...and follow me to my new home at Wordpress. The new blog is Rainbow Colored Lens at the address is http://www.rainbowlens.wordpress.com/
Please update your links accordingly and come chat with me there. I will no longer be updating or posting here.
Wordpress is pretty. And bawse. You can still comment whether you're on Blogger, some other site, or Anonymous. So come on!
Hey peeps! How was your weekend? Regulars, newbies, and lurkers are you ready to drop a song recommendation? Welcome to Suggest A Song Monday. I suggest a song that I love and that I think you would love. You listen to it. Tell me what you think in the comments. Then, you also recommend one song to me and I will listen to it and tell you what I think. You don't have to limit yourself to a particular genre, just any one song that you love.
Today, we're working with Don't Look Back by Telepopmusick. I love dreamy, enchanted, electronic, chill music so this is straight up BAWSE.
Sit still...and close your eyes/What's behind the door...oh/No more silence/Don't kill this thing we got called love/Just searchin' for the perfect drug//(Chorus) When love comes calling/Don't look back/When love comes calling/Don't look away/(Repeat)//And I'm standing over here/Watching you over there/Smiling, happy, unaware/Oh, life is spinnin' round/You're going underground, forgettin' who we were/Let's try and keep it...just one more day//Chorus//You take your love/Throw it all around/Like it's nothing special/Just a sound/Let me say one more thing/I don't think you realize/That a day is like a year sometimes//Chorus (repeat til end)//
Saw this Color Personality quiz over at Colour Me Happy. It's supposed to determine what colors are around you most, and theoretically what colors you should dress in and decorate in (if you're in a rut or lost). I am a colour whoure (yes that's right), so I jumped right on it.
Ok so I know I gave thanks and stuff a couple of posts ago but I want to recant at this time, my friendship with Karrie B. Bloggies, do not befriend people such as her and let them into your life, e-mail, and phone. Otherwise you subject your inbox to stuff such as this:
The subject title of this picture was: Gem Nomming.
I'm upset at so many things, as discussed with Karrie and QQ. Why does it look like a pony-sized bite was actually taken out of the tomato? Why is she gazing at the tomato so lovingly and smirking about how her lunch has more swagger than yours? The way her pink and white locks are in a breezy fresh roller-set style...
Let this be a warning to those who open your hearts to bloggers. Love is a losing game.
Love, that is. In it's various forms. I just want to hand out some virtual wildflowers today (I don't eff with cut flowers anymore) to people who make life interesting.
I've mentioned before how I am constantly amazed at how technology brings together people who probably would never have met otherwise. I have met and "met" some dear people online; many who have turned into true friends who I know I can reach out to.
I was just reading the blog of a blogger who died very recently, and reading the comments on her last post reinforces the importance of the connection that so many of us feel to people we know online.
Knowing that I've inspired people in the virtual world to go natural, maintain their natural hair, and go vegetarian or vegan (or even reduce their meat) means a lot to me.
The virtual friend I've known the longest is a dude that goes by DJWaltd. We "met" on Blackplanet (LAWD) back in like, 2001 or 2002 (no funny business, just friendship) and are still friends today just shooting the breeze every now and then about music, books, TV Shows (always quoting The Simpsons for something), etc.
Muze is the first blogging friend I made. She was my very first consistent commenter on this blog, and always made me feel like I was saying something interesting when I didn't think anyone was reading. She linked me on her blog and is responsible for a lot of my early blog traffic because her blog was already crunk. She is an extremely talented writer and phenomenal woman all around. I love how she stays positive in almost every situation and retains a bit of mystique while sharing some of her most personal stories. We missed each other when I was in Detroit last time, but I know I'll see her one day! Thank you Muze, for being you!
Karrie B is my best blog homie right now. We are pixie twins; the shortest, fun-size bloggers you know. I lurked on her blog for a long time (I believe I found it through Muze), then we began chatting on Twitter about ain't shit type things. Months later, we talk in some form (phone, gmail, twitter, text, yahoo) every day. What I love about our friendship is we can say absolutely anything or share anything, and the other person will not even bat an eye. No judgment. Just honest assessments and advice.
QQ is another one whose blog I had lurked on forever. I lurked on C&D back in 2006 and 2007 and I remember her from there as well. She is one of the most forthright, intelligent, funny, and kind people I know. There are Gmail threads every day between her, myself, Karrie, Slaus, Bully, Sherri and Terri that keep us all wheezing for breath and cackling and for that I am thankful.
