seat. When in fact, your girl has been doing her job and is actually starting to see results! I still have some underarm fat and yesterday I noticed some elbow fat! Yes, I didn't even know that was possible but hopefully by Day 30 it will be gone.

Recent workout challenge?
Traveling and working out! This indeed calls for dedication and true steadfastness. So while I have had to detour from my usualy workout plan, I did have a backup. I suggest when traveling that you arm yourself with a DVD that doesn't cause for much space and will still allow you to get your workout in. I chose a pilates tape, played it on my computer and spread my mat on the floor and got the job done.

Try AM Pilate by Jillian Hessel at www.jillianhessel.com



And yes, I know what day it is. It's Day 14...Still going at it.

89 Cents.

Waitresses: Please know that I usually go out of my way to be nice to you. Mainly because I don't want you to spit in my food (mama ain't raise no fool) but also because I'm a nice girl (mama raised me right). But sometimes, you really take me to the limit...

At a local eatery, that shall remain nameless too protect the innocent, I was recently serviced by a cute, bubbly waitress. She came over introduced herself and took everyone's order. When she got to me, I said, "Ummm...I'll have a turkey burger with cheese..." Mid-sentence she cuts me off and says, "That'll be $0.89". "Ok", I said. "Some people don't like to pay for it, so I want to make sure to tell you that it's going to cost you an EXTRA $0.89", she informed me.

Now, if you're like me, you're now giving the waitress the blank stare and thinking, 'didn't I just say ok?'.

Cute & Bubbly finished up with the order taking and after about 20 minutes she brings out the food. Right at first glance I noticed, something wasn't right and there was no cheese on my turkey burger with cheese!

"Umm...excuse me Cute & Bubbly? My turkey burger is cheese-less." She looked at me just a second longer than I would have liked her too and said, "Oh, do you want me to bring you some cheese out?" **Do I want you to what? No! I want you to bring me a turkey burger with some mofo cheese on it** That's what I was thinking, but again, you can't say that to the waitress! But at this point, I was kind of stuttering..."Umm...uhh...bring me some cheese?" She then tells me, "I just offered to bring it out because if I do, you won't have to pay $0.89 for it".

Ok. That was it. That was the limit. Do I look like a broke, college kid? Did she catch me scrambling for nickles to put in the meter? What the heck is it about this $0.89?!

With my most dry stare and a tad bit of a smirk, I had to inform Cute & Bubbly, that's "it's cool. I have $0.89".

I hope she didn't spit in my food. :-)

Just in case you're wondering. The cheese was definitely worth my $0.89!

Day 3. The Early Bird Gets the TV...

I'm on a plane first thing in the AM and you know I wait until the absolute last minute to pack (time is still ticking...) and since I'm committed to my challenge, that means I had to get my workout in early. Way before I wanted to but hey, it must be done.

Today was not as bad, the soreness is slowly fading, and there's a plus side to going to the gym at 6:30 in the morning...it's empty! That means I have the TV all to my self and I can warm up and cool down watching Lisa and Zach makeout on Saved by the Bell (no, I'm not making this up, they did have a fling!).


I made the mistake of skipping lunch though because I thought I would leave work early and then by the time I ate, I was filling a little heavy. So I suggest you try to stick to normal eating, 4-5 times a day.


The best part of Day 3, knowing that tomorrow is Day 4 and I get to relax! I haven't decided what my meditation will be, but I still have time.

Great treadmill TV...

And yes, I did think that I was going to be Lisa Turtle when I got to high school. :-)

Day 2: Two is better than one.

Tonight I have dinner plans with the girls, a coming out celebration for my young sisters, and I have to do 12 hours a work in about a 9 hour work span. I am truly a busy bee...which leaves me little time for working out. Now, I know what you're thinking...Go at night. Well that would be okay, but the chances of me eating, kickin' it and then going to the gym? Slim to none. Besides, I work out for $5.75 a month at my company owned facility which closes at 8pm. (Gotta love the three stripes).

