Get Into It: Maya Angelou & Dave Chappelle "Iconoclasts"

The Sundance Channel had a series called "Iconoclasts." It pairs two different artists together and they are filmed for a day. This particular interview was filmed in 2006. I just discovered it this week after the passing of Dr. Maya Angelou. It features Maya Angelou and Dave Chappelle in an in-depth conversation. I loved how amazing it was. Maya's voice is one of the most unique ones ever. She speaks with such knowledge and wisdom. This interview also gave me a better insight into Dave Chappelle as well. If you have never seen it, please take the time to do so now. You will enjoy it. Get into it. 

Just Because I Felt Like It: Jay Z "Unplugged"

MTV's "Unplugged" series was such a dope show. One of my favorite episodes ever has to be the one with Jay Z. I am a huge fan of his. The only better than his music is seeing it backed with a live band. There was not one misstep on this show. I loved it when it aired live. I have seen it more than 10 times. And, I own the Unplugged album. It's Friday and we all deserve some good music in our ears. If you've never seen this, I am shocked. You should go ahead and get into it. Enjoy Shawn Corey!

It's My Hair: Product Review Cantu Coconut

I am very biased when it comes to Cantu products. So, it was a no brainer to try out some of their new products. They were on sale at Walgreen's as a part of their Buy One Get One sale. So, I grabbed the Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream and the Shea Butter Coconut Milk Shine and Hold Mist. I shampooed my hair with my Obia Natural Hair Coconut & Shea Shampoo Bar. I dried my hair with a tee shirt. I used a little Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In. Then I used the Cantu Coconut Curling Cream before starting my braids. After my hair was braided, I sprayed it with the Shea Butter Coconut Milk Shine and Hold Mist before sitting under the hooded dryer for a 1/2 hour.  I put on my silk head scarf and went to sleep.

My first impression of the products were great. The smell was amazing. Which is weird for me because I dislike coconuts. But, apparently, I love the way it smells in this line of products. The next morning, I put some of my own oil mix on my fingers and unbraided my hair. I could tell after only doing one that the results would be amazing. I was right. The products worked well in my hair. I loved the way my hair felt. It was soft and moist. I loved it. I was impressed with the outcome. I also got so many compliments on my hair last weekend. Needles to say, these two products have been added to my natural  hair care regimen. Cantu wins again. I would recommend this to all my fellow naturalistas. Get into it and my hair in the pictures below. 

Rest In Paradise, Dr. Maya Angelou

 



Maya Angelou lived an incredible life. She departed this Earth today at 86 years old. I know we are all mourning this loss. But, in actuality, we should be celebrated the well lived life of an amazing woman. I was a kid the first time I was introduced to the work of Dr. Angelou. From my first reading of "Still I Rise," "Phenomenal Woman," and "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings," I was changed. Her words enlightened me. Over the years, I became a fan. Her voice is so distinctive. There aren't enough words to fully express how important Maya Angelou has been on the literary world. She was one of my early influences when I began writing poetry. Her words made me want to write more. She will be missed dearly. Her legacy will live on for centuries. A writer truly never dies because they leave their work here for us. Rest in paradise, Ms. Angelou.

Phenomenal Woman
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me."

 



#100Tunes100Days

I noticed a hashtag (#) on Instagram that interested me. It was #100Tunes100Days. I do not know where it started but it's music related so I was all in. I decided to focus on the songs that have special memories attached to them. Especially the songs from my childhood that made me into the woman I am today. I thought that this challenge would be better served if I did it on Tumblr. I wanted to do more than just list the song. I wanted a Spotify or Soundcloud or Youtube link to the actual song. As well as a little bit about why I chose that particular song. I am into week 2 of this challenge. It has been really easy for me to choose songs so far. I know it will get harder as the days pass. Feel free to join in if you like. I am having way too much fun with it. You can follow my list of #100Tunes100Days on my Tumblr. 

**My Picks for #100Tunes100Days**

1. "Out On A Limb" - Teena Marie
2. "Baby-Baby-Baby" - TLC
3. "Lyte As A Rock" - MC Lyte
4. "Purple" - Prince
5. "Roni" - Bobby Brown
6. "Push It" - Salt-N-Pepa
7. "I Can't Help It" - Michael Jackson
8. "Funny How Time Flies" - Janet Jackson
9. "I Need Love" - LL Cool J
10. "Children's Story" - Slick Rick
11. "Congratulations" - Vesta Williams

May I Proceed?

