Friday, August 20, 2010

I Am MORE Than a "Female"


Maybe I'm overreacting and being a bit of a feminist ,but for the past year it's really been grinding my gears about how guys and even some girls have been casually throwing around the word "female". Have you noticed that nobody really uses it in association with something positive? It's often accompanied by a bad statement. I've never heard anyone say " I love that female" but more often I hear "I can't stand females" or "Stop acting like a female". It's almost like people are are using this F word to censor the B word.
By saying "female" a person can be referring to a dog, a hippo, or an ape; why can't people just say girl, or  woman or better yet, lady.

I've never heard a woman call a guy a "male" so where do people get off referring to us as females? 
Like we are nothing more than a gender? Ladies, stop letting men and even other women belittle you. 

We are beautiful, we are strong, we are smart and more important, we are human beings. I am more
than a female...Can I get a girl me too?

Monday, August 16, 2010

I Smell a Natural Hair Movement!

     About a year and a half ago when I announced to my world that I was going natural everybody thought I had lost my mind! Therefore, I can't help BUT get excited every time I spot a freshly chopped TWA (teeny weeny afro) on campus! Over the past year it seems like natural hair has taken communities by storm and I'm very curious to know why! Even though I am apart of this phenomenon I know that I decided to go natural for my own personal reasons (When i went natural no one else seemed interested. As a matter of fact when I was growing my hair out, everyone else seemed to be sewing hair in!). So what exactly is it now that's making a lot of ladies stray away from the straight and curve more towards the curls? Is it just a trend that will die out in about a year? Or are black women finally embrassing their true God given identities? (below: my natural hair)
 



Uh oh! Do I smell a mini Doc coming on? LoL! We'll definitely be getting more into the natural word because I'm crazy interested! Can I get a girl me too?



 
P.S. Are you natural, transitioning, or thinking about going natural? Check out my YouTube channel full of my natural hair story, style ideas, and hair care tips!! www.youtube.com/relaxed2natural



Friday, August 13, 2010

Forever21 Encourages Teen Pregnancy?!

     This summer I was fortunate enough to get a job at Forever21! I must admit, before working there I often strayed away because I felt like the apparel was a little over priced personally. After starring at the clothes for at least 6 hours a day my feelings changed quit a bit...their prices are actually pretty reasonable! I mean you can't beat $9.50 jeans! Nevertheless I enjoyed working with individuals that where in my age group and the friendly employee discounts; however, the company's latest controversy has been everything but appealing to me. News stations and local papers have been flying off the wall about the trendy store's latest line geared towards pregnant women; claiming that it encourages teen pregnancy.

     Now maybe I'm a little bias because of my work experience there, but I honestly think this is ridiculous! First, working at Forever21 completely opened my eyes to the fact that EVERYBODY shops there!! It really is a store that caters to everyone from preteens to middle-aged woman and older. I'd also like to include the fact that Forever21 has a children's line for both girls AND boys(HTG81), a plus-sized line (Faith), AND they've recently came out with a line for men (21Men). I don't remember anyone claiming that a line for children would take away children's childhoods nor that it would be inappropriate for certain trends to be sold to women with extra curves so why should it be any different in this case? MOREOVER it's not even being sold in certain states! So why are people starting such an uproar when it won't even apply to their regions? Come on media...get your facts straight =)....

Preggers have a right to fashionable clothes too! I support Forever21's innovative business decision! Can I get a "Girl me too!"??
HTG81 (children)
Faith (plus size)
21Men

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

8 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started College


1. Money Really DOES NOT Grow on Trees
They say it's all apart of college but I for one have grown completely allergic to Ramon Noodles binges! I had my fair share of sprees my freshmen year. The sad part is I don't even remember where my money was going! Before I knew it the first semester was over, my pockets were empty and I owed the university A LOT of money! My advice: create a strict budget and STICK TO IT! Don't get caught up in the latest trends, frequent restaurant visits and weekly parties. And if your lucky enough to get a refund check save it or spend it wisely =)

2. A Roommate Can Literally Just be a "Roommate".
Before I moved on campus I had this huge fantasy that me and my roommate would at least be good friends. I had managed to find her on Myspace; we chatted frequently, and even coordinated room decor about a month before school started. We didn't make it through the first two months of our first semester without damn near hating each other! I'll just say our personalities weren't compatible. On the other hand I do know quite a few people who managed to become best friends with their roomie. Some even went far enough to sign apartment leases with each other for the following year. My advice: keep an open mind, be understanding, and be able to compromise.

