Mad Decent Block Party 2014

bucket list,

Catch an Outkast reunion show at least once this summer

 

tour dates after the jump

Paris x Little Dragon

v3005 x Childish Gambino

I used to listen to this when I'd leave you..

chorus.

goodnight

Empty Suitcases and The Henna Hand Tat

Spent my lunch break getting a henna hand tattoo. I had no idea that the place where I get my eyebrows done even offered such a service. I'm one day away from my trip to LA and have yet to pack. The weather has warmed up there so I'm hoping to spend the days leading up to the premiere laid out on the beach catching the sun rays that we've been missing here on the east coast.

I'll do my best to keep the blog updated with pictures while I'm away.. if not, follow me on Instagram @Shari_Renee.

Musings x 4/8/14

focus.

 



New Phenom: Oil Pulling?

I just discovered this new phenomenon known as Oil Pulling! As illustrated in the pic above (photo cred: thebeautydepartment) you choose the oil of your choice, swish it around in your mouth for twenty-minutes, spit, rinse and brush your teeth. It is supposed to pull toxins out of the mouth, whiten teeth and improve heart health. I attempted the technique last night with coconut oil. I will admit that swishing for twenty-minutes seems a little excessive and is something I'll have to work up to, (I probably lasted no more than 5 minutes) but I'm interested in seeing if it lives up to all of the hype.





Match me. 

Crushin' x J Dilla

Keep Crushin'.

LOVE salad! 

Musings x 4/4/14

I've been on such a high lately. There is so much going on - from my business doing well to my upcoming trip to Los Angeles to planning my birthday outing - I am in a great space. 

I like to feel "busy;" and not just any type of busy where you're just filling your time with meaningless things… good busy where I'm actually working toward things that matter. 

My trip to LA will consist of reuniting with my love/ sorority sister, Celeste of Sucka Free Social Club, shooting a look book for We the TRIBE, and attending a screening for my cousins first short film under their newly formed production company, Celistan & Co Films. 

My birthday will be low-key compared to last years Jamaica trip. It will consist of an intimate dinner with my closest friends. I didn't want to put too much pressure on my self to plan anything extravagant. I just want to enjoy good food, good laughs and good company. 

Lost Queen x Pharell

remind you that you are a lost queen.

Basel Week Miami '12 x #TBT

Art is so cool. 

Basel Week Miami '12 x Holton Rower

Went to Church for the First Time, In A Long Time

I went to church last night for the first time in a long time. I want to share some of the message below (in the form of the notes I took) because it hit home for me, and may do the same for you.

 

"The Lord wants us to find his rhythm... means having to stop some things until they get right!"

 

"Some of us live in a constant frustration (in regards to wanting things to happen on our time)... pushing so hard to make 'it' happen. Life's not meant to be a constant stress and strain."

 

"The enemy finds ways to bind us to the concerns of the flesh/ this world/ man instead of the interests of God."

 

"The work of the enemy in our lives tries to keep us preoccupied with anything other than that which serves the Lord.'

 

*Made reference to bolas as a metaphor for the enemy's attempts at entangling us in his trap. Mentioned a trip to Africa where a hunter told the story of having to stop using bolas to capture animals in certain areas because the animals began to catch on to the trap. Bolas only worked if the animals were using forward motion... because in this motion the weapon would wrap around their feet and demobilize them. The animals eventually learned to stop moving when they saw the weapon coming, and it would fall off of them. They could in turn step out of the trap and go on about their way. All of that to say, sometimes we need to simply, "Stop and reset course."

 

Don't allow yourself to get so distracted by the small meaningless things in life that you overlook the bigger picture.

Don't rush God's timing.

 

"The Lord never tells us to speed up... he's often telling us to slow down."

 

His pacing,

His pattern,

His way.

 

The Lord's rhythm,

The Enemy's silence.



So I Have A Pen Pal...

pen pal things.

I'm excited

New Month, New Season

Can you feel the newness in today?! Or is it just me? Woke up feeling refreshed, renewed and unbothered by my yesterday's! Something about seeing that "1" on the calendar that just sparks a major reset in me. Feel the newness that a new month.. a new season can bring. Happy April everyone!

life is too short

I just want to be happy

travel the world

and surround myself with good people

who hold me down the way I hold them down.

Stop pursuing happiness and create your own.

Revel in it.

No one owes you anything. And in turn you owe nothing to anyone. If someone chooses to do right by you they won't do it because they feel like they owe it to you, they'll simply do it because they want to. Noted.



Happy?



20 days until my birthday!

 

:)

Feel like opening up tonight.

where I let it all hang out

Stopped By the Market, Picked Up A Few Things

Stopped by the market today and picked up a few things to restock my hair care arsenal. 

My hairdresser recommended I try a hair treatment of raw honey and apple cider vinegar. So that's all I'll be doing on this rainy Sunday. 

My mood today would be best described as introspective. I've been allowing certain situations that are out of my control get to me… even though I know better. I'm allowed to. I am human. I'm starting to wonder if I'm drawn to broken souls… and if so, what that says about me. But I'm rambling, today marks a new moon, a new week and new direction. 

Happy Sunday!

l to r:

Trader Joe's Oragnic Raw Honey

Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut oil

Trader Joe's Lavender Triple Milled Soap

( SIDE NOTE: Maybe I'm selfish.. )

Time to step it up. Been coasting for too long..

The Dreamer x Common feat. Maya Angelou

For the World.

Links We Love

 Spring Cleaning Feng Shui tips

Zipper Street Art x Jun Kitagawa

Japanese street artist Jun Kitagawa uses giant zippers in his street art as a metaphor to suggest that there is more than what initially meets the eye, and that we should look beyond the surface and explore what's around us. Thanks for the reminder!

 



the wind down...

We the TRIBE x Spr 2014

New to We the TRIBE!

Classic Hooded Sweatshirts/ Crops

Coming April 2014

 

( SIDE NOTE: I have to get my bangs re-cut so I can let go of my hair in pictures. :/ )

Take Me Away

take me away

to where palm trees

provide shade,

where sun rays radiate

a Midas' touch on my skin

reflection on my outer

of my glow from within,

wanderlust stricken

with no other cure

I feel like I'm stuck in this cocoon

of a room

drowning in familiarity

I need to break free soon.

feeling my last gasp of

 tedious monotony

ho hum hurrahs,

commonplace consistencies

will never be enough

to cure

this bore

that has taken over me,

I need to feel liberated

experience things I've never seen.

to strive to survive

outside of the box of desolate despondency,

these average expectations I will never see

because they will never be

me.

 

 

shari renee

 



Certainly x Badu



I love surprises.

I think there should be more of them in life... good ones. An unexpected rush of happiness.. of adrenaline. To break up the monotony of the day to day... 

The Truth About Soulmates

 

interesting 

...and I read the whole thing.

 

One Mic: Hip Hop Culture Worldwide

March 25- April 14

 

I will, however, make my way out for One Mic: Hip Hop Culture Worldwide presents:

 

 Words, Beats and Life: Graffiti Mural Exhibition

Thai's Orchid Kitchen

2314 Pennsylvania Ave, SE DC

4pm

 

and

 

Lions and Lionesses: A Look at Jazz in a Hip Hop World

HR-57 Center for the Preservation of Jazz Blues, NE DC

7pm

 

 

Both events are free to the public and take place on Sunday March 30th.

( SIDE NOTE: Are your wants making you fall short of attaining your needs? )

Split This Rock Poetry Festival

I've never heard of this event, but it looks pretty cool.

 $120 for a four-day pass/ $50 per day

A little steep for my budget right now, (I'll stick with $5 open mics at Busboys and Poets) but I'll be sure to scour YouTube for what I'm sure will be great footage from this next week. ;)



Best thing I've heard this week, so far; 

 Don't make money to spend. Make money to save. 

Such a simple concept. I have some changes to make.. habits to break.

Musings x 3/24/14



Trust yourself to deliver before you expect others to.

