A Diva State of Mind

My Mood is Music, Mindstream Radio and Irie Café  are hosting their 2^nd annual toy drive under their community service initiative program “Project Impact.” They are asking that patrons donate an unwrapped toy for a child this holiday season (2-17 age range). Donations will be given to children from the S.O.M.E (So Others Might Eat) Organization.

S.O.M.E. is the only interfaith, community-based organization in the District of Columbia that offers a comprehensive, holistic approach to caring for the homeless and extremely poor citizens.  S.O.M.E. works to:

• Feed and clothe DC homeless and poor
• Treat ill, homeless people at S.O.M.E. medical, dental and mental health programs
• Train people for jobs and house homeless families and single adults

The toy drive will take place this Saturday, December 11^th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please drop off donations at the following locations:

• Irie Cafe - 881A Capital Centre Blvd., Largo, MD 20774
• Irie Cafe - 5744 Silver Hill Road, Forestville, MD 20747
• Irie Cafe - 15904G Crain Highway, SE, Brandywine, MD 20613

During this holiday season, when you’re thinking about purchasing gifts for family and friends, I hope you’ll take the time to think about those families in the community who need your help and make a donation.  If anyone is interested in volunteering to help deliver toys, please contact the following people:

Kimesha Mason l [email protected] 

Kimberly Smith l [email protected]

You can follow My Mood is Music and MindStream Radio on twitter @mymoodismusic & @mindstreamradio

BLACK Collection has teamed up with Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute’s Foundation for the Advancement for Women Now (FFAWN) to become their exclusive online retailer for FFAWN’s first Tee –shirt collection designed by Catherine Malandrino and Mary J. Blige.

Emerging into the fashion industry July 2005, BLACK Collection is not a brand to be mistaken as a trend; this is an exclusive brand for the “Individual”. Founded in the Nation’s Capital, BLACK Collection is dedicated to creating its own genre of fashion. The collection strives to coin its own direction “Classic Innovation”.

BLACK Collection is comprised of a team of innovative and knowledgeable individuals: Dylan Chase and Reggie Black.   The collection is for the “Individual” that has unique style; uses fashion as their method of personal expression and will not tolerate resembling others. The brand is for those that appreciate fashion that speaks for itself through personality driven designs. Don’t take the name BLACK Collection literally; all pieces are vibrant in color but yet they exude a sense of artistic moderation.

FFAWN is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire women from all walks of life to gain the confidence and skills they need to reach their individual potential. The organization accomplishes its mission to empower and encourage women by shaping and supporting programs that foster education, career development, strong self-esteem, and personal growth.

I think the message behind the shirt and the work of the organization is great! I already ordered my shirt last night and look forward to seeing future designs by Catherine Malandrion, Mary J. BIige and BLACK Collection for FFAWN.

Click HERE To purchase the I’M POWER Tee. The tee is available in Black and White

For more information on BLACK Collection, please visit the official website. www.blkcollection.com For more information on FFAWN, please visit the official FFAWN website. www.ffawn.org

Today is World AIDS Day! The one day the world stops to bring special attention to this epidemic.  According to the World Health Organization, approximately 33.3 million people are currently living with HIV worldwide. There were 2.6 million new infections alone in 2009. We have a crisis on our hands!

People are participating in a number of activities globally in honor of World AIDS Day. Alicia Keys and a few celebrities have died a digital death, avoiding social media sites Twitter and Facebook until $1M is raised for Keys’ Keep A Child Alive Foundation.

Locally in DC, there are numerous organizations that have organized events and free testing clinics in honor of World AIDS Day.  I encourage everyone to get tested and know your status.  And if you can, take the time and research HIV/AIDS organizations in order to make a donation to help support those who are currently living with this disease.

DECEMBER 1^st World Aids Day in the DC area provided by TBD:

9 a.m – 5 p.m. Whitman-Walker Clinic

Free confidential HIV testing at the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center (1701 14th St. NW) until 5pm and the Max Robinson Center (2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE) until 4:30pm.

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. George Mason University

Free confidential HIV testing by the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM). Results will be delivered in 20 minutes.  Ten AIDS Quilt panels will also be on display at the school’s Johnson Center. Location: George Mason University, Student Union Building, Fairfax Campus, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, Va.

5:30 p.m. Whitman-Walker Clinic’s Candlelight Vigil

Annual candlelight vigil in Dupont Circle (1900 P St NW) will recognize the fact that “at least one in every seven gay or bisexual men in DC has HIV.” The DC Center will partner with WWC to lead the vigil, and the clinic’s mobile testing unit will be on-hand for rapid HIV testing.