My only other feasible option was to crank out a run during the day. You know what that means? Bringing a cosmetic bag (equipped with flat iron) along with all of my other public face-ready necessities and crank out a mid-day work out. Sweat my hair out and hope that I can put some decency back into my look by the time I have my 2 o'clock.

Mission accomplished! Around minute 17:00 I started to slow down, but before I could think about it, it was time to stop. Conclusion: Day 2 is definitely easier than Day 1. Oh and showering at work isn't SO bad! Except that I know we're all women and all but... nevermind. Different post.

Helpful Workout Tip of the Day:

To avoid looking like a bat out of hell post workout, try wearing a men's headband. They absorb the sweat and they usally come in athletic colors th match with anything.

Summer Fab Day 1... Whew

So I made it...I think the only thing that kept me going was the fact that my shirt kept lifting up and I was not enjoying the muffin top poking up over my waistband. Seriously, the exercises are the realest! I didn't think that I would break as much of a sweat as I did but I was on fire when I was done.

And I forgot to tell you in my earlier post that you definitely need to do a warm up and cool down before starting and when ending the workout. Even if for only 5 minutes! Your muscles will thank you.

Sidebar: In the efforts of attaining the ultimate level of fabulousness I wore my Stella McCartney workout gear (pays to have friends with access to free samples) and I LOVE they way they feel when you work out in them. If you're anything like me then you've never worn anything with the name Stella on it to the gym...and yes, I have wore my hot pink runners' pants as leggings. (Don't judge.) But whoever the genius is behind working out and looking great deserves two snaps *snap, snap* because I may have been the most out of shape in the gym, but I was definitely the flyest!

30 Days to Summer Fabulousness

I'm not proud to admit it...but I have fallen off the wagon. Not quite a Kirstie Allen type fall, more of a Beyonce eating Popeye's every once in a while type stumble (and we know how tragic that can be). But with the summer knocking on my door, I have no choice but to pick my pudgy behind up and pretty much push the wagon...hey, no pain, no gain.
(And since my Facebook and Twitter friends want to know how they too can be Summer Fabulous, I decided to post my workout and my progress on my blog! )

In comes the 30 Day Challenge to Summer Fabulousness...

This is both a mind and body challenge because what's one without the other? It definitely ain't fabulous!

The Workout

-Strengthening-

The workout consists of both cardio and sculpting several times a week...Alternate cardio and sculpting workouts and rest on the fourth day.

The sculpting workouts are circuit workouts, which means that you don't get to rest in between exercises. Just keep going! After the last move, rest for up to 3 minute and then repeat the circut. Run through the entire circuit 3 or 4 times.

Circuit Exercises

What you'll need:

A 2lb to 4lb medicine ball and a step or bench

(If you don't have these items, go buy them or if times are tight DIY and get creative!)

1. Squat Thrust with Row - 10 reps

[A]Stand with feet wider than shoulders and hold a weighted ball in both hands in front of your chest. Lower into a squat and place ball on floor in line under shoulders. Keeping hands on the ball, step or hop feet back.

[B]Hop feet in, then bring the ball toward your abs. (Maintain the natural curve of your spine; don't hunch.) Lower ball to floor again and repeat.

2. Dead Lift to Hip Opener - 16 reps (8 on both sides)

[A]Hold a weighted ball in both hands in front of your chest. Lift right foot and slowly extend right leg back as you bend over from hips and reach ball forward so your arms and leg are parallel to the floor.

[B]Rise up to starting position and repeat. Do 10 reps, then switch sides to complete set. Next, repeat move on left leg, but keep right leg and arms extended as you rotate your hips and shoulders to the right as far as you can. Lower them so they're parallel to the floor and repeat

3. Four Count Push-Up - 10 reps

[A]Get in push-up position on toes or knees and place hands slightly wider than shoulders.

[B]Lower halfway down, squeezing shoulder blades together, then lower until your chest touches the floor. Press up halfway, then extend arms completely and draw your shoulder blades apart to complete 1 rep.

4. Single Leg Skater Squat - 10 reps

[A]Hold a weighted ball in both hands in front of chest. Lift right leg, knee bent, behind you and extend arms forward.


