Late night finds for the sonically inclined -European Invasion

Hey folks,

Let's get right into it. There are very few minutes of my day when I don't feel like cutting a rug. Internally dropping it or doing a mean shoulder shimmy that would make your uncle look twice. Just feels good and right. These selections make me feel good and I want to share them with you. All of the artists are from Europe. Mnek is a 19 year old Nigerian-British singer-songwriter. He recently dropped his first single, “Wrote a Song About You“, for his upcoming debut album. Next is DTwice De Bel Air from France. Now this isn't an original work, but it takes me back to younger, simpler times and I'm always a DC3 fan. Last, but not least, is Blonde. An duo of 18 yr olds who apparently are harboring some serious soul. Kind of puts me in the mind of Craig David's Walking Away, just a little bit. So there they are folks. I like to look for new music on the internet and I think I've found some winners. You should add them to one of your mixes.

2013 : Year in review

Happy New Year!!

I decided to write this post after watching my internet cousin Evelyn's vlog on YouTube. She's pretty fab, check her out. On to my year...It came in just as it went out, surrounded by loved ones and crying from laughter. Lots of things happened, but the most important was that this was the year that I planted some seeds for my future. I began a repayment plan with my former university, Jackson State. (I won't get into the foolish saga of actually getting the payment plan) My education is important to me, and I've decided that this brokeness that I'm experiencing is only temporary. I've always been frugal, but these payments are testing my patience. It's cool though, I'm going to pay the money, get the transcripts, graduate, get the career and the salary I deserve. Point. Blank. and The Period. I confronted some feelings about a boy that I had been burying for far too long. It was cathartic in a way. Real tears came from face. (If you know me, than you know that was a milestone.) I also had to be truthful with another man about how we weren't going to work out. That was hard. I'm built tough, but I'm not here to hurt feelings My besties and I had a friend talk that was long overdue, necessary, and helpful. We've been down for each other for over a decade and decided long ago that we weren't in the business of breaking up so we had to confront some issues. I became closer to them and to some women that we met through African dance class. These ladies have been a blessing. Slightly older, so much wiser and have shown us what our future can look like if we do it right. My folk threw me a surprise birthday party! I learned to crochet and it has made me feel more feminine, and in touch with my elders and ancestors. I read more books. I dated more men. I failed and succeeded.
 I've always been confident, but with each year I gain more self-love, empathy, compassion, knowledge, happiness. 2013 was no exception. It was a year of growth, and progression. I'm glad about it. 2014 is going to be good. It won't be a bowl full of cherries, but that's life. I'm ready for whatever. I'm going to spend my year becoming a better me. Reading more, writing more, loving more, living more.
I got some real advice right before the new year started. My good friend, Annessa said "I've been where you are, I've been 26. So let me tell you something you may not know, YOU'RE DIFFERENT. The End. You may feel like you're just like everyone else, but you're not. Know that. Embrace it." It clicked. She was telling me something that I knew but I don't really act on. So apart of me being a better me in 2014 will be to radiate my being different to as many folk as I can. I hope that your year will be as great as mine. I'll keep you all posted...

Repost- 10 Wonderful Ways to Embarrass Yourself

The following comes directly from a great blog call All the Many Layers. It is chock full of inspiration, style, and flair. I just happened upon it, but trust I'll be visiting it often. This particular entry stood out because I'm always on  the search of being my best self and have realized that includes doing things I've never done. The journey to fulfillment and self-love doesn't have to be hard work all the time. Enjoy life and laugh. So I'm passing this on to you, in hopes that you learn to embarrass yourself wonderfully.






“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”  | Eleanor Roosevelt

1 – Confess. Declare your wildest dreams and your scariest nightmares. Admit what you’re ashamed of and what keeps you up at night. Talk about it, write about it; turn the emotion into creation. Get naked and do it often. Feel the sun warm your skin.

2 – Try something new. Don’t ignore your longings or play hard to get. Be a curiosity whore. If you like it, give it a chance. Say yes to yourself. Be easy. Give it up. If it’s good to you, if it opens you, come back for more.

3 – Be in love with something. Make love in public. Show off the stars in your eyes. Be a freaking genius at loving that thing. Love it without apology.  Wholeheartedly and passionately. Write love letters and share them with the whole world. Co-create with your love thing.

4 – Disagree. With conviction, without malice, in quiet or out loud. Believe in something. Love your differences. Carve yourself out. Dance all alone, with everyone watching.

5 – Admit you don’t know. Ask simple, basic questions. Be more concerned with understanding than being cool or all knowing. Humility is brilliance.

6 – Say What You’re Really Thinking. If it needs to be said, say it.   Expose the heart of the matter. Don't let nice become more important than real.  Claim the truth. Grab it by the balls.

7 – Disappoint someone. In order to be true to yourself. Make difficult decisions that teach you how to be your own advocate. Silence your "shoulds" and listen to your needs. Forget what you were taught. Be your own defiance.

8 – Make a mess.  Make a fool of yourself, a cluster of fumbles. Fall down, get dirty, get bruised. Let the world know that you are in the game and you won’t quit.

9 – Fall apart. Have a breakdown. Cry. Feel the burn. Let it cleanse you.

10 – Stand in the spotlight. Show all your colors.  Let them stare.

Late night finds for the Sonically Inclined- Sohn

Another installment for those of you who dig good music. Check out this this group Sohn (English translation is sun). They're from Vienna/London and their sound is soulful.  Give them a listen, if you like them pass it on.

Late night mood music-Wale

I took advantage of the crazy snow on this spring day here in STL, I caught on music, film, and NCAA. Quality time was spent and overdue phone calls were made.
This is one of my favorite artists. He's constantly on the grind while trying to remain true to him and not give in to the fame machine. I've been down since the first mixtape. This single gives us a peek into the softer side of Wale. It's off his latest mixtape, Folarin that debuted Christmas Eve 2012. Enjoy...

Late night mood music

Sometimes, I like to be in my feelings. Tonight just happens to be one of those nights. I like to just get in bed watch a good movie (Brown Sugar, Medicine for Melancholy, etc.). Then drift off to some soothing, meaningful music. One of my FAVE local artists Ms. Theresa Payne has delivered. I won't front and act like I don't envision my future with a tall, dark, handsome Mr. who makes me his Mrs. and this song just fuels it. She even hash tagged it #dearfuturehusband ! On this beautiful autumn night, snuggle up and grab a nice, tall glass of whatever beverage you like to indulge in and enjoy. ( Go and listen to more of her music)

Summer, summer, summer time

It's getting out chere and if you're like me, you want to show off those curves in this heat. I know that it may be difficult for some us due to various insecurities. Sugar you are going to have to get over that and quick because if you don't enjoy yourself because of what other may say, your going to be pissed off, sweaty, and lonely for a long time. I sweat if I even think about the sun too hard,lol. Seriously though, I refuse to sweat in long pants and sleeves because the fashion police feel I should cover all my good and jiggly bits. I invite you join me in the Big Fat Summer Challenge. Ladies (and gents) step outside the box, break the mold. Stop sweating those lumps, and bumps. If you don't think you're sexy, nobody will. I'll see you in the sun honeys. Pictures of you tackling the outfit challenge would be appreciated...