A Diva State of Mind

T.I. may have been out of the spotlight for the last year, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been working. The hip hop star is out with his new clothing line, AKOO. I had no idea T.I. had a clothing line, but at the same time, I’m not really surprised? I mean, these days, who in the hip hop world doesn’t have their own clothing line?

AKOO is a true reflection of T.I. style; casual tops (tees, polos, button ups) to pair with cargo pants and jeans. The collection is urban, casual, and stylish all at the same time. It reminds me of something my PG county guy friends would wear; they are all stylish without trying at all. All they seem to wear are polos or tees with jeans. For those of you guys looking to go from regular to fly but want to keep that laid back style, check out AKOO. Here are some looks from the new spring collection:

T.I. Rocking AKOO

Competitor

Dynasty

Federick

Visit www.akooclothingbrand.com to shop the entire collection.

If Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda don’t exemplify A Diva State of Mind, then I don’t know who does!!

I was at the movie theatre last week and I happened to look up and see a poster for the new “Sex in the City 2” movie! I knew the movie was coming out, but wasn’t aware that it would be here in sooooo soon!!

Like most women, I absolutely love the series. My parents gave me the complete series for Christmas last year, and I’m waiting for a day where I can sit and watch it all day long.  And the first movie wasn’t a disappointment either. So I’m very curious to see what direction the sequel will take considering the first one ended in a way that didn’t imply a round 2 was going to be necessary.

Filled with high fashion, cameo from celebrities, and Aiden, Sex in the City is back May 28^th!!! Anyone down for a girls movie night!?

So on my first Friday off from work, instead of using that time to sleep in, I attended a floor/chair workout with one of my friends.  Now I know you’re sitting there wondering, what exactly is floor/chair? Well the best way to describe this class is a mix of Pilates and exotic dance moves.

Xpose Fitness is a workout studio, teaching pole dancing and floor/chair dance classes ranging from Levels 1 to 5.  According to the website, “Xpose Fitness has developed a proven method that combine pilates, yoga dance to produce the lean and toned look you want.”

When I signed up to go, I was actually nervous.  I thought to myself “I’m going to embarrass myself cause I don’t know much about exotic dance.” But to my surprise, I didn’t embarrass myself (well at least not in this particular class.  I can’t make any promises about the pole dancing class!)

I think every woman should take an exotic fitness dance class.  Not only will you go through a great workout, you’ll also “expose your inner diva,” bringing out the naughty side of us most women are afraid to reveal, even with their significant other.   I know I’m going back for the pole dancing class!

My friend Steph has been going for a couple of months now and she absolutely loves it! So I asked her to talk about her experience with the exotic fitness class, why she loves it so much and what she thinks the benefits are from taking a floor/chair and/or pole dancing class.

Here’s what she had to say:

“The art of exotic dance has always appealed to me. Not only because I was so envious of the way these women could move their bodies OR the way men would swoon every time they would arch their back or swing every inch of their body, but because of the confidence every one of them exuded. They were so comfortable within their own skin…something that I still struggle to overcome. I began going with my good friend Megan. I was so embarrassed and frightened. It was my first time. Like most first times, you weren’t sure how you were going to feel during or even after the act.

When I first grabbed onto the cold, hard steel pole, my hands began to tremble and I started laughing out of nervousness. I was sure I was going to be the “big girl” in the class full of toned, sexy women. That was not the case at all. All kinds of women were in the class. It gave me a sense of calm and reassurance that I wasn’t going to make a complete fool out of myself. After my first class, I was not only sore in places that I never knew existed, but I was yearning and craved for my next session. I was hooked…or should I say “poled”.

Since then, I’ve been attending classes at least twice a week. I feel sexy, I’m starting to look sexier, and I’m having a great time doing it. Whether in the Sexy Stretch, Floor/Chair, or Pole Level classes, I’m a sexy woman, not matter what size or shape I am. I can move my body and embrace every curve it flaunts. I’ve recommended the class to most women I meet. There’s no need to feel apprehensive. Everyone there (instructors and patrons) make you feel comfortable. Anyone who is there wants to be there. This isn’t your grandmother’s gym. Please, leave your inhibitions at the door and open your mind (and legs) just a little bit wider. See you on the poles!”

