America: I Am

So this coming Friday, I will be attending an Exhibit called, America I Am: The African American Imprint Exhibition. It apparently is supposed to chronicle important achievements by Black people (you guys know I prefer the term "black" to "African American").

Here is some more information about America I Am:

So apparently it is the 6th stop in a 4 year tour of the exhibit. Also it is hosted by Tavis Smiley, thats what reminded me to blog about it..

AMERICA I AM: The African American Imprint 

is mounted as the broadest museum exhibition of its kind. An assembly of poignant artifacts 

representing nearly 500 years of American history, the exhibition will convey and celebrate the 

undeniable imprint African Americans 

The exhibition examines four themes in particular: economic, socio-political, cultural, and spiritual impact on America. These themes serve as recurring touch points throughout the galleries, as visitors discover how our experience as Americans has been shaped by African Americans throughout history.

The 15,000 square-foot exhibition is divided into twelve galleries, leading visitors through time 


on a journey from struggle to triumph.

-

Featuring more than 200 artifacts culled from every period of U.S. history, the exhibition  includes objects, texts, religion, music, narration, and media. An interactive component of the exhibition allows visitors to leave their own video “imprints,” and this collection will grow throughout the life of the exhibition with the potential to become the largest recorded oral history project in U.S. history

Anyways, I think this will be interesting. I'm going to try my 'darndest' to write a follow up post about my thoughts, reactions. I'm going with an open mind, especially since the tickets are free. lol.

Until Next Time...

"Too Important to Fail"

As you all know, I do not have cable television. This is the second year that I havent had cable and if you told me that I would be able to live and thrive without it a couple years ago, I would have called you a liar. lol.

SO I have been watching a lot of PBS. I have never watched so much PBS in all my years alive combined compared to this year. I have watched so many awesome documentaries on PBS world. I'll try and list of them as I remember them.

As we speak I am watching a documentary on why so many Black males are struggling in the education gap. I guess this is now a mini series I have started. I didnt do it on purpose, this is just things that have been in the media lately...kind of like the phenomenon of successful single black females.... but here is the link to a previous post I did on "The Boy Crisis" a couple weeks ago.

I am halfway through the documentary and it is indeed informative. Check it out below. 

Watch the full episode. See more Tavis Smiley.

Until Next Time...

Proactiv= Crack for my Skin

So...today I woke up and decided that enough was enough.... I have been playing this back and forth game for about 6 months now. What game you ask? The clear skin game.

So for many years, it has to be over 7 years I have been using Proactiv. I started using it because my sister gave me some left over cleanser that she had. And from there my love-hate relationship with Proactiv began.

I honestly don't remember what I used to wash my face before proactiv. But anyways, Proactiv is just way too expense. It really is... I never had a serious acne problem prior to using Proactiv. I just wanted my skin to be clearer and smooth from occasional blemishes..

So after having a mini falling out with Proactiv this past January, basically they kept sending me more and more products and charging my credit card even though I countlessly asked them to STOP, I resolved to no more proactiv. They refuses to take back the product that they sent me and charged me $60. So I took some pics of those bad boys and sold it on ebay.

After then I was resolved to find another skin care product that didn't cost over $40. I tried Ambi...Ambi was working just fine for about a month, but now looking back in hindsight, I guess it wasnt working, maybe my skin was maintaining because after all those years it was used to proactiv. But the next thing you know, I was breaking out all the time, my skin wasn't smooth and I was having these huge pimples that were the size of Stone Mountain.

So in the meantime, I started using this Mary Kay Cleansing bar that my mom got from her coworker. It was alright, but it made my face kind of dry after a while and smelled kind of odd. Also I think it as for old people...anyways, I decided to stop using that even though I do use it intermittently.

I decided to switch to Neutrogena's facial products, maybe it was all of the brain washing of the commercials. But I liked the way it smelled, but it wasn't really doing anything for my skin. Don't get me wrong I tried these products for a while. I used more than half of the cleanser, and I was still even using the Ambi Daily Moisturizer.

So that is when I had the epiphany today, that I need to just go back to the dark side. I realized that even though the Proactiv company makes me mad because they potentially rip people off with their "club" and automatic shipping of things that you didn't ask for, their product works. So I went to the mall kiosk that has an automatic vending machine type thing and got my proactiv. I'll let yall know how it goes. Hopefully my skin goes back to being amazing!


Until Next Time...

No Shopping Campaign... Update

::hangs head in shame:: Hey guys!! So at the beginning of this month, I radically declared, "A No Shopping, August campaign." Everyone around me knew... lol. So tell me why on Friday night... I broke this promise and bought a handbag... ::gasp::

I know I know... I still can't believe it myself. So let me tell you how I got there. I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with a friend and she suggested we go to the mall because she wanted a new rug/comforter. I said sure. She already knew I was doing my no shopping campaign, and promised to not let me buy anything.

So we were shopping and I found this perfect winter coat... I tried on the small, it was a little too snug, then I tried on the large, of course there was no Medium. This makes me really sad, I even went to two subsequent stores looking for the coat. But why is that important? Especially since I didn't buy it.. But trying on that coat, opening the door of possibility that I could actually  buy something.

So when we went to look at handbags, I was sure I wouldn't find anything, because I am extra picky. In fact, I've been looking for a handbag for the longest.

So why did I cave... 4 simple letters... S-A-L-E. Yes a sale. smh. I found a Creme Steve Madden Satchel with a huge flower applique on the front. ::stone heart melts::

I debated for at least 15 minutes, it was so bad, that my friend even agreed to buy it for me and then I would just pay her back in September. lol. (she's a great friend). I decided to cut the nonsense and just buy it. I got it over 50% off it's original price. YES!

So..what did I learn?
If you are giving something up, ie shopping don't go to the store?
Once you concede to one thing, it is so much easier to accept something else.

So where does this leave me? Am I still doing my no shopping in August... maybe... it was a good run though. lol.

Until Next Time...

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...

Articles I read today and my one sentence commentary..or not.

In my silent effort to rededicate myself to Reason to Believe, I wanted to share with you some articles that I read today...Just in case you were interested ...

The StayOver
This one discusses this "new" relationship, where couples stay over at each other's places 3 to 4 nights a week, even though they each have their own place... lol. This one made me laugh, because I thought this was normal. ::shrug::

Black Scientists Less Likely to Win Federal Research Grants
Surprise, surprise.. ok not really. But I hate to be pessimistic, but it's hard to see things as ever really changing

Is Natural Hair Dangerous...TSA seems to think so..
Aaah...ok, I read this article yesterday and I almost died at work. Thank you!! Finally someone has acknowledged this.. THis same thing happened to me, I always joke around, but its always something new when I go through security. But I remember this one particular time, I was going through TSA and even AFTER I went through the body scanners, this lady put on some gloves and "searched" my hair. I had some cute bobby pin do, and she completely messed it up. I was just ocnfused, b/c I was like if there was anything in my hair, they would have seen it in the body scanner. SMH.. (Ok that explanation was more than a sentence...eek)

::sidenote:: Yes I've been through the body scanners numerous times... do I feel violated? Umm the fact that they can see my nude body doesn't bother me..what bothers me is I have to spread my legs and put my hands up while all the other passengers watch for that thing to whirl around..lol. anyways.. :sidenote over::

Until Next Time...