Movie Time

So the past 2 days has been a quasi-RedBox binge. Ok..not really, but I watched 3 movies. I enjoyed all 3 movies, but in a different way... ::spoiler alert::

1. The Adjustment Bureau
This movie was cool, I was kind of confused in the first 13 mins, but eventually it came together. I really like the idea that our lives are part of a plan and certain things are just supposed to happen to keep you on track, but then again, where does free will fit in? Hence this movie... I enjoyed it, more like a futuristic love story.

2. The Lincoln Lawyer
I rented this movie previously, but somehow ended up falling asleep. I gave it another shot and it was aight. I don't really like the whole lawyer thing much, in terms of this is why I never actually considered the profession. It did have some unique twists that I couldn't predict so I liked it in that aspect.

3. Limitless
This is my favorite movie of the bunch. I liked it mostly because it unpredictable. I had no idea what the movie was about going into it, it was getting dark outside and I essentially picked the first movie that I could select. lol. Even though it kind of semi-endorses drug use. It had several plot twists and turns, it also had a sufficient amount of action. The short version is it's about a guy who takes a performance enhancing drug and how his life is drastically affected from there. 2 thumbs up from me!




You guys should be proud of me...all this blogging that I'm doing. lol.

Until Next Time...

"The Boy Crisis"

I decided to check out the latest videos from TedTalk... The first video that I saw was quite intriguing it was only 4 minutes, and it was called, "The Demise of Guys." It addressed how men are lagging behind their women counterparts in educational arenas. In addition, he humorously addresses how men are being subjected to unlimited amounts of arousal and how they actually seem to be perferring that than the company of the opposite sex. Very interesting!





This second video is even more intriguing it is much longer, but it is truly eye opening. It is titled, "New Data on the Rise of Women." Hanna Rosin made a good point and said "Thousands of history don't reverse themselves without pain." She said "men are losing their identities and are having a hard time finding themselves"



Sometimes it makes me wonder is this why men for hundreds of years subconsciously and consciously "oppressed" and denied women true access to the work force?

I think this is definitely a phenomenon that is happening everywhere. I saw it at Emory, there were at least 3 times more women in the black community. I see it in Optometry school, there is more women in each class. Even with Optometry in general, it used to be a completely male dominated profession, but now it is mostly women that are graduating from optometry schools.

Just the other day I was talking to one of my friends about how I'm so proud of all my friends. Just this year, I have friends who started a PhD program, Med school, Pharm school, and Law school. And then we started discussing how our male counterparts don't seem to be as "motivated"... and I put motivated in quotes, just because I mean that on a surface level in terms of those seeking professional school degrees. And yes my opinion is biased of course... but it is something that I've been noticing..

How do I feel about it? Hmm... well I do think it is a backlash to many years in which women were put into a box and expected to do only, "XYZ."

 ::sidenote:: I dated this guy who was adamant that women should still "solely" fulfill traditional household duties, ie cooking and cleaning... as you can tell that didn't go over very well. I just didn't understand what is the point of me getting a doctoral degree, and my 'partner' expects me to still essentially be a housewife AND work a full job...umm no thanks.. ::sidenote over::

But the fact that Rosin says it is not just happening in the US, but countries all over the world, I wonder how this is going to pan out..hmm...

These two videos are in fact intriguing, check them out!

Until Next Time...

Summertime JOY!

What up KIDS!! It's summa summa time! So far this summer has been pretty cool. Besides the fact that it is beyond hot in St. Louis. I really never thought it could get so hot here especially since the winters are so dreadful. Further confirms how much this city is the devil's playground. The reported heat index right now is 110 degrees. Like what does that even mean? Well I know, but it's just awful. How the heck is it more hot in St. Louis than Atlanta, sigh, who knows!

So I love warm weather, because you can wear dresses, and tank tops. Two of my favorite articles of clothing. :)

I wanted to share with you all the joys that have been keeping me company this summer.

1. 

So this is officially my favorite song of the summer. There is always a "summer anthem," that basically symbolizes it is summer time. Not my favorite time of the year (Fall is my favorite season), but definitely better than the winter. Whenever I am out and this song comes on, it makes me dance, it has a great beat and the lyrics are so cute! It has me feeling  pretty nostalgic already.

