Diva Diaries

Gorgeous...

2010-10-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

This is a genius collaboration of elegance and rock &roll. :)

Bend and Snap

2009-09-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

I was recently listening to the Soundtrack of Legally Blonde: The Musical and the song "Bend and Snap" came on and it got me thinking.....Does it really work?

I know it sounds silly but the concept had to come from somewhere. There are magazines articles decorated with advice on how our body language can send messages to the man we are interested in. From leaning in to him when he's talking to sitting up straight so show off our feminine lines.

The world of flirting and dating is all a dance anyway, so why couldn't it be possible for this to be real and somehow practiced in real life?

In fact, i think i'm going to try an experiment. I'll ask some of my single girlfriends to try this move in a few different places and see what the results are. Or if any of you wanna try it, let me know your results by emailing me here

Can't wait to share the results with you guys! :-D

Obama Puts the Haters on Blast

2009-09-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

Earlier today President Obama spoke to the US Congress about health care reform. He let it be known that there had been a lot of FALSE rumors going around and he was going to set the record straight. He acknowledged that it will take time but a huge updraft of changes CAN & MUST be made for the health of every legal American citizen. Watch his speech below and please listen to all parts of the speech.

Knowledge Corner

2009-09-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

A lot of people like to hate on the Bay Area. As if all we can be recognized for is the crime rate. However i'd like to share with you the book for this week. Cinema by the Bay, written by Sheerly Avni is a book that brings to light all the great films that have been filmed by great Bay Area film production companies. That includes Shrek, Star Wars, The Incredibles, The Right Stuff and many others. Please read more about it here

We have to have love for our community and be able to spread it's rich history with others.

Really Jay?

2009-09-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

So as i was perusing MTV.com i came across Jay-Z's new commercial for Rhapsody and it was a montage of him re-creating all 10 of his album covers. It was quite boring to watch honestly. He made minor changes including removing a hat and standing next to a car to show us how "cool" he was. I feel that if your art cover was that simplistic to where you could show us all of them in such basic shots then i'm totally un-impressed. Also Green Day already did it. and they had 51 references! NEXT!

Jay-Z

And Green Day

ThrowBack of the Week

2009-09-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

I heard this on the radio and it really took me back. Kissing games are always fun. Unless you play "Spin-The-Bottle" and get someone with nasty breath. Oh well enjoy the music instead.

Hi-Five - I Like the Way (Kissing Game)

Spotlight on: Derek Blanks

2009-09-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

The famed photographer, Derek Blanks has recently been seen as the photographer du jour on the latest episode of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta". His current body of work called the "Alter Ego" collection included photographs of Amerie, Eva Marcille, Tisha Campbell, David Banner, the "Housewives" and others. This has really been a superb project for him and it' always good to see a brother being appreciated for his talent.

People often say that his works of art are tangible illusions. Derek uses his subjects toillustrate an underlying story or meaning. Derek's comical and

quirky personality shines through all of his pictures. Whether it's

his graphic designs, painting or photographs there is always a

concept present. Born and raised in Mississippi, his mother realized his talent and

enrolled Derek in special art schools. He attended the Maryland Institute College of Art,

and graduated Magna Cum Laude, receiving his bachelors in Fine Arts. While

in Baltimore, he worked both as a painter and a freelance designer

for several prominent clients such as The Walters Art Gallery, The

Baltimore Sun, and the city paper.

Please visit his website by clicking here

Fresh Music

2009-08-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

For all the negative things people say about this girl, i can't help but love her. Miss Aubrey O'Day is a bold opinionated young woman who has many talents including singing, acting, and fashion design.

This is a new single from her featuring Shanell (who is D. Woods sister) that is a re-make of Eddie Murphy's ill-fated singing attempt "Party all the Time". However O'Day brings the song back to life and gives it a much better club sound than before. Can't wait to hear more from her.