Based on a recent conversation, I feel as though it is important that the notorious EGO Trap be revisited. 

Here is Ego Trap Part 2, so eloquently written by L. Pascoe. Enjoy! 

Ladies, Ladies, Ladies…(and, where appropriate, Gentlemen)…shaking my damn head. The ego (if you don’t know what that means, check out Ego Trap), has men and women acting STUPID. Not dumb, but straight STUPID. Just because you experienced the ego with a guy and he may have been your best (wink-wink), DOES NOT- I repeat – DOES NOT MEAN that you guys are meant to be together. Now, I know this may make things complicated. You experienced your friend’s ego, your world shifted in its place and now your hunger is insatiable for anything but that special friend’s ego stroke. Even if feelings weren’t there to be caught, guess what…they’re at the dinner table now. I had a friend once tell me, “Not only is he doin’ it, he’s doin’ it well…and that ALWAYS makes a difference.” And I honestly do not believe any of us can contest this statement, we all know it’s the truest story ever told.

Okay, but wait, now, the question that might be in the back of your mind: is there ever the possibility of you guys being just friends again? Whelp, sometimes there is but a lot of times there isn’t. But that was the risk that you took when you rolled the dice with your friendship to get yours. So, really, you can’t get mad if things don’t work out the way you want them to.

My male friends have told me several times that generally guys don’t go out seeking female friendship. Further, at some point, they have found most of their female friends attractive. And, with that said, it is safe to assume that should the opportunity presents itself, it’s not even a question – they’ll capitalize. And that seems to be the problem – guys are, more often than not, always ready and willing to forsake a friendship for a ____ (alliteration people.. I know you get it). Ladies, however, being emotional creatures, we thrive off relationships of all kinds; so when we experience that have mercy, life-changing ego, going back to being strictly platonic seems completely out of the question.

SIDENOTE: I love the word “relationship” – covers all matter of sin, doesn’t it?!?

I digress. At this point, when the rules of game change, ladies start to act STUPID. Always making that effort to call or see or bend over backwards or walk on water for this “guy friend” in the vain hope that if you hang out with him again or if he sees you again, if you help him with this, that or the third, if you part the damn sea for him that maybe, just maybe, he’ll see the light and realize that you’re the one and he’ll want to be with you. PAUSE: if you’re putting in all of that effort and it’s not being reciprocated, you may want to take a step back and re-evaluate the scope your “relationship.”

But, I’ll humor you and take this one step further, say he does “see the light” and agrees to giving a bona fide relationship a shot…. Even after he’s told you OVER and OVER that’s not what he’s looking for – that’s not what he sees for the two of you – that IT’S JUST SEX. Okay. But since that all fell on your deaf ears because YOU want to be with him. Ultimately, that relationship will never work and let me tell you why. He didn’t really want to be with you in the first place, but you pressured him into the relationship. He will not be faithful. And when his infidelity surfaces and you’re all hurt, wondering “why did he do this to me? He’s such an ____ (insert appropriate explicative here)” and have finally come to the realization that the probability of you being friends with him has now completely dissipated – blame no one but yourself, dolly.

So what’s going on? What’s happening? What’s all this about? My point, first and foremost, is this: Make no mistake, a guy knows when a girl is sprung. So what does he do? He most likely will play with your emotions, lead you on, play his position and he may even sell you dreams, but even if he doesn’t, it won’t matter because he knows you’re hanging on any vapor of hope, too sprung to move on. He has no reason to change what he’s doing or the rules of your situation, he’s reaping all the benefits of being in a relationship without actually being in one.

Operation: playing his position. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes it really is just that simple.

My advice: Read the signs ladies and take heed. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all about everyone getting theirs. Just make sure all parties are on the same page at all times. Otherwise, don’t be surprise when and if you find out that your “splackavellie” (yes I sure did take it back to that) is a homie-lover-friend to someone else too.