[B]Find your balance here, then lower into a squat on left leg. (The stronger you are, the lower you'll be able to go.) Rise up to starting position and repeat with other leg to complete 1 rep.




5. Scissor Lunge - 10 reps (5 on each side)
[A]Stand with feet together, then jump left foot forward and right foot back (arms move in opposition to legs).



[B]Jump up and reverse legs, so right foot is forward and left is back. Jump up again, switching legs one more time, and lower into a lunge. Rise up and continue jumping legs forward and back, then lunging on the third jump


6. Sprinter - 10 Reps
[A]Lie faceup and raise legs a few inches off floor. Sit up, bringing left elbow to right knee.


[B]Lie down all the way and repeat, this time bringing right elbow to left knee to complete 1 rep.


7. Plyo Plank - 8 reps
[A]Get on floor with feet wide, hands shoulder-width apart.

[B]Hop feet up to the left of your hands, then hop back and repeat to the right to complete 1 rep.



8. Tabata Squat - 8 reps[A]Place a weighted ball on a step and stand just in front of it with feet slightly wider than shoulders. Lower into a squat as you extend arms forward and try to touch your butt to the ball (if you can go all the way to the step, remove the ball).

[B]Stand up quickly, bringing arms down and behind you. Lift your chest and squeeze your glutes tight as you push your hips forward. Repeat for 20 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds to complete 1 rep

-Cardio-

Get on a treadmill, an bike, a stair climber, anything! Program your workout to provide impact and be no less than 35 minutes. Here's an example of my cardio workout...

This workout is not designed for a hardcore gym enthusiast. It's not made for Olympians. It's simply for people that just don't wanna be fat. The workout isn't hard. It's the commitment that's the challenge!

So to help you on your journey, keep a journal! Tell yourself how proud you are that you made it through another workout. Motivate yourself knowing that in 30 days you'll have a slimmer tummy, a firmer butt, or a smaller jean size.

On your "off" day, do something mentally stimulating that adds positivity to your life. (Charity work, read a book, call an old friend, etc.)

And after 30 Days, heck, do you what you want! Kidding! This is a plan to help you begin your way to a better lifestyle.

Diet
As far as what you eat...moderation is key. If you feel guilty for purchasing it or scarfing it down, then you probably shouldn't be eating it. Use your common sense. And if that doesn't work, please remember that if it comes with fries it ain't healthy.

Mental Health
Lent is not the only time that you have to fast or give up something that may be holding you back from being your best self. Addictions hold us back. Choose one thing to give up while you're working on being fabulous! I'm giving up hot chocolate which is my morning ritual. I'll let you know how it goes!

Have fun and be fabulous!

This workout and images are courtesy of Shape Magazine (www.shape.com). If you feel it's not challenging enough or you need more, visit them and look up something that's perfect for you!

Back to Black?

Just a few short months ago, I bid ado to my cute and dummy-proof iPhone and said hello to my fav friend Mr. Blackberry. There were just too many issues with that iPhone and let's face it, if you have a job, that joint is just not functional. I need my email and I need it now!

I've been through plenty of Blackberries in my day...when you mix the fact that I'm one of the clumsiest people you've ever met along with a case of plain old bad luck, you'll get approx. 9 Blackberries in a two year span. Regardless of me and my accidents, when the Bold was placed in my hands, I fell in love. It's sleek and sexy and so...ME! I was captivated by it's ability to play videos, and get my excel sheets, and oh! I'm back to IM-ing!!!

And then today...Mr. Blackberry did something that I just could not comprehend. My 24/7 pal, shut down! The screen went black and there I was, cradling a lifeless, inanimate object. Did I kill the Blackberry? Is there a such thing as overuse? Hell no. This dang phone is not all it cracks up to be and now I'm heading to Blackberry No. 2 in 2 months...

Dare I say...I miss my iPhone?

Cassie's Hair.