Vesper inspires me with her creativity and her expressions about life. We have e-mailed back and forth (I still owe you one!) about life, love, career, health, TV shows, whatever.
Mrsmarymack and I have also e-mailed and shared texts back and forth about family choices, careers, dreams, etc. She is my go-to person for advice and tips on certain areas of life and we can always make each other laugh with our Dallas vs. Houston rivalries in ain't-shitness.
TheJadedNYer, Kingsmomma, ChocolateOrchid, Chanel, BCU, Cheron, InnyVinny, and Sydney all keep me looking forward to our chats and their blog posts. I love chatting with Lina, and I hope she brings her blog back because she has a lot to say and I love how she says it.
Cas is a fierce warrior for righteousness and I learn so much from her everytime I read one of her posts. I look forward to continuing chats with her.
My Blisslife homies, linked in our admiration of one of the most inspirational artists out there (Amel Larrieux) provide a haven to come relax and share. I am thankful for the presence of 2Serenity, Ness, Sacha, Tanijoy, SoulReflection, and SS1.
To the peeps who follow and/or lurk on my blog, thank you for reading and finding what I have to say interesting or entertaining. School and work have left me little time to read as many blogs as I want, so know that I read your blogs when I can, even if I don't comment. Also, I chat with so many wonderful people on Twitter; too many to name. I have made friends with several people on there, even people from my own city. Bawse.
I'm also really feeling the love for Crabby. 4 years strong as a couple, and it's a nice feeling. We are at a point where THINGS and STUFF are closer instead of a distant horizon and it's a funny, buzzy feeling.
I'm also reading blogs from people who were in NYC on 9/11/2001. I was in college, in a class when it happened. A classmate was getting news updates on his phone and said out loud, "A plane has hit the WTC in NY." We turned on the TV in the classroom. As it became apparent what was happening, the buzz of people's voices grew louder. Class was dismissed. People poured out into the hallways from other classrooms. People left. Went home. My school was downtown, and it was jammed with traffic of other people leaving work to go home. People were confused and scared. Houston is a space, energy, and medical hub in this country. Could we be in danger too? The rest was a blur; I just remembered being glued to the TV once I got home. The fact that so much video was obtained forever stands out to me; as I am a visual person, I need to see things. My thoughts are with the people who experienced this first-hand and/or lost someone today. My thoughts are also with anyone who is hurting right now, be it from loss, heartbreak, disappointment, whatever.
One of my favorite Coldplay songs (and one of my favorite songs, period), Sparks:
This is the 1st week of school at my job AND I have a deadline of Friday to turn in some important stuff for my thesis so I'll be blogging all sorts of random nonsense after that. In the meantime...GETCHU SUMMA THIS!
I was SO exhausted at this point. Had been up since 4 am CST flew to Cali, traipsed and frolicked around San Francisco, went to 2 back to back concerts, so this was around 12:30-1:00am when this pic was taken.If you guys are animal lovers or even if you can just feel compassion for someone going through a tough time, help out Krystle; aka YoungBlkBeauty (she blogs). Her dog, through some unfortunate events is very sick and she just relocated and took a new job and can't afford to get him treated and cared for. Those of us who have pets know what dear companions they become and it is heartbreaking when something isn't right. Here's the link where you can read the story and help if you so choose.
It's high time for this pixie to get back in shape. I've been so lazy and all procrastinatory-like. But QQ and ChocolateOrchid have (whether they know it or not) inspired me to get up and DO IT! (imagine that in an extreme monster truck rally type voice) I have some bawse gym equipment in my new apartments. My main obstacle has been when I get home from work I am too tired to want to work out. I never considered early morning workouts until recently. So starting next week, I will:
-Buy a scale to track my progress
-Wake up at 5 AM to work out
-Finish by 6 AM and shower and get ready for work
-Cut out soda (except on celebratory occasions)
-Cook MORE!! (try to limit eating out to once a week, then less gradually)
I wanna work my abs area mostly, but all-over fitness and health is my goal.
To my fit, healthy, swoll, buff, beefcake bloggies out there...what exercise tips do you have?
Should I go Monday-Friday and take weekends off?
Should I go Monday, Wednesday, Friday?
What's most effective for a 1-hour work-out? Ab machine and elliptical machine? What else?
Early-morning worker-outers...how do you manage to not be exhausted at work? What time do you go to bed?
I welcome other tips and advice in the comments.
Saw this over at Brother's Blog, and had to do it! I am a whore for light-n-fluffy memes, and I'm ok with that.