Aubrey O'Day f/ Shanell - Party All the Time

Campus Control

2009-08-26T16:39:00.000-07:00

So i started school this week and it started with the typical CC bullish. Teachers not showing up for class, naked thirsty chiks, random dudes tryna get with the thirsty chiks, and trying to decide what classes will get you outta there. :-D SO much fun!

My classes are:

History of Dance

Rhythm Analysis

Ballet

Stagecraft

Intro. to Internet studies

I'm a Dance major if you hadn't guessed. :-*

One thing that was interesting was discovering i had a few classes with an old high school buddy (Leanna the infamous Redhead) YAY!

BART strike averted!

2009-08-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

So glad the BART employees didn't have to carry thru with their strike. I know a few folks that would have been mad as heck if they couldn't get to work or school or even to a boo's house lol. But for real those people deserve respect and i hope they get what they want out of their protest.

Source: BART

Jennifer Hudson has her Baby!

2009-08-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

The beautiful "DreamGirl", Jennifer Hudson conceived her 1st child, David Daniel Otunga Jr. with her fiance, David Otunga Sr. on Monday August 10th. Congrats to them and i envision Jen singing to the baby. "It is more than me...it is more than you... we are a family" :-D

Source: Black News

Goodness

2009-08-18T01:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long since i've posted on here. I wasn't really sure what i was supposed to do on here but now i have a bit more sense of purpose with this blog so if you're reading this THANKS for sticking in here and hopefully i can grow this site. :-* :-* Thanks guys

ThrowBack of the Week

2009-01-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

The year was 1990. The decade of slow jams started off with this classic. Songs like this should be in the Top 20 Duets. i think i will make my own Top Duets List. stay tuned for that.

L.A. Man ends lives of His 5 children, wife, and Self

2009-01-28T11:13:00.000-08:00

i was going to check my email when this story popped up. As i started to read my heart just sank deeper into my chest. These parents were so deep in despair, so baffled by life's curveball that they resorted to violence not only upon the themselves but to the innocent children.

Now i don't know what kind of relationships they had within their community or within their extended family but murder and suicide is not the answer.

Personally i believe God can get you through anything. My mother would say it's another sign that the Earth is getting closer and closer to the 2nd coming of Christ. Man is becoming more greedy, more devious, and more hopeless.

Who knows who those children could have become? And the excuse they left for taking the children's lives was "Why leave our children in someone else's hands?"

Seriously? I think that if they had a strong faith-based background this tragedy might not have occured. Also i wonder did they have any friends who they could turn to? Family members? Former co-workers? Was death the only logical solution?

If there are relatives of that family grieving them then i offer my sincerest prayers.

Discovery!

2009-01-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

so i finally discovered how to put music on here by way of ilike.com You can go there and make a playlist then add it to your blog. Maybe i'm just slow but i wasnt aware of that. i usually just use imeem to copy and paste. lol Anyway Enjoy my playlist!

1. Beyonce-Back Up-Love this song because that's how i feel when i'm out doing my thang. like people watch out! haha

2. Amy Winehouse-Me and Mr. Jones-i love Amy. her voice is amazing i just wished she would get her life together. Drugs are BAD! JUST SAY NO CHILDREN!!! and also bcuz she made up the word "f#c&erry" Personally i've never heard the word but it sounded hilarious to me.

3. Annie-Heartbeat-1st song i heard by her and i just fell in love with it.

4. Secondhand Serenade-Fall for you-The 1st line of this song is so simple yet very true in relationships.

5.Mateo-Human-Mateo is a cutie and he keeps it real saying we're all human, feeling and not perfect.

6. Steph Jones-Mr.Ordinary-My friend, Lamar actually put me on to Steph Jones. I cant wait till he blows up! The man is talented.

7.Mariah Carey-Can't Let Go-No need for explaination. it's Mariah.