2. My second summer joy is the "MUNY." It is apparently "America's Largest and Outdoor Musical Theater." I have been to 2 shows already, I went to "Legally Blonde" and "Kiss me Kate." They were both FANTASTIC! The actors were so talented. Their singing, acting, and dancing were all impeccable. I have been trying to figure out what it has stood for since the first time I've heard of it, i think it is just for "municipal theater."

There is a new show every week and a half. Tonight I am going to go see "Singing in the Rain;" I honestly have no idea what that musical is about, so I hope that I enjoy it. I'll be sure to wear a hat and bring lots of water to keep my hydrated in this heat. Oh and did I mention the best part...it's FREE!

The line up for this summer is as follows:

1. Legally Blonde
2. Kiss Me Kate
3. The Little Mermaid
4. Singing in the Rain
5. Little Shop of Horrors
6. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
7. Bye Bye Birdie

3. My third and final joy thing this summer is ICE. Yes I said it Ice. So as most of you know, I'm a self proclaimed coffee addict. So when the temperatures started heating up, I knew I needed to adapt with the heat. So it took mainly failed attempts, but I finally got my perfect blend of iced coffee!! Hooray for me!!! You have to use less water because when the ice melts you don't want your coffee to be all gross and watered down. YAY for Coffee. But the key ingredient in this all is ICE! One big round of applause for ice.




Until Next Time...

Earth Hour, "Lights Out"

Hey Guys!! I want to first say, "IT'S SPRING BREAK!!!" Woohoo... But (yes there is always a but)... The first one is unfortunately I'm still in St. Louis... womp womp. The even bigger womp is, it snowed this morning... Yes. It is officially Spring, but it snowed this morning. Needless to say it is below freezing right now. Anyhow, I am glad to have this small break. I'll be going home later on in the week, but I have a lot of stuff that I needed to get done, and I know I would have just worried about them at home. So I needed to just stay, suck it up and get all of my extra work done. 

Ok so back to the reason I came to write this post. Currently I am in the dark, typing by candle light. Why? It's not because I didn't pay my light bill, but today is the day that "Earth Hour" is being observed.

So what is Earth Hour? It is a movement that was started in 2007, to observe an hour out of the day (8:30-9:30, your time zone), in which all lights would be turned off. Sounds simple right... Exactly. I think it is is awesome, that people are so concerned about the earth and the fact that we as humans really need to be more sustainable.

Since living on my own, I have become way more conscious about the amount of my personal electricity use. Even as a child, my mom would constantly "remind/nag" us about turning off the light when you leave a room or turning off the TV. After a couple electricity bills that have been extremely high, I have adopted the same principles.

Yesterday when I was driving home, at the "wee" hours of the morning, I was one of the few cars on the road, and I could help but notice how many lights were on.. It was actually quite baffling. I live by several car dealerships and the parking lot was so bright it was outrageous. Many stores and buildings had so many lights on even though they had long closed for the light. The amount of energy that we are using is taxing our environment and just because we dont see the impact directly, does not mean it is not happening.

Gas has now reached the highest that it has ever been since I have started driving. Currently it is ~3.46 a gallon. It hurts every single time I go to the gas station. Ugh...

Below is some more detailed information about Earth Hour and some really cool pictures!!


Earth Hour is held on Saturday March 27 at 8.30pm-9.30pm and succeeds in being a global call to action to stand up, to take responsibility, and lead the global journey to a sustainable future. A record 128 countries and territories take part and iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas stand in darkness.


http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/26/earth-hour-2011-photos/

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1. What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is a global grass-roots movement encouraging individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take positive actions for the environment, and celebrating their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.

Earth Hour 2011 aims to show the actions that people, businesses and governments world-wide are taking to reduce their environmental impact. Thereby establishing and encouraging others to join an interconnected global community engaged in dialogue and resource sharing that generates real solutions to environmental challenges.

The highlight of Earth Hour 2011 will see the world’s most iconic landmarks go dark for one designated hour, as hundreds of millions of people transcend race, religion, culture, society, generation and geography, switching off their lights in a global celebration of their commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all – the planet.

