Straight Soul

R.I.P.

argh.

Shining.

Sex sells, but the emphasis/overload devalues who we are at the core. I'm waiting for the day when inner light & beauty becomes cool again.

career path changes.

(Via Cracked)

(Via http://icanhascheezburger.com/2011/06/27/funny-pictures-most-interesting-cat-in-world-name/?utm_source=pulsenews&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ICanHasCheezburger+%28I+CAN+HAS+CHEEZBURGER%29)

“The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune's spite; revive from ashes and rise.” 

-Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

@necolebitchie | quote

Do the Five People you spend the most time with represent who you are and where you want to ultimately be?

Tuesday mornting laugh *Madea voice*

I will NEVER be this girl.

Music Updates from @TeeDockery

The Regular Report: The Regular Report Vol. 1.5: "Play this for the young lady you've been oogling over and there's a great chance she'll find you more attractive by the end of the tape. ..."

"Newspaper Nails"

Brilliant idea for all of my nail design enthusiasts -- check out the tutorial!

(via Pulse News)

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." -Christina Baldwin

Feminist

Vital Voices

I read about this organization in my July VOGUE issue; thinking about getting involved...

ABOUT:
Our mission is to identify, invest in and bring visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities.
Vital Voices Global Partnership is the preeminent non-governmental organization (NGO) that identifies, trains and empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the globe, enabling them to create a better world for us all.

• We are at the forefront of international coalitions to combat human trafficking and other forms of violence against women and girls.

• We enable women to become change agents in their governments, advocates for social justice, and supporters of democracy and the rule of law.

• We equip women with management, business development, marketing, and communications skills to expand their enterprises, help to provide for their families, and create jobs in their communities.

Our international staff and team of over 1,000 partners, pro bono experts and leaders, including senior government, corporate and NGO executives, have trained and mentored more than 8,000 emerging women leaders from over 127 countries in Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East since 1997. These women have returned home to train and mentor more than 500,000 additional women and girls in their communities. They are the Vital Voices of our time.  

Happy Birthday, Mr. West

Touch the sky.

sometimes the most obstacles come from those you love most | best to trust God and your instincts...

You may not like what I do or say. Sometimes that's hard for me to accept, but I don't live for you and I'm training myself to not care. 

I gots me a trainer!

free Will

A couple pics from my photo shoot with Mr. Devin Mays...

(Via Picture My Vision)

First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination. 

-Napoleon Hill

"King C"

If Beyoncé can do it, so can I.

(Via Necole Bitchie)

"I got this model chick that don't cook or clean, But she dress her ass off and her walk is mean..."

- "Girls, Girls, Girls" (Jay-Z, The Blueprint)

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Thanks Uchenna... 

Love me some Groupon.

"1+1"

f**k you sentiments

(via another one of my favorite blogs: Repsychled Goodz)

Queen O

Ode to Oprah Winfrey « Glamazons Blog

First Lady Swag

A follow-up to my American Royalty piece...

#swag

(Via one of my FAVORITE blogs: Mrs. O)

Rules are for suckers.

another dope shirt

Me wants it.

(via Coco Career's Boutique)

"Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness." - Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

summer | tee

Dynastee Inc. hookin me up with a summer garment. 

This shirt speaks to me, lol.....

(surprise, surprise)

SATC Syndrome

Even though I LOVE the show, "Sex and the City" has given single girls every where unrealistic expectations of what their 20s and 30s will be. I know it was just an HBO sitcom, but it does present certain truths that cloud one's reasoning. Dancing around from men to men is a joke and extremely damaging to one's self-esteem and psyche. Guys, let no women tell you differently. Ladies, it is best to just focus on self-improvement, spirituality and work on having a life devoted to service...that is where one finds true joy. Not in multiple-weekday dates with losers, wasting money on expensive clothes AND shoes for each of those dates, and the worst possible thing.....having empty, meaningless sex with those morons in hopes of feeling that this stranger might be the one. And let's not even begin to address the differences between varying cultures and ethnic groups. 

