Sometimes you need a little pick me up - or kick in the butt - and there's no better thing for that than blogs and tumblrs. Friends go home, gym trainers and psychologists have appointment times but the interwebs are four-eh-vah!
That said:
BODY from www.diamantenegro.tumblr.com
http://x-uvicgirl91-x.tumblr.com/ Inspiration for getting up, getting out and doing something. There's no reason why can't be the best you can be.
http://blackfitness.tumblr.com/ The name says it all!
MIND & SPIRIT from www.leilockheart.tumblr.com
http://jenteel.blogspot.com/ I followed Jenteel's hair fotki(natural hair like woah) and found her spirit-focused blog was just as useful:)
http://leilockheart.tumblr.com/ Really, really pretty pictures - of everything!
As a person of African origin, have you ever thought about how beautiful and unique we are? Who else has our hair texture? What other race boasts such a variety of skin tones and features? What other people can boast people who look half their age! I'm just saying;) Now, usually, when we see someone who is outstanding and gets hated on, what is that called? Jealousy. Study it. Now, go talk amongst yourselves:) image
(Breathe Easy by Dawn Okoro) The mind is a powerful thing. As a tool, it should not be underestimated; and just as we train our bodies to play sports, wake up on time for work and watch it morph as it caters to motherhood, we can and should do the same with our minds.
I watched part of series last night, discovery channel, that was called 'The Science of Lust' (the episode is accessible on youtube). It was fascinating to watch how simple cues made persons more likely to make choices or react in particular ways.
This led me to think about how our behaviour - and moods - are affected in similar ways. Think about it - you break up with someone and you start listening to Barry Manilow, or fill your playlist with man/woman bashing/I never wanted you anyways tunes. But all those songs do is send messages and remind you of the loss and regret.
Recently I've been struggling with demons past - or ones I thought had past - and I remembered that what you imbibe is what you become. So while your loneliness may lead to you reading romance novels or spending the evening with an *ahem* erotic movie, that just feeds on your existing emotion, making it worse.
Instead, try to surround yourself with positive people, events and media. For example, my playlist for the gym included songs like 'Sex Room' by Ludacris (love Luda, and that song) but obviously I don't need sex on the brain when I'm single, that's just adding injury to insult. So, I've taken to modifying my playlist to offer a healthier 'diet' of music that makes me happy:
Golden - Jill Scott Superstar - Lupe Fiasco Rock DJ - Robbie Williams Black and Gold - Sam Sparro Loca - Shakira Dance Tonight - Lucy Pearl
and I throw a little soca in the mix, to keep it even more lively;)
We all need reminders of where we want to be, so we don't pine for where we were. We often forget that the past is just that, and with reason. Focusing on the future, especially for women, is an important part of growing and waiting for what you really want. Soak your soul in positivity - the music/movies you listen to and watch, the people you associate with and the thoughts you encourage.
I love Rom Coms (romantic comedies) as much as the next lady - the boy meets girl inevitably gives us false hope, but hope none the less;) However, the Rom Coms I love the most are the ones which feature folks who remind me of, well me. Of course most of us know about the usual suspects - The Wood, Two Can Play that Game, anything by Tyler Perry:) - but there are some lesser known (at least by moi) pieces, plays to be precise, that definitely do it for me when I wanna take my viewing to chocolate city. Consider:
Love in the Nick of Tyme (a play by David E. Talbert, with Morris Chestnut...yessiree)
Whatever She Wants (a play featuring Vivica Fox and Boris Kodjoe, thoroughly entertaining)
Mr. Right Now (another David E. Talbert stage play that introduced some unfamiliar/less seen faces)
Now, bear in mind, these pieces are purely for entertainment purposes. If you're the type to look too deep into acting capabilities/script/underlying messages that undermine the black movement - these aren't for you. However, if you want something light to go along with your night at home, freshly showered, in your jammies with yummy snacks, these are perfect-enjoy;)
I suck at makeup application. I always want a speedy process which is not conducive to the results I desire. Not only that, I'm definitely a novice when it comes to the names and purposes of the brushes - enter The Fancy Face.
Simply put, Fancy Face is to makeup what Polish or Perish is to nail polish - the full nine yards. Again, a full breakdown of brands, makeup types and new collections are all featured on the extensive blog, which also gives detailed tutorials on how to achieve her looks du jour. She even offers tips for beginners who need a starting point on skin type and suitable makeup options.
Tutorials and articles and a product vault are some of the major focus points of Makeup Geek. They're lots of 'how-tos', with full colour photos and they're videos as well, which Fancy Face also has.
I did an earlier list of enlightening hair sites for black women interested in remembering what their hair really looks like;) Now, focusing a bit on a different kind of aesthetic:
The mother of all nail polish blogs, Polish or Perish is the epitome of blogger dedication. Every colour and texture imaginable is featured on this site which delves into everything nail polish related, from how many coats you'll need from a particular brand to the difference between matte and jelly finishes - I didn't even knew jelly finishes existed before I visited this site!
Another interesting presence in the blog world of nails is Dr. Frankenpolish who, while she hasn't posted recently, certainly has posted enough of her concoctions to keep you oohing and aahing for a while:)
I really do. I'm always making notes for groceries, how I'd like to decorate a room, stuff I need from the hardware store, how I'd like to expand my wardrobe - I love 'em! That's why, when I realized how far apart my blogs of interest were, I considered creating a blog about blogs, which will be the prime focus for 'The Fight to Fabulous'. It's sometimes very difficult to find the info you want on particular topics and google can be very unfriendly at times. So, I'll be posting some of my favourite sites for clothing, fashion, beauty, hair and deep thoughts:)
from www.diamantenegro.tumblr.com
from www.leilockheart.tumblr.com
