It’s BBQ season, sophisticated b-girls. And of course, you want to be the hottest thing at the July 4th BBQ besides that grill, baby. These days I favor online shopping (to throw off swagger jackers) and I found some really dope summer dresses perfect for the holiday weekend. A few of my faves:
Walter dress, bluefly.com
This floral print, drop-waist dress is perfection for summer. The loose fit is comfy and breezy, the style is feminine. Would be perfect with a pair of metallic gladiator sandals and a gold cuff bracelet.
Walter silk paisley maxi dress, bluefly.com
Maxi dresses are very “in” this summer, so why not rock one in a vibrant orange reminiscent of the summer sunset? Orange looks gorgeous against tanned skin, so accentuate the look with a touch of bronzer and beautiful, wild tousled hair for a carefree summery look.
Tbags floral batwing sleeve dress, bluefly.com
This floral batwing dress is sexy AND versatile, which makes it a justifiable purchase in my book. It works as a caftan style swimsuit cover up, day dress, or going out dress when paired with sky high heels, cute cropped jacket, and a simple clutch.
What will you be wearing this 4th of July weekend?
I peeped this candid of Ciara house hunting in Los Angeles on YBF…these chicks and their everyday activities in 5 inch platforms, I tell you. Her and Beyonce rock teetering heels everyday like it’s nothing.
What do you think of the shoes? I think they would look fly paired with a cute mini dress, skinny pants, or shorty shorts like Ci Ci. Thoughts?
Feel like getting your b-girl on? I’m grown and sexy but every once in awhile I like to slip on my New Balances and hit up a good, old-fashioned hip hop show. The Spliff and Broccoli Kung Pao present “Beats By The Pound,” a producer and DJ showcase at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown, DTLA. Grand Star is a cool, low key spot. Totally unpretentious, hip hop snobs not included. “Beats By The Pound” won’t be a mainstream crowd, for sure. Pure, unadulterated hip hop. Who said LA doesn’t have a hip hop scene? They’re wrong!
I like street dudes. There’s nothing sexier than a man who will shank someone on your behalf, or call the goons to take care of it for him. During my teenage years I had boyfriends who banged, yet treated me like a queen. It was fun and cute then, but not so much now that I’m a grown woman.
As an adult, I still appreciate a man with street tendencies, but he needs to be able to quell it when necessary. If often hear men say they need “a lady in the streets and a freak in the bed.” Well I need a guy who can be a soldier in the streets of life, and can be a man to me and take care of business. I need to be able to take him with me to a classy event, as well as on a run to pick up trees. I see many young women in their early 20s and even older who have much going for themselves, yet still get caught up with the “banger” types like I used to date in high school (ok, and in college a little too). Young women who have education, good jobs, come from good families, and have bright futures ahead of them. With young men whose future may likely entail the streets, jail, or a coffin. There isn’t anything wrong with dating a hood dude, as long as he has a job, is motivated to be successful, and has a plan for his future. But if his future looks bleak, as long as you continue to stay with him, so will yours.
I’m not instructing young women to not consider dating men from dire circumstances. It is entirely possible to find diamonds in the rough. What I am saying is to be mindful of who you spend your time with, consider whether they are adding anything to your life, or bringing you down. If you are with someone and they are headed for destruction, don’t ignore the signs. Ask yourself if that’s what you want for yourself and your future. Even if there is a child involved, you do not have to be stuck. Look out for #1, YOU.
Remy Ma has penned a letter from jail touching on her experience in the big house so far:
“I rarely listen to the radio because it’s sort of depressing,” Remy wrote in a letter. “Not being able to record is stressful not because I’m a rapper but because that was my way of venting and expressing myself. So I write a lot! So much that now I have a callous on my finger from holding a pen…Not being able to go somewhere when you want, see your family when you want (on many occasions when you need to), can’t use the phone, take a shower, wear clothes, or even eat when you want – super aggravating. Whenever, which is almost everyday I get visits, a lot of kids ask for autographs. It’s something that I used to do almost everyday but now it actually feels weird, I really feel like an inmate…Everyone in prison isn’t innocent but everyone in prison isn’t guilty. So whether you end up here on purpose or by accident, the pain you’re feeling is still the same. And I can quote a lot ‘gangsters’ by saying that ‘I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.” Source
O Remy. I wish I could feel more sympathy for her but she deserves to be behind bars. Her incarceration has nothing to do with the persecution of hip hop, she’s in jail because she gatted her homegirl.
It sounds like she may be learning her lesson, she seems to have a greater appreciation for freedom and everyday basics that civilians take for granted. I believe Remy got caught up living “that life” and she made a bad move the put her in the clink. Which sucks, because she didn’t even get to reach the height of her success. And with an 8 year bid, who knows if that will ever happen.
The upside is that she has nothing but time on her hands to be creative and write, write, write. Say what you want about Remy, but the chick can flow. She’s gifted with words. Put that talent to work and write some material Remy! Some of the best pieces of literature, rhymes, poetry, were written from a cell. Here’s a video to remind you of the good times:
(Sorry for the commercial, so it goes when I jack vids from MTV :-/)
Ah, this video capture the essence of the remix, as we know it in hip hop. Featuring anyone who’s hot at the time, and anyone fallen into obscurity. Long live the remix!
I am strangely obsessed with my hands, nails, and cuticles. I have this fixation on keeping smooth cuticles and staying hangnail-free. I’m a lady. When I look at my hands I like them to be pretty and well-groomed.
So how do I keep my cuticles on point, you ask? Swipe them with Vaseline. Yup, good old-fashioned petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly deeply moisturizes your nail bed and smooths out any crusty-ness. It protects your nails and cuticles like a sealant, keeping dry, nasty cuticles at bay.
In a pinch, lip balm works too. I went through a phase where I used Rosebud Salve in lieu of cuticle oil for a good 6 months. I swear by it.
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