My first video blog!

Hilarity...to me at least...not that I'm crackin jokes, but I'm just semi-shy so this was big for me lol ;-) peep, speak, holla!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Though I have no Valentine, I absolutely love today...its always been my favorite non-holiday simply because of how much love is in the air! Such should be expressed everyday, but why fault anyone for the extremes of one day...love it! Try not to be so much of a consumer and more of a lover (its not about the gifts...its the little things that count)! Hope everyone's day was "lovely" :-)

Also, I sooo need this in my life! A bit too expensive for my pockets, but I love love love this, perfect to add to this V-day post :-)


Courtesy of Apartment Therapy They've got some super cool stuff! "Lalalala wait til I get my money right!" lol

Fashion Passion # 3...

I wore this outfit a few days ago, but found it to be an interesting combo. Everyday I wake with no idea what I'm gonna put on and literally throw something together that sometimes turns into cuteness :-) This red sleeveless sweater and this weird lil black skirt (not its biggest fan, but was a good addition to the outfit) was again given to me by Ms. Fashionista herself, my grandma. I originally thought i had no use for it and didn't really like it, but I've learned to take it anyway to either re-gift or creatively try it out. Everything else is old stuff...take a look see :-)

It SNOWED! I'm from Cali, that's exciting lol!

Just wanted to post some of the pics I took after waking up to SNOW on Saturday morning...carry on :-)

My "home"

My Spicey :-)


My failed snowman lol

Why does "good" get boring?

The topic of this blog was inspired by a tweet from my bud @joskidiesel. This piece will also be featured on her blog (joskidiesel.blogspot.com). Lets begin with some definitions to bring light to what the term "good" means as well as its opposite (bad), which is what I'd think those "bored" of it would then revert to [courtesy of my macbook dictionary]:

good |goŏd|
adjective ( better |ˈbetər|, best |best|)
• to be desired or approved of : we live at peace with each other, which is good | a good quality of life.
• pleasing and welcome : she was pleased to hear good news about him.
• expressing approval : the play had good reviews.
• possessing or displaying moral virtue : I've met many good people who made me feel ashamed of my own shortcomings
• giving pleasure; enjoyable or satisfying : the streets fill up with people looking for a good time.
noun
• that which is morally right; righteousness : a mysterious balance of good and evil (bad).

We'll come back to that last statement...

bad |bad|
adjective ( worse |wərs|; worst |wərst|)
• unpleasant or unwelcome : bad news | bad weather.
• unsatisfactory or unfortunate : bad luck | [as n. ] ( the bad) taking the good with the bad.
• regretful, guilty, or ashamed about something : working mothers who feel bad about leaving their children.
• morally depraved; wicked; naughty; badly behaved : the bad guys | bad language | a bad reputation | what a bad girl | bad behavior.

I'm all about love, peace, positivity, and all things "good," but I like to think that life is about balance. Everything has its polar opposite, and in that, there are two sides to every fence, every spirit, every being, everything...some of which we can control, others, not so much. Case and point, good for some is not always easily obtainable, and thus, it often takes effort to maintain (more than "bad" it seems), but even so, we must not lack awareness or be naive to the world of wicked bliss. A good example would be sex, which is no doubt pleasurable, but some believe it to be a bad thing to dabble in if not married, making you a very bad girl/boy (hehehe). Ironically and erotically enough, people often like to be "punished" for being "bad" in their sexual escapades, which is another topic and blog in itself lol.

The example given in the last definition of "good" touches on the notion of balance. Ironically enough, the second definition's example of bad does as well. This to me explains that clearly we all must be assured of this necessity. Ultimately we all have to come to grips that no one is perfect, and though some of us like to think we are "good" all the time, or at least try to be, we must also acknowledge that the statement alone is flawed and/or "bad". After all, no one can be good all the time. Both need to exist in order to recognize one another. How could either be defined if not for the other's presence?