Until Next Time...

Some Shirts I have Been Digging...

So I'm not much of a screen tee kind of person, but there have been a couple shirts that I have eyeing for a while, but I just haven't brought myself to buy.

#1- Brown Skin Lady Tee

 I just really like this shirt. It's simple! I like the font, the mustard shirt with the brown writing... Love it! I am brown skin and I'm a lady!






#2- I love my hair

 So I saw this shirt today and I absolutely fell in love!! But what I'm wondering is why do they have a white girl with straight hair modeling it. lol. If you haven't seen the video, I did a quick blogpost on it a couple weeks ago here. If you go to the website they show a zoomed in pic of the actual shirt.

#3- SoapBox Theory

They have a lot of cute shirts!! These are 3 of my favorite ones. 

Oh yeah, just in case you didn't know click on the link to go to the websites!

Until Next Time...

America's healthiest Pleasures: 10 vices that are good for you

So just to show much I have been slacking on my blog... I have had this CNN article for the longest that I have been meaning to post on here for some time (since August), but I just haven't.. anywhere here is the 10 top vices that are good for you.

1. Getting your zzz's

Our experts unanimously agreed: Sleep is free and has virtually zero health drawbacks, making it the one treat no one should skimp on. Pillow time gives you energy, bolsters your immune system, boosts your memory, and even helps you get (or stay) slim.

2. Playing Hooky

Studies confirm that time off -- whether on a trip out of Dodge or a 24-hour staycation -- relieves stress, lowering your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease.

3. Sexual Healing

Getting frisky is, hands-down, the most pleasurable form of physical activity there is. Having sex releases feel-good endorphins and oxytocin, the hormone that promotes attachment.

4. A daily chocolate fix

Dark chocolate and cocoa may help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, and provide other cardiovascular benefits, multiple studies have shown.

5. A girl's night out

But there's little question that strong social ties can bring a host of benefits: fewer colds, better brain health, and a longer life, to name a few.  

6. Full fat dressing

For years we were trained to reach for low-fat everything, but there's no need to deprive yourself of the real deal. Full-fat foods not only taste better but also serve a real health purpose, as long as you get the right amounts of the right kinds.

7. Your morning java

A wealth of research suggests that coffee doesn't just pick you up -- it fights heart disease and some cancers, and it may even help you push through harder, longer workouts.

8. Getting a rub down

Women in a 2008 study noted less pain, depression, anxiety, and anger when they were massaged twice a week by their partners -- and (bonus!) their partners reported better mental health, too.

9. Basking in the Sun

Bright days really do lift our moods -- sunshine is the ultimate natural antidepressant, triggering our bodies to nip production of the sleep-stimulating hormone melatonin so we're alert, energized, and ready to face the day.

10. Wine with Dinner

Its antioxidants may keep blood vessels flexible, or alcohol could boost HDL (good) cholesterol.
They have a great explanation for all 10, I tried to provide a quick one sentence excerpt check it out here or click the article subject for the link! I completely agree with each and every one.

Until Next Time...

You know what I love...that's right, my hair!

I absolutely love this video!!! My line sister sent it to me earlier today. I heard about it through twitter, and I am glad that I finally got to see it. This is extremely important for young black girls. Our society, especially black culture really needs to start accepting each other for who we are. It is almost ingrained that at a certain age you should get your hair straightened or permed, but why can't you just love your hair the way it grows out of your scalp?

Anyways, positive affirmations are great and can do so much for women/girls self-esteem. I am glad that people are really starting to be more open minded and accepting. Black women can be beautiful in so many different ways!! Love it!

Until Next Time...

INFJ- Myers Briggs Type Indicator

So this weekend, I had to go to a mandatory leadership retreat... It was all day, but there were some parts that were pretty informative. The rest of it they could have saved. Anyways, one of the part I enjoyed was we took the Myers-Briggs Test. It is a really famous personality test. This is the 2nd time I have taken. The first time was in high school (AP Psychology). So when I took it in high school I was an ENFJ... But now my personality has shifted to an INFJ.

So basically what do those letters mean?