Cassie's haircut was all the rage on the blogs this weekend..I don't hate it, but I definitely don't love it. And what I really want to know is how much maintenance is it going to take to keep up a bald fade on half your hair and a weave on the other half? It sounds like she's going to have to see a barber and a weaveologist...and I can barely do an hour at the salon for a blowout!

When it's all said and done, let's just thank the good baby Jesus that this girl is so darn pretty because there's no way half the chicks on this planet (me included) could ever pull this look off.

Be free!

The Stanky Leg has left its mark.

So I attended my girlfriend's colleague's house party the other night. And for a full blown red-cup party, I was not mad at the atmosphere. Crazy cute townhouse-loft type spot, cool crowd, and a DJ...yes, there was absolutely a real DJ at a house party (Sure, it was the host's homeboy. But hey, it's good to have friends with skills).

This DJ, might I add was not half bad...if I'm moving to the beat then I can't complain and he was spinnin' the cuts... Mostly radio hits and whatever is on the 106 countdown, so you know the club banger that has become the new "Back That Azz Up" comes on and everybody and I do mean everybody in that joint (except for yours truly, of course :-)) was up in the middle of the floor doing the...STANKY LEG!

Did I tell you that I live in Portland, Oregon? Portland - Where Miley Cirus and James Blunt were on the top concert dollars of last year. Portland - The place that has one "urban" radio station. Portland - The only city I've ever been in where the citizens thrive on being weird. You get where I'm going with this...When the white people start doing the 'Stanky Leg' (and doing it on beat too!), it's time for me to rethink my position in life. :-)

Beyonce's versatility...

I love seeing Beyonce like this! Yes, it's true that I am stan. I admit and I take full responsibilty for any stalker like tendancies that this post may convey, but I can't help it! While under normal circumstances I wouldn't admit that I get tired of Beyonce's 'skinny jeans-tee-and-five inch pumps' look that she rocks all the time, because I'm a firm believer of if it ain't broke then don't fix it but every now there's nothing wrong with getting a tune-up. And this look is worth copying...

Still on my wish list...

So everyone knows that I gave up shopping for Lent and it has definitely been a challenge. Now with just a couple of days left my mind has been reflecting on all of the mental notes that I made on the items that I MUST have for spring and beyond. Which got me to thinking about stuff I meant to buy before Lent and never got a chance too. And these Jeremy Scott joints are still on my list, so I figured it was worth a post. I heart these...and not just because I work for the brand with the three stripes but because these are still fiyah!

Speaking of cute hotels...

I've been thinking about planning a girl's night for my fav femmes. And while I was thinking fondue night, this is way more fun...

Aloft’s “Girlfriend’s Night Out” package includes overnight stay in a double queen loft, champagne at Wxyz bar, chocolate truffles, breakfast at re:fuel plus a pedicure, massage and paraffin treatment and a $25 gift certificate at Morgan Jewelers for each guest! Just $84.50 per person (double occupancy); mention rate plan: GIRLS. How fun is this?!

I've never stayed here, but by the looks of it, it's worth a try... if you've stayed here before let me know how you liked it.

Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station9920 NE Cascades Parkway
503.200.5678

www.wxyzportland.com

The Nines Needs Help.

I'm all about cute luxury hotels and have never been dissatisfied with a Starwood property. But it looks like even this fabulous company is in a recession funk and with that, so is our newly favorite pre-funk spot The Nines...

The Oregonian reports that the Portland Development Commission agreed this week to accept delayed payments on taxpayer-funded loans to keep the developer from defaulting. The developer, Sage Hospitality Resources of Denver requested the delay with Ken Geist, Sage's executive vice president for development, telling the Portland Development Commission's board that the hotel could not have picked a worse opening date. The sudden and rapid drop in corporate travel spending deeply cut into the hotel's expected revenue. It is expected to generate less than half of what it was originally supposed to deliver in net operating income in its first year.

Makes sense why these rooms were going for $99 a night. While it's great for a weekend getaway with you and your boo, it sucks for the rest of us that simply adore the easy elegance of the place.

Hold Nines...a change is a-comin'.

Que the Cry Baby.