So to "Sex and the City" I say, thank you for the laughs, the fashion and the illusions....

I'm 24 today...

alpha and omega.

“Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening.” -Mahatma Ghandi

MVP

(thanks Uché)

Fascination

Fetishizing Or Celebrating Black Women? Clutch Magazine wants to know...

(via Clutch)

Happy Cinco de Mayo, eeerbody!

Margaritas and Mexican later....

(via Sac Chef)

"nice thought. wrong approach."

thanks Josh

Janelle | Prince | Me | LA

RT JanelleMonae -- AND on May 13th I will be playing with Prince @ The Forum in LA! Get your tickets!!!! 

Ummmm........OMG!!

(via The Daily What)

Northwestern Feature: A Blunt, Racial Spin on the Birthers' Debate

Clifton: Trump and birthers: blinded by the ‘white’ - 
The Daily Northwestern - Forum

Thank you, Derrick...

Osama < Obama

“Somali pirates, Gaddafi’s son, now bin Laden – do NOT f— with Obama, he’s Gangsta!!” —Bill Maher

“No matter how collected Obama is during his speech, he’s hearing LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” blasting in his head.” — Patton Oswalt

“What a moment for Obama. What a moment for America. Magnificent address by the President. And magnificent operation. This is his finest hour.” — Piers Morgan

“Just landed. Watching CNN, what a historical moment in the fight against hatred.” — Lady Gaga

“Does Elton John do a bin laden version of ‘Candle in the Wind’… ‘Like a giant hellish fireball in the wind…’ ” — Adam McKay

Monday words of wisdom

“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle... when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.”

My birthstone is emerald, so it's only fitting that I begin this month with Alice Walker's book. I used to read this as a child and I always wanted a green stone, lol

lush lost

"There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again." --Elizabeth Lawrence


I've learned that one of the difficulties of adulthood is making I never forget where that garden is...

Mom's 1st Time at TBK

Mom: I'm at TBK
Me: Hahaha!

Mom: I know

Me: What do you think? Lol

Mom: The food was tasty!

Me: Haha! Imagine how good it is when you're drunk!

Mom: It must taste like ambrosia then.

Me: Lmao!!!

Your Friday Laugh (thanks Mike, tee hee)

Dear Noah,

We could have sworn you said the ark wasn't leaving till 5.
Sincerely,
Unicorns

Dear Twilight fans,
Please realize that because vampires are dead and have no blood pumping through them, they can never get an erection.
Enjoy fantasizing about that.
Sincerely,
Logic

Dear Icebergs,
Sorry to hear about the global warming. Karma's a bitch.
Sincerely,
The Titanic

Dear America ,
You produced Miley Cyrus. Bieber is your punishment.
Sincerely,
Canada

Dear Yahoo,
I've never heard anyone say, "I don't know, let's Yahoo! it..." just saying...
Sincerely,
Google

Dear Windshield Wipers,

Can't touch this.
Sincerely,
That Little Triangle

Dear Rose,
There was definitely room on that Door for the both of us.
Sincerely,
Jack
PS, you let go

Dear girls who have been dumped,
There are plenty of fish in the sea... Just kidding! They're all dead.
Sincerely,
BP

Dear Fox News,

So far, no news about foxes.
Sincerely,
Unimpressed

Dear Skin-Colored Band Aids,

Please make one for every skin color.
Sincerely, Black people

Dear Scissors,
I feel your pain.....no one wants to run with me either.
Sincerely, Sarah Palin

Dear Osama Bin Laden,
“Marco”........
Sincerely, United States

Dear Batman,
What was your power again?
Sincerely, Superman

Dear Customers,
Yes, we ARE making fun of you in Vietnamese.
Sincerely, Nail Salon Ladies

Dear Ugly People,
You're welcome.
Sincerely, Alcohol

Dear World,
Please stop freaking out about 2012.  Our calendars end there because some Spanish d-bags invaded our country and we got a little busy ok?
Sincerely,
The Mayans

Dear Trash,
At least you get picked up...
Sincerely,
The Girls of Jersey Shore

  

Dear Dr. Phil,
Look man, there's only room for one fake doctor in this world and I was here first.
Sincerely,
Dr. Pepper

"I'm not the greatest; I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round." 

