ESSENCE.COM: The Best of Street Style

Hey guys... go to Essence.com and check out your girl in:

"The Best of Street Style":

*winner of: Best trendy Shoe!!*

I literally took this picture months ago and just checked the websited today! Who knew I actually won a category and everything! I'm hype lol.... the funny thing is they caught me on an off day! ;)

Shout out to my Gucci Baboushka's for making this all possible!


Enjoy!, and leave comments either here or on Essence.com and let me know what you think of my "Street Style".....

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Quote This: "Ego" Remix - Kanye

"Everybody in the club

Tryna get as fresh as me

What you on dog?

Tryna stay recession free!

I couldn't of said it better myself homie!

Leave a comment and tell me what you think of this quote..........

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H&M Launches Fashion Against AIDS!

As you may or may not know H&M happens to be one of my favorite stores to shop in. Anywhere that I can get an entire look (minus the Fab shoes & bags of course) for under $100 is a wonderful place indeed. And all you recessionistas fashionistas better catch on and stop acting like you're too good to rock the hell out of a $20 dress. A bad chick can make anything look good. And a smart chick (especially in these times) knows it shouldn't have to cost much to do so.

More importantly this chain is doing something extremely positive and necessary. They have teamed up with Designers Against Aids (DAA) and countless celebrities to raise awareness to the 12 million youth currently infected with the virus. Here's a statistic that you may not know: 50% of newly reported cases of this disease are of people between the ages of 15 - 24.

sidenote: H&M is using organic cotton in the Fashion Against Aids line and they have increased their usage of organic cotton in their 2008 spring collection.

It's cool for us to rock the more expensive labels, but let's try to be concious with where we put our precious dollars and how it'll better our world.

I picked up this adorable Tee that reads "Girls Just Wanna Have Safe Sex"

Here are pic's of some of the artists that were kind enough to take part in this project free of charge:

Rih-Rih

Katie Perry

N.E.R.D.

Estelle

Dita

Loves it!

So, next time you're in H&M try to pick up a piece from this line and do something to help this epedemic that's having such an impact on the youth.

If you've already purchased your Fashion Against AIDS piece or if you'd like to share some thoughts on H&M's project, or the deadly virus, please feel free to leave a comment........

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Summer Jam '09

We in here!

This year was the last year that Hot 97's Summer Jam concert would be held at its home stage for years now, Giants Stadium. The concert has become an integral part of the New York/Tri-State Area Hip-Hop culture. From the "pilgramage" on the highways to the parking lot pimping to the fashion show that all in attendance put on to see the most revered artists of the year... I LOVE the entire experience of Summer Jam @ Giants Stadium. I couldn't miss this one yall!!

If rappers have a beef it gets aired out right on this stage. Jay-Z displaying the infamous picture of Prodigy (Mobb Deep) in a ballerina tu-tu comes to mind lol. And one could always expect the unexpected like when Michael Jackson made a surprise appearance some years back. Hot new artist making a name for themselves get to showcase their perfortmance skills to the Tri-State and we get reminded of why the best performers like, Red & Meth and Busta, deserve that title.

I'm so glad the artists didn't disappoint this year. Most brought their A-Game. The reggae boys did their THING!! Movado, Serani and the energy God himself, Elephant man performed around 7pm and seemed to set the tone for all the acts that followed.

Yall already know Flatbush, Brooklyn was going MOD at this point lol

A couple a vets...

Bussa-Bus
And of course the hottest rapper moving right now (well... until Jay drops the Blueprint 3), Drake, came to show everyone that he's the best! I was NOT feeling homie's fit too much but what more can I expect from the ex-Nickelodeon actor.
Say what you want but I'm riding with Drake and I'm far from a bandwagoner... I've done my homework and I'm co-singing his hype! Just not his stylist!!

The guy with one of the hottest song this summer (Jeremih) did his thing!!"Girl you know I-I-I" :)

sidenote: Where have all the women in Hip-Hop gone?!?!

While I was completely disappointed in the lack of female presence at the show my favorite performer of the night had to be the queen of R&B soul, Mary J!
She looked beautiful and rocked the entire stadium like the veteran that she is.