Let that sink in

If you can't trust yourself to be a good friend, you can't expect others to trust you be a good friend.
If you don't trust yourself to be faithful, you can't expect others to trust you to be faithful.
If you can't trust yourself to deliver your best work, you can't expect others to trust your work.
If you can't trust yourself to be responsible, you can't expect others to trust you to be responsible.
If you don't trust yourself to be honest, you can't expect others to trust you to be honest. 

It all starts with holding ourselves accountable and being honest with self first. 

Chicken Marsala Made Simple

 

What you'll need:

Thinly sliced Chicken Breast

Sliced Crimini (brown) Mushrooms

Fresh Parsley (chopped)

3/4 Cup Marsala Cooking Wine

1/3 Cup Flour

1/3 Cup Water

Olive Oil

Butter

 

Set oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly coat chicken breast in flour.

Coat baking pan with just enough olive oil to cover the surface.

Add mushrooms, butter and parsley in skillet and brown. Set aside.

Bake chicken on middle rack for 20 minutes, flipping midway through.

Add 1/3 cup flour, 1/3 cup water and 3/4 cup Marsala cooking wine. (more or less depending on how strong you want the sauce to be)

Bring mixture to a boil on med-low heat. Stir until thickened.

Pour mixture over chicken and bake for another 5 minutes.

Serve.

 

  

Open Your Eyes x John Legend

One of my favorite songs on John Legend's latest album 'Love in the Future' is "Open your eyes," a cover of the 1980's hit by Bobby Caldwell. I love this version.. it just feels so good to me. The Caldwell classic was also sampled in Common's "The Light." I posted the original below. Good music!
Enjoy.

finding forever?

I love scouring for unique accents that have a well traveled feel. I found these awesome handcrafted bowls at my favorite home décor store for a steal at $10 each! The bold colors and African- inspired pattern made them hard to pass up. The pictures don't do them justice. Score!



Summer Love x Georgia Ann Muldrow

today.


( SIDE NOTE: Ever since starting my expense tracking log I've been making a lot smarter decisions in my spending. There's something about seeing your every move.. every dollar.. every dime(!) written out on paper that will snap you out of making impulse purchases... and quick! lol )

Roses Are Red x International Day of Happiness

I grew up with a father who always had fresh flowers waiting for me when I would visit. I didn't know just how lucky I was then, (I didn't realize that this wasn't the "norm," because for me, growing up, it was) but I was blessed with such an amazing, doting man that set my standards high in regard to how I'd look at a man and how I'd allow myself to be treated.

 

 Since, flowers have had a very special meaning to me. They take me back to those days as a little girl and the sense of joy when I'd open my bedroom door and see a beautiful bouquet staring back at me; a feeling of being thought of and valued, and most of all knowing that my happiness mattered to someone other than myself.

 

I chose to capture this picture at my local grocery

and share my brief story in honor of International Day of Happiness!

 

What makes you happy? 

 

( SIDE NOTE: Beyond your wildest dreams... I'm trying to go there. )



Musings x 3/18/2014

riding horses on the beach in Jamaica was one of the top ten most memorable moments in my life

I'm very big on self-help, self-discovery and typing things into google.

craving, day trips to museums and art galleries

queen.

… and my love is patient and kind and shit

we forget how vast the world is and allow our immediate surroundings to control our happiness far too often.

I enjoy deeper connections

sapiosexual stimulation

first time hot air balloon rides

one can only operate on the same level for so long.. elevate

be kinder to self.

currently studying and implementing feng shui principles

people who believe in a lack, lose

believe in abundance, doors open up to you

( SIDE NOTE: I think I'd like to go on a cherry blossom dinner cruise this year. Below: Last year's blooms, captured in my front yard. )

Unfinished Poem #1

passion overflowing

spilling out onto the floor

forming puddles

of

...

Late Pass x Blood Orange

Currently playing catch up.
Please excuse my lateness.

The World is Yours x SXSW

Never forget.

You've got to be able to identify the difference between 

win-win, 

win-lose, 

and lose-lose.