I: Introverted or E: Extroverted
N: Intuition or S: Sensing
F: Feeling or T: Thinking
J: Judging or P: Perceiving

So basically I am "Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging"
Again you can ask what does that mean?

Well on the outset, those people who know me might be a little baffled that I am Introverted... That is the only thing that changed since High school. I must say that Optometry school has made me a tad bit more introverted. I definitely enjoy my private space a lot more and a lot of times I can really sit and be alone in my thoughts and that is alright.

It is so weird because as I read read the description it was me exactly...so WEIRD!! But apparently only 1% of the people in the world are INFJ. Hmmm....

As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types. 

INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, 

INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.
 
INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.


Yup. So I have to run off to lab. Until Next Time...

The Danger of a Single Story

This is another great video from TedTalk.

Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.



Until Next Time...

Learning Style Characteristics-Diverger

So my Monocular Sensory Processes (MonSense) professor is apparently interested in our learning styles... Basically his class is hard and people rarely get A's so not sure how this is going to change anything. Anyways...but there are 4 basic learning styles.

1. Accommodator- Doing and Feeling
2. Diverger- Watching and Feeling
3. Converger- Doing and Thinking
4. Assimilator- Watching and Thinking

So based on the characteristics it described it basically came as no surprise to me that I was a Diverger. It pretty much describes me...kinda weird.

Diverger (Main Question: Why Am I learning this?)

• Empathetic and people oriented
• Sensitive to peer group
• Has a vivid imagination
• Has diverse interests
• Recognizes problems in the environment
• Needs emotional inolvement
• Listens and shares ideas well
• Collects information using all senses
• Is artistic and creative
• Likes to participate, collaborate
• Enjoy brainstorming

Yeah that's me... The environment thing caught me off guard...I was like wow..that's me.

So the main question that Diverger's ask is "Why am I learning this"...it's so crazy because I asked that almost every day my first year. I just needed to know how some of that stuff would tie into my optometric career. Now that it is my 2nd week, I am already seeing my many things being tied in so that makes me a lot happier. So the other questions for the learning types are as follows:

Accommodator- What if I did it this way?
Converger- How am I going to learn this?
Assimilator- What am I going to learn here?

I thought it was also interesting to note that, majority of the class were Converger's... (yeah our prof made us raise our hands) and he said in previous years, most, if not close to all of the class were converger's... hmm...makes you wonder. Let me know if anyone is interested in seeing more characteristics for the other learning types. Well that's all for now. "Sundays are for relaxing"

Until Next Time...

The Story of Cosmetics and Story of Bottled Water

So earlier this year, January 31st to be exact, I did a blogpost on the STORY OF STUFF... It was through this great website that I stumbled upon. Well since then The Story of Stuff has become a Project and more informative videos have been released.

With over 12 million on-line views, The Story of Stuff is one of the most widely viewed environmental-themed short films of all time. Since its release in December 2007, The Story of Stuff has been shown in thousands of schools, houses of worship, community events and businesses around the world.
The Story of Stuff Project was created by Annie Leonard to leverage and extend the film’s impact. We amplify public discourse on a series of environmental, social and economic concerns and facilitate the growing Story of Stuff community’s involvement in strategic efforts to build a more sustainable and just world.

 I recently watched two more videos which were the Story of Cosmetics and the Story of Bottled Water.
The Story of Cosmetics was only 8 mins long, but in those very short minutes I was enlightened
so much. She discusses how a lot of the the beauty products that both men and women use such as shampoos, conditioners, shaving cream, lotions, lip sticks, etc are actually really hazardous to our health. Also she talks about how the FDA really has no direct policing policies on these industries.. Prolonged use of these products are actually detrimental to our health. She even talked about how perms (relaxers) are so very bad for you and how the harsh chemicals can be absorbed into your body and mentioned that it can also be detrimental to beauty standards...she really "hit the nail on the head."