Mad props to kingsmomma for inspiring this post!
This shall be a bonding blog.
What does your screen-name mean and why did you choose it?
Share more than one, if you have multiples.
Here's mine:
Blog Title
The Gemini Life; more of me going through life as a Gemini, and how life always presents these multiple, often polar options and pathways. It used to be the Bohemian Bahamian which was paying homage to my Bahamian ancestry; then I didn't want to look like a poser or cultural usurper so I changed it to the Bohemian Bookworm (which is the URL) because the latter was my nickname in school...then I haven't had time to post book reviews like I want so it became The Gemini Life!
Blogger Name
Contrary to popular belief, Gem is not from the cartoon show Jem, though I did wake up many mornings before school to watch! Gem was picked from me being a Gemini through and through, and my lifetime obsession with gemstones. No seriously. I have books. Multiple books on gemstones. I also have a gem tattoo. I fancy myself a treasure hunter in life....hmmm...that gives me an idea....
Twitter Name
@pixiegem Welp, Gem was already taken, so I called upon my unicorn heritage and my chocolate pixie twin KB for pixiegem.
I had one of those self-realization/epiphany moments the other day that came to light simply from my husband telling me he liked my natural speaking voice.
My natural speaking voice is pretty deep. Sort of like Alicia Keys deep, but not quite that homeboyish (anyone remember how she used to talk around her 1st album? I doooooooo!). But hearing that made me realize that I rarely use my natural speaking voice unless I'm at work, or bitching someone out. I realized that most of the time I speak in a higher, lighter voice. Why? Why have I been doing that for so long?
I have always been extremely shy (in the past) to somewhat reserved (now) unless I know you pretty well. I suffered from low self-esteem for various reasons, like many other girls and young women. Most of my friends (and even some of my bloggies--blogging homies) view me as a hippie unicorn sunshine creature--which I am, most of the time. I wonder if over the years I unconsciously changed my voice tone to "fit" that image of me. Or to seem non-threatening in general, maybe? My voice sounds pretty authoritative when I get to talkin' bout thangs. In one of those party games where people have to write stuff about you, last week, a friend wrote that I was a Southern Belle. When I think back to the voice I have been using, my southern accent also sounds a LOT stronger in the voice I "use" than when I use my natural speaking voice. KB said I sound like Sandy the Squirrel from Spongebob Squarepants. I have not heard the voice of this character, so KB's ass-beating status is currently pending. (As long as I don't sound like Beyonce, LAWD)
Anyhoo, so now I've been trying to consciously use my natural speaking voice and in the process have become aware of the different situations I use the "pixie-friendly" voice in. It's not COMPLETELY unnatural, as when I'm tired or other random times my voice is softer but there is a definite switch. But I have fallen in love with my natural speaking voice after all these years. It's unique, awesome, zexy, powerful, direct. Pixies can have deep voices! No more trying to fit an image. It's amazing how we can be so UNAWARE of the things we do to hone our presentation of selves. And all it took was this one comment (shout out to my boo, HEEEYYY!). I am seriously stunned over here.
Have any of you had something similar happen to you? Where you tried to hide or play down a physical or personality trait of yours (consciously or unconsciously) that you felt somehow wouldn't "fit"? Share!
In other news, my jaw has been hurting like whoa. I know my teeth are out of alignment but I'm in denial over braces. Invisilign, maybe. Anyone been told you need braces in adulthood? I also want, NEED Lasik. Soon, my pretties, soon. Anyone had Lasik??
Hey peeps! New posts coming soon, I'm moving next week so I've been busy with that, work, and my summer class. If you're on Twitter, find me! www.twitter.com/PixieGem
HOLA! I flew into Detroit last Friday evening and got back Tuesday morning. My sister graduated high school. I was so grateful from the brief respite from work and responsibilities and I love hanging with my siblings. The plane ride itself was inspiring. As we descended into Detroit, I looked out the window and it was just this grid of sparkling lights almost as far as the eye could see. When you fly at night, it's like everywhere is Christmas. The city lights were hypnotizing and for a few moments I felt suspended in time and unbelievably happy. I knew at that moment that I have to maintain and cultivate this feeling, and for me, the excitement of traveling, even from city to city just does something to me. Do you ever get these feelings? Or do I sound like I'm on acid? A little bit of both, you say? Very well then.
