Uncