Weekend Outing: Making Strides for Breast Cancer!!!

This weekend I joined a group of close friends for the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk that took place at several locations across the state. We joined the Brooklyn crew in Prospect Park and had so much fun!! The ACS website states that these walks would be held "Rain or Shine" and they weren't lying about that. We did the 3.2 mile trek in less than desireable weather. It was 40°F, raining and windy. But you know, I think the rain only served to encourage us even more in our efforts.... people had pink ponchos, pink umbrellas, pink rainboots and an unwavering determination to face nature head on. I threw on a cap and called it a day. Hey, what's a little bit of wind and water when so much is at stake!

Overall I thought the day was beautiful. For once my friends and I hung out and it wasn't about going to a party, dressing fly and looking cute. We wore sweat pants, no make-up (ok I wore a little) and just felt comfortable as we were, working together for a common goal. Breast cancer doesn't care if you're cute. It doesn't discriminate against Hispanic, Asian, Black, White or green for that matter. It's a tragic disease that's responsible for 15% of cancer related deaths this year alone.

Although I don't personally know anyone that has ever battled this disease I still think it's very important that we keep fighting to find a cause and cure because Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women. One never knows what life may throw their way and I can only hope and pray that I nor any of my loved ones ever have to fight this tragic disease.

There are some people out there really making a difference in the fight against this disease. On the ACS site you can find a list of people that they call Pacesetters. These are people that were able to raise $2,500 or more for the Society.

Here are the 2009 Pacesetters of Brooklyn:

Kathleen Matthew
Joy Soodik
Brenda Ulmer
Kris Kim
Dawn Thompson
Arlene White
Nadine Younge
Marie Devino
Marjorie Stenerson
Theresa Samuels
Audrey Moore
Pat Wright
Wanda Ricketts
Jeanette Morales

Eventhough my friend OC (Oceola Woodruff) didn't make this year's list I still consider her to be a Pacesetter in my community! Great job girl!! Next year we're getting you on that list for sure!

Here are some pics from our walk:

It felt good hitting the first mile!

Students were there to cheer us on along the way!

Too cute!

there I go... always on that Crackberry smh

My friend Naimah was there walking in celebration of her friend Lesette who is a survivor.

2 Miles down baby! You can't stop us now!!!

Some kids that helped to raise funds:


Wow! This is what it's all about!

One thing's for sure they weren't going to let us get dehydrated. Water was on DECK! :)

Some signs of encouragement along the route:

Almost there!!

We did it!

OC was the driving force behind getting us all involved in the walk. At the end she gave a speech thanking us for showing our support!

Don't mention it girl!!

I love how the West Indian spirit that's a trademark of this Brooklyn community was alive and well during the event. Steel drum players were on site sharing some sweet Caribbean sounds for the participants:

At the finish line they handed out some eats and beverages for all the participants and of course we gladly accepted! LOL!

Fun times indeed!!!

And just because I know she would appreciate it here's a pic of OC on one of her usual Glam nights ;):

If you have a story about Breast cancer or participated in any of the walks across NY this past weekend please feel free to share your thoughts.....................................................................

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Weekend Outing: Miami Carnival 2009

Ok so I took a trip out to the always fun Miami South Beach to partake in the Miami Carnival Festivities. I go every Columbus weekend. Sometimes I do the Yankee thing and sometimes I hang out on the Caribbean scene, but this year it was the best of both worlds. The music was versatile at every party I went to.

Miami is the last stop on the CCC or "Caribbean Carnival Circuit" (starting with Trinidad carnival in February and ending with Miami carnival in October) and this year Miami definitely seemed to be a GRANDE finale!

And the special thing about the Carnival this year is that for once the parade was all in once spot! It's usually split between venues in Dade & Broward countys. But everyone played mass together this year and the good vibes were that much stronger!

2 of my favorite girls! :p

Sorry I didn't take many pics on this trip... These are a few shots from the Redeye party that my friends and I went to.

