Dangerously Beautiful

Last night, I got a chance to briefly watch the Soul Train Music Awards.  I don’t normally watch award shows because they’re too many commercials and to much time in between the performances.  But after a very busy weekend of Dangerously Beautiful activities, I decided to take a little break.

I tuned in just in time to see the Chaka Khan Tribute.  I’ve been a fan of Chaka Khan since a little girl.  I always thought it was cool to have all that hair (like Diana Ross) until the day that I had to do my own hair!  Her voice was always so powerful and showed so much energy.  It’s great to see that after all these years, she still has her skill.

Don’t get me wrong, Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, and Fantasia held their own when singing her classics.  But when Angie Stone put that mike up to Chaka and let her sing, you knew who was the original.  Once a musician myself, I can truly appreciate Chaka’s voice and experience.  If you missed the tribute, check it out below.

Yesterday, I had the wonderful experience of teaching 34 first graders.  At first, I thought that the children were going to be climbing the walls and that I would bore them to death.  That wasn’t the case at all.  They were very well mannered and entertained with the subject matter.

It amazes me how honest and open children are at that age.  I taught them how to be safe around electricity.  One of my examples was of toast getting stuck in the toaster and how you would have to  unplug the toaster before trying to get the toast out.  During the explanation, I mentioned that the person may get shocked and not feel so well.  Instantly, a little boy raised his hand and said that they would be ” dead forever and never feel anything again.”  I couldn’t help but smile.  Here I was trying not to scare them by using words like dead and electrocution, but that’s the truth and that’s was they wanted to hear.

Now, being the Teacher Champion that I am, I realize just how hard it is to be a teacher.  I only taught for two hours and I was exhausted and these were good kids.  I can’t imagine having to deal with the energy of a six year old for 6 hours a day.  If you know any teachers, please give them a thank you.  It’s a rough job!

All my life I’ve been watching my mom and my sister noticing their fabulous-ness and diva attitudes. During my observations I typically made notes to self, such as: I hope I can do that one day or I hope I’m never, ever caught doing that.

Anywho, one of the things that they both do is what I like to call The Classic Scarf Snap. As a child riding in the car with my mom in the winters (back when Ohio law allowed 10 year olds to ride shotgun) I nearly lost both eyes from her scarf-snapping. Halfway through the season I finally started asking her to be more careful of my delicate little face, but by then it was much too late. She couldn’t stop. She even occasionally laughed as I whimpered and rubbed cotton and cashmere lint balls out of my eyes.

During a recent girls outing I witnessed my sister snap the end of her scarf right on top of some short bald guys head. He did a little brush and she never even knew what she had done.

All this leads me to ask one question: what’s so hard about guiding the scarf from one shoulder, around your neck and placing it on the opposite shoulder? Sheesh! Better yet, tie it.. But, if you must snap, PLEASE look around first.

I had a lunch date today at the mall.  It surprises me how many people are at the mall at 12PM in the afternoon.  Must be the life! Anyhow, no need to be hater, good for them not having to work like the rest of us.

As we sat down to discuss the blow up of Dangerously Beautiful, I noticed that people were on the Merry Go Round. Not just children, but adults, young and old.  I used to love to ride the Merry Go Round when I was younger.  As I have gotten older, I sometimes wonder what’s the big deal about going around in a circle on a fake horse or character.  Today, I remembered how simple life was then.  Just sit down and spin around in a circle and not have a care in the world.

Most days, I don’t even have time to eat let alone time to relax.  Sitting down watching it going round and round, I realized something.  Sometimes, we have to take time and just ride the Merry Go Round.  Life can be the scariest roller coaster, so at times we need to just mellow out and let the fairy tale horse take us on a relaxing ride.  I’m taking my ride this weekend. How about you?

It’s been a while since I have blogged about food.  If it were up to me, I would blog once a week about food. I can really appreciate good food.  I’m not a huge fan of fast food, but I can’t cook everyday.  The latest food obsession would have to be chicken wings.

I see new chicken wings places coming up everywhere.  This used to be a great appetizer, but these days, chicken wings are a full meal.  Yummy!  The only bad part is that you have to eat so many to get full.  I love to go to places that offer tons of different flavors.  My favorite by far would have to be this flavor named Sunset from one of my favorite little Wing joint.  It’s a mix of teriyaki, honey, and chili peppers. You get the sweet and the spicy and you know that I like spicy!