To specifically answer the question this blog asks, why does good get boring, I don't think its a matter of boredom, but moreso freedom. Definition in its own implies that there are grammatical rules and unsaid abidance that we all must conform to. This alone forces people into rebellion, regardless of the side you revel in most. When it boils down to it, ones core, ones soul, ones heart and their overall outward expression of such is what determines how good or bad they are, and even so, who are we to judge or define that?

Of course we all have the ability to recognize good and bad in a general sense. You can't confuse (unless you're missing a screw or 10 lol) a murderer for doing a good deed, but we must understand that even he has the capacity to do good, he just made the choice not to. There's a quote that I want to conclude with, tho it'll technically be my quote because I can't remember the source nor its exact wording lol, but here goes...even a saint will eventually become curious of sin, its natural. Therein lies your answer :-)

Race matters...

I have to say that this is the first and most extreme of race related disrespect that I've ever experienced. I'm trying to figure out the best way to deal with this situation. Its very serious and there are lots of factors that play a role in my decision making. Ultimately my respect must be demanded, but I also want to maintain a comfortable work environment for myself.

SO...long story less long lol...at work, it is very clear that I am BLACK, and "culture" if they even understand what that means. Point being, I have locs, dress very creatively, eclectic and do not hide my identity, making attention to me that much more enhanced I suppose. Anyway, the guy I work with immediately and I share an office and work very closely relative to design. We get along pretty well, and again, maintain a generally relaxed office enviornment. Sometimes he tends to joke around a bit too much and does not have breaks. Which leads to my issue...

2 day ago, I overheard him make a comment in the halls to some other co-workers that was hugely offensive. The comment was intended for me to hear, and furthermore he speaks rather loudly even it weren't. I didn't quite hear the entire comment, but I did hear my name, so as he re-entered the office, I asked him to reiterate his joke (all in fun I was thinking). It was in regard to the naming of the mock-up website design. The suggestion was to name it the master page to identify the one he was working on. He came in and stated the following, "No, we can't call it master cause I don't want LaNoya to think she has to call me master, lol!" I was absolutely taken aback, but at the time it was the end of the day and I hadn't given it much thought, but did reply, "Yeah right, that's the day I'd be quitting this job!"

So the next day I came in to work with quite the attitude, though I always remain professional. He joked around a bit and and sensed I was in a bad mood and asked a few time if I was ok. Eventually I replied and told him that he had pissed me off yesterday and that what he said was hugely offensive. He immediately did not make excuses for himself, explained that his mouth tends to get him in trouble in being such a goofball and smart mouth (which I am aware of, and perhaps have made him feel TOO comfortable in being such), that he is not a racist (though I did not accuse him of being one...hmm), apologized and expressed that he wants me to feel comfortable enough to put him in his place when need be and that he definitely needs to know when he goes too far. After that conversation I accepted his apology and intended to get past this, but that does not disguise how it all made me feel. I just don't know where I should go from here, if anywhere. I thought to email him thoroughly just to reiterate and give him a more detailed perspective, but then I'm also thinking to just leave it alone so that the issue does not linger. I feel as though he was sincere in his apology and that he will think before he speaks in the future, its just that in being so passionate about culture and having serious rage relative to African American history, I just wanna go hard on him...but again, this IS my job and I do need it and appreciate how blessed I am, at least for another year, so its not like I wanna wild out and quit or something lol. Ultimately it was just out of line and I would NEVER disrespect ANYONES race or history like that. The same way he has to refrain from sexual harassment, so should he when it comes to race matters! And so it is...

To shave or not to shave, that is the question...