Following the vigil, the Whitman-Walker Clinic will host a fundraiser “Red Hot Night” at Dupont Circle Wine Bar Urbana (Hotel Palomar 2121 P St NW). Proceeds will benefit the clinic.

6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. The Prince George’s County World AIDS Day Social

The social will feature singing, dancing, and door prizes. Sponsors include Heart to Hand, Inc., the Greater Than AIDS campaign, Sistas United, GapBuster Learning Center, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Location: MSG, 7929 Central Avenue, Capital Heights, Md.

7 p.m.  – 9 p.m. World AIDS Day Benefit at Howard University

Singer Marsha Ambrosius headlines this concert that will include dance, spoken word and songs by students, organizations and local artist.  Proceeds will be donated to Metro TeenAIDS. General admission is $20, students $10. Location: Armour J. Blackburn University Center.

8 p.m. Illuminations . . . Light from the Soul!

Interfaith worship service at D.C.’s Covenant Baptist Church: “Journey through the intimate stories of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, a night where life is transformed into dance, music, and poetry. Each story is translated into poetry, reenacted by dancers, and accompanied by the gospel music that helped them through these trials and tribulations.” The event will also include a prayer vigil. Location: Covenant Baptist Church, 3845 South Capitol Street SW, DC.

Remember, to ALWAYS wrap it up!  We can all do our part to help STOP the spread of HIV. Check out World AIDS Campaign to learn more about World AIDS Day and events going on in your area.

I joined Twitter over a year ago to find out what all of the hype was about.  I never knew Twitter could be such a great way to network and meet so many new people. Over the year, I’ve met some amazing people through friends and various Tweetup events. 

When I decided to change my twitter name to reflect my blog, another DC blogger, City Girl, started following me. I check out her site (which reminds me of Sex and the City) and realized, she was a pro when it comes to blogging.  I reached out to her for blogging advice and had a chance to meet her at a Tweetup event earlier this year.  Since then, we’ve communicated through twitter, read each other blogs and have seen each other at various happy hour events in DC.

City Girl is very open on her blog so she shared with her readers a couple of months ago that she is up against the fight of her life; she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and has started chemotherapy. 

I’ve always been a supporter of breast cancer research and awareness. I participated in the Susan G. Komen 5k walk in June (my first time running a 5K) and I coordinated Passionately Pink for the Cure events in college. But this year my support has new meaning. Not only am I supporting breast cancer awareness and research because one in eight women will develop breast cancer, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women, and African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than any other race, but I’m also showing my support for City Girl. I can’t imagine what it’s like to face this fight, so the best way I know how to show support is to do my part in raising awareness and supporting research on her behalf.

Since I am not coordinating any Passionately Pink events this year, I’m going to make a donation towards The Breast Cancer Research Foundation for live-saving research, an organization City Girl supports.   Her goal is to raise $500 for the foundation and she needs our help to do so!

If you’re looking for a way to show your support for breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please feel free to make a donation to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation on behalf of City Girl.  You can donate HERE.

Check out the City Girl and her sex & relationship blog at www.citygirlblogs.com. You can also follow her on twitter @citygirlblogs

A nice summer breeze on the beach; lounging in a beach chair under an umbrella with a drink in your right hand and the book Platinum in your left.

Last month blogs and magazines were going crazy with anticipation for Aliya S King’s new book Platinum.  So of course I wanted to see what the hype was all about and I purchased the book as my vacation book to read while traveling to and from Miami.

Let me tell you, if I could sit for a whole day to read the book, I would’ve finished it in one day. Once you pick up the book, you won’t want to put it down. King doesn’t give you time to get bored; drama begins in the first chapter and there is never a dull moment moving forward.

Although Platinum is a fictional novel, there is an eerie resemblance to Hip-Hop and R&B artists as well as video vixens that actually exist in the music industry today.  I often found myself wondering, do those in the industry really live like this? Do the wives and girlfriends really go through this?

I don’t want to give away too much of the plot so all I can do is recommend that you purchase Platinum if you’re looking for a great book to read this summer.  For those of you who participate in book clubs, Platinum is an excellent choice! You’ll definitely have a lot talk about with this one!

Would anyone recommend any other books to read? The summer is a great time to catch up on some fictional reading!