H | W

I look forward to watching Hayden Williams's career progress. What a tremendous talent! 


I hope he draws me one day..

Cheers! (I think I'm going to start saying that, lol)

noiroyalty

Today is the wedding day of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Congrats to the new Duke and Duchess! (Kate looked stunning in that Alexander McQueen by Sara Burton!) I wish them all the best, but I'd like to take a moment to examine some less frequently discussed royal figures.

Queen Charlotte

It is said that she was a direct descendant from the African branch of the Portuguese Royal House, Margarita de Castro y Sousa, which explains her African appearance in portraits. She is the great-great-great-grandmother of the present Queen Elizabeth II.

Princess Angela of Liechtenstein

She's married to Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein and serves as the only reigning black princess in the European dynasty.

Letsie III of Lesotho

No one talks about Lesotho because its a landlocked country surrounded by the Republic of South Africa, but they actually have royalty there. Letsie happens to be king.

The King poses with his wife Princess Lalla Salma Saturday, July 13, 2002, at the royal palace in Rabat. There were public celebrations for the Moroccan King's marriage, which broke a tradition of keeping royal wives hidden. (AP Photo/Moroccan Government/HO)

King Mohamed VI of Morocco

And these two.........well, they're American royalty.

Everyday a star is born...

Marcus: Just got a call from the Dean offering me admission into their (USC) PhD program

Clap for 'em.

"No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive."

-Ghandi

Polyethnic?

Carol's Daughter has launched a new multiracial campaign featuring Solange Knowles, Selita Ebanks and Cassie as spokeswomen. First of all, a multiracial ad campaign for Carol's Daughter seems....how do I say....redundant?


Anywho, Carol's Daughter took a look at the latest U.S. Census data, which revealed that more people are checking the "other" box or multiple boxes with regards to their racial identity.


The brand's Steve Soute told WWD that it's a "polyethnic" campaign.

"When I say polyethnic, I mean women who are made up of several ethnicities,' the brand's Steve Stoute told WWD. 'If you ask them what they are, they're going to use a lot of different words to describe themselves."

Some audiences are upset that all of the models are all fair-skinned, which I can see, but the product is about hair. On the flip side, you'd think if they were really trying to appeal to the polyethnic population, they would have selected some different hair-styles because from where I'm sittin, Solange is the only one mixing things up. I'm just sayin.


Thoughts?

Makeda

Bringin back Les Nubians! 

Where did those chicas go anyway?

I hear the iPhone4s come in white now...

All is not lost...

As a Black American, sometimes I get frustrated thinking about all of the history that's been lost.......but then I have to be grateful that some of it trickled down....

Chanel Iman

Gwen Stefani in L.A.M.B. Spring 2011

Black supermodels in Vogue Italia

(via SoJones, Michelle-Style, Posh24, Vogue Italia)

Some say the weekend starts today...I say it starts when I'm done going to work.

"You have to dream so you can get up in the morning." -Billy Wilder

#teamnosleep #grindoclock

Malibu-YAH!

Lol.

Alter-Ego Inspiration

"I feel like Harriet Tubman, except I am trying to free people through underground music, to free themselves creatively and inspirationally." -JM

I love her energy. She and I are connected artistically--she just doesn't know it yet.

Trumping Don

Barack Hussein Obama II:

• The 44th president of the United States
• Black man
• Proud husband and father
• Columbia and Harvard Law graduate
• Former community organizer
• Former senator

I could say American citizen, but I kinda thought that was implied with the first bullet point. Silly me.

You'll never become president, Donnie. Rampant ignorance will never diminish true excellence.

Plus, the President has swag. Brains and swag.

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought." 
- Buddha