Friday, May 30, 2014

Sunshine x Lupe Fiasco

take me back

Links We Love: Souljor.com

 
My friends are so Awesome!
(in my best Shy Glizzy voice)
Here's another example of just that. My friend Jordan dropped Souljor.com, "The Musings and Findings of A Hip Hop Fiend." Hip Hop heads unite, this one's for you. 
 
 
 
Rouse.

Lust List: Dreamcatcher

  I rarely have dreams I can remember. But when I do, it is usually in times when I'm having an inner conflict with myself. It's as if everything in the back of my mind runs wild and forces itself to the forefront of my consciousness. It can become overwhelming to have your mind so restless in times when you're supposed to be peaceful. I have a slight obsession with dream catchers and their Native American origins. I love the beauty of the design. The idea that they are hung above the bed to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams, while letting positive dreams through. The design was created to capture the negative dreams that would get tangled up in the web, while the positive dreams would slip through the holes and slide down the feathers to the sleeping person below. Currently seeking out a dream catcher that speaks to me.. until I find the time to make my own.


Thursday, May 29, 2014

Food Porn

hiiiiiiii *love eyes*


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Natural Love

So I stole this picture of my cousin and his girlfriend from her Instagram (@designsbyshirabenson). To be fair I announced that I was going to do so, so in a way I asked permission lol. I immediately stopped scrolling when I saw it because it's such a dynamic shot. It truly captures the love shared between the two of them, all the while triggering a double dose of natural hair envy (those locs?!). It reminded me of another adorable picture of a natural couple that I came across earlier in the week. How beautiful is Natural Love?

Writing Prompt: How Do You Express Yourself?

I express myself
through the joy that spills out of me in a sing song voice
rather than words simply spoken
the slight dance in my seat when the food is too good to enjoy sitting still
through the sway of my hips as I walk up to him
smile on my lips
butterflies as I plant a kiss on his grin
through the shy glance that I give when everything's not alright
the sternness in my voice when a subject arises for which
I'd fight
the clothes on my back
every shade, cut and color
the style of my hair
influenced by none other
the weight on my shoulders when times are too tough to bare
through the inflection in my voice as excitement squeals out of me
as I sulk on the couch
and hide tears that I don't want the world to see
through the embrace that I give after too much time spent apart
the tighter I squeeze,
the dearer to my heart
I express myself
when I press pen to paper
capturing moments in time
with every line
after a long day
ordering vodka, no chaser
at the top of my lungs as I belt out my favorite tune
as I strut through the place like there is no one else in the room
I express myself through the color of my nails
through the battles that I choose
the markings on my body
that I will never lose
my expressions are dramatic
and at times rather subtle
my expressions are mine, no room for rebuttal

-shari renee

RIP Maya Angelou

'My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style'
 
 

Bus Boys And Poets Open Mic Feat. Rudy Francisco 5/27/14


Last night I finally made my way back to Bus Boys and Poets (14th and V) to take in a night of open mic poetry. It was the first time I'd been back in months and immediately I remembered why I love this place so much. The feeling of being in such a close vicinity of such creatively talented people is overwhelmingly inspiring. My favorite is when the most unassuming looking people saunter onto the stage and kill it. Rudy Francisco was the featured poet of the night and he covered a range of topics far removed from the emo 'I love you/ I hate you' poetry that we so often see at these type of events. He is definitely worth googling/ scouring Youtube. Please try to ignore my giggling throughout the videos. I couldn't help myself. If you ever find yourself stumbling into Bus Boys and don't want to partake in an alcoholic beverage. Try the 'Big Daddy' with vanilla milk. It's amazing. I had two and was wired for the remainder of the night.

( SIDE NOTE: The last post isn't quite a poem.. more so a drunk man rambling, but entertaining nonetheless lol. "Follow Your Dreams!" )



Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Goddess x Banks



Lust List: NCLA AFRIKA Inspired Nail Wraps

Fell in love with these fabulous Afrika inspired nail wraps at Nubian Hueman over the weekend. I didn't leave with them and now I'm suffering from non-buyers remorse. I'll be returning for them later in the week.
 
 
 
Buy them here:

Musings x 5/27/2014

rededicating myself to doing what I love
want: a dream catcher
never allow someone to make you feel bad about taking time to work on and better yourself.
it shouldn't feel like pulling teeth...
we live the life we design
'the world is mine when I wake up'
Me.
wish I could go back
Xmen was great
found a vintage Bob Marley concert poster at the wine fest. score!
wine > stress
I believe in people
3 Ways to Shift Unconscious Patterns That Are Holding You Back
season change
hopeful,
looking up flights is so therapeutic
just knowing that you can get up and go at any given moment is liberating
shot so many videos saturday riding around in the car with Ash
don't assign responsibilities to people who didn't ask for them
the next two weekends shall be epic
some people will forever try to force a square peg through a round hole
..let them
excited for the new season of orange is the new black!
the last five trips I've taken have been solo
never thought I'd become so comfortable
law and order: svu marathons
the sad truth of it is, sometime we build things up in our head to be more than what they are
YouTube this ---> Hidden Colors 2: The Triumph of Melanin
"your judgment/ view is altered when you're too close or in too deep."
I like to keep my calendar as full as possible. down time is dangerous.
running
“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” –Christopher Columbus
2014, the year I stopped waiting on others to live my life


( SIDE NOTE: It wouldn't be Memorial Day weekend without crashing a few cookouts. This one was fun. )
“Strange as it may seem, I still hope for the best, even though the best, like an interesting piece of mail, so rarely arrives, and even when it does it can be lost so easily.” 
― Lemony Snicket
 
 
 
 
How To Wear Edition


Monday, May 26, 2014

Thoughts On An Airplane Napkin, Revisited: Love, Happiness, Freedom - Trifecta

Love, Happiness, Freedom: Trifecta

in pursuit.