There is nothing wrong with tattoos.  It adds a little edge if someone has a tattoo, especially on a guy who has a nice chest and arms. I’ve even been thinking about getting one myself BUT I am not a fan of tattoos that resemble a person’s body part or someone’s name.

I just don’t understand why someone gets the name and/or body parts of their “current” boo on their body. And they always put them in the worst places!  Do they know it’s permanent? Of course they do!  Now I know getting someone’s name permanently inked on your body is suppose to represent your love for them; well for the person I do end up with, if you really love me, PLEASE DON’T GET MY NAME TATTOOED ON YOUR BODY!!!

Kenyon Martin is a prime example of body art gone wrong! Besides being a basketball player, he’s also known for his tattoo of rapper Trina’s lips on his neck.  But when the two split, it was time to “remove” tattoo.  Now I’m not sure how much laser removal would’ve helped, so he opted to cover up the tattoo instead.  And from the looks of things, he should’ve just kept the lips instead.  What is his new tattoo suppose to be?

Fantasia is another one that recently joined the club of body art gone wrong! She recently added a new Antwaun Cook tattoo.  It was a bad idea to get a name, but the location of her tattoo wasn’t a great choice either. 

To all of you out there thinking of getting someone’s name PERMANTELY inked on your body, think twice before doing so. Do you really want to walk around with the name of someone you really may despise 6 months from now?

In the words of The YBF, “Lesson learned kids: stop tatting names and body parts of your lover on yourself. That is all…”

Capital Partners for Education provides DC youth with private high school scholarships, adult mentors and academic support services for all four years of high school.  In CPE’s 17-year history, the organization has helped nearly 400 students get on a path towards college. Without the support from CPE, many of these students’ talents would be unrealized. Our students face numerous obstacles on their path to college, including limited family income, unsafe neighborhoods, and a lack of positive role models.
 
Despite these challenges, our students are earning academic distinction, giving back to their communities through service and most importantly and are becoming the first in their families to attend college. Not only do 99% of all CPE graduates enroll in college, they graduate college at 5.3 times the rate of their DC public school counterparts. 

Please join me at the Mix It Up Fundraiser Happy Hour at Midtown Loft on June 23rd from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

Ticket price includes top shelf open bar, hors d’oeuvres and great raffle prizes. Contributions are tax deductible.

$50 - Sponsor (1 raffle ticket) : Sponsors the cost of one CPE student’s
participation in our Career Pathways program for one year

$75 - Cum Laude(5 raffle tickets) : Sponsors a CPE mentor/mentee match for one
year

$150 - Magna Cum Laude (10 raffle tickets) : Sponsors the cost of textbooks and
uniforms for a CPE student who could otherwise not afford them

$200 - Summa Cum Laude (15 raffle tickets) : Fulfills an Emergency Fund Request
to cover school-related expenses for a CPE family experiencing temporary
financial insecurity
 
 To purchase tickets to the event, please visit http://bit.ly/mixitup
Designation: Mix It Up Event
 
You can also find out more information about the organization, the event and ways to donate on CPE’s website: www.cpfe.org.

By supporting CPE, you can help us continue to provide life changing opportunities to motivated, !low-income students who would likely not graduate and enroll in college if not for our program’s support. I hope you and your friends make it!!!

I hope to see you all there!!!

Midtown Loft
1219 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC

If you can’t purchase tickets in advance, they are available at the door for $55 and include top shelf open bar and hors d’oeuvres

This past Saturday, June 5^th I participated in the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure.  Last year I walked in the race, but this year I challenged myself to run the 5k. And I DID IT!!!! I made the commitment that I would run those 3.1 miles to raise money in the fight against breast cancer.  My team, The Rules of Behavior, raised $624 with the help of friends and family.

It’s a great feeling to know that I made a small impact for a great cause.  Some may feel that if they don’t see immediate results from volunteering, they may not be making a difference. Well I’m here to set the record straight; every second spent on a volunteer project makes an impact, whether it’s immediate or in the long term.  Breast cancer is a battle women (and men) are fighting everyday, so any dollar amount raised for research, support for those currently diagnosed, etc helps. While I personally don’t see where the $624 that I raised is going, I know that it’s being used to help someone currently diagnosed and I know it’s being used for research.

Volunteering not only helps your community but it’s therapeutic to your soul.  I was very anxious and nervous leading up to the race.  I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to finish the 3.1 miles without stopping to walk.  But I remained focused because I had not only made the commitment to myself but I had committed to survivors, families effected, those currently going through the battle and those that lost the battle that I was going to run, not walk, for them.  When the race was over, I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement! 