• I had the best time this weekend in Atlanta for my mini-vacay. My family came together to celebrate my baby sister's high school graduation. I am so tired but I needed that getaway.
• This weekend reinforces the fact that I really need to stop being so anti-social. There is no reason that I should be stuck in the house all the time. I've let life happen around for over a year. I'm sick of it. I don't have a desire to be in the club every weekend. But, there has to be more to life than this. And, I'm going to get it. 
• Also, I am now thinking about moving to Atlanta. I need a major life change. The life I thought was destined to belong to me doesn't exist anymore. It is time for me to find out exactly what that is. I do not think it's here for me. 
• I am being a bum today. My feet are swollen for some strange reasons.I'm thankful that they don't hurt but this swollenness is kinda freaking me out a bit. I cannot go anywhere because of this. So, I am currently on the sick and shut in list. Pray for me, people. 
• I also have a angry and unexplainable ugly bruise on the inside of my right thigh. I don't remember how I got it or where. My sister is a great bartender and I am attributing this war wound to her mixology skills this weekend. 

• I want food. That requires two things I am not willing to do: putting on clothes and leaving the house. I am unable to do either. 
• As tiring as my weekend was, I cannot sleep. And, I am ok with that. Tonight's sleep will be glorious. 
• This whole Donald Sterling/NBA stuff is crazy. I am anxious to see exactly how it's going to play out. I've heard some ramblings of extreme measures being taken. I def think I'm gonna like Adam Silver more than David Stern. He is not playing. OAN, the playoffs have been very good this season. Really wanna see a Heat/OKC finals matchup. I would not be interested in a Finals that includes the Spurs. Yes, they are a great team. They are also the most boring team in the league. They put me to sleep.
• In general, if I feel like I need to fall back from you, I do it instantly. I don't like to put myself in a position to get my feelings hurt. I am also not in the market for any situation that's going to end badly for me. Falling back is a defense mechanism. I have perfected it. 
• Happy Memorial Day! I am thankful and grateful for all those who are currently serving, have served and those who have given their lives while serving. They are all a blessing to each of us and our sense of freedom. Thank an armed services member today! Happy Monday people!!

Ladies Love Lyrics: Mary Mary "Go Get It"

Some days a song just speaks to you. I discovered this Mary Mary song via their reality show. I LOVED it instantly. It motivates me every single time I play it. Get into these lyrics. 

"It's like you're looking through a telescope you see where you gon be
Growing getting better you're not the person they see
Can't be mad at the things you been through cuz they built yo muscle
Now you're stronger than you've ever been they can't stop yo hustle

Yo Faith ain't never small that's what brought you this far
See you got your dreams and you got your prayers and 

you got yo God he gon take you there

See everybody has a season and I believe this one's yours
Cuz you been workin, waitin, this what you been prayin for

[Chorus:]
Go get it, Go Get it, Go get it, Go get it, Go get it
Go get yo blessing
Go get it, Go get it, Go get it, Go get it, Go get it, Go get it
It's yo time, it's yo time, it's yo time, it's yo time

You were made to live a good life and that's what I believe
So hit the floor say a prayer start working you got to do something
It's alright to crawl before you walk it's alright to walk before you run
But if you wanna get what you never got gotta do something that you never done.."

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!!! Today is a special day. I love my Mom. I love the relationship that we have. She is my best friend. She can make me laugh even when I'd rather not. She always seems to know when I need a hug or a kind word. Even when she is pressuring me about having kids, I still love her. Today, I celebrate her. I celebrate the woman she is and the woman she's raised. My Mom did not have an easy life. But, she sacrificed it all for my brother and I. She worked two jobs throughout my entire high school and college years. She made sure we had everything. She was and still is one of my favorite people. She believes in me when I find it hard to believe in myself. I love that woman more than life. I am so blessed that God chose her for me. 

There aren't really enough words to fully explain how much I love my Mom. She is one of my favorite people and best friends. She hates to take pics, which is why I had to search forever for these. She is the silliest, most honest woman I know. I told her today that she was my gift. She loves me unconditionally and that is a gift in itself. I really hope the mothers in the world have a great day today. You are truly appreciated. Happy Mother's Day!!

