Isle of You Live

I know many young men in my age range seem to be under the impression that public affection for someone they are with is not 'cool,' but the closer I get to God the more I realize that he has designed marriage and love to be something beautiful. I saw this video and though I am far from married, it still warmed my heart to see a man and his wife not only in love but giving glory to God for putting them together.

New Color Obsession

I have been looking for a soft but contrasting pink color and I think I found something that will work for me. The name is in the photo: Aprhodite's Pink Nightie. I absolutely love it. When I went into the shop, it was the first color that my eyes noticed. Thank Goodness!

Banana Hair Mask

So I did a banana hair mask as my pre poo before washing my hair Sunday. I actually love this more than I love any other homemade treatment that I have made. It was moderately easy to wash out and it really helped to relax my curls so that I could work all of my products through them. It's definitely worth a try.

Tea Party

I don't know where I should begin. There have been a ton of changes. I will go into detail in the coming months as changes arise on my blog. Let's just say its been a summer of life brainstorming. I am certainly coming into my own to say the least. I couldn't have done it without God and my best friend, tea. Ha. Yes, tea. I have been making a few lifestyle changes. Most importantly, spiritual changes are my primary focus. Second, I am embracing a healthy lifestyle. This includes, working out, keeping soda and fast food out of my diet, and paying special attention to my lifestyle regimens. Tea has been a lifesaver.
Tea serves so many benefits. According to iVillage, here are my favorite health benefits:

1. Tea contains antioxidants. Like the Rust-Oleum paint that keeps your outdoor furniture from rusting, tea's antioxidants protect your body from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution.  

2. Tea may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Unwanted blood clots formed from cholesterol and blood platelets cause heart attack and stroke. Drinking tea may help keep your arteries smooth and clog-free, the same way a drain keeps your bathroom pipes clear.

3. Tea bolsters your immune defenses. Drinking tea may help your body's immune system fight off infection. When 21 volunteers drank either five cups of tea or coffee each day for four weeks, researchers saw higher immune system activity in the blood of the tea drinkers. 

4. Tea protects against cancer. Thank the polyphenols, the antioxidants found in tea, once again for their cancer-fighting effects. While the overall research is inconclusive, there are enough studies that show the potential protective effects of drinking tea to make adding tea to your list of daily beverages. 

5. Tea is calorie-free. Tea doesn't have any calories, unless you add sweetener or milk. Consuming even 250 fewer calories per day can result in losing one pound per week. If you're looking for a satisfying, calorie-free beverage, tea is a top choice. 

6. Tea increases your metabolism. Lots of people complain about a slow metabolic rate and their inability to lose weight. Green tea has been shown to actually increase metabolic rate so that you can burn 70 to 80 additional calories by drinking just five cups of green tea per day. 

I encourage everyone to make the switch. Before you say its not for you, give it a try at least for a month. I am a huge coffee fan and will never give that up, but this is definitely my new afternoon and evening beverage. It looks like I will be seeing more in my future with autumn and winter approaching.

Summer Passings

This summer has been great so far. I am a good half way through, suffering through only one online course. It can be a little tough to update as I am trying to get things done over here. I figure a recap is a great way to at least keep my blog running in the mean time.
I got a new contributing writing opportunity with FN-Mag which I am excited about. I am working on updating my journalism portfolio so I really can't wait to share that with you. I haven't even shown personal friends. I love to see the progress that I am making. I am embracing the open doors that I find. I can't guarantee that a lot of things and people will be in my life in the next year or two, but I am doing my best to make sure that success is one of them. Enjoy! Feel free to catch me via email.

Summer Lovin'

Care to know what I have been up tot his summer. There isn't much to say but I think photos a little taste. I just got a new iPhone 4S and so I will probably be using that until I can get a new camera. I have a few ideas for this blog I just need to get things in order. Nothing but changes from here on out.

Beautiful Words

To his Coy Mistress

by Andrew Marvell

Had we but world enough, and time,

This coyness, lady, were no crime.

We would sit down and think which way

To walk, and pass our long love's day;

Thou by the Indian Ganges' side

Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide

Of Humber would complain. I would

Love you ten years before the Flood;

And you should, if you please, refuse

Till the conversion of the Jews.

My vegetable love should grow

Vaster than empires, and more slow.

An hundred years should go to praise

Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;

Two hundred to adore each breast,

But thirty thousand to the rest;

An age at least to every part,

And the last age should show your heart.

For, lady, you deserve this state,

Nor would I love at lower rate.

        But at my back I always hear

Time's winged chariot hurrying near;

And yonder all before us lie

Deserts of vast eternity.

Thy beauty shall no more be found,

Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound

My echoing song; then worms shall try

That long preserv'd virginity,

And your quaint honour turn to dust,

And into ashes all my lust.

The grave's a fine and private place,

But none I think do there embrace.

        Now therefore, while the youthful hue

Sits on thy skin like morning dew,

And while thy willing soul transpires

At every pore with instant fires,

Now let us sport us while we may;

And now, like am'rous birds of prey,

Rather at once our time devour,

Than languish in his slow-chapp'd power.

Let us roll all our strength, and all

Our sweetness, up into one ball;

And tear our pleasures with rough strife

Thorough the iron gates of life.

Thus, though we cannot make our sun

Stand still, yet we will make him run. 

New Hair Color

Since going natural, I am truly learning to deal with my hair texture. I have tight spiral curls naturally and straightening them, especially after being braided so long was simply a poorly though out idea. As I try to find straightening methods, here is what I have for you to see. I am trying a new system (as seen in the picture below) to see how I like the products after a 2-3 week period. 

Tan & Black Tights

I had begged a close friend of mine, a male, to enter a store with me where I spotted these tights/pants through the open window. I still love them, Texas summer and all. Also, it's one of my favorite color combinations on my skin tone.

Little Egypt Wavy

Reef Collection

Kanye West "Lost In The World"

Click the image

I recently wrote a short article on Kanye West's new film project for his song, and my personal favorite, Lost In The World for Jungle Gym Magazine. I would love for everyone to go and check it out. It's brilliantly put together. I think you guys especially will like the dancing. Some people think it was not done well, but I think it is much more of an artistic piece than something to promote him as an artist.

Breathe

Breathe.

Look at the cell phone next to you and turn it off.

Yes, turn it off. Really.

Okay, just put it face down and on silent.

Do not forget that life isn’t built of electrical impulses shoved into a metal frame.

Read these words.

I am just as real as you.

Touch the next person that you see,

The very next, even if you must call it an accident of human contact.

Single out that one moment and remember their warmth.

That is life.

The warmth and breath of exchanged between souls in physical form.

Speak to someone in the eye and not screen to screen.

Say all the things that society told you that you shouldn’t.

Tell someone you barely know that you miss them and you want to know who they will be to you in a year.

Never let them tell you that you should not think of the future.

Think, imagine, dream and most importantly never forget to breathe.

Step a little closer to them and exchange breaths.

This is the only way you can know that you are still alive some days.

Blue Pop

It is Tuesday, a good 76 degrees, and I do not have class for another hour. I cannot express how good I feel this morning. Not to mention, iTunes decided to be good to me and shuffle my library beautifully. I am sorry that I am behind on updating this blog. I have been sucked into an instagram black hole and therefore, I have a tendency to neglect my actual blog. I may just make an exclusively instagram pictures update. I have been saying that for a while anyways.

Dziga Vertov, 1929

Sometimes I catch myself drifting through YouTube just to find something appealing to look at. This was my choice today.

Hot Red

I got a new set. This is my first time shying away from the typical white tips. I think I have fallen in love.

Kilo Kish

Jungle Gym Magazine posted this new interview. It is full of flavor and certainly worth the watch and read.
 

You can check it out here.

Spring Break

Where do I begin? This past week was Spring Break for me. Many of my friends set out to Padre and Pananama and what did I choose to do? I went home to Dallas and spent time with my family and city. I can honestly say I wouldn't have had it any other way. I had an amazing time. Half of the week was spent in a northern suburb of Dallas with a good friend of mine. He lives there and it served as my minor vacation time away from everyone. The other time was spent celebrating St. Patrick's Day in downtown Dallas. It was incredible. The crowd stretched miles. There had to be at least 100,000 people there in the day time alone.
As for the hair, I know a lot of people comment my blog and mention the blonde curls. I am thinking about going back to my natural brown color. My hair is not straightened in these photos and therefore it looks a mess. However, it is something new for me and I am strongly considering the switch this year after college graduation.

Rainy Photo

Just something brief

Spring Break

I am currently on Spring Break. Officially, Day 1. I am enjoying myself more than I can adequately explain. My sweet mother knows that I have to play piano in heels every Sunday and it really is tougher than people realize. If I wear the wrong pair, the heel will get stuck on the pedal. On top of that, I sing for two church services which are roughly 40 minutes each so comfortability and neutrality are very big to me when it comes to Sunday heels. I just got these. She surprised me and had them on my piano bench waiting for me when I got home. What a sweet woman.

New In Town: Rita Ora Article

New article I did for Jungle Gym Magazine. Please go and check it out and let me know your thoughts.

Morning Tunes: Friendly Fires

Play this tomorrow morning as you get ready. If you don't have an amazing day after this, seek a psychiatrist.

Photo A Day: February 27

Good Morning - I can't lie, I definitely have a case of the Mondays. I have had the longest weekend and I am still trying to catch up on sleep. On top of that, I am not feeling that well. I am hoping that after my classes, I can dose up on some medicine and lie down. I am a little behind on my blog, articles for an organization/website that I am newly writing for, and school work. This week I plan to play catch up but today, I shall sleep.

Photo A Day: February 22

Feature: Vee Urbanite

Vee has become a very very good friend of mine (pardon the term) and his work really speaks for itself. He not only is a passionate photographer but he also is a creative mind on its own. I can not name many other people, especially at his age, who can literally create some of the most innovative ideas at the drop of a hat. Definitely a man that will make an impact on our culture directly or indirectly He wrote a very nice article which I have linked below and also he has great shots available on his blog. Check it out.

Nonsense Blog

Vee Urbanite Photos

Industry Leaders Downfall

Daily Reads

My email is located on the right as well as my 'Daily Reads' section.

Photo A Day: February 21

How do you feel about leaving in the morning with wet hair? I can’t lie. I do it nearly every day. It is not soaking but I just do not have 45 minutes to spend drying it to curly perfection. Mother nature knew I would one day have this time dilemma and included wind into the elements just for me.

One Piece

How do you feel about one piece outfit? Does it make your life simpler or does it make the bathroom process longer as you try to somehow fumble out of all of the material? Maybe it is a little of both. Perhaps my favorite part of this is the ability to really use accessories to make it come to life.