Anyhoo, I am always fascinated by different cities and the tapestry of the streets. I rode by the old house and neighborhood that I used to visit during my pre-teen and teenage years when my stepmother and father were married, and that my siblings grew up in. We used to ride bikes up and down the street, take a walk a few blocks down to the drugstore, everyone knew each other and all had kids around the same age, it was a very positive street for families. Now, the house is boarded up, various other houses on the street are either boarded up or in a terrible state of disarray. It was really sobering to see that. Driving down Detroit's streets, everything seems gray (partly due to the weather), many buildings are delapidated, there are more individually owned stores and fast-food restaurants than chains, etc. But it definitely has a unique character, as do many other cities. I didn't get to see the African-American museum, but I will surely see it next time. Stopped by the Motown museum, downtown, Riverfront, Detroit's Breakfast Club, and other small restaurants. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens to this city in the upcoming years. Census numbers have been under 1 million for several years. I know one of the people running for City Council and let's just say this person is certainly not what Detroit needs but I think voter will be able to see through this person easily.
BTW, my sister's graduation was so ghetto and cunty. The administrators need to be slapped for not having better control and decorum. The funny thing is, her school is actually one of the nicer schools in Detroit. The class treasurer made a speech where he basically started giving shout outs to individual students, called out students to come get their T-shirts, then straight up broke the law. As many know, it is illegal to have prayer in public schools. This mothafugga acknowledged that while they couldn't pray, they would have a "commemorative moment" instead and straight bust into a prayer thanking the Lord and thangs. The administrator (I think the principal) instructed him to do so in the introduction so she's just as bad if not worse. The graduation was not organized very well, with long pauses and awkward moments. One of the speakers I had to look around to see if it was a joke. To sum it up, he may have been retarded and/or blind, and spoke about completing a 4 year degree in a year and a half, then going on to get 2 Masters degres, and then completing a Bachelors of Social Work at one school and a Masters of Social Work at the same time. Yeah. Needless to say, my face was like this: -_- the whole time. There was an excellent keynote speaker though, a black man who is a professor of Comparative Literature. He gave great, applicable college curriculum advice and was proficient in many languages. I just reminded myself to look him up...think his name was Derek Collins or something. Then, the diplomas had the students' names on them which theoretically was nice, but in application, jammed up the whole procession of calling students names while they frantically tried to match diplomas tostudents. At the end, the students were heard chanting, "09, bitch!" while their loving and devoted family members looked on. SMH.
So anyways, I'm back. Welcome and hello to my new followers, regulars, and lurkers. I need to go through my archives but I think this month might be my blogiversary...been blogging for a year now hooraaayyy! I want to leave you with a video of Amel Larrieux performing live last Friday in New York at the Greene Space. Click here for the link. Amel comes out and gives a short interview at the 5:30 mark. Her songs are from the 12:00 mark to the 53:00 mark. The songs she sang (in order) are We Can Be New, For Real, Magic, Down, Gills and Tails, Have You, and I Like the Sunrise (she tears it down for this song). Check it out and tell a friend!
In my continuing quest for natural hair world domination *insert unnecessarily long evil laugh here* I was interviewed by the blog Black Girl Long Hair, which is a wonderful, glorious blog community centered around natural hair, about my experience being natural. Read the interview here! Drop a comment there if you like. You can also use this post on my blog to ask me any questions about natural hair in the comments. I know some people from there are now following my blog here, so welcome to you! Thank you for reading!
Today is my 25th birthday! I'll wait while you cabbage patch, tootsie roll, butterly, booty clap, and/or stanky leg appropriately.
Done? Mm-kay. I don't feel old or young. I just feel important. I feel I am at a stage in life where things are about to start happening; where the foundation of my peak adult years will start being poured (you pour foundation right?). I see things looming on the horizon of the future and I am not afraid. I am excited.
My bloggies, here is how y'all can help me celebrate my birthday. You must do all of the following, because it's my birthday and I said so.
1.) Stop by the comment box and tell me how you found my blog and what keeps you coming back. Is there anything you want me to blog about in particular? YES, EVEN ALL YOU LURKERS, just for this one day, de-lurk and give me some feedback.
2.) Ask me anything. ANY question you want to know and I will answer it in an upcoming blog.
Can't wait to hear your responses! I'm off to bowl drunkenly and chillax. Then this weekend, I'll be headed to San Francisco to see my favorite singer perform. Have a great my birthday Memorial Day and be safe.
The lovely ChocolateOrchid tagged me for this meme way back when color televisions debuted and I'm jussssttt nowww getting to it. Forgive me bloggers (and lurkers)!
What's your current obsession?