It's My Hair: Comparisons

 The top pic is from September 2011. I had gotten my last relaxer in July of that year. I was testing a theory at first. I wanted to see how long I could go between relaxers. This was how I started my natural hair journey. The bottom pic is from last month. It's the first time I straighten my natural hair in at least a year. I didn't realize how different my hair was until I saw these two pictures. I will say that my hair was healthy in both. But, clearly it is thicker, fuller in the natural pic. I could not have asked for anything better. I did not have unrealistic expectations going into this. I knew my natural hair would not be like Tracee Ellis Ross. I would not have those loose curls. I just wanted to know what my hair felt like without a relaxer in it. I was scared in the beginning. My only thought was that if it didn't work out in my favor I could always get another relaxer. I haven't had that thought in years now. I love my hair. I was already camera happy. I take way more pictures of my hair now. 

One of the main reasons I decide to return to my natural state is one I haven't said out loud too much. I was in a place mentally and emotionally that I was preparing for my future as a Mom. I did not want to pass on the tradition of thinking the hair that grows out of your head was bad or unmanageable. This is the silent tradition that had been passed down generation after generation. I did not want my future daughters to have bad feelings about their hair. So, I wanted to learn everything I could about my hair in its natural state to pass on to them. Now, I may not get to make that dream come true because I haven't had any children. But, this was an important lesson and journey for myself. I have a few cousins who have returned to their natural states because of me. That makes me feel incredible. I can truly say I love my hair even on the days that my twist out's aren't completely dry or my bantu knots didn't curl the way I wanted them to. It's my hair and my journey and I am so glad that I did this. 

R.I.P. Harrison Wright

Awww, say it ain't so?!? Columbus Short who plays the widely popular Gladiator in a Suit, Harrison Wright on ABC's "Scandal" is out for season four. Short's real life scandal's have spilled over into his professional life. The powers that be (aka Shonda Rhimes and ABC exec's) have given Short the heave ho. I cannot say I didn't see it coming. His personal life is messy. There have been arrests for a bar fight, the divorce drama, and just moments before the season three finale, there was the murder-suicide knife threatening of his wife. That was just too much. I loved Short's character for his stylish suits, amazing one liners and the fact that he held Olivia Pope to task. Now, who's going to give the "Gladiators in suits" speeches? 

What I have noticed is that Black males do not fair well on Shonda Rhimes' shows. Could be a coincidence or not. There are never an abundance of Black actors on her shows but lead male characters who just happen to be Black are few and far between. I am truly sad to see Short go. He was one of my faves. I do think this will be the catalyst to get Liv back to OPA and fixing things. I think she is going to flip out when she learns that her Dad was the puppet master who killed Harrison, Lil Jerry and Adnan. Oh and that he has her Mom locked in the hole. Dysfunctional family is dysfunctional. Sad about Short's firing. But, I will be tuned in early for the premier of season four of "Scandal." We had three good seasons of Mr. Gingham himself, Harrison Wright. R.I.P. Brolivia Pope, us Gladiators will miss you. 

Ladies Love Lyrics: "What Do I Do With The Love?"

This song has been on my heart and in my head for some time now. I never truly understood it until recently. Makes all the sense in the world to me. Get into these lyrics and vocals. I miss Dru Hill. 

"I can put away the letters 
Hide them in the drawer 
I can even forget what you sent them for 
And I can take your name out of my book 
I can put away the pictures 
I can put the dreams aside 
But I just can't seem to put you out of my mind 
So tell me now, oh 

What do I do with the love, tell me baby 
What do I do with the memories of 
What do I do with the nights 
Without you by my side 
They used to be your's and mine 
Without you, what do I do with the love 

I can go out every night now 
Stay out til the dawn 
Do whatever I want to 
Anytime I want 
And I can make believe we never met 
I can clear out all the closets 
Leave your things outside the door 
But I just can't seem to not love you anymore 
So tell me now, tell me now, what do I do?"

Because it's Tuesday...

• New music makes me happy. If you are looking for something new and different, check out SZA's "Z" EP. I love it. Also, random but she is gorgeous. Her hair and those freckles are everything. I gave Kelis' "Food" project a listen. I wasn't that impressed with it. 
  
  
  
  
• I finally saw "Captain America The Winter Soldier" a few weekends ago. And,  loved it!!! I am a huge fan of the Marvel Superheroes movies. Love them all. I was particularly interested in this one because of Anthony Mackie as Sam Hill aka "The Falcon." Great movie. 

• I also read Chimamanda Adichie's "Americanah." It was a wonderful book. I loved the storyline and the two main characters. I loved the writing style of Adichie. She is awesome. It was a love story but there were so many other layers. It was interesting to read about the experience of a Non-American Black's experience in America. Love transcends all groups and labels. Adichie's book exemplifies this. I would suggest this book to everyone. Great read. 

