That Girl Good, She Got Talent

Shoutout to Bianca that I saw at Rudy's, one of my fave fried chicken eating joints while wearing this dress. She rolled down her window and told me that she loved my blog! #DayMade

Thought I would let y'all in on a few of my hidden talents...

Dead End

One last post before I'm off to the NYC. I think at this point I would pay someone to choose and pack my oufits for me, I hate packing! Prolly because I am limited as to what I can bring, I love to have options and my carryon will not let me be great.

It's Getting Hot In Here

  Hey people! Thanks for the congratulatory comments from my post about my New York trip and special shoutout to reader Simplybee for the suggestions, I will be taking you up on as many of those as I can!

I wanted to share a little tidbit with y'all....

Lucky Me!

Why is this woman smiling?????

BET Gets Its Life So Hard: Being Mary Jane

 I had the pleasure of attending the BET screening of Being Mary Jane starring Gabrielle Union held in Dallas this past weekend and was more than pleasantly surprised....I was, in fact, left a little verklempt.

A Welcome Break

I am thoroughly enjoying my Christmas Break. I stayed a couple of days at my home away from home (Houston, for those of you who didn't know) which as usual was filled with lots of laughs, good times and bacon (mustn't forget the bacon!) I'm now spending a few days at my mom's house and kissing on my niece.   

   

Here are some of my thoughts as of late....

 

In The Fashionista's Closet: Expectancy

I was told recently that I am used to getting my way. I've been told that before but I disagree. I'm not used to getting my way, I just have expectations. Someone once told me that if you don't have expectations then people can't disappoint you. I think that's a cop out. I don't think that there's anything wrong with having expectations, expectations are your way of letting people know what's required of them.

In The Fashionista's Closet: Thanks For Everything

So apparently Oprah (my Aunt O in my head) has launched a

"Thank You" Game Challenge.

 I love the way that Oprah has a way of making you think of things bigger than yourself.

So I thought that I would play along:

Thank someone who gave you an opportunity. That one's easy. Definitely the principal at my school. She took a chance on me when I was looking to prove myself to anyone who would give me a shot. She has been such a great example of leadership and I love working with her.

(P.S. She doesn't know about my blog that I know of so I'm not kissing up!)

Thank someone who taught you something. My students. They have taught me to (try) and be patient and to be resilient. Kids don't hold grudges but plenty of grown-ups do!

Thank someone who probably thinks you’ve forgotten all about them. My ex-neighbor and friend. She was a constant of strength for me when we lived near one another and although we no longer live near one another I think of her often. I can never repay her for all that she has given me. She seemed to have some type of Juanette ESP because she always knew when I needed a friend and would call or pop up when I needed her most. Her advice to me about anything that I was going through? Pray first before you make a decision. *I tend to react first.*

Thank someone who forgave you, or gave you a second chance. God. For Grace. Over and over.

Thank someone who taught you something. To C. For teaching me to enjoy the moment. And to chill out (my brain works overtime I've been told.) I'm still working on turning it off.

Shirt: Thrifted
Necklaces (2): H&M
Skirt: H&M Conscious Collection
Bracelets: Sam Moon, Forever 21
Clutch: Can't remember
Shoes: Jessica Simpson

I love this concept, I think that it is important to be grateful and show it to others.
Who would you like to thank today?

In The Fashionista's Closet: Lemons and Swag

My lemon pants are in honor of someone leaving a sour taste in my mouth. (But I love these pants!) Let's say I met a guy when I was leaving Target. Let's say the guy asked for my number and I gave it. We have never gone out because there has been something not quite right about him and I learned the lesson to go with my gut in situations like this. Remember Job Fair dude? Anway, Target Guy called and here are snippets of our conversations:

Earrings: Can't remember but I love them

Linen top: Thrifted

Pants: Thrifted (I <3 these pants)

Bracelets: Forever 21, Sam Moon

Bag: Prada

Shoes: Steven by Steve Madden

Him: So what do you do?

Me: I'm a teacher.

Him: Oh, ok. I'm the vice-president at a bank.

Me: *silence*

Him: Yeah, I told my cousin about you. I told him that you had swag.

Hold up, hold up, HOLD UP! What person over thirty years old is using the word swag seriously in a conversation? My students say swag and mean it. With them, everything is about somebody having swag, not having swag and being swaggerific. *Come on, son.*

He told me during one conversation that he really wanted to see me because he wore a suit to work and wanted me to see his swag.

AGAIN with the swag??? And if you are the vice-president of a bank, shouldn't you wearing a suit be an everyday kinda thing? I PRO-MISE you I was looking at my phone thinking, "I ain't about this life."

I believe that he may be a teller or works at Ace Check Cashing but he's no vice-president. Not that there's anything wrong with that but there's no need to lie.

He has asked me to send him a photo of myself. (I.did.not.do.that.) I think he's the type to show a photo around and tell dudes, "Yeah, that's me right there." And it is not.