Last month I volunteered with Hands On DC to clean up the DC area schools. Since then, the group I volunteered with has made the commitment to do a service project at least once a month.  We aren’t doing this for us because believe me, I’m sure everyone wouldn’t mind NOT waking up at 8am on a Saturday to do community service.  We’re doing it because it’s important to give back to our community.  That’s the only way our communities will improve.  I’ve said it before; the world would be a much better place if everyone was passionate about giving back to their community and helping each other. 

So if you currently aren’t into volunteering, I challenge you to participate in at least one community service activity this year.  Not only will you feel good, you’ll change the lives of those you are helping and you’ll meet wonderful people.  If you’re not sure where to volunteer, think about what you like to do.  If you love styling and fashion, volunteer with Dress for Success.  If you’re a people person and love being around others, try a local soup kitchen like So Others May Eat (S.O.M.E.).  There are a number of places that are always in need of a volunteer. Find one that best fits you and your interest and get started!! I promise, you’ll walk away from the experience feeling like a totally different person and you’ll be inspired to want to make a change.

Now that it’s officially summer (according to the 80 & 90 degree temperatures), there are a lot more tourist on the metro.  And when I had planned to write this post, it was directed at them, but now that I think about it, those who are from the DMV could benefit from this post as well.

Let’s talk about the rules of the metro! It’s so frustrating riding the metro with people who don’t know what the proper protocol.  So for those of you who are new to the metro system and for those of you who need to be reminded, here are the rules of the metro to follow:

1.  Stand Right, Walk Left: If you are on the escalator and you’re too lazy to walk down, PLEASE MOVE TO THE RIGHT! The left side of the escalator is for those who are moving with sense of purpose or the crazy people that run for the train even though another train is coming in less than 2 minutes.  So please, if you don’t fit into those two categories, move to the right!

2.    Wait for those on the train to exit, and then you may enter: It’s so annoying when someone tries to enter the train and people are still exiting. Don’t you know you’re holding those who are exiting up?? That delays those of us behind you trying to enter because you were too impatient to wait! Are you afraid while you’re trying to enter the train doors will close on you??

3.  Talk quietly or not at all on your cell phone:  After working 9 hours at work, the last thing I want to do is sit on the red line and here you scream on your cell phone to your friend, spouse, etc, that you’re at the Fort Totten station and you should be at Forest Glen in 10 mins. No one cares!! Send a text or learn to use inside voices. We learned those when we were in elementary school, so now it’s time to put all of that learning to use.

4.  Headphones are essential: This rule applies mostly to the rambunctious teenagers on the train, but I have no doubt there is an adult or two who just don’t know what it means to have headphones.  I have my own playlist on my iPod which means I don’t want to hear yours at 7:30am in the morning or after a long day.  

These are the top 4 metro rules that needed to be reinforced.  What are some other rules of the metro I’m missing?

If everyone was passionate about volunteering and raising money for a great cause, the world would be a much better place.  One organization I love raising money for is Susan G. Komen.  I’ve led a few Passionately Pink for the Cure events and I walked in the Susan G. Komen Global Race For The Cure last year on the National Mall in DC.   

Breast cancer isn’t a preventable disease; it is a disease that can affect any one of us.  We could be diagnosed with breast cancer or a family member or friend could be diagnosed.  Since this is a disease that can impact any one of us, we should all do our part to save the boobies!!

As mentioned earlier, I love raising money for a great cause! So I’m asking all of you reading this blog to please do your part in the fight against breast cancer.  I formed a team, The Rules of Behavior, that will be racing in this year’s Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure in Washington, DC.  The team is running to raise $500 for the cause.  I know with your help we can surpass our goal!!!

Up to 75 percent of the Komen Global Race’s net income stays in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to fund local screening, treatment and education programs for the medically underserved. The remaining dollars support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund, a program which is dedicated to reaching underserved people in areas where breast cancer mortality rates are the highest®.

Every dollar makes a difference:

$100 could be used to provide one mammogram
$250 could be used to cover five clinical breast exams
$500 could be used to provide five diagnostic ultrasounds
$1000 could be used to provide 10 mammograms

If you would like to make a donation on behalf of the team, please click here. 

Please visit www.globalraceforthecure.org to learn more.

Let’s all do our part to fight breast cancer!!!