An Open Letter....

To whom it may concern:

I'm writing to all media broadcasting companies.  To the Presidents, Hosts, viewers, producers....everyone.  Please stop showing the faces of killers on our televisions when you talk of the crimes they committed.  For every broadcast, speaking specifically of the recent shootings in Aurora, that you show this criminals face he's getting exactly what he wanted.  Exposure.  Show a picture of Aurora, a picture of one of the candlelight vigils.  Show images of people coming together after the fact to hold each other up through this terrible time.  But just stop pandering to the wants, and wishes of criminals.

Why should his image be displayed over and over again?  What has he done to warrant such attention?  Nothing positive; so why give it to him?  I may be alone in this matter but I for one would rather see a blank background accompanying articles related to him.  There is no good that can come from giving him more exposure.  He's a human being who did a terribly, disgusting and most of all cowardly thing yet daily his face is everywhere.

Where are the stories and the faces of the people trying to make sense out of all of this?  Lets stop focusing on the killer and focus more on the amazing heroic moments that occurred on that night.  Give some attention to the community as a whole that is now shaken.  For once can we focus on something other than the perpetrator?  It seems we as a society are always so quick to latch on to the story of the guilty party instead of the stories of the innocent.  So lets change that.  And lets focus on the innocent parties and not the guilty.  Show me a community holding themselves together, don't just move on to the next story and forget about all of the people affected.

Sincerely
Someone Asking for a Change

Life Processing Stage 1 of infinity

Keeping with this new phase in life, I've delved into my own version of coaching.  Because well, before I go telling someone else all I wanna see different in my life I gotta start by telling it to myself.

Journals, blogs, drawings, crazy wall art(when permitted space).....its all coming together to mean.....well that  is exactly what I'm finding out...what does it all mean.

New decision...to bare knuckle attack my life...okay that sounds weird.  I want to have my week in review look like this one Week in Review Epicness  That is serious movement happening.

Step 1:: Clean house!  Not your typical definition of cleaning, more going through all the web links, pins, bookmarks, highlighted areas, and random scraps I've kept and condense them down to a functional flow of creation....

Step 2::  SPACE!! I need to find a design space because seriously....taking over the living room is not quite what I envisioned.

Well in the meantime....

(yep I made a logo for my sign off)

Really ma'am you brought your own tea??

Scenario(copied from an earlier facebook post)::

                             

                 Why wait until we basically kick you out of the shop to say....sorry i have a food allergy and can't eat certain things...shouldn't you have mentioned that when the OWNER first approached you?? Instead of catching a b*itch attitude like he was in the wrong???

I'm pretty positive there is at least one natural food cafe in the DC area that doesn't mind you bringing in your own drink mixes and teas etc etc....but they've probably already got it there to SELL to you...cause that what businesses do they sell you products and you sit and use the wi-fi....not you bring in food and use the wi-fi for free.....come on hun think!


So that's what I dealt with today.  Its not so much a matter of you having a food allergy and wanting to venture out in public, its your attitude when spoken to about not making your own drinks in our establishment.   No doubt the whole thing could of gone down much easier, we probably even have a tea thats safe for you to consume...there's like 15 options....  I can't imagine going to IHop and pulling out some OJ and pancakes from home, then buying a sprite cause I was told I wasn't a customer.

Now I'll be honest, in the yester years of my Howard education, there were many a cram session at Starbucks fueled by Wings over Washington...however we shared with the staff and bought as a unit about 7-9 drinks while we were there.  And we always, ALWAYS asked first just in case it wasn't a good move(district manager in town etc.)

Keep good habits when visiting your local community businesses....I'm done ranting for now time to start closing up shop

Stay caffeinated folks!!!

This is truly sad....

Please watch this video 

The disrespect and mistreatment of not just a Veteran, but of a HUMAN is insane.