There are also different ways to have them prepared.  The most common is fried, but I actually like the grill ones better.  Even the chain restaurants have caught on.  One of the few fast food places that I may get food, Pollo Tropical, has joined in and offers grilled Caribbean wings.  So now I can have my wings even when I am on the go!

My sister showed me this video and it cracked me up.  I love Maxwell and I love chicken wings.  Put the two together and you get the video below. Comedy.

Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I am not into the vampire stuff. Not at all.  There seems to be a new craze for these blood suckers. You have True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, and the biggest of them all Twilight.  I’m not scared or think its evil or anything, its just not my cup of tea to see a creature sucking blood out someone’s neck.

I was just happy to see my sister actually pick up a book and read, but this Twilight phenomenon is much bigger than that.  You have to read the book to understand all the underlying secrets and whatnot.  Then you have to watch the movies to see how everything plays out and what parts are left out.  Since that somewhat reminded me of  Harry Potter, I stayed clear.

It’s when I began to hear 30 and 40 year olds waiting to see the new movie New Moon, that my curiosity arose.  What in the world could interest a 15 year old and a 36 year old at the same time.  Seems a bit bizarre.  So I gave in and watched the movie.

Now I understand.  Its really just a love story.  A great drama and the blood sucking part doesn’t really play a major role.  I’m a sucker for romance, so now I’m hooked. What happens next? Edward or Jacob? And what’s going on with Dakota Fanning?  Guess I will have to catch the new movie, New Moon.

Hello Ladies, I’d like to introduce you to the return of the dark ages:

I’ve heard of keeping the P on lock, but this is ridiculous.

Forget-me-not panties are the latest in spy (under)ware.

Advertised to both frightened parents and paranoid boyfriends (let’s not leave out girls with girlfriends)- these panty-trackers are made to find out what the vagina you want to keep in check is up to- whenever & wherever.

They can monitor both location and temperature. You’ve got to read the testimonials to really get a sense of the lameness desperation which these panties can comfort.

“When my daughter hit puberty I nearly had a heart attack. She started looking like a woman and suddenly she was wearing revealing clothing and staying out late with her friends.

They work wonderfully. My wife and I bought our Sarah several pairs so we can watch her around the clock, and if we see her temperature rising too high, we intervene by calling her cellphone or just picking her up wherever she is. My only comment is it would be great to have a video camera, maybe you can work that into V.2.”

All that free time traveling and you didn’t even have to punch 88 in your Delorean.

Parents: Trust in your good parenting and accept your child’s decisions.

Lovers: If you gotta do all this, she was never your’s. Let It Go.

Jovi Rockwell’s mixtape is named “Psychotherapy” because it’s crazy. Jovi offers us an intentional interpersonal relationship through various rhythms while showcasing her range and talent.

Hailing from Jamaica (go JamRock), she is neither solely a reggae, dancehall, r&b or pop artist. She’s got versatility, she’s got talent, she’s Dangerously Beautiful through and through.

Click to Download Jovi Rockwell- Psychotherapy

We were very fortunate to have Jovi as a part of our Holiday 2009 photo shoot last month. Be sure to stay tuned as we gear to release the full shoot in a few weeks.

Word is Vol.2 will be out around the same time as Dangerously Beautiful’s Spring 2010 range, but you ain’t hear that from me.

Sooo . . . I went to my parent’s house and snatched up this magazine with this beautiful family on the cover.  You know them well:  The Kodjoes.  Boris and Nicole.  As fine as that man is I aint even mad ‘cause they are just so cute together.  Moving on.

I was amazed at how they make time for each other and family; the way they strategically left the bustle of Hollywood for a more quiet family life in Atlanta.  I love the way they manage their daughter Sophie’s spina bifida and work to increase awareness for other families.  Ahem.  But let me be all the way honest.  One thing in the article really stood out for me.

Water your flower.

Generally speaking, comparing women to cute-sy objects in nature and industry (“You remind me of my Jeep”) irks the crap outta me, but I don’t mind being called a flower.   I just don’t.  Boris offered that, “Men have to make sure they water the flower every day”.  He goes on to say that, “you can’t just get a plant and sit it on the desk and leave it alone.  It’s the little things.  Little notes, little presents, little gestures”.  Preach, Brotha!

The whole point, Ladies, is this:  If Boris can do it, so can he.  If Nicole can get it, so can you.  You know you’re bad, girl.  Get Demand Yours!