                                                

• Last night's season premiere of the final season of "The Boondocks" was a tad disappointing for me. I am a fan. I have been since it was a comic strip. The absence of Aaron McGruder was felt heavily. The episode was entitled "Pretty Boy Flizzy" and it is Chris Brown inspired. The episode seemed dated and lame. Also, it wasn't even as good as the Usher/A Pimp Named Slickback episode of season 2. There wasn't many scenes with Huey, Riley or Granddad. I will watch another episode but I am sad. I feel like the show is going to go out without a bang. No McGruder snarky sarcasm and quick wit makes for a slower paced show.            
  
• Saw a pic on FB and felt like I needed to see it. Also, felt like I should pass it on. Get into it and your goals for this year. 
  
• I am severely annoyed and I really need to shake this feeling. I'm just not really sure how to do so. Also, I have the overwhelming feeling that a certain conversation is going to happen sooner than later. And, I won't like the content. I think I have to start mentally preparing myself for the fuckery because it is coming. 
                                           
• So, to shake all of this off, I am gonna soak in a hot bubble bath, drink a glass or three of wine and turn the music up loud. That will change my mood. Happy Tuesday again. 
  

"I Get So Emotional Baby"

It has been said that women are emotional creatures. I agree with this to a point. I think that both women and men can be emotional. We are all human beings capable of feeling emotions. I believe that it is more widely accepted for women to express those emotions. It is more than ok for a woman to cry whereas a man is perceived by society to be less than if he does. How silly is that? Crying is a normal human reaction. We are all equipped with tear ducts. To me, that means that crying is something we're supposed to do. Why are we expected to bottle all of that up just to make it through the day?

I abhor being too emotional. I cannot control my emotions and that is not a good thing for me. Now, I will say I have gotten much better at keeping my emotions at bay in most instances. I do not fly off the handle about any and every thing. I've grown. I am a woman who likes to be in control of things. It is why emotions are not my cup of tea. I dislike that I can  control so much but there are instances that I cannot. Certain people and events bring out the most emotional side of me. It is the worst when it happens because of someone I love. They are the people I care about most in the world and that gives them the keys to pushing my buttons. It sucks to be truly vulnerable with people and have them use it against you. How exactly am I not supposed to get emotional?

I have found a way to cope. I am no longer only ruled by what I feel. I count to ten in my head before I react. I write things down a lot when it comes to my emotions. I have learned that no one cares about a person, place or thing in the exact same manner I do. So, why get worked up about it? Even when it comes to love and someone hurting you. Why would I continue to tell someone how I feel when it means nothing anymore? Simple: I won't. I keep it to myself. I'm no longer comfortable expressing every thought in my mind or emotion on my heart to everyone. Some will never see things my way or feel how I feel. Others won't ever get it, get me. That's more than ok. I understand myself perfectly, even when I am super emotional. Maybe this has to do with the fact that I'm a woman. I wasn't raised to believe that I have to hide what I'm feeling. I had to learn the hard way that the world does not truly appreciate this. I was not born to please the world. So, I will continue to live life on my terms. Oh, yeah, and will change the rules at any given moment. Pay attention!

French Quarter Fest 2014

Today was the second day of the French Quarter Fest here in New Orleans. It is one of my favorite festivals. We have a ton of them yearly. The weather was absolutely gorgeous today. It was about 75, sunny and a nice breeze off of the Mississippi River. There were a ton of people out there as well. There was a ridiculous amount of food and drink vendors. From poboys to sliders, anything you could imagine to eat was available. Today was one of those really good days that you couldn't plan if you wanted to. I enjoyed myself immensely. 

 

There was an insane amount of people out there. There was more food than anyone could eat. We sampled a lot of places. My hands down favorite was a Creole Crawfish Sausage po boy from Vaucresson Sausage Company. It was $7 and worth it. I also had a Crawfish Pie from Mrs. Wheat's pies, and boiled crawfish from Rouse's. I also enjoyed Creole Cream Cheese ice cream on a waffle cone from Quintin's Ice Cream, King Cake Hurricanes and a snowball from the Plum Street Snowball vendor (best snowballs in the city, hands down). Everything was so good. I was full in no time. I wanted to try the BBQ shrimp and grits from Cafe Reconcile, the lamb sliders from Three Muses and Crab and shrimp alfredo from Barreca's. Oh well, there is always tomorrow. This was a great way to spend Saturday with my family. The weather was perfect, the live bands were amazing and the food was the star. French Quarter Fest 2014 was a success.