3. I'm Not Superwoman
College has a bazillion doors of opportunities for any and everyone. Within a month of my freshmen year I had decided I wanted to do everything! Modeling troupes, pageants, organizations, dance teams, EVERYTHING! I was scared that college would past me by just as fast as high school did. Needless to say I started to spread myself too thin and it started to reflect in my grades. My advice: Get and keep your priorities in check! Remember, the whole reason your in college is to create the blueprint for your career. It sucks but it's reality, if your major has nothing to do with modeling or dance then don't risk your grades.

4. Assertion and Persistence is the Key to Success
I attend a school that doesn't hesitate to give students the run-around, especially when the parents leave! I had to learn that if I wanted to get things done promptly, then I would have to come out of my timid shell and start demanding things! (You'll hear me often say I had to "act my color"). My advice: Important!!: Remember YOU are the one paying them thousands of dollars a SEMESTER! nuff said...

5."Boys will be Boys"
I don't know why I thought that when I got to college boys would be drastically more mature but for the most part...there not lol! You'll still find your fair share of video gamers, food guzzlers, sports junkies and yes ladies, players. The important thing is to keep your guard up at all times. You may not face the same pick up lines from your hometown but no matter where they're from, a lot of guys have the same agenda. Now I'm not going to bash all guys because college is also the meeting grounds for a lot of successful relationships that in time leads to marriage. My advice:  Don't let anything come between you and that degree! Don't rush into anything. Let things kind of unfold with time.

6. Have a Balanced Diet
This doesn't just refer to the freshmen 15 ( Which we'll discuss more in dept later). This more so piggy backs off of number 3. Time management is imperative! You may want to put your "Work hard, play harder" mentality to rest until after finals.

7. Friends Come and Go and Come Again
If you didn't experience it in high school than prepare for a rude awakening! I experienced it myself and and watch others experience it too. It's completely normal. College is a time for self exploration and it's not that your bestie isn't down for the long haul, she or he just may want to take a different route. The person that you and/or your friend turns into may not be compatible with each other. My advice:  Let nature take it's course. If you fight it you could be holding each other back. If a split does happen, don't stay in a somber too long! College is full of people from everywhere! You won't believe how many "yous" are actually running around campus!

8. If You Were the "Ish" in High School, There's no Guarantee You'll be the "Ish" in College
hhhhmmmm so many examples I've witnessed! lol There was a girl I went to HS with who thought she was the Wu Tang Queen!! She held her head pretty high all the way up to college. They had a Woo Tang Contest at a social event on campus and it didn't surprise me that she participate. She battled another girl and the crowd was going CRAZY! She did a good job but I could tell her ego was a little crushed because the other girl KILLED it! My advice: Remember that college is a brand new place with people (in most cases) from all over the world! Everybody starts on an even playing field. Just because you were the thickest girl back at home doesn't mean that there isn't a girl from around the way who won't knock you from a dime to a wooden chip. Scope out your competition before you risk throwing yourself under the bus.

*Bonus* 
This one's more for fun but I guess it's fairly important for some people who may not be aware. DO NOT! I repeat DO NOT once again DO NOT BREAK FRAT/ SORO lines!! Don't even stand near them! lol! if you see them coming towards you move the hell out of the way!! Now I never experienced this but I've been to enough social events to know that if you dare to stand your ground you risk getting pushed, kicked, punched and so on out of the way. Now I'm not promoting violence! But you can't really get mad about it if it happens to you because in college life it's kind of common sense.

Do chime <3
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