And on top of which

That people could kick a service animal is terrible

For the written version 

Full Article Here

Luckily this is being investigated and not just overlooked

DOT Investigating Allegations Against United

What is coming to the world we live in? Deaths, murders, addictions, discourteous human beings...

An Hours Sleep and Never Felt More Rested

So upon setting about to get an awesome fantastic website I spent roughly 11 hours working on this and that last night.  And randomly lost the time, no like literally lost the time.  The phone said 3am, the computer said 2am....dire peril considering the need to be up at 6am.  Sometimes daylight savings time is not all its cracked up to be....now that I'm no longer freaking about what time it may or may not be I'm pretty sure my computer slipped out of daylight savings time mode. Flippin awesome! NOT!

Long story a little shorter, I didn't sleep til 5 and was up at 6ish, and out of the house by 6:50....yeah a quick nap and off to work. Yet I'm not at all dead tired, like I thought I'd be.  Fueled by curry chicken from Pink Snapper, an iced Mandingo chai(yumm), and plugged into Kid Ink, I've enveloped myself in the creative flow of Qualia for a bit, immersing myself in the creativity and coffee vibes.  

Who knew that the secret to a productive exciting day was to take a nap?  

On my peaceful back porch groove with all the necessary coffee needs!

Even better today has been one of those DAMN I look fabulous kind of days!

Most Excellent

Stay Caffeinated...You know I am

"Some men just want to watch the world burn." -- Alfred Pennyworth

Saw this comment on an article about the shooting....sadly it may be exactly what happened today in Aurora

"Some men just want to watch the world burn." -- Alfred Pennyworth

To walk into a dark movie theater and open fire on innocent, unsuspecting people who were just trying to enjoy their night and a movie...cowardly and disgusting.  There is NEVER a reason to shoot up anything...stop the violence.  Now 12 people have lost their lives and there are families grieving to the fullest, and you are in jail for life. 

And for what? 

What joy can one get out of killing children?  Out of killing complete strangers?

This is truly a senseless tragedy....One for which I have no words.....

Peace and Love my dears...and please keep Colorado in your prayers as they will be in mine.

New York Postponed and Planned

So I'm officially pushing the New York trip back to October. A combinatin of being cheap and broke at the same time...or as I like to call it "I'm being Frugal."
The trip now is..... Most likely the 1st/2nd of October, and I've decided its gonna be like a 2 day trip...maybe 3 we'll see how August goes and what hotel rates are looking like.  I'd love it to be 3, there's just so much to see, do and experience, outside of the Yankees which yes, that is a MAJOR reason behind the trip.

On a more serious side of the trip, I've been thinking a lot about the question I have in my life.  So while in NY I think I might get in contact with my father, have dinner, talk and maybe he'll listen and I'll listen.  Figure out what's what and what can be, make a start at not being strangers.  Getting towards the age where you start thinking about kids in the future(the >3 years future) you start to think back when you were a kid, and all the things that now as an "adult" you think about differently.  Without a doubt I LOVE my grandparents for all they gave me, and my mom for being there.  But a child still wants to know......

The Plan(so far)

So go up on a Sunday morning hang out see some sights, dinner, Monday...more sights, yeah I don't really have a total plan yet, Yankees-Sox game 7:05pm start time~EPIC hang out a bit after sleep come back Tuesday morning.....Yeah thats all I got at the moment, maybe come back Tuesday midday...shooting for a nice $8 ticket!  Thank you megabus

Things I really wanna do~~~~~~~~

•  Central Park! I mean that's like a requisite, even if I just walk through part. 
• Museum of Arts and Design is definitely on the list...$15 admission...not too bad
• The MET(Metropolitan Museum of art)-steeper admission price but feel like its definitely worth it $25.  Might be a fun pre-ride back thing to do...Definitely gonna need a few hours in there
• National Jazz Museum in Harlem
• The Nerd in me wants to go to the New York Public Library at Fifth & 42nd

Now to plan some more

Remember Stay Caffeinated!