Getting a handle on my academic research. I start my Masters Thesis this fall and hope to get into a doctoral program.
What's your must have fashion need?
Currently: 2 bougie outfits for my birthday
Generally: T-shirts in every color of the rainbow...the nice cotton ones.
What are you wearing right now?
Teal scoopneck modal/cotton blend T-shirt, brown dress pants. I'm at home on the couch, so all jewelry and shoes are off. Or for maximum ignant impact, AWF.
What's your favorite food?
Fried garlic tofu!
What do you do for fun?
Bowl or read.
What made today special?
Eating lunch with my husband...and fried garlic tofu.
What would you like to learn to do?
Make jewelry, learn other languages, belly dance
What's the last thing you bought?
Whataburger for my husband. - _ -
What are you listening/watching right now?
NBA draft
What's your favorite weather?
Anything unicorn-friendly. Sunny, warm, breezy, rainbows, and sparkles.
What's your one goal in life?
Always keep the big picture in mind.
What do you think of the person that tagged you?
Natural, glowing, lovely, beautimous!
If you can have a house totally paid for, what would it look like?
Spanish or Mediterranean style layout, bay windows or similar nooks to cozy up in, abundant natural light
What would you like to have in your hands right now?
Acceptance letter to doctorate program of my choice
If you can swap lives with anyone in the world for one day who would it be and why?
Amel Larrieux. To be in the midst of all that creativity and her fresh outlook on the world would be inspiring.
If you can go anywhere in the world for the next hour where would you go?
Only an hour? Harsh, dude. Way harsh. I'ma go with Jurassic Park. Nothing at all could go wrong in an hour right?
What language would you like to learn?
Spanish fluently. Arabic, French, and Japanese conversationally.
What do you look for in a friend?
Someone who rises above the sea of stupidity and judgments.
Who do you want to meet in person?
Amel Larrieux. Seriously y'all, if you've never read her "blogs" I bet at least one will inspire you or at the least make you feel like you are wherever she is experiencing what she is experiencing.
What's your favorite type of music?
Trip-hop, ambient, jazz fusion/acid jazz, soul/funk, electronic and/or any combo of those
What's your dream job?
Author/jewelry/printmaker extraordinaress
Do you admire anyone's style?
Can't think of anyone famous, but I see admirable style all the time. Peeps that can pull the vintage/bohemian look off without looking like a hipster, douche, douchette, or just plain wrong.
Describe your personal style?
Colorful. Colors make me happy. I love combining random colors. I tend to go striking with color choices for clothes and shoes, and more simple with the jewelry. Simple emerald studs, crystal earrings, rose gold wedding ring, etc. Don't wear watches. Don't wear bracelets too much anymore, but if it catches my eye I'll throw it on. I like pendants a lot.
What's your favorite t.v show?
This changes as shows go on, come off, or I take a break from watching. Currently, I'm all up in The L Word. (pause?)
What's your favorite dessert?
Something with a bunch of grapes, strawberries, and blackberries and other berries, with a little bit of sugar or vegan cream cheese.
What's your favorite makeup brand?
I like MAC, but I really don't know shat about the various makeup brands. I used to be big on eyeshadow but not so much anymore. Just lip color and maybe some smoky taupe eyeshadow. I tried to eff with eyeliner but my eyes said no, no, no. Occasionally eff with mascara. Never effed with the other stuff (foundation, blush, bronzer, etc.).
What's your all time favorite perfume?
Twas Betsey Johnson but I don't eff with perfume too much anymore. I like natural, subtle scents more now, like from L'Occitane.
What's you fondest childhood memory?
Making up all sorts of unnecessary scenarios for my multi-ethnic Barbie dolls then climbing in my canopy bed and reading.
What would you do w/a major lottery winning?
Do the stanky leg all around my office, all in my supervisor's grill. Build a home. Or just buy one with a nice view. Sit down on the floor with all my travel books and make plans. Travel. Become author/jewelry/printmaking mogul. Take care of (select) family. Rescue poodles.
If you had to pick a song for your funeral/memorial service, what would you choose?
Beyond-Amel Larrieux
Rules:
1.)Respond: answer the questions on your blog.
2.)Replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own. (I replaced what is your favorite ice cream flavor with what is your favorite dessert?, and the question I added is the very last one.)
3.)Tag eight other people
Vesper
Mr. Socialight
Chanel
Mrsmarymack
Sydney/Bloggal
Bella
Lina
Alicia/Instant Vintage
And everyone reading!
Posts
All Comments