Hopefully I'll have better coverage of next year (God-willing)!

If you went to Miami carnival this year or have ever been in previous years please feel free to leave a comment on your experience out there................................................................

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New Naomi nails!

So here's the latest Nails by Naomi design that Arlene got. They're a tribute to MJ... hence the "I love MJ" on her right thumb and left index fingers... so... what do you think?

While I was at the salon Naomi filled me in on her recent doings. She did Alicia Key's nails for the Emopire Sate if Mind vidoe shoot (with jay-Z) as well as for Alicias new single "Doesn Mean Anything"

Naomi also informed me thast she's been doing our favorite city slicker, Sam Jones' nails throughtout the highly anticipated Sequal to the Sex & the City movie. OMG so Samantha and I have the same nails tech! How MAJOR is that!!?! I love it. I know Naiomi did her thing on Samantha and now I really can't wait for the release of that movie!

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Chyna is so Precious!

For young ladies, of my generation, there are certain books that we most definitely read growing up, some even several times over. Books like Fly Girl, The Coldest Winter Ever, B-More Careful & Push are staples in our collection. For me personally they bring back memories of my younger days and have even helped to teach me a thing or two of what not to do, and how to cope with certain obstacles in life. Lessons that I learned by walking with the leading ladies of these stories. Rooting for them, feeling their pain, crying with them and laughing with them... their stories are our stories.

I still remember the day my cousin Michelle gave me this little red book with big black letters on the front that spelled one simple word... PUSH! It would turn out to be one of the most important reads of my life! (like Coldest Winter) I had never read anything like that before. There was sex, incest, abuse, illiteracy.... and by the end of the book there was hope, education, love and so much promise for the possibilities that lay ahead for our determined protagonist.

The book Push is a tesitment to the notion that dreams do come true. When you're hungry enough for it you can acheive it. Precious wanted to learn. She wanted to be loved. She just wanted an opportunity towards a different life, a better life. And despite her mother, her peers and her circumstances saying otherwise she acheived those things.

Life is something else. I find it in a way poetic that the dreams of my friend Chyna Layne are being realized through her involvement in the movie remake of Push, Precious. Chyna is a young woman from the mean streets of East New York that has dedicated herself to hard work and forging her way to the top. Finally the grinding, the Dr. Miracle's commercials, tons of independant films and minor roles are paying off and she is being recognized for the force that she is! Dreams really do come true!

I still remember the first time she mentioned to my boyfriend (her best friend) that she was going to be in the movie version of Push. It was almost as though she didn't get how BIG of a deal this was going to be. I was super excited for her and I already knew then, that her life was about to change. Well...... she definitely gets it now lol!

The beautiful and talented Ms. Layne was on Good Day New York today talking about the movie Precious and the praises it's been receiving all over the film industry. This film presented by Oprah Winphrey & Tyler Perry (OMG!) has been taking the film festivals by storm; so far it's won Grand Jury Prize for best drama, an Audience Award at Sundance, People's Choice in Toronta and Monique (who plays the role of the abusive mother) won a special Grand Jury award for acting.

Check out her interview:

I couldn't be happier for Chyna!! I personally think she should start lobbying for her role in the film remake of Coldest Winter, whenever that actually happens. I've been holding my breathe for years now that we'll eventually have that movie, and I'm not going to give up on it just yet :). Come on Jada I thought you were working on this.......

Can't you guys see Chyna as a Simone or Lauren. I love it! :D

Check out the Trailer for Precious here.

And here are some pics of her on set with fellow castmates:

On the set of Precious, in character:

The ladies in class chopping it up:

Miss Layne is not stopping at roles in front the camera. She has her own Production company and has also begun testing her Screenwriting skills. Sky's the limit for this woman! Go girl!

With her best friend & my baby, Cisco:

with Jamie Fox
On set of a Dr. Miracle's commercial:

With directore Nelson George:

In character, lmao!