Interlude

Not quite blog time...but had to drop in and tell EVERYONE  to check out::

Peace, love & Pretty Things (http://www.peaceloveandprettythings.com/)

Its Probably one of the most uplifting things I've had the pleasure to read in awhile. Reminders for bad days, Tips to just remember the little things..

So yeah check it out!

Food of the Creative mind

When pushed creativity finds all types of outlets.

Tonights dinner::

Shrimp with angel hair pasta

No heavy sauce either, loving this olive oil herbs and balsalmic vinegar flavor explosion going on.

Delicioso!

The Big Chop 2

 Last Weeks Length

And NOW!!!

Just needed a lil flair to the chop

July 13th

Hot Oils

Hot Oil Treatments

via Goodhairdiaries.blogspot.com

I have been getting hot oil treatments for my hair since I was pretty young. I remember my mother buying these tubes of oil that was to left in a cup of hot water for certain amount of time. My mother would pierce the tube and squeeze wonderfully warm oil all over my head and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing out. This was always the best part of getting my hair done.

There was a period of time where I just wasn't making the time for these luxurious treatments anymore. I can't imagine why I would give up such a relaxing experience. Well, in the past 5 years I have come back to my senses and revisited the hot oil treatment. I went to the local chemist bought a few treatments in the same tube my mother had brought home. I tried all of them, and they were cool but my hair didn't feel like anything amazing. I decided to start making my own hot oil treatments, and seems as if the gates to some wonderfully happy place just opened up. I started with warming just plain old extra virgin olive oil and applying it to my hair and scalp for about an hour or so. I would wrap my hair in plastic cling wrap, a shower cap or a plastic bag if that was the only thing available. After rinsing the oil out and doing one shampoo, my hair was soft like silk and shined so beautifully. I honestly couldn't believe it. I researched the benefits of so many oils and immediately got to work on how certain oils benefit the hair and scalp.

Coconut Oil: It stimulates hair growth, softens the hair and conditions the scalp. It also can also help eliminate dandruff!

Olive Oil: Olive oil is high in the antioxidants Vitamins A and E providing anti-aging properties and it has disinfectant properties, is moisturizing, soothing and healing. 

Castor Oil: Adds strength to your hair, so those of you with thin hair that breaks easily, think about using castor oil in your hot oil hair pack.

Almond Oil: It helps condition, nourish, and soften hair while stimulating hair growth!

Jojoba Oil: It leaves your hair soft and light, without weighing it down.

All of these oils should be available at your local health food store, and a few of them are available at your local chemist and supermarkets.

What You Will Need:

• Oil blend
• Hot Water
• Towel
• Plastic Shower Cap or Plastic Cling Wrap or Plastic Bag

How To Apply Your Hot Oil Treatment

1. Put your oil in a heat safe plastic bottle or glass container
2. Place the container in a pot of very hot water for a minute or two
3. Apply oil to scalp, roots and length of hair
4. Massage oil into your scalp for about five minutes
5. Cover hair with a plastic cap
6. Dip towel in hot water to make it hot. Ring out the excess water and wrap towel around your head.
7. Allow the oil to sit on your hair for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight

Warming the oil and towel will allow the hair follicle to open up so that the oils can soak in all the goodness. It's ok if your towel doesn't stay warm for very long, the oils will soak in...trust me!

Rinse the oil out of your hair in the shower and follow-up with a shampoo or conditioner. The end result should be soft and shiny hair. Not to mention whatever specific benefit the oil you chose has.

May I Mix Several Oils Together?

Absolutely! Mix until you find your perfect oil blend. If you suffer from a dry and flaky scalp, you may want to mix coconut and castor oil together in a jar and put it away for those hectic flaky weeks. Do you want to thicken your hair and possibly boost hair growth? Mix almond and castor oil together and go wild.