The other video was on the Story of Bottled Water...amazing! Very concise and she really unearthed the "Conspiracy" that these companies have used to brainwash soo many American consumers. For example, both Dasani and Aquafina have admitted to bottling filtered tap water. I must say since last year I have gotten a lot better with reducing my consumption of bottle water and just using my Filter and a reusable water bottle (check out this blogpost that I did on "Doing YOUR Part")...sidenote: but it seems as though since I've been home for the summer, I havent been doing so well on that because the fridge in my house is full of bottle water....Anyways.. Annie does a remarkable job of coming up with effective solutions and just informing you on how using and buying bottled water can be detrimental to the environment and each other.

Below are the videos..ENJOY!





Oh and I decided to use the above picture because I think it really made a statement...we shop and then we take out so much trash...If we had less things, we would have less trash...oh Consumerism.
Until Next Time...

Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com

 So I watched this video a while back when I was studying for finals last semester...it was definitely inspirational... So as most people knows he is the Co-founder and CEO of Apple and creator of Pixar. Steve Jobs is one of those people whose brains I would like to explore...

This was his commencement address to Stanford a couple years back. I am usually always inspired by commencement addresses too bad I always get screwed over ... (ie. Vicente Fox, who barely spoke English and was just ridiculous...I don't even know what he talked about, in fact I don't think anyone knew)

His speech mainly concerned how you have to and can make the best out of even the worse circumstances in life. Amazing...


Until Next Time...

Empowerment Experiement...Buying Black

Here is a quick narrative from an article in Clutch Mag on "Hood Politics: The Foreign Business Takeover"....

Darren walks into the American Deli on Random Rd. in Atlanta, Ga. Orders the usual Chicken Philly and Wings special. The waitress  – Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Japanese, who knows – takes his order, shouts back to the cook in an indecipherable dialect and takes the next person’s order.

10 minutes elapses and the waitress shouts, “89!” Darren looks down at his receipt. One more order away.

“Number 90!” Darren steps to the counter, grabs his order, looks in the bag and asks for more blue cheese.

“It’s gonna to be fifty cents extra,” the waitress says.

“It was just thirty cents last week,” he responds.

The waitress, with a bewildered grin on her face, gives a half shrug. Darren pays the extra fifty cents, grabs the blue cheese and walks out the store. As he opens his car door, he turns around to notice the Korean Beauty Supply store and the Discount Store on the same strip as the American Deli. Across the street is a nail shop, ran by Vietnamese business owners (he knows that much).

Shaking his head, he dips into his car and cranks it up. Pausing for a second, he ingests the situation of it all. The movies. The looks of perceived condescension. The lack of Black business owners in the hood.

With the blare of Nas and Damian Marley through the speakers, he drives off.

So I honestly thought I did a blogpost on the Empowerment Experiment, but I guess I didn't,...and I just sent it in an email to some of my friends. Basically a family (The Anderson's) decides to only buy from and support black businesses for a whole year. Yes you might think that it is nearly impossible, but after watching the video, you will see that it isn't as crazy as it sounds.

I think it is so important that black people become more aware of their "buying power"...It seems as though whenever my family or certain groups of my friends get together the topic of black businesses always surfaces. As you can see from the narrative of "Darren" and his experience in American Deli, others have come into the black community and have been reaping the profits of the "black dollar"... The Clutch Mag article refers to a lot of these issues...so what should be done? It is just such a problematic situation. Some would say boycott/forgo buying from these businesses (which can work, but there needs to be more of a movement)..also there is a need for more black businesses, but more importantly black people need to support each other... I'll keep this short for now. It's really To Be Continued..

Until Next Time...

Some random hair thoughts...

So one of the things that I like about my hair is the fact that it is versatile... Back when I had a perm I honestly had two styles...wear it down or in a ponytail. That got boring quick!! And I think having my hair like this had led me to be a much more creative person. I just kind of make up things as I go along..or how I feel in the morning/night before. I saw this quote on  BGLH (Black Girl with Long Hair)  by Eboni and I loved it...

"It’s… sad that we as a population are being bamboozled into thinking the only way we’ll be not just beautiful, but successful and respected, is by altering our hair to look like someone else’s… Our hair is good enough. WE are good enough just the way we are."

