Recap: Raw DC presents Grandeur x My Very First Art Show!

It's hard to put last night into words. The love and support that I was shown at my very first art show was incredibly humbling. From the beginning of the night until the end the vibrations were high. It truly was an uplifting experience to have my work so well received by people from so many different walks of life. If you came out, THANK YOU. You made the experience that much more worthwhile.. and I will never forget it. I'm honored to say that after last night my art will now have over 15+ new homes (I was lucky enough to receive picture mail of one of my pieces on display already. Love!). 

I look forward to what the future holds. 

( SIDE NOTE: I'm not sure what I've done to deserve all of the blessings being thrown my way, but I will be sure to pass them on. When you're blessed, be a blessing. )

p.s. will post more pics as they come in

Thank YOU.

tomorrow I will have marked another check on my bucket list

humbled, grateful

thank you to everyone that believes in me and my talent.

I hope you enjoy what I have been working so hard on for the past month and a half, and literally dedicated all of my free time to. Creating makes me happy; it gives me something to get lost in and ultimately allows me to feel 'found.' It was a goal of mine to have an art show in 2015 - and after tomorrow I can say I've done just that. It was a goal of mine to have my artwork hanging in someone's home - after tomorrow I can say I've accomplished that too.

With focus, determination, prayer and a positive mindset you can do anything you set out to do. More of a believer with every passing day.  

Links We Love: Why Did I Get Married? Here's Why

A good read.

love seeing young (black) couples happily in love ..and marriage

snippet //

"In every way, I'm better off because I'm married. So, for me, a successful marriage has revolved around this principle: I like who I am with her." -TJ Holmes

Shadow Dance x The Internet

I love how chill sunday is

tonight's vibe

Links We Love: Releasing Dead Weight

Akin Olokun: Releasing Dead Weight

I'd really like to live my life a little more this way. Dedicating a part of my weekend to decluttering my space. I always feel better after I let go of things that, for lack of a better word, I was ultimately hoarding - old school work, clothes that have been stored in bins for years, broken accessories that I swore I'd somehow restore, impulse purchases I never wore, etc. Spring is right around the corner after all. 

I recently watched a documentary on Netflix, "Living On One Dollar," and it was really humbling, I highly recommend it if you're ever looking for a good documentary (or a little humbling ;)) 

garden nymph

I could change your life, but I'm not going to force it on ya

Governor's Ball Line Up 2015

I'm thinking day 1/day 2

sunday night 

( SIDE NOTE: goals that I set out to accomplish in six months, I've now achieved in two. grateful. )

Turning 30 Should Not Be A Starting Point

People treat the big 3-0 like this big miraculous age where everything in life will change; after thirty it will be acceptable - expected even - to get more serious about life. But in all actuality there are some of us who are serious about life at our current ages. Thirty is not the be all end all when it comes to deciding you are ready to adopt an adult mindset. Knowledge, maturity and growth should be something we build on with each coming year, instead of waiting for a false beacon of light that being thirty brings. I know people that are still doing the same things at 27 that they were doing at 24, so to assume that the bridge between 29 and 30 will bring about some grand 'a-ha' moment seems trivial. 

Don't allow people to tell you you're too young for something, or too old for something. You decide.  There's no one age where things will be just right all across the board. You decide your pace. Set your own timeline. 

was going to write a really deep post about how people have the power to choose the direction of their lives, and how each choice is a sacrifice of the outcome of another.. but I got lazy. 

so:

red or green pill, 

you live and you learn

"Mans natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart."

- Confucius





Lust List: Archie's Press Maps

Put on for your city(ies)

I'm a first generation Washingtonian. My family hails from New Orleans, LA. this year I plan to take steps toward exploring the culture more, and finding out as much as I can about those who came before me. I also want to trace my ancestry before the end of Black History Month (although I've been told the results can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks). I feel like you can't truly know yourself until you know where you come from.. and I want to know more than just the surface. Where did we come from? What stories do my grandparents have to share from their childhoods? How did we find our way to DC? What did their parents do for a living, and their parents before them? Hopefully one day I'll be able to add an African country/ territory (or 3)  to this list.

( SIDE NOTE: Ash Wednesday calls for us to give up something, and this year instead of giving up food (chocolate, red meat) or something to do with vanity (40 Days of Curls) as I've done in previous years, I'll be giving up something that will instead help my peace of mind. ) 

P.S. Pay attention to who supports you.. like really supports you, not just who talks about it. It's never the people that you'd expect.. a complete stranger will support you before those you're closest to.

Community x Roman Lee Norfleet

support the underground

Updated: '40(ish) Days of Curls' Product Overhaul

I've been saying I was going to do an updated product overhaul for a while now. My last one was almost two years ago (horrible, I know). Now that I'm well into my natural hair journey I pay much closer attention to what I choose to use in my hair, and I'm even more selective because my hair is color treated (alcohol is a no no). These products have worked wonders on trying to maintain my hair's health as well as regaining length that was lost in my transition. (I use the word transition lightly because I've always been natural.. I use it to refer to the time when I stopped heat abusing my hair every two weeks and switched to wearing my curls first time.) I arranged the products in the order that I use them, and the coconut oil can be used as both a pre-poo and to seal ends.

From l to r:

LouAna 100% Pure Coconut Oil

III Sisters of Nature Cleasing Co-Wash with Coconut Milk 10oz

Pureology Perfect for Platinum Conditioner, 8.5 Ounce

It's a 10 miracle leave -in Plus Keratin 10oz

Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Leave-In Conditioner 16oz
Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner - 33 oz

Not pictured:
Natural Argan Oil (also used as an end sealant) 

Inspire the Tribe.