Chyna has also been working on a new movie entitled "We Are Family" co-starring Monique Coleman from HighSchool musical, Frenchie Davis (my alum), D Woods, Omarossa and others.

Chyna & Trey Haley, the director of "We Are Family"

On set with D Woods:

You can check out Chyna's Reel here.

And just for kicks here's a throwback pic of BFF's!! lol

If you've ever seen any of Chyna's work or would like to share your thoughts on her please feel free to leave a comment..........................................................................................

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Nikki's All about the Benjamins Baby!!

For those who care and those who've been following this young lady for sometime now, looks like the most unique and interesting chick in rap, in a long time, will be dropping her first LP very soon. She's now officially signed to Young Money/Universal Records and is scheduled to release her first album in the first quarter next year.

Of course I had my doubts about Nikki Minaj. I thought, oh boy here we go with another bubble gum rapper trying to be the next Lil Kim. Now, I don't know why she doesn't like the Lil Kim comparisons when a) Kim's a legend and b) she purposely did a photoshoot channeling Kim's Hardcore album cover. I mean come on now Nikki, you knew exactly what kind of feedback you would get from a move like that. Furthermore she stay rapping about... well... you know... the usual Kim ish!
But to be quite honest our generation grew up to Kim and Foxy. They were all we had to emulate so it's only natural that you'd here their influences in artists of a certain age coming outta NY.

But anyway, after doing my homework on her I must say that I really like her and I'm rooting for her success 100%.

She seems like an overall driven and talented young woman that's not going to come and go as quietly as people may think. She has her eyes set on (print) modeling and acting, and she has a pretty good singing voice on her too. Girl I say go for it ALL!

I do still believe that she is a bubble gum rapper in the sense that, the whole Pop, girly-girl image is her thing! She stay's in pink, sounds and dresses like a cartoon character, however her lyrics are far from soft. Yes, her voice has the tendency to get very ANNOYINGGG!! But, her skills makes it tolerable cause you want to hear what her next punch line will be.

In the above footage Nikki describes her ideal guys as "Old wrinkled and white on a green peice of paper"!! hahahaa I love it! I don't think there's anything wrong with women being all about their paper. There's a time in life for everything and right now she's grinding and won't allow boys to deter her from her many goals.

On another note, if you don't want to be compared to Kim take it easy on the body distortion Nikki. Already she has a** and t*ts bigger than ever before. smh

Her mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty has been extremely well received and she's always featuring on somebody else's joint. Can't wait to see what she does with her own album.

Check out some of her old and new joints and tell me what you think of her:

Warning here

Playtime is Over here

Envy here

Still I Rise here

She Gotta Donk remix here

Go Hard remix here

I had to throw this video up here just because she's repping super hard! lol Trini!! yeah yeah!!

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ROCNATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has to be one of the hottest commercials ever!!!!

Now if you know me then you already know this post was coming. Just had to give myself some time to absord the masterpiece and marinate in the greatness that is Blueprint 3.

Breaking Elvis' record for the male solo artist with the most no.1 albums, Jay-Z is officially a living legend!

My favorite tracks are:

Track 2 - Thank You
Track 4 - Run This Town
Track 5 - Empire State of Mind
Track 9 - A Star is BornTrack
Track 10 - Venus vs. Mars
Track 11 - Already Home (this might be my favorite!!)
Track 12 - Haters
Track 14 - So Ambitious

Here are some of my favorite quotes off Blueprint 3:


"I’m in The Hall already / On the wall already / I’m a work of art, I'm a Warhol already / On another level, on another plane already / H-O-V I got my own lane already (already)"
- Already Home


"I felt so inspired by what the teacher said / Said i'd either be dead or be a reefer head /Not sure if that’s how adults should speak to kids /Especially when the only thing I did was speak in class /Ill teach his ass "
- So Ambitious


"Rap like I rap without lying and then tying both together like iron my n-gga /
write 16’s in between running 16 businesses, all the while showing these young punks what the business is"
-Reminder