I liked this quote because I completely agree...I think BAMBOOZLED is the word that I have been searching for. Like Eboni says, I don't think being natural is the ONLY way, but often it seems like that is what black females have been indoctrinated to believe since their first perm. Often people ask me if I plan on being natural forever...umm honestly I can't answer that question..or the other question I get is if I have something against females with straight hair. By no mean do I, and i hate that it seems like it has to be one or the other..I think they are both options, but it is good to have options. Whew that was a tangent..

So this is random, but I saw a new video of Janelle Monae's...and although I like a good amount of her music, I am honestly getting really tired of her SAME OL' hairstyle...like its ridiculous. The first few times, ok first 30 times I saw it..I thought it was cute. And on many hairblogs, people try and imitate the her style... I'm not hating, I just think J. Monae is beautiful and she should just try something different...lol.

But then again everyone is different and I can't impose my personal views on others...but still. I just wanna see a different hairstyle. But do you think it is actually possible to wear the same hairstyle for 3 years straight? I would go crazy!!!

But on another note, I do love love love love Shingai Shoniwa from Noisettes. Her voice AND her hair AND her style! Last year I did a post on Noisettes, check it out here... Anyways, I just wanted to close this post with some cute pics of her. Yay for REAL Black female artists...

 

1. Toms Shoes follow up
2. 1 year blogaversary (Recap)
3. First Year of Opt school (Looking Back)
4. Diversity/ Janelle Monae
5. St. Louis/Midwest

Until Next Time...

Making Glasses for Haiti

So last week was just one of those weeks... it wasn't necessarily bad, but I wouldn't want to do it over again. Anyways yesterday turned out to be a good day after I volunteered with NOSA. So NOSA (National Optometric Students Association) is one of the organizations that I am a part of; actually I'll be President next year, which is kind of exciting.. (I'll make another blogpost sometime about NOSA, in the meantime check out the link) Anyways we volunteered with a local black optometrist in St. Louis and made glasses to send to Haiti.

So hmm...how do you make glasses? I didn't know until yesterday. Here is a rough outline, hope it isn't too confusing.

1. The lens were marked with the optical center (which was done with a lensometer) We had a lot of prescriptions lenses ranging from (-.50 to -6.00 D) that were all one large circular shape.

2. So we got trial lens frames, frames with lens without any prescription (that were donated from various optometrists)  and popped the lens out. This took some force, it took me a while at first with some coaching from the optometrists cause I was scared I was going to break the frames...lol.

2. Anyways once you pop the lens out. You put the frames in a machine that traces the shape of the glasses frame.

3. Set the interpupillary distance and mount the lens using the optical center marking that was done earlier. Then that machine sends the information it to the lens grinder. It literally cuts the lens with water and sand and this other stuff.

4.You pull the lens out, heat up the frame and then pop each prescription lens back into the original frame.

It was so crazy!! It was like man I just made some glasses. I know this might sound confusing, because at first it was, but once you got the hang of it, it was pretty easy. Between the five of us, we ended up having an pseudo-assembly line going... and ended up making about 20 glasses. we didn't finish all, but we had been there for a while.

Oh and the Doctor who had his own practice was pretty cool. He was an UMSL graduate and his practice was pretty afrocentric. I He had lots of black figurines, african print, an african drum, portraits of Malcom X, MLK, this Choices portrait that really stood out to me, it was a tiny bit cluttered but really different. like seeing people's practices so I can get more ideas for my own. I loved it!

After that we headed to the loop to get some "Mexican food" was pretty cool. It is nice volunteering and feeling like I am making a difference instead of studying for tests/exams all the time. Needless to say, this is one of those times that I am so happy that I am in optometry school. It helps me stay motivated and exciting about my career choice. In 2 weeks I will be 25% of an optometrist...lol. Just 3 more years..

Until Next Time...

What I'm Listening to...

Ok one last post before I go back to studying... So I created some new stations on Pandora and 3 of my fav people this week are as follows... (thanks to STL for playing the same 5 songs on the radio, forcing me to venture out musically)

1. Lina (Alternative/RnB/Soul)- My fav song is "I'm Not the Enemy." Here is a quick synopsis for Lina:

Singer /songwriter LINA boldly discards all artistic blueprints, with a musical fusion thriving on rich, jazz-era orchestration complemented by R&B. With a writing and singing background that spans the genres of soul, jazz, opera, hip hop, pop, and country, LINA is an original, bringing a fresh, arresting sound that is passionate, organic and timeless. In effect, a one woman Harlem Renaissance, reclaiming decades worth of musical heritage for a new generation.