Feeling the Gucci Iman Triple Ankle Strap Sandals Mary!
She sang old songs, new songs... and just overall sang her heart out! I loved every minute!
and here's a clip of Mary sharing her thoughts on the concert and your boy Drake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKfpG1oUQhY&feature=player_embedded

The Kim came out and kep repping the ladies as she performed her new joint "Download" with T-Pain
Fresh off her stint on Dancing with the Start, get it girl!
I'll save the analysis of why such a beautiful girl went in with the plastic surgery like this for another post

If you went to the concernt this year, or even if you didn't, please feel free to leave a comment sharing your thoughts......

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When Mary J. was looking for "Real Love"... was it this?!

I had the honor of accompanying my better half to the Home Going celebration for the mother of a very close friend of his.

At the service the bishop decided to speak on something called "Agape Love"
(pronounced a-gah-pee or ah-gah-pay)



Agape Love:
"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Unfortunately I am not nearly as familiar with The Word as I should be (but not for long), so this was a foreign term to me. But when I began to read 1 Corinthians 13 and she started to break down exactly what this Agape Love is (and how this woman lived her life displaying this kind of love to others).... it blew me away.

Now I have to say last week was a struggle for me. I was dealing with alot, including the news of 3 deaths in 2 days and the betrayal of a close friend. I was doing alot of searching for answers as to why things happen a certain way and why people do certain things to others, and I felt like I was meant to hear these enlightening words.

Let me be the first to admit that I am very far from embodying and/or sharing this kind of love. I fall short in so many ways so please don't think that I am holding myself on any better than thou pedestal here. For one my temper constantly gets the better of me. I am extremely impatient and yes, believe it or not I can actually be pretty rude alot of the time. Also, I have my fair share of pride, and if I feel that someone had embarassed or disrespected me it's hard for me to just let it go. But hey it might just be a growing up in Brooklyn thing lol. And if nothing else it could be that I'm just human!!


But I do see where I may be on the right track, which is a gift and a curse at times. I do not envy (I think that trait is gross) what's mine is mine and what's yours is yours, point blank. I always protect (alwasy the first to defend a friend, I've talked myself blue in the face trying to refute negative things I've been told about a friend. And forget about physical confrontation, Imma get to you before my friend does lol). I always trust (even when everything else is telling me to do otherwise)..... I hope (for the best)! Some call it naivete but alot of the time it's that same naivete that makes me a better person in the long run. It's not that I don't know any better but I like to see the good in people. I like to think that what I give out is what I get in return, and when someone else falls short that's not on my head, thats their L.


I think its important to hope that someone stands up to your expectations of them, of what a friend should be, what a brother should be, what a good man should be and here's the line that completely messed me up: "Agape love keeps no record of wrong doing". Huh?!Now how do you do that?! and no offense but isn't that considered being a fool? If you let others do wrong to you, and never hold it against them, aren't you just setting yourself up to be played again and again???

I mean, this is one of those things that you almost have to be an Angel to truly follow. But I know one thing, I refuse to live my life bitter or scorn.... numb from too many let downs. I'd rather learn Agape Love....



I have to say that in all my 20 odd years on this earth the person that has come closest to this description of showing Agape love to me (other than my mother/granny) is my better half. I never knew that there was really a name for what this man has shown me, I mean I guess I figured it was that Real love that Mary sang to me about when I was coming up. Oh, he's no angel himself, but when I read that passage I have to admit that he's pretty darn close.

Well, you know what Mary, real love is really out there girl, cause I sure enough got me some!





If you have any thoughts on Agape Love or anything that I've mentioned regarding this concept please feel free to leave a comment.........

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Climbing Dunn's River Falls

OMG a must do in this lifetime! The waters of Dunn's River are definitely intimidating at first glance but once you start the trek up the experience becomes exciting and very romantic.

So there's definitely a sign warning all visitors that you're climbing at your own risk. Not the most encouraging words before you make your way into the park and towards the falls.



Guess there's no turning back now!!!


Do you see that drop behind me.... I can't lie I was still hesitating at this point... but I'm far from chicken so I manned-up!



The water of the falls actually flows into the ocean, so I started my ascension on a beach.

lol

The water is COLD!!!! and FAST!!!!

But it feels great!!


It's no peice of cake. You really have to put your back into it. And the rocks are slippery too so.... careful!






The falls are under the road at one point so I had to pass under this overhead thingy.



A little photoshoot on the waterfall can't hurt


If you're determined enough to make it all the way to the top this is the sign you see there!

Make sure you visit the falls if you're ever in Ochos Rios.

If you've ever climbed Dunn's or just think this is cool please feel free to leave a comment..... Read more!