NOTES

• You hair does not need to be drenched in oil, so don't worry about going broke behind this.
• You can do these treatments weekly if you want and have time.
• Keep track of how certain oils make your hair look and feel, so that you can find a perfect oil blend.

Words Spoken From Mi Corazon

No Me Queda Mas~~~Selena 

No me queda mas que perderme en un abismo
De tristeza y lagrimas
No me queda mas
que aguantar bien mi derrota
y brindarte, felicidad
No me queda mas
si tu regreso hoy sería
una imposibilidad
Y esto que no era amor, lo que hoy niegas
Lo que dices que nunca pasó
Es el más dulce recuerdo de mi vida

Yo tenía una esperanza
en el fondo de mi alma
Que un día te quedaras tú conmigo
Y aún guardaba una ilusion
que alimentaba al corazón,
mi corazón que hoy tiene que verte como sólo amigo

Y aunque viví enamorada y totalmente equivocada
No me importa,
porque esto sí fue amor
Por mi parte, lo más lindo, el más grande amor
Y aunque siempre lo renuncies, para mí
Fue lo más bello
Fue lo más bello

~~Translation~~

http://lyricstranslate.com

I Have Nothing Left

I have nothing left
But to lose myself in an abyss of sadness and tears
I have nothing left
But to accept defeat and wish you happiness
I have nothing left
Your return today would be an impossibility
And this, that wasn't love, that today you deny
What you say never happened
Is the sweetest memory of my life

I once had hope
In the bottom of my soul
That one day you would stay with me
And I kept an illusion
That nourished my heart
My heart that today has to see you only as a friend

And though I lived in love and completely mistaken
I don't care
Because this was the love
On my part, the most beautiful, the biggest love
And though you'll always deny it, for me
It was most the beautiful
It was most the beautiful

Sparks of the beginning

Love is blind and it'll take over your mind, what you think is love is truly not you need to elevate and find......

Affection vs True Love

Lust vs Love

Want vs Need

Ask yourself...have you ever really honestly been in LOVE?
 At one time I thought I was, felt it deep within my being that I Loved this person....But love is not a one way street and when you find yourself giving, giving, giving, giving...and never GETTING it wears on you.  The emotional integrity you carry within yourself gets used up like the spot on the rug everyone walks on and changes you forever.

Admitting I'm deeply bruised internally from all that came from the past

Truly where does one go?  To heal and not form new attachments, new emotions?  There was a time I would have given up and crawled deep in a hole, and hid from all the bright scary parts of the world.  But now I see that pain finds you in the dark as much as it does in the light.   Alas, things are hard to figure out.  Maybe that is the plan of life...to just be confusing.  If we all knew how it was supposed to go, the excitement wouldn't be there.  And what is this crazy thing called life without the excitement??

This is the start of forgiveness...Let the waters of the world wash away the scars on your heart and trudge on through the trenches of life. And draw new experiences into your life via people, via music, via art...through whatever you choose....

But always stay caffeinated

Peace

Embrace the Sensuality

Raheem Devaughn....

Pause and embrace the happy feeling your body gets just hearing his name.

Finally got my computer to act right, and got the Destination Loveland EP....Oh where to start.  First, definitely should come with a warning-extra happy feelings will be flowing...don't listen to at work!  Especially not the track "All Ready", unless you work with your significant other and can close up shop for....45+ minutes.

Sexually charged but in such a grown way.  None of that dumb "imma stick my ______ in you and make you scream" nonsense that some r&b people be doing.  Pure tantalizing, delicious words delivered on smooth beats that really take you away to Destination Loveland.  Old School-Al Green smooth, with that new soul vibe.  Yet another amazing classic Raheem release.

http://www.raheemdevaughnmusic.com/raheem/Blog/raheem-blog/2012/02/14/destination-loveland

Been a fan since The Love Experience....I mean how could you not be?