8. Kanye West-Stronger-This joint gives me inspiration and it makes me bounce too.

9. Van Hunt-Your Love-I like to imagine hat my babe would sing this song to me if he could sing. LOL. Van Hunt is awesome, check him out on Itunes or Myspace.

10.Adele-Melt My heart to Stone-it just gives me that oomph in my spirit.

11. Goapele-Romantic-1st she represents the Bay! 2nd she is cussing at a man being too romantic?!? too funny! LOL

12. Gavin DeGraw-I'm in love with A Girl-This song parallels to my current relationship. he knows me better.

13. Prince-Lil Red Corvette-I HAD to have some Prince on my playlist. No list is ever complete without him. He has a song for EVERY situation. Trust me!

ThrowBack of the Week

2009-01-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

My favorite movie of the 90's was Cruel Intentions and it had THEE best soundtrack. I first fell in love with Reese Witherspoon during the watching of this movie and the musical sounds throughout just blew me away. This song live is awesome too.

ThrowBack of the Week

2009-01-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

man i miss the 90's. a time when life was so simple, the worst problem i had was learning multiplication lol. Also 90's music was the crutch that held a lot of people together. It made you smile, made you laugh, made you cry, made you reminisce.

So i had to pull out this jam right here from 4 very-talented ladies who's songs i still love.

Blessed are the dead

2009-01-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

"Blessed are the dead for they escape the evils of this world." -Drea MoS

i'm sure a lot of people have seen and heard about the un-provoked shooting of Oscar Grant on the Fruitvale Bart and also the calm protest that turned into a downtown riot.

It's getting really ridiculous these days. Clearly all police personnel need to have "Common Sense" training because it is clear from videos provided that this young man was not threatening or resisting the police. Firing a gun should be a last effort from police NOT the FIRST! Such actions were obviously not needed and i want to call into question why this man was sought out by the Bart police in the 1st place? i am very sad to hear of another Black man dying senselessly but i am further disappointed with our so-called "armed protection". Oh they're armed but WHO are they protecting? They shoot unarmed men but do nothing about drug dealers.

For more info go to:

Oakland Tribune

San Francisco Chronicle

And NOW i would like to speak on the peaceful March turned Buffoonery Riot. Now i read in the SF Chronicle thatEvan Shamar and other organizers just wanted to bring people together to express their pain and anger in a civilized way by speaking out, saying prayers and urging the police to quickly move into the investigation of the original shooting. However when the protestors moved downtown that's when the idiots took over and started doing foolish things that had NOTHING to do with the deceased. Shamar felt that his cause was used as a vehicle for fools to show their asses. He didn't say that but that's my words for it.

People started becoming stereotypical representations of African-Americand and of young people in general. And i wish i could ask a few of them what breaking the windows of a hair salon had to do with the protest? Because i would truly love to hear their reply.

I am ashamed as a young person, as an African-American, and as a native of Oakland for all this nonesense. it really makes no sense at all.

also i'm not aware if this is true or if many have seen this particular interview but my father told me a young lady (who looked fresh out of high school) proclaimed that she was tired of living in fear of the police, now the police should live in fear of (i presume) her and the other violent (fake) protestors (or what i like to call IDIOTS). ok 1st what does that have to do with the shooting of the young man? How does your turning over a cop car help defend this man's honor or bring justice to his family? And Secondly my dear the police are NOT i repeat ARE NOT afraid of some ignorant young people going wild in the streets. They are afraid of intelligent Black men and women who can navigate the court system and know how to file and present evidence of wrong doing. That's who they are afraid of.

ugh...ignorance gives me a rash and a headache.

Pix from the dungeon

2009-01-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

It's a NEW day

2009-01-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope this new year brings blessings unto you and your family. I usually don't make resolutions but i plan on slowly but surely changing my dietary habits and also being more productive towards getting my degree. Even if you feel like your life is good there is always something you can do to make it better. Maybe donating your time to a Senior's home or becoming a Big Brother/Sister. Or even if you wanna start small wihin yourself, you can change your hair color or wear something totally out of your usual comfort zone. Whatever it is, think of it as a new begining.