"Oh yeah I'm rare, I'm aware that I'm rare / I rap and I’m real, I’m one of the few here / These other boys lyin', I wonder if y’all care / They stories out this world, I wonder if y’all hear"
- Real As It Gets


"And really the fact is, we not in the same bracket /Not in the same league Don't shoot at the same baskets / Don't pay the same taxes, Hang with the same bitches / So how am i in the way, what is it i'm missing? / N-gga I been missing N-gga I been gone / The shit that you just witnessesing I been on"
- Already Home


"I don't run rap no more I run the map"
-What We Talkin About

I can go on and on so I'll stop here! lol

This album is so grown up. It's Jay looking back at the entire journey of his career through the gaze of the successful business man that he is today. Saying I told you so to those that doubted him, giving due praise to his peers that have also lived out their dreams in this game (Young Jeezy, Kanye, SwizzBeats, Pharell) and lastly showing love to the future leaders of rap by featuring them on this historic album (Drake, Kid Cudi, J. Cole) .....Clap for him!

I don't know if it's the beat or his flow or a combination of both but "Thank You" really reminds me of Reasonable Doubt Jay. I think he should have made this the leading track on the album (Track 1 is my least favorite).

oh! and forget about Empire State of Mind! FIIRREE!!!! Like seriously I feel like New York ain't have an anthem this big since Sinatra sang his praises of this great city... even Lil'Mama couldn't contain herself during Jay's performance at the MTV VMA's this year ha!:D

One last note... I think Jay did the right thing by taking a stand against Autotune. He is an elder in this game and sometimes kids need an adult to set them straight. I mean just think how many songs came this year alone with an Autotune hook. It's to the point where you can barely distinguish between artists because everyone's music is starting to sound the same.

I remember when Ron Brownz started his little run. I was happy for his success because he's a Harlem native and I am familiar with his story and his struggle. I was just happy that he was finally shining My boyfriend however was never a fan of his from day one. As he put it, RB was trying to be T-Pain. I didn't get it then. I thought my boyfriend was just "hating". But he was absolutely right. Yall rappers are T-Paining too much! where's the originality? the true talent? .............................stop the shinanigans......................

Well D.O.A. is a perfect reminder of the real talent source of rap. It's a blueprint for those that have forgotten how to make a hit without synthesized riffs. Ill lyrics and hot tracks, period. Shoot sometimes you don't even need a highly orchestrated production to make a hot album. Just raw emotion, a sick steady flow and a story to tell... minus the added on b.s. and you're good money (see Drake & J Cole). Now don't get me wrong, I know music evolves and I'm in support of that. But there's a clear difference between evolution and a point of standstill and I feel like autotune was preventing the music from progressing. Thanks Uncle Jay! lol

RocNation all day!!!!!!!!!... sorry Haters! (no I'm not)

By now we've ALL heard the new album so please feel free to leave your thoughts about it ..........................................

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Weekend Outings: Mayweather vs. Marquez Rooftop Fight Party

This Saturday was Mayweather's highly anticipated return fight since his lay off of almost 2 years from Boxing. I, like many others, already knew he would win loooong before the first punch was thrown. While I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere of the rooftop setting, the skyline and fresh air, the fight itself was a disappointment. Mayweather needs to step up the ante and fight a more challenging opponent. I learned nothing new by watching him outmove and outskill Marquez. But hey I guess that's why they call him Money Making Mayweather, because that's what it's all about for him.

Many boxing enthusiasts want to see a Mayweather/Mosley match-up and I can't lie that sounds like a must see event!

I attended Mosley's fight against Cotto held in Madison Square Garden and was so disappointed that he lost. I felt like he could have won that fight. Nevertheless, the potential and talent to beat Mayweather is definitely there to be tapped into.

The next fight I'm looking forward to is Paquiao/Cotto scheduled for November 14th. That should be good.

(shout out to Dream Team Nation for having a wonderful event!)

If you got to see the fight over the weekend please feel free to share your thoughts on it............................................................... Read more!