Best description for Raheem Devaughns music??  Everything you've ever wanted your Lover to say to you, he says in every song.  From "You" to "Woman" "Breathe" "Marathon" "Mr. Right" "Fragile" even "Black and Blue"


Thank you Howard University Black Caucus 2004....intro to Raheem Devaughn, had no idea who he was, by the time his set was done we were all trying to find out where to get his music.  Thats talent!


Off to the caffeine and some Raheem listening.  Embrace the sensuality within his words!

Blessings of life

I honestly have the most amazing Grandmother(or as I have and always will call her Nana) in the world.  She  can almost read my mind when it comes to life situations.  One roughish phone call, and then three hours later calls back just to ask about my jewelry biz, and what all I need to get it going.  My entire life we've been on the same wavelength and I absolutely adore it.  Yeah we have our moments but any Libra/Scorpio combo will.

I'm blessed to have that woman in my life...I truly think if their was some weird travel through time, me and her would be best friends.

Hmm, life as an almost grown up...


toodaloo yet again
Back to the caffeine

What to do What to do

The brilliance of venturing out into the world by ones self?  You get to go, and do at your own leisure.  And as its at your own pace, you discover fun things you forgot you loved.

A trip to a baseball game reignited my fervor for actually GOING to the game.  It was fun, exciting and interesting conversations flowing.  My personal favorite, the guy asking if the Nationals pitcher Burnett was in relation to A.J. Burnett everytime he pitched poorly.  As a Yankees fan....LOVED!!!!!

"Are you positive...not a brother?  Cousin?  Distant nephew?"-As his poor friend tried to stop laughing and kept repeating "No".

Next on the schedule.....still TBD.  Looking Yankees Orioles...70 bucks right field line 3 rows back...still might be too much(I mean it is the ORIOLES)

Definitely stealing my med school homie to at least a Nats game when he gets back in town...those accelerated med programs are no joke.  Few breaks and a whole lotta classes.

Hmmm not sure where this post began....Had an "OOO shiny" moment....

Toodaloo til next time

Off to the Caffeine

Goooooo Rockies

Even though they lost...it was a good game

Love Potion Chai Anyone?

Who knew a chai could be so sensual? The beautiful, sexy people at SiTea in Takoma did that's who.    
        Dropped by today to check out the selection and got a Love Potion #10 chai...made with almond milk.  Love Potion is right!  First sip sends you into a blissful tea heaven. Completely smooths out your mind and leaves you with this peaceful aura. 

By the time you've finished your serving...not a cup but a small kettle kept over heat to keep your chai nice and warm...all you really have on your mind is wrapping your arms around a warm body.

Note the cinnamon stick....stir in a bit of spice.

Definitely will be going back here, sketchbook in hand...who knows there may be some fabulous chai inspired designs 

Label whores

So I know reading that title you were like 'oooo...Chanel' but no, not those kind or labels.  Speaking to the labels people place on relationships...boyfriend....girlfriend...wifey ....boo...hubby.......this list could go on for days. 
But as much as we embrace just being happy, society is all about labels.  So much so that the "title " actually ruins relationships, look at how many people have been completely happy being an unmarried couple going about life for years, only to get married and divorce in 3 years.
Fear of having to label your romantic situation causes so much unnecessary drama....just live in the moment. 
Live in the exhilarating feeling you get from being around that person
Blessed, and headed to get caffeine

Delve within

I say I don't care. But really its the fear of what happens when you find out I do care.  Much the same when I say no worries, don't worry about it.  Opening up to tell you whats wrong is too personal, no matter the person.  Except Nana, no one can get answers I'm not ready to give, chalk it up to my intense Scorpio personality or to only child syndrome,  but I'm never the first to divulge my secrets.

I will say this, I have a fear of that one person coming along and ripping through all the walls, gates, and bars I have up....sometimes he seems to do so and I get stuck (case in point....you can tell my mood thru text...)  I truly fear that person being able to find out what I hold close to me....

Irrational maybe a little.....