Drake has emerged on the scene as one of the hottest artist without dropping an album, so of course with his new album expected to drop June 15th, there is a high expectation that every single and video he drops is going to be hot!

While I absolutely LOVE his first single “Over,” the video doesn’t do the song justice at all!  It’s really random…I mean if he was going to stand around rapping all video, he could’ve saved some money and used it toward is current promotional tour. 

Like most videos these days, this video has nothing to do with the lyrics of the song. I should go into the business of creating music videos because they are becoming more and more random these days.  I’m just sayin…

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lTB1pIg1y0&feature=player_embedded#

When the videos premiered on Monday, everyone had something to say about it.  Here’s what Drake told MTV about his first video off the new album:

“This is my first video,” the Young Money franchise player said, sitting in his trailer. “I’ve shot a lot of videos before, but this is my first attempt to establish myself as Drake the artist. Shooting the other videos I’ve done has been great. I really don’t care what other people think about them, they were great experiences for me. I’ve learned a lot from them. Today, I’m shooting with somebody I really look up to and respect. I’m shooting with Anthony Mandler.”

Check out MTV for the entire Drake interview.

Known as the “god mother of civil rights,” Height served as chair and president of the National Council of Negro Women.  She led the group for more than 30 years. The National Council of Negro Women dealt with the “unmet needs of women and families by combating hunger and establishing decent housing and home ownership programs through the federal government for low-income families.”

She is also served as the 10^th National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated from 1946-1957. She was an active member of the sorority throughout her life.

 In 1994, Height was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.  She has also received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004 and the Barnard Medal of Distinction in 1980, from Barnard College, a school that turned down her admittance (She had been accepted but could not be admitted because the school had met their quota of two black women).

Height has left her footprint on the civil rights and women’s rights. Her work has opened many doors for women across the country and serves as inspiration for those of us who follow in her footsteps.

 Source: www.cnn.com

Teairra Mari first came on the music scene in 2005, with her hit “Make Her Feel Good.” She’s now back with a new song, “Sponsor.” Now I’m sure she isn’t the first person to come out with a song talking about a guy who will take care of everything for her (buy her drinks, fill up her gas take and buy her Louis bags), but these songs aren’t cute or a message we females need to sing about.  They definitely aren’t messages the younger generation of females needs to listen too.

I know I’m going to sound old, but in the year 2010, we SHOULD all strive to be strong, independent women who don’t need a man to sponsor us. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have a guy me a drink during happy hour every once in awhile, but I don’t need or want someone who would pay for EVERYTHING. As a mid-twenties young woman, striving to be successful, I’m working to be able to do things for myself, because when I can do that, it’s a real accomplishment.  I want to be able to send myself to Jamaica, buy that new expensive bag or move into a new condo.  I sure don’t want a guy to do that for me.  Why would I want to be “helpless” always relying on someone else?? You have no control living that way.

Now I know if this song or any other one similar to this came on in the club, we would all dance to it without hesitation, but I encourage us to not take songs like this literally.  Most of you reading this are strong, young independent woman who aren’t looking for a sponsor.  But just in case there is someone reading who thinks that’s the life, I promise you it isn’t. Be your own person, make your own money and do the things YOU want to do. NEVER rely on anyone else; you’re holding yourself back and can’t truly live the life you’re meant to have.

Our society feeds off of negative stories about the Black community, so it’s important that we highlight those who are making history, especially in higher education!  The 21-year old Katie Washington from Gary, IN is the first African American Valedictorian at Notre Dame. She has a 4.0 GPA.

Here’s what she told BET

“I am humbled,” said Washington, a biology major, to the Northwest Indiana Times. “I am in a mode of gratitude and thanksgiving right now.”

She has been accepted into medical school at Johns Hopkins University.

Congratulations Katie for becoming the first African American Valedictorian at Notre Dame.  Hopefully your achievement will encourage others in the Black community to stay focused on academic success and create their own history.