But the kicker was yesterday. He sent me a text message after we got off the phone asking me what was my favorite shoe and shoe size.

*Drops the mic and walks away*

*Takes a bow.*

*You're welcome.*

Sir. You buying shoes for women? No flowers or candy, you coming up off monies to buy shoes??? You don't even know my last name. We've never even gone out! Do you think that this is an episode of Real Housewives or Basketball Wives?  But what I really want to know is WHO is this working on??? Next he's gonna wanna take me to Red Lobster with the cheddar biscuits. Game recognize game, sir. And you looking kinda unfamiliar right now. (See Boondocks clip below.)

This means that your game is wack, sir. He definitely needs to have a "Conversation with Chris!"

On a sidenote, I am rather pleased with other aspects of my personal life right now...

In The Fashionista's Closet: Winning Weekend

I laughed a lot this weekend. A lot. Even though we had Saturday School yesterday.
I ain't about that Saturday School life. But it turned out okay.   

Earrings: Gifted by my friend the school counselor, I love them so!

Jacket: Thrifted and gifted by Reiko

Mens's Shirt: Thrifted

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

Things that made me happy this weekend: Attending a happy hour with a great friend, making new friends and seeing old friends.

Laughing loudly, playing Words with Friends (I'm winning), having engaging conversations....and watching line dances and hilarious YouTube videos.....

Bracelets: Forever 21; Sam Moon

Bag: Prada

Soaking up the awesome weather and enjoying tasty adult beverages (T.A.B.s) with my oldest and dearest friend..

 and eating the best.burger.ever. at Village Burger Bar. No. I mean it. I live for their burgers. It is second only to a word that begins with S and everyone does it.....Why, shopping of course (what were YOU thinking???)

How was YOUR weekend?

Texas Style Council: Part Deux

Stop the music. I have some serious things that I'd like to get off of my chest. I have been composing this post in my head ever since I left Austin. I want it to come across the right way and I hope that you'll understand where I'm coming from. 

Diversity. A word that I've used a lot in the past five days. It's defined as "the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety; especially : the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization." My belief is that everyone wants to be represented. By someone that they can relate to. Who may look like them. And sometimes the majority doesn't see that because they're well, the majority. They are used to seeing people who look like them.  

Jacket: Ralph Lauren (thrifted and gifted by Reiko)

Tee shirt: Target

Bracelets: InPink

Jeans: H&M

Clutch: DSW

Shoes: Steve Madden (gifted by Reiko)

Growing up in a small town, in most situations back then I was the "only one." As in, the only black person. I was in advanced classes and was the "only one." I was a cheerleader and was the "only one" until my friend Melissa made the squad my junior year. Class officer: "only one." I didn't give it much thought then because I was so used to it. I accepted it for what it was.

As time went on, in college I became involved in activities where I wasn't the only one. I became used to seeing people that looked like me and interacting with everyone.

My time in Austin both this time and last year I was keenly aware of how few people there were that looked like me. And how unacknowledged I felt by the conference organizer both years as well. I believed (mistakenly perhaps) that her acknowledgment was reserved for "big name" bloggers or those attendees that she knew personally. My blog is not a big one, I didn't expect to feel like Norm when he went into Cheers but a hi, head nod or high five would have sufficed. But I got none of the above, even when I was standing thisclose to the person who wanted (I would think) for me to feel welcomed and to want me to return. And as a native Texan I know what warm and personable are.  

It really got me to thinking. I don't play the race card all willy nilly. I think that most slights and misplaced comments are born of ignorance rather than malice. But I do think that the Texas Style Council (and their sponsors) are not utilyzing an untapped market to their advantage. The non-majority are important too. We spend. We blog. We too want to see someone that we can relate to. We want to be included in the discussion. And I know that there are black bloggers networks and conferences out there but why can't there be room at this table? I want to interact with everyone.  

Necklaces: (2 chain belts doubled) Sam Moon

The conference organizer made the point in a comment on her blog that she tried to include a variety of races and cultures into the organization of the conference but the one African-American blogger that she invited did not show up. One. Last time I checked, one was not a variety.

I do not want to make this a beat up session of the Texas Style Council. I think that Elissa and Linda did a phenomenal job in a hectic atmosphere. I enjoyed meeting all of the lovely people that share a passion for blogging and expressing themselves creatively. I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Kyla, Jentine and Kendi, they are hilarious and were so unassuming and fun. I feel that it was a great networking opportunity. But I also want to feel included. By acknowledging my presence and being personable. By feeling that I'm the norm and not some anomaly because I am not a part of the majority. I think that this could be a catalyst for future discussions or even a panel for next year's conference. Let's address the issue at hand and do something about the lack of acknowledgement of diversity in blogging. 

(Me, Kendi, Jentine and Reiko)

I hope that this makes sense. Let's start the conversation. Now back to our regularly scheduled blogging.....