What's you resolution for this year?

ThrowBack of the Week

2008-12-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

my girl Tamia. she is sooo underated and i cannot for the life of me figure out why. The woman has vocals and is gorgeous. So i had to take it back to when i first started my (no homo) love affair with Tamia. hope you love it just as much as i did and still do.

oh yeah PS Tamia been on sum Disturbia type-ish waaay before Rihanna (also Kelis and other female artists) but i'll save that for another blog. anyway ENJOY!

my true love

2008-12-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

Dance is a language that knows no bounds, it has no etiquette nor grammar editing. it speaks to the soul without speaking out of turn. It ask questions and gives answers. It breaks hearts and mends wounds. It is sexual and spiritual. It feeds the soul without utensils. It is the air i breathe.

ThrowBack of the Week

2008-12-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

Okay i know there are people who remember CMC ( a show that played music videos local and national) that used to come on back in the days of The Box. Well it took me a long time but i finally found this lil ditty that i LOVED!. And the video on youtube is hilarious bcuz of the clothes but hey it was the 90's so w/e.

Go Filipinas!!!!

Precious

2008-12-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

people always say that you never realize how precious life is until it's almost gone or is gone.

this thought came to me in light of recent events in my life. grandparents are people who are old but you never really realize HOW old until their health starts to fail. you turn around and all of a sudden you have responsibility for their well-being.

i always hear about other families having ill elderly family members, and i feel sad but i have never felt as torn up inside as i did last night and as i do right now. it always has to hit home and i think it's b/c i used 2 live with her and see her everyday that i was in a blur about her true state of health. but reality slapped me across the face when i listened to my mother tell me about my 83-year-old grandmother hitting her head and being taken to the hospital.

tears dont do justice to my emotions racing inside

i wanna curl up in a ball, lay in a corner and hide

facing the reality of she is not an option for me

i ask the one above 4 answers as i fall on both knees

speaking in a voice i dont recognize as my own

begging to keep her from his heavenly throne

i'm not ready i say but the result is not mine to make

so much wisdom from her i still need 2 take

so i pray and cry until i can speak no more

thinking over my life, as my knees grow sore

Black Nativity

2008-11-30T18:18:00.000-08:00

i'm feeling kinda sad b/c this year is the last year of "The Black Nativity". it's a play/musical written by Langston Hughes and produced& directed by Sis. Betty Gadling of Allen Temple Baptist Church. we've been putting on this production for 27 years and it's hard 4 me to believe that after this year i won't be dancing in it anymore.

We've traveled all across the Bay Area performing this. Our main stage used to be the Paramount Theatre. As a child i would run up and down the ramps and sit in all the balcony and mezzanine seats just releasing all the pint-up energy i had waiting for the show to start. About 6 years ago our church built a building that included a gym/auditorium/theatre :-) so we moved into that building and i can definitely say it has been a lot more fun, being in those dressing rooms.

If those dressing rooms could talk, oh man! So many good times laughing at some of the soloists, having deep talks, trying to have the makeup not look lyk hoe strollers, people falling, sometimes fighting but just backstage havoc going on! so anyway this is the last season and i'm encouraging &inviting as many people as possible to come out. Even if you're not religious, just come out to see the awesome dancing! (myself included) :-)

What: 27th and Final Season of "The Black Nativity"

Where: Allen temple Baptist Church Family Life Center Auditorium

When: Dec.13. 2:30PM (1PM Pre-Performance Appreciation Reception)

Dec.14. 6PM

Dec.20. 2:30PM and 8PM

Dec.21. 3PM (Final Performance and Celebration)

How Much: Adults $15

Seniors/Students $8

Children Over Five $5

Final Performance and Celebration $25

Ticket Vendors: Allen Temple Baptist Church 8501 International Blvd. Oakland 510-544-9810