SOOO...I find myself having this constant debate (and tonight inspired by a mini tweet convo with my pal @coreman2200) about shaving versus keeping it natural and just up-keeping all the things that women have adjusted to and accepted as the way of life. Now, I'm all about being natural and embracing the beauty that comes with that, but as a female, I have of course conformed to the morale of "maintaining" limited hair in visible (and not so visible unless luckily allowed :-) ) areas. Excuse me if this convo is tmi for you, but I've said before that if I didn't "have to (meaning, if I didn't respect the admiration of shaved legs, pits, pum pums, etc)" I probably wouldn't...again, I'm all about natural lol. We've all just managed to get so consumed in what the world considers right and supposed, and as I said, I'm no exception, but sometimes (like now...tweeted that my legs just looked at me and said "so you must me on shave strike" lol) I just don't feel like it and IDGAF (you can figure out what that means lol). More importantly, no one is checkin' for my goodies but me right now so WE are comfy with that hahaha. Maybe I'm being lazy...soooo! In that, my point is further supported!

Don't get me wrong, I don't think I could go too long without shaving my pits (especially! If nothing else, I gotta get that hair outta there lol), or legs, or vajayjay (hehe), it does become annoying, but my point is just that maybe it shouldn't be and psychologically, even a person who embraces being natural can't indulge fully for sake of society's judgments...I think its kinda sad actually, but i also understand that people for some reason are grossed out by hair.

I bet they never shave, see! lol :-)
Image link: http://shop.aphendiko-arts.com/images/pic3.jpg

Have you ever though that God put it there for a reason! We're probably fuckin up the whole balance or something lol. I guarantee you if we would've never started this, I bet hairs wouldn't even grow as much. And men make it no better with their "preferences"...and us ladies willingly abide *rolling eyes*...Life is such a sacrifice sometimes lol. Lets just all go back to the days of nakedness and freedom! Whos with me!?! It was worth a try lol :-) On that note, I'll be routinely completing my womanly hair cares later this week :-/ Where's a caveman when you need one lol! Peace folks...

Fashion Passion # 2...

I guess thas what I'll call these documentations of my everyday put togethers lol. This one in particular is in homage to my Grandma and the 70s. My Granny is a fashionista in her own right, but this outfit proves it, as it was authentically hers back in her hay day lol. I know she probably has no more of these treasures, but her house is its own thrift shop so I may need to do some more browsing. Believe it or not she gave me this outfit when I was in junior high school so...yeah...its pretty old, but we CLEARLY know history tends to repeat itself, especially when it comes to fashion. I think I was a hippie in my past life so this fit is perfect ha! Love this little number!




Yall see my Spicey in the background? Always in the mix lol


Learned today that these are "go out to dinner" shoes, meaning limited walking haha :-)

Abstract thoughts...

Let me make you aware (or reiterate for those already aware) that I'm very much so into textures, prints and abstract shapes and forms with flow and movement. So, the other night as I bathed, I noticed that the formation of the bubbles (or lack there of lol) in my water were creating a pattern, and so, I took a picture! After which, I brought them into Photoshop and played around with some filters and effects! The beauty of abstract design...

Original

A lil fashion passion (my other fixation)...

Yesterday in the mist of me sorting out more clothes to donate to Haiti and finally unpacking my suitcase from xmas travels (yes, I'm just now getting to that in totality lol, so! Plus my g-moms gave me tons of stuff that I had to make room for. Speaking of such, my grandma is the epitome of shopaholic so when I go on my BARGAIN sprees, please account her for my craze so I won't feel so bad lol. Anywho, I def made room, donating a lot, old and new.

Ok, I digress (so much that I couldn't even finish my parenthesis in the first paragraph lol), like I said, in the mist of that, I found myself having a solo fashion show aka playing dress-up (i felt 5 for a brief moment there lol) and put together this outfit that I think is pretty rockin! Well honestly I became hecka jazzed when I found that I had tights to match the new top i bought and went from there. Nothing glam, glitz, or even "extra" special, besides the person wearing it of course *winks*, just comfy and creatively me. I'm def gonna wear it the next time i go out (i feel a MJQ Friday fun night coming soon), better hair do (ignore lol) and all the extra fixings of course ;-) Anywho, like I said, thought it was kinda funky, thought I'd share! U dig?


Ok, obviously the mirror thing wasnt quite working lol...


LOL, lemme get serious...


Soul siSTAR!




Current favorite shoe :-)