It's official. I have sworn off Making the Band. It was a hard break up and I am not quite sure how I will feel in the future, but right now; it's just really not working out. Every time I give them my time I end up disappointed. I committed to watching the entire 3rd season (even if it was mostly online at the airport) and I rejoiced at the reunion of Laurie Ann and Diddy, but all good things must come to an end and here we are...at the end.

Que...I have to seriously blame you for the majority of the problems in our relationship...Every, single time I tune in (every single time, I tell you); you get on my nerves to the point of no return. I am forced to turn the channel and take back everything that I have put into this love affair.And before I sign off on this show for the very last time. Tell me...Why are you such a crybaby? What is Willie jealous of? And why does everyone, including me, want to whoop yo' tail?!


How dare you leave studio time to go dance?! Do that later...there will be plenty of time for that and by all means, focus! Let your girl live her life and you live yours because if she still had a group there would be no way in the world that she would let you drag her away from a session to learn a new 8-count. I hope you grow up and get it together...but I won't be watching.

So I wish all the members of Day 26 the best; how I adore your beautiful voices. *sigh* I'll be taking the memories with me...

God Bless.

Nerd Steez...

Still into the nerd steez? I wasn't really into the homage to Urkel that was going on, but I'm kinda feeling these.

Nerd love baby...

Glasses by Ksubi

No Tattoo For Me.

I went to get a new tattoo yesterday but unfortnuately what I wanted and where I wanted it at were not a perfect match. So now, I'm back to the drawing board and trying to decide what would best suit me for my next beautiful scar.

here's a couple of things that I like...

As you can see...my thoughts are all over the place and I could put this newest tat in a number of places, but I can only do 5 minutes or less of needle to skin action.

We'll see what I end up with!

For the Love of Ray-J...

Who knew that Brandy's Brother had so much personality? Just when I thought that I was finished with reality TV and there's was pretty much nothing that I hadn't already seen, Ray-J comes in with his red cape to save me from the evil sitcom monsters. Hmmm...Captain Save-'Em? You decide.

Willie Norwood Jr. has definitely grown into a man that the ladies just cannot get enough of. With his charming stature and captivating sense of humor, it's understandable why these ladies would want to be with him. He is indeed a ladies man with his dating resume boasting a few of Hollywood's Hood-Elite: Lil' Kim, Whitney Houston, and Kim Kardashian and the chicks from Season 1 (yes, I definitely think there will be a Season 2) are eager to join this list.

On Episode 4 there were 9 girls left vying to be the object of Ray-J's affection. Some are funny. Some are trashy. Some are cutesy. Some are...Dangerous? Nonetheless they make up an interesting entourage for their man Ray. There are a couple of things that have kept my attention glued to the TV screen (and really, this is just a few...i love this show):

• Lack of the *beep*. I have a valuable amount of experience in my reality show watching career and one thing that always irks me is the usage of the *beep*. The *beep* is caused by the girls with the major potty-mouths that makes the conversations barely audible due to the beeping that prevents the profanity from going across the airwaves. FTLORJ - two thumbs up! There has been minimal beepage. Sure these girls are a little petty and bicker a little, but they don't curse much. And if there's one thing I can appreciate, it's a lady who can get her point across without sounding...ignant!


• Ray-J the Comedian. How come no one told me that this dude was so funny? His confessional scenes have my folded over. Although these comments may be a little rehearsed, they appear to be spontaneous. and most importantly...they make me laugh.


• The cast/characters. These girls are lookers. I'm used to seeing a large group of females that look like they just fell of the turnip truck. These are normal, attractive females. There's no abundance of bad weaves. There's no abnormally large breast implants. Just ordinary people. It seems like a normal thing but in the reality world, this is quite far fetched.
• The "Believability Factor". I'm a stickler for truth tellers. And not so much that you aren't lying, but more so that you believe the words that are coming out of your mouth. For instance, did I ever believe that McCain had my best interest in mind? No. But that mofo definitely believed he did. Did I ever for one minute believe that Hoopz liked Flavor Flav even just a little bit? Hell no. Do I believe that these girls like Ray-J? Hell yea. And even if they don't...I believe they do. On previous VH1 "Love" related shows, there's always the feeling that women are looking for exposure, trying to start an entertainment career, or attempting to parlay their 15 minutes into a spin-off. Not this go round...these girls; they really like this man.