Weekend Recap: Lauryn Hill x Badu x Valentine's Day

spent valentine's day w ms. hill and badu

more videos on my Youtube

Musings: 2/16/2015

lauryn hill + badu concerts back to back makes for an unforgettable weekend

ascension,

no affiliation

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." -Alice Walker

( SIDE NOTE: Time is ticking to get your tickets for my very first art show. If you're in the DC area March 4th, come out and support. )

The Blind Trust Project



this is so powerful,

I cried

Happy Dilla Month!

quick sketch

 

 

art by shari renee

 

 



Weekend Recap: The Black Love Experience @ Nubian Hueman x 2/8/2015

Nubian Hueman hosts some of the best events in DC; that's not opinion, that's a fact. The Black Love Experience was no exception. The night was perfect from beginning to end. Black owned businesses from all across the DC area came together under one roof to showcase their genius. There were fashion/ accessory designers, massage therapists, pastry chefs, artists, poets, relationship gurus, (complete with dating/ marriage workshops) photogs and musicians. Anything you could possibly dream up... it was there. And I'm so thankful that Anika continues to give all of these opportunities to young black entrepreneurs to get their names and brands out there. I will forever support Nubian Hueman because of that. And who knows, maybe next year you'll see a familiar face there. ;)

 

Special shout out to the brands: LLULO, Jamilla Okubo (artist), House of Mimi, Good Thoughts Tea Co, AllyElle Cards, 84 Gem, Pages (poet), E-Baby (poet) Markus Prime (artist), The Date Whisperer (relationship guru), Ujamaa Box, Cakes by Tanya (pastry chef) and many, many more. 

 

Inspire the Tribe.



( SIDE NOTE: Another thing that I appreciate about these events is the crowd. Ankara prints and natural hair everywhere! lol It's so nice to be among people that appreciate a little culture over the club.  )



Musings: 2/3/2015

I've been praying a lot for a stronger drive lately

more motivation, and to reach and surpass my envisioned potential

this year has started off with a bang

I feel as though all of my prayers for peace and clarity were granted on Jan 1st when the clock struck 12

I'm sure that it's all in my mind and that I was subconsciously waiting on the new year to give a fresh start to a state of mind that I'd been working toward for some time,

but either way

I'm so grateful to have found it and that I'm still maintaining it a month and some change later

I hope it never leaves me

"If the problem can be solved, why worry? If the problem cannot be solved, worrying will do you no good." - Dalai Lama

I've been working hard to try to create at least one painting a day until my very first art show, Mar 4th, a little over a month away. However, my creative process is extremely laid back. I paint what I want to paint. I don't think about being cohesive. I don't force it. I just create, and release it into the world to be received. 

Ain't No Giving In x Chronixx

reggae is always a good way to start the day

My First Art Show x Raw Natural Artists: Grandeur

I am SO happy to announce that my art will be featured at RAW DC presents 'Grandeur' on March 4th at the Howard Theatre! It was only within the last year that I reunited with my first love of drawing/ painting.. so I'm very grateful to be presented with this opportunity. 

If you're in the DC area please come out and support, as this will be my first showcase and is a very exciting time for me! There will be plenty of other talented visual and performance artists there as well. 

Tickets can be purchased through my link rawartists.org/inspirethetribe.. and are $15 in advance. 

*Update*

The site is back up and running! Now go buy buy!!  :)

Musings: 1/28/2015

this is the happiest I've been in a long time doing a musings post

...will be posting the source of said happiness later on tonight

prince x ART OFFICIAL AGE to begin my day,

every day.



Lust List: Atelier Versace Collection Spr. '15

The first "Lust List" of the year is probably one of my most out of reach to date. *insert long defeated sigh here* I fell in love with the Henri Matisse inspired cutouts on the Atelier Versace Haute Couture Spring 2015 runway in Paris yesterday.

 

I'm praying that one of my favorite stores are able to come out with a quality knock off soon. lol. Can you blame me?

 







'cause I'm happy

Girl With The Nubian Head Wrap

 1/ 22/ 15

( SIDE NOTE: Surviving Mercury Retrograde… Jan 21-Feb 11 )

I Miss LA Already..

I'm not sure if it's the weather or being off from work, but I need more of that. And soon. I guess one out of two, the upcoming snowy weekend will have to do.

Dove x Love Your Hair Campaign



I've only truly started embracing my naturally hair within the last two years. Take a look at where it all began here. (and  I love that Dove is making a campaign about loving and embracing who you truly are. Now, even when I get the urge to straighten my hair it is short lived.. it just doesn't feel like who I am anymore. I love my big curly unruly mane and I wish that I would've began loving it sooner.

 

Come out to The Black Love Experience hosted by one of my favorite boutiques in DC, Nubian Hueman, on Feb 8th.  Use House of Mimi promo code below for a discount, and I'll see you there!

( SIDE NOTE: I've been painting, I've been painting.. stay tuned. PS. I still want a steak - 22 days in. )

Happy Wednesday!

I'm just getting back from a week long stint in LA, and I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Sometimes you just need to break away from the workaday and catch up with faraway friends, new sights, sounds and feels. I didn't take as many pics as I would have liked because I was having too good of a time, but that may be for the best. It's good to stop and revel in the moment in this excessively update driven world that we live in.

Hope all is well, and I'll be updating soon.

Swim Good x Frank Ocean

come back frank, we miss you

where I escape to from time to time

Musings: 1/9/2015

one week in,

pescatarian

 

 

and I want a steak.

 

 

hanging in there

Gov Ball 2015 Lineup

Pt. 2

 

Last year's concert made my Top 10 list. Let's do it again.

 



Links We Love: Mind, Body Green

Mind Body Green

 

Daily Wellness Inspiration

 

Enjoy!

 

( Currently reading: 20 Resolutions Everyone Should Make )