Marcus Book Store 3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way Oakland 510-652-2344

Nu Revelations 10700 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland 510-632-1670

Reid's Records 3101 Sacramento St. Berkeley 510-843-7282

For more info and goup rates call 510-544-8924

Danity Kane Fallout

2008-10-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

ok i've watched all the videos and episodes since the begining of DK and any1 who has siblings, be they male or female will tell you they definitely do NOT get along all the time! Any1 that has lived with 1 roommmate or multiple roommates will tell you THEY have definitely never gotten along ALL the time. So how can one expect a group of 5 ADULT Women to have love for each other all the damn time. i get sick of my 1 sibling plenty of times to where sometimes i wanna choke her, that doesnt mean at the end of the day imma disown her as my sister or if she lived with me, i wouldn't put her out.

On the business side of things, i can understand what Dawn was saying about that when people call for DK they want all 5 members but shit life happens. There are times when Michelle couldn't show up for Destiny's Child performances b/c she was in a Broadway play. or New Edition had to go on without Bobby before they had Johnny Gill. And just because other members of a group are tryna pursue other options doesn't mean they aren't fully committed to the group. Cuz nobody would say that mess about Beyonce. She did her own stuff and came right back to DC. i think that the music industry is not what it used to be and is not PAYING what it used to so anyone would be a fool not to have other outlets of income, plus your voice doesn't last forever if you dont sing ballads with a 1-2 punch lyk (old) Whitney, Tina Turner, Mariah, Toni Braxton, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Alanis Morrisette, Anita Baker, or be a show-stopping performer lyk Janet Jackson who can dance her ass off!

And as for Diddy (so many names i wanna call him but i think other people have already gone there) how could he sit there and lie like that? He always had a problem with Aubrey, for what reason i don't kno. In my mind she was only sticking up for herself because one grown person should not speak to another GROWN person like they are a child. And it was soooo rude of him to say that she dresses and/or acts promisciously. HOW DARE HE!!!! How many children does he have and yet is unmarried? How many female artists has he pushed up on? How can he judge anyone when he has so many flaws? And i wanna know what the HELL is Danity Kane's "image" supposed to be?!??!?!?!

Someone please answer me that. B/c in the finale, Miss Aundrea boobs were about to fall out of her dress, one could almost see her areola. and Dawn always has on shorts or a short skirt. Not saying that clothes are equal to a person's worth but i'm saying don't call out 1 when they all dress like that and almost every young woman in Hollywood dresses like that. ESPECIALLY in the music biz. SEX sells! What about Cassie's song "Me and You"? Everybody knows that was about giving head. Child please! Back to Diddy, who just thinks he is the sexiest thing on God's green earth. How long you been using Pro-active? Females only on you b/c of the name. Or they want some free sh1t or wanna have a baby so you can pay them. and Kim Coles is an idiot for messing with him for this long.

LAWD HAVMERCY WHEN WILL DIDDY JUST GET A EFFIN GRIP ON REALITY?!?!?!?!?!? He must be insane.

Am i asking too much?

2008-09-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

how can one feel so much love at times, at other times that love is not as deep and profound because ur heart, ur loved one is irritating u :-) lol i jus hav never meet a man who didnt want 2 dress in clothes that made him look even more attractive to his girlfriend. or at least pretend he wanted 2 look nice. i mean i shud b gratefull that he consented to buying almost $200 worth of clothing just to be presentable when he comes to church with me (which he also consented to) but at the same time i want him to WANT to b dressed nicely not jus 4 church, maybe for a nice evening out 1 day lyk dinner&the theatre or something...idk maybe im asking for too much too soon. its barely been 2 months but i feel lyk its been 6. idk i love him but sometimes i want him to do what i want him to do :-) but i guess thats how every1 in relationships feels once in a while

Celebrity Stroll

2008-01-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

this was from my bday in 2007. i was totally unaware i was being filmed. it's funny so i thought i would share