• The tasks. The tasks on this show are realistic. There's no jumping out of planes or cleaning homeless shelters barefoot or running obstacle courses. Just normal tasks in which these girls are to show their affection for Ray. It's real...

My favorite...

I always have to pick a favorite and so far my lead girl is...Cocktail. Cocktail the social working, go-go dancing snitch is full of charisma and she appears to really be there for Ray-J. Sure she told on all of the girls that had ulterior motives. But that's what you do when you want to get rid of these girls and in order to be the last one standing, these girls ain't gotta go home but they gotta get the hell up outta the house.

My President is Black. My First Lady is an AKA.

Does it get any better than this?

I really don't think so. I can't even begin to describe the feeling that it gave me to see our new president being sworn in. And I think today is the first day that it finally sank in and I woke up thinking that today is a better day than yesterday.

I have never in my life cried tears of joy so heavily for someone I don't know. I've never believed in anyone the way that I believe in this man. And I've never heard a politician be so sincere.

He makes me want to do more. Be more. Be better.

And for the first time in my life...I know that impossible really is nothing.

Congratulations Barack Obama!

Fly Right.

On a recent trip to the Atlanta, I found myself in the airport gearing up for a 5:20 AM departure. I generally have a strict policy about airport travel apperances, largely based on the thought that you never know who you're going to run into along with the age-old saying, "you only get one time to make a first impression". Making for no logical reason to get caught looking like you just rolled out of the bed when you can at least look like you have some sense.

So even at 5 o'clock in the morning you can imagine my surprise equally matched by my disdain for the number of women standing in line at the gate with some form of hair maintenance tool upon their heads. My eyes bounced across the crowd capturing not just one do-rag, but 5! Sure there was a mixture of bandannas and silk scarves as well, but they were fully exposed and by all means, completely un-fly.

If anyone understands the comlexities of Black girl hair cair it's me. I have spent many a hour on the upkeep of my mane and you will never catch me with a tore up 'do. I promise. And please believe that you will indeed not find me strolling through the airport or any other public domain with my nighttime haircare ritual going on. Ain't gone happen!

***There are exceptions to the rule...if you are THAT concerned that

your hair will completely lose its shape and/or straightness or you suffer from hair loss disease or you just think it's a good look for you. May I suggest something like this ---------->

It's for dang sure not hot, but it is a nice alternative.

And while this airport 'do-rag don't' is by far the number one on my list. Here's a couple of others that will put you in the red on the "hell-no meter"...

• Pajama Pants. If you are over the age of 15 months, then you are too old to be in the airport with your Sponge Bob Pajama Bottoms on. It does not take but a hot second to put on pants and if you are concerned about comfort due to the sitting in that cramped airplane seat, opt for sweatpants. They come in a varity of styles, colors, and brands and if it's a price issue, they are quite affordable as well. And please do not think that because it was dark when you took off or it will be 6 AM when you arrive that you are exempt from this rule. It's never too early, late, or anytime in between to put on a pair of real pants.
  
• Bomber Jackets. Once you get in your seat, take a moment to look around and examine your fellow passengers' faces. Do they look like they care even a little bit that was it was 15 degrees in Wisconsin? Pull out a themometer. Is it below freezing temperatures in the cabin. Then next time do not bring your big puffed up jacket onto the aircraft. Nobody wants to sit next to you with your bubble coat crowding into their comfort zone. And when you roll that thing up and smah it into the overhead compartment you are taking up enough space for a small carry-on. It's just not fair. Check it. Please.

I know it's early. I understand the hardships of flying before the sunrise. I get it. But you do not want to be the subject of one of my mass "Why...?" texts. I.E. "Why does this dumb mofo have the audacity to have fur on his bubble jacket and it's tickling my ear?!" - See attachment.

Happy traveling :-)