2. Kate Earl (Soul/Pop/Lyrical)- My fav song from her are "Nobody" and "Melody." Here are the lyrics to "Melody":

No mat­ter what has ever come to me, I got my own brand of company, I got da da da inside my head
And I play songs back to back until I got to bed, Wake up by myself inside an empty room, Theres no body next to mine to oooh, But my skin is warm and my heart is full, Its the do do do do do do, Walk­ing wak­ing on a crowded street, With my head­phones loud, So my hips can swing, so my head can nod, To the rock and roll to the boom boom beat, and I find that I’m never alone, and I find that my heart is my home, and the music within makes me whole, A world that I built on my own, and I know that I’m never alone, and I know that my heart is my home, Every miss­ing piece of me, I can find in a melody, Theres a river in my mind thats never still, Swirling , sooth­ing all the time gives me a thrill, Swim­ming in the notes that go Oh oh oh oh, Wan­der­ing, wak­ing in an empty wood, It is quiet here, I am powerful


3. Estelle(HipHop/Soul/RnB) - ok I know I'm a little late on the Estelle bandwagon, but glad I finally started listening to her. I especially like "Come Over." Here are some accolades of Estelle:

She won a grammy for American Boy featuring Kanye West in the category best rap/sung collaboration. She also has received the MOBO for 'Best Newcomer'and received three consecutive 'Best Female Artist' trophies from the UK Hip-Hop Awards. Estelle's song "Star" was used for Crystal Light commercials. She also, in 2010, modeled at Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief runway show for The White Ribbon Alliance to raise funds for mothers in Haiti.


Oh and I just came across this on Fly's website .. So Adult Swim has featured several "African" hiphop artists from various countries on African Swim...check it out!

Until Next Time...

For Freedom Not For Beauty

I am in the library about to jet off to a review session, but I just wanted to make a quick post. So breaking news on the natural hair blog circuit, Chrisette Michele has decided to BC.. and a few noted bloggers have had the chance to interview her. I am not that big into interviews of celebrities and what not, but her interview (the parts I read) was insightful. I'll post a few excerpts below, also the poem that she wrote, "For Freedom Not for Beauty" is beautiful. (And yes that is Chrisette in the picture) Enjoy!

For Freedom Not For Beauty

There’s a beauty that lives so deep inside each of us.

There’s a fickle eye that doesn’t believe anything it sees.

There’s a benefit in love that erases all doubt and believes good intentions.

There’s an ear that isn’t free enough to give the honest man the benefit of the doubt cluttered by lies not-mentioned.

Since when is creativity subject to criticism?

When is honesty subject to a jury of fears who wouldn’t believe rain if it fell, or sun if it shined?

Sometimes a flower grows when no ones watching.

Sometimes a bird sings and no one hears.

There’s a meadow no one runs on and a cloud no one names

And what would the sky be with out the sun?

What would the earth be with out its rose?

They’d still be the sky and the Earth.

So perhaps there is a peace in becoming.

Perhaps the meaning is in the experience and not the sight.

Maybe a flower grows because it suffocates under ground.

Whether or not she is always noticed, beauty must become.

She doesn’t look for an eye.

She doesn’t listen for a voice.

She just becomes,

For Freedom Not For Beauty

-Chrisette Michele

Thanks to CurlyNikki...the interview was great, here are two ques/answers that I particularly liked!

CN: What would you tell someone toying with the idea of transitioning or Big Chopping?
Chrisette: Do what’s best for you. What is your heart saying? Follow it. We are incredibly beautiful, us curly girls. Let’s be proud and supportive of each other. To be quite honest I’d have to say...are you ready for what I’m about to say? Ok... Don’t be one of those girls out there who have our beautiful curls but wear no smile, head is down, ain’t got no presence! Give it! Cat walk down the street! Rock that hair with the fiercest of outfits. This is not just a spiritual journey, it’s an incredible fashion statement that not everyone can wear! Treat it like a manicure or a new Prada bag and be the most amazing diva on your block. This beauty is fierce and it’s ours naturally! Let’s make each other proud! Amen?!

