These are a few of my favorite things

I do not have an addictive personality, but I absolutely have an obsessive one. I get fixated on things easily. Never people (except Rihanna and Beyonce... and Cariiiiine.... now those betches? I obsess over) -- anywho... never NORMAL people :) -- always objects. Like handbags... I get a new one? I'll wear it for 3 weeks (shame right?) before I can change it...because I love it that much... or shoes? Same thing... my outfits will follow suit to whatever new sassy stems grace my toes.... yea... so I'm currently obsessing over some lovely little things...

Like these "Love Plates" ... aren't they just adorable? What an awesome Etsy find... I want to buy like 10 and send them to my beautiful sisters/girlfriends....but at 40 - 60 bucks a piece, that gets expensive...so of course, I am totally going to try and DIY them... Tiffany Style.... I'll update you on how that goes. Let's be optimistic, shall we.

And this lotion/bath beads... THE Best. Scent. Ever. Seriously, who would have thought Lavender and Apples make such a good combination? Smells can make my dreary mood turn absolutely happy and this smell right here? An instant spirit lifter..... I promise. Not to mention the lotion leaves that ass? Clear from ash!
Regarding smells... these are the best candles. The scent never dies. One of these candles has my entire house smelling like an enchanted little far away place that doesn't even remotely resemble the grit and grime of this city. They are a bit on the pricey side, but totally worth the $15 - $28 bucks per candle (more if you buy sets)... Especially this scent. "Makassar Ebony & Peach."



I am also currently obsessing over little dainty necklaces. I think they have such a modern girly appeal to them...and in a way, that goes completely against my style; as I'm much more vintage girly... but I think they can go that way too. I especially like the ones above because its like an upgraded version of the "BFF" or "Sisters" necklaces where you have the rigid little heart. Instead here.... same necklace...different colors.... same meaning.... timeless piece.



And of couuuurse you know i HAD to at least be obsessing over some pretty snazzy shoes. These I have yet to find in my size to add to my ever expansive collection, oh but WHEN I DO-- I'll be all sorts of insanely happy. Look at that platform-- doesn't it just SCREAM "yes honey you can wear me for hours on end and remember.. No pain? No. Gain."

At least that's what they are saying to me.

Ciao.

The NFL could totally use me on their benches.

Random Me-ism: I make myself laugh all day long at the crazy funny things that pop into my peanut-sized head all the time. I mean, I could totally have a stand up comedy show in my own head based on my silly, silly thoughts. Even if it is just me laughing.

Random, I know. Moving on.

After a bit of a hard core hiatus, I decided to join my lovely girlfriend in a class that is ever so affectionately called "NFL Training Camp" -- I was eager for more then a meager work out and wanted something intense. Something insane. Something that would just knock me on my ass (you know the feeling) -- and well, I love the NFL. I love training. And when I was a kid? I was totally envious of all those chaps who got to go away to camp while I stayed at home and played four square or skipped rocks in the creek in my backyard... so CLEARLY... NFL + Training + Camp = Genius idea that I would be a total rock star in... right?

Oh. So. Wrong.

I can't move my limbs. It hurts to cough. It hurts to laugh. It hurts to wear heels. It hurts to wear flats. It hurts to lift my arms. It hurts to squat to pee. It hurts to reach for my mother-frenchtoast PHONE for goodness sake.

I'm in pain.

Good pain? You betcha. (I so blame that hooch Sarah Palin whenever "cha" is added to the end of any self-respecting word where it does not belong.) But pain nonetheless. I'm such an overachiever ((read masochist)). Why couldn't I just go take a good old cardio kickboxing class? Or a spin class? Or some bikram yoga? Why did I have to get all Brett Favre on a sista (bc you know, I finished the game...but I totally lost the championship.)

Anywhoooo... I'm going to totally do it again and next time? Total Rockstar. NFL Rockstar.

Just you know, not today.


Work out! Feel great.... really.

Toodles!

Pho Sho.

Sometimes it is not the escape itself that provides you with the peace of mind necessary to regroup, recharge and revitalize yourself. Sometimes it is in the content of the escape that you discover what you had no clue you were missing. This past week I went to Portland with the sole intention to travel there to sit, talk, laugh and vibe off of my way to far away lovely, Portia. I did not think it was going to be some glamorous trip-- besides my life is filled with "glamour" and if anything I was looking forward to the escape. I knew very little about Portland other then that it was very green, white and weird. So my expectations were void.... which ended up being perfect.

Within my escape I read a whole book, hiked trails through a park, climbed snow capped mountains, danced across empty and overcrowded dance floors, witnessed the most beautiful tattoos I have ever seen, got my first facial ever from a student who was doing her first facial ever, recycled, slept, wrote, prayed, sang, loved, bonded and found peace of mind.

I discovered a love of Pho and Vietnamese coffee and the beauty and at times disdain in all things "weird."

It was a wonderful trip. Sometimes the off beaten path leads you to the most essential places. Thank you my little yang to my yin.

