Hometown Glory

I went home for Thanksgiving this year & that's kind of a big deal, because usually, I don't go because my sister can't afford it. She has two children & traveling with kids is never cheap. With trying to make her ends meet on a daily basis, raising two kids solo in BK, going home for the holidays was never an option for her. It would always make me feel guilty for leaving her behind.

This year was supposed to be special. My mom's birthday is the day after Thanksgiving & she's been in & out of the hospital quite a few times this year. My brother wanted to make sure we celebrated her 58th year of life. It was lovely.

I was hiding out at my oldest sister's house with my two adorable nieces--Azariah & Makayla.


This is the night I surprised my mom. She was mad that I was in Rocky Mount for a few days without her knowing. LOL

Couldn't be home without seeing Grandma. PS, she's 93!

My niece is convinced that she's not as cute as she is. She's got quite the dark skin complex. I'm working on her self esteem.

My little mini-me Kayla presenting her Thanksgiving song to us.

My nephew Jalen being his super silly self.

My nieces wanted to see how far they could stretch my genie pants--those are pillows!

The girls were having a blast with grandma's wigs!

I'm so sure she's going to end up being an actress. She's so good with her face.

Momma on her bday. The dress was a gift from me--I knew her hazel eyes would look amazing in it.

I had to get her out of the house so my siblings couuld set up her surprise bday party--so we went to try on some wigs :-)

I think I might start doing the wig thing. It costs less than going to the salon & you can switch your look up whenever you want! I loved this one on her!

I was trying to convince her t go longer. Even with closed eyes, she's so cute!

Another blinking shot lol

She ended up LOVING this one & got it. I told her she looks young in it.

She loved her new look!

Same hairstyles, but hers was cheaper. Will I be rocking wigs soon?

Back to the house for her surprise bday lunch. She told me she felt so special. I cried LOL

Mom's new TV. Swanky.

The bday cake. :)

Happy tears.

My neice is obsessed with high heeled shoes & my sister finally got her her own pair (kitten heels)

Right after Thanksgiving, I had to put up the Christmas decorations. Momma wastes no time.

Her little tree. Cute, huh?

Last stop, Grandma's. How cute is she?!

I would have taken a lot more photos of the fam, but they aren't really all that fond of photos. What can you do? :-) I'll get more over Christmas though. And no guilty feelings this time around because my sister is coming too!!! This Christmas will be a very special Christmas!

Latest Interview: The Clipse

Virginia Is For Grindin'

It’s very well-known that Virginia is for lovers—lovers of music, lovers of hip hop. With talent like Timbaland, Missy & Pharell all hailing from the loving state, it’s no wonder why two of VA’s finest—Malice & Pusha—are not only filling those big shoes, but using said shoes to walk along their own path to greatness. It was a chance meeting between Malice & Pharell that lead them into a flourishing musical relationship. Already friends with Pusha, Pharell heard a rhyme that Pusha wrote one day & The Clipse were born. It took them a minute to gain some mainstream success, but once listeners caught on to their hit single, “Grindin’,” The Clipse were in heavy rotation by hip hoppers with an affinity for lyricism & minimalism. Click here to read the entire article.

Random Photos from Random Parties & What Not

This was earlier this summer at a party called: Party Like A Pinup

This is me trying to dress like one :)

Gabby LOVES takin' pics with these weird ass angles.

My legs look yummy! :)

Don't really know this guy. He just really wanted as pic with me *shrugs* I was wearing my Harem pants that night & I have no idea where they are now! :(

LOL @ Jake trying to keep his eyes open

More Pics from the Fabulous Party Like a Pinup Event

This was during the summer & I am happy to say that my legs are much less cottage cheesey.

Yes, they're real. :) & No, that is not Marvin Gaye. Or is it?

Emotional Baggage Weighing You Down?

Baggage. People carry around so much with them on a daily basis. Some people know it & some schlep it with them everywhere they go without even realizing it. It's very hard to move on from a past love(s), like(s) or infatuation if your heart was 100% true with that person. Sure, breakups are hard & often times we're left bitter & disliking, sometimes hating the ex, but those feelings are still there. Essentially because love & hate are cut from the same cloth--one that isn't easily ripped ot torn.

Even when you are so sure deep within you that you're ready to move on, feelings linger. I had a conversation with a potential boo yesterday & I was asked the infamous question, "Tell me about your last relationship." Oh Lord! Here we go! My last relationship is difficult to explain in a short & sweet statement. It has history, complications, friendship, homosexuality & all kinds of red tape wrapped up in it. I didn't really want to talk about it to him because having to divulge all of that to somene that doesn't really know you, takes a lot of understanding. Nine times out of ten, people aren't understanding.

But, I told him the story from start to finish, leaving out parts that were too deep to disclose. I couldn't really explain the reason we broke up because, well, I didn't understand it myself. Especially when she started that conversation with something like, "I couldn't even ask for more in this relationship." He wanted to go back farther than her. Those "relationships" were even harder to talk about because they were never really relationships at all. They were flings, friends with benefits & beneifts without the friends. I get this all the time, but he was surprised because I am, "way too beautiful inside & out to not have any committed relationships in my past." He asks me why.

I have no answer for him. Shoot, I don't know. It's not like I was going around saying I didn't want to be in a relationship. The only thing I could say was that I may have given the ice cream away for free too much & no one wanted to buy the truck. I was never a slut, but when I really liked someone, they didn't have to work hard for it. :( I hate admitting that, but that cannot be the reason why committed relationships hid from me in the past.

He then asked what type of things do I like for my significant other to do for me. I thought I would have a list of things, but when I opened my mouth, it shocked me that I had nothing. Not one single idea. Hmm. Why?-because I have never had a significant other do anything romantic or thoughful for me. Ever. Well one dude bought me flowers once. lol But, I thought back to all the romantic things I've done for lovers--elaborate meals, gifts that took lots of thought, seeing something that I knew that he/she would like & getting it for them just so I could see them smile, lap dances, notes, poems--I'm a simple kind of romantic, but it has never been reciprocated. I never noticed until he asked me that. He started making suggestions of things he wants to do for me.

My automatic reaction was telling him that he didn't have to. He countered my argument, telling me that he knows he doesn't have to, but as a woman that he's into, I need to know I'm special to him. He tells me I would never be unappreciated. I didn't even know how to act. I had to almost force myself to believe him. Damn baggage. I remember when I used to assume the best in everyone. Constant disappointments lead me to another path. Guilty until proven innocent. I don't like this morphed way of thinking. I'd rather be a bright-eyed optimist. At least then, I could view the world & my love life with rose colored glasses, like I used to & each time I dusted myself off to try again, they slate would be clean, instead of cloudy because of the previous person.

It's a defensive action--trying your best to protect your own heart. Which is 100% understandable, but in order to completely move on, you must let go. If you hold on to your hurt, you're not only holding on to something that is over, but you're making it less possible to actually move on. It's a learning process for me, especially since I had no clue I was holding on. Now that I'm clued in, I look forward dropping all that baggage.

So, I went to an art show.