Love and freedom aren't as traditionally linked with the idea of "pursuit" as happiness. However, I find that in discussions with my peers and through self- reflection these three always seem to come up.

love,
of self
reciprocated love of others

happiness, 
defining what it means and being true to self
accomplishments/ with where we are in life

freedom, 
to be proudly and unapologetically who we are
to live the life we dreamed for ourselves


In these discussions the 'what' is so clearly defined. It is in the 'how does one get there' that it all begins to become cloudy. There is such a demand for immediate results when we set our minds to something, especially in this generation, that we want to have it instantly. The sad (although not really if you think about it) truth of it is.. it often times doesn't work out that way. These three ideals are so closely linked that it almost seems that you can't have one without the other. We all want to be loved. Even the biggest cynic in the world can deny it until they're blue in the face, but without the love of self or the true reciprocated love of another our happiness suffers. And what is happiness without someone you love to share it with? How happy can one be if they feel trapped or cornered into not living or pursuing the life they envisioned for themselves?

While there is no set formula for achieving this "trifecta" and everyone's journey will be unique to them, I find that in my personal experience I've learned (and am still learning) to pursue the freedom aspect first. It is in pursuing freedom, going out and discovering the life that we want to lead, that we are being the truest to ourselves and thus will find happiness in that aspect alone. In finding happiness through doing the things you love you will in turn come across people with similar interests and values, and have a greater chance of finding a fulfilling love to share it all with.



- a few thoughts that I captured on a napkin while in flight a few months ago. 
when I fly my mind tends to wander. and again tonight.
revisited.

Weekend Recap: Henna Party

 :)
I like to feel secure.

in myself,

my relationships

and my decisions 

Memorial Day Weekend Recap: Caribbean Wine Festival @ Linganore Winecellars











This weekend marked my first ever Caribbean wine festival, and it's sure to be the first of many. My sister (and full-time wingman) Ashleigh was my date. We met up with one of the cutest and real (not one of those 'do it for the likes-approval-new-age') couples I know, Kirk and Isimot, the duo behind my obsession with referring to your love as your "rib." Swoons. A good time was had by all. There was live caribbean music, food, vendors and plenty of dancing; as well as a section reserved solely for hula hooping! And don't even get me started on the wine. (If you haven't tried raspberry wine, do it now. You're welcome) It was one of the best times I've had in a while and I can't wait to return in July for the Reggae fest. I heard it was even more live. Let the summer Festivals begin! 

Next up: The Roots Picnic, 5/31 



( SIDE NOTE: I'm loving the special edition TRIBE tee. Might need to create more? )

Friday, May 23, 2014

Good Morning

 
Happy Friday!


You Make Me Feel Brand New x The Stylistics

Can't stop singing this lately

Thursday, May 22, 2014



Links We Love: FlyGirlBlog.Com

I love when I'm browsing the 'net and I come across some fly $hit. With that said, I think I've discovered my new blog "muse." Meet FlyGirlBlog.com.
 
 
I particularly liked the post on  developing "Your Blueprint" because it is relevant to what I'm trying to do in the place that I'm at in my life. It's a simple idea, which I love because I feel that we are always finding ways to complicate our lives more than we need to. The blueprint layout is below.
 
exp.

Clean, and straight to the point.
More on how to lay out your life here.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Musings: 5/21/2014

grab a hold of the reins of your life
find the fun in the "fixing"
the reward
I feel good
motivated
challenged
...for the better
like an architect
pen in hand,
blank sheet
I
define
me
my actions
my words
my energy
it's mine for the taking
for the creating
outside forces can influence
but they can't tell me who to be
journey with purpose
results driven
I.

Swim Good x Frank Ocean

mood






Shop
http://www.wethetribe.bigcartel.com
I
need
to
get
my
life
to
gether
.

Monday, May 19, 2014

a song popped up on my playlist tonight that brought me back to a place
a feeling,
I haven't ventured in a while
it was nice


( SIDE NOTE: KP - I'm so, I'm so proud of you! )
"Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better.
Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills.
Don’t wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom.
The major value in life is not what you get.
The major value in life is what you become.
Success is not to be pursued;
it is to be attracted by the person you become."
-Jim Rohn
took a moment to revisit my vision board this morning
2014
almost midway through
motivating push



new direction.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Natural Hairstyles: The Pineapple


I mentioned in my musings a few days ago that I've been wearing my hair up to prevent breakage/ split ends. This has been my go-to hairstyle as of late: the pineapple, pulling your hair into a loose ponytail directly atop your head, giving you a style that resembles the fruit.. hence the name. The idea behind this is to achieve perfect "second day curls" by only disturbing the underneath back of your hair and protecting the length as you sleep. I choose to wear mine day and night as not to snag my hair on my clothes which is another contributor to split ends. It's made my natural hair journey that much easier. 

Lust List: Pistache for FP Custom Painted Surfboards


( SIDE NOTE: "See, nothing, it don't matter.." x Lauryn Hill ) 

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