CN: Anything else you'd like to add?
Chrisette: I am so grateful for the bold acceptance I’ve received from my sisters. I think together we are breaking down barriers in the main stream and I’m excited about our journey ahead. There is a new integrity and honesty that we are experiencing that says “Take us as we are, or don’t take us at all”. There is a new pride rising from our community reminiscent of the times when we knew each others poetry, and held our fists in the air. We are going to support each others new business ventures, we are going to see each other in graduate schools, we will see each other in government and we will lift each other out of this depression. It starts in the heart and I pray I’ve inspired many of my sisters to follow theirs.

Until Next Time...

Ann Cooper: Food= Health, Part 2

As I continue the series on school lunch and it's importance on the epidemiology of Disease and the future of our country, Ann Cooper is name that must be mentioned. I saw her speak on TedTalk Tuesdays and it was even more fact filled and riveting than Jamie Oliver. If I tried to summarize and present her ideas I am sure that I will be unable to do her justice. She is definitely a trailblazer for the type of reform that needs to take place in school across America. Below are some quick facts about Ann Cooper and below that will be the video... A must see!!

Why you should listen to her:

Ann Cooper has a frontline view of the daily battle to keep kids healthy -- and of the enemy, the processed-foods industries that, it sometimes seems, want to wrap every single thing that children eat in a fried coating and then a plastic bag. As the director of nutrition services for the Berkeley (California) Unified School District, she's an outspoken activist for serving fresh, sustainable food to kids. Her lively website, LunchLessons.org, rounds up recipes, links, and resources for food activism.
Cooper's influential program in Berkeley involves kids in every stage of the food they eat, from growing to disposing of it. And along the way, eating some delicious cafeteria lunches.
She's the author of several books, including Bitter Harvest, an examination of the food chain, and her latest, Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children.


















Until Next Time...

Food Revolution: Teach Every Child About Food, Part 1

So I saw this TedTalk video a couple of months ago, but I never got around to posting and commenting on it. So I figured I'd just post it anyway, in case anyone was interested. The video was remarkable, and it left me thinking about how proper nutrition or the lack of affects children for the rest of their adult life; especially with the rise in childhood obesity, which leads to a whole array of diseases such as the rise in Type II diabetes among children.

Maybe sometime last week, I saw that Jamie Oliver actually has a show coming out about the nutrition problem around the US, it's called "Food Revolution". It instantly reminded me of this video, and I guess I wasn't the only impressed by his ideas and what not. What sparked me to think of this, was a phone call from my sister asking me how was my school lunch in high school. She was appalled by the lunch that was being served.

Oh also there is a petition that you can sign on Jamie's website. Watch the video hopefully you are inspired by something and realize that it does matter, especially for the longevity of our nation.


Until Next Time...

Fashion Faux Pas

So I have been meaning to write this post for some time...especially one day when my sister called me to tell me about some girl who is wearing tights (that were too thin) and you can see her underwear...yuck! Serious Fashion Faux Pas...

So here are MY personal top 10 fashion faux pas...please please please, if at all possible try and avoid thanks! Oh and by no means I am NOT a fashion guru or fashion police...I just think some things are kinda tacky...

1. Wearing white socks with dress shoes. (you are not MJ)
2. Not wearing the proper underwear, under thing or light colored clothes...(yuck.)
3. Panty lines, panty lines, panty lines... (enough said)
4. Wearing a dress/skirt in the winter without stockings, leggings, tights.. (It's cold outside!)
5. Being extremely better dressed than your kids...(you are in the latest fashions, while your kids have rags on and snot coming out of their nose)
6.  Socks with sandals...
7. Thinking that shirt you just bought is actually a dress...yikes.
8. Being too "matchy-matchy"... (you don't need your purple shirt to match with your purple earrings, purple necklace, purple tights, purple shoes, purple scarf, purple belt, oh and purple finger nail polish)
9. The tights as pants thing...needs to pass..
10. Biting someone else's style...BE ORIGINAL!

Until Next Time...