"Keep Portland Weird"
xo

20SB and a short lil 'do

I just joined this site-- 20 something bloggers-- rather I just got accepted... which is kind of awesome and well since I'll only be a 20 something for like, 9 more months, I hope to make the most of the memberships. I pretty much joined as a way to expand my readership--which based on the blog hits, it appears to have worked slightly. But what I didn't expect is the AMAZING bloggers that are on the site. So far there seems to be a ton of really very interesting bloggers out there. More then just my usual "go to's". So that's pretty darn exciting since I'm pretty much addicted to the blog world.

Anywho... I have a ton of crap to do in the next week or so before I head out to see my lovely, El P. That along with planning the redesign/decorating of the new place and still mulling over my head if I'm going to chop my hair (I don't think I will) Howeveeeeer.. my salon sent me this rather hilarious website that shows you what you look like with different hairstyles... good lord, this did not help. BUT it sure gave me a good laugh... an even bigger laugh is the eye makeup they put on me for the "bob" hairstyle... HI-LARIOUS.









yeeeeeah.. at this moment, I'll go with short hair is so NOT for me. Nor is color... but if I ever decide to channel a dominatrix for my man... I now know the bob and some flashy eyeliner will work WONDERS!

one two check-a!

Career Women Make Bad Wives?

So I'm having a conversation today with a good friend about the roles of men and women and how the progression of "what a woman wants" has affected the ability for marriages to go the distance as they used back in the day. In his view, it is when women decided that they too wanted a voice and could stand on their own two feet and be "head of households" that the sanctity and longevity of a marriage went out of the window. And that although he applauds "our success", he felt that it indeed has come at a high cost. Apparently, the roles that have been traditionally established as nuclear -- ie. "The man of the house" or "Stay at Home Mother" have been shattered because we "successful women" have become less submissive (read less likely to accept our husbands/boyfriends bullshit antics ((ie cheating)) and less tolerable (read more then likely to get a divorce as a result of these bullshit antics since we don't "need" them).

I found his stance interesting.

Do I agree? Yes and No. I absolutely define myself as a "successful woman" -- Do I need a man? Emotionally/sexually? Yes... to have one is great. Financially/professionally? Absolutely not. Is this a bad thing? To an insecure man? Of course. Because he feels like he is not the provider.. or the "man" if you will. To a man looking for a balanced partner? Likely not.

Now, that said-- I do think where we successful women miss the mark is when we find the need to PROVE that we don't need a man. And we actually have the audacity while in a committed relationship to SAY we don't need them... to them. I mean, how emasculating is that for a man? Any man who gets involved with successful, independent women-- already knows where we stand. He doesn't need us to reiterate that stance constantly. I do believe in the defined roles that are a husband and wife. I want my husband to take charge and be the man of the house and "be the provider" -- while full well knowing that I have set myself up where I can provide for myself if he happens to be an idiot and messes up (clearly). And I want to be the "woman of the house" the nurturer, the mother, the wife... I want to submit to him, while maintaining my independence. I mean lets be real-- what is the point of spending 29+ years establishing yourself as a force to be reckoned with, to suddenly let it all fly out of the window upon getting a man?

In short-- maybe marriages don't historically last 30 or 40 years anymore.... but I don't think that makes them less substantial then they were "way back when." In the 40's and 50's women sat at home all dolled up gossiping, doing dishes, manicuring their gardens and taking care of their kids while patiently waiting for their husbands to get home from a "late night" at the office. They had the kids tucked in and dinner waiting on the table and did it all with a smile.... and many of them hated their lives as a result--hence the women's movement. And well, I personally would rather have 20 years of sheer happiness built on a mutual respect of my husband and he of me, then 50 years of a virtual facade.

Women "wearing pants" isn't a bad thing. I just think we have remember that underneath those pants, we still need to wear our fancy lacey knickers and make sure we remember that we are women... soft, delicate, women-- while our men do just the same (sans the fancy lacey knickers.... clearly.)

Until next time...

xo

NY/NJ- Haiti Drop Off Locations

Press Release:

In light of the recent earthquake in Haiti impacting over 3 million people, The Dreams for Youth Wutang Movement at the Willing Heart Community Care Center/Metropolitan Baptist Church, Judson Memorial Church, and Lyons Wier Gallery, and have set-up three Drop Off Centers around the tri-state area to collect emergency supplies and dry goods. Efforts are being coordinated through Edeyo Foundation (501c3 organization) to ensure supplies reach Haiti.

Examples of emergency relief items needed are:

· Non-perishable dry food and can goods (that can be easily opened)

· Bottled water

· Sleeping bags

· Blankets

· Clothes

· Shoes

· First aid kits

· Dust masks

· Medical supplies

· Undergarments

· Flash lights with batteries

Drop Off Centers

Judson Memorial Church

234 Thompson Street (Ring Bell)

Located at Washington Square Park South

New York, New York, 10012

212.477.0351

Contact: Casey Holland

Lyons Wier Gallery

175 7^th Avenue (at West 20^th Street)

New York, New York, 10011

212.242.6220

Contact: Deanne Shashoua

Willing Heart Community Care Center/Metropolitan Baptist Church

555 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive

Newark, New Jersey 07103

973.642.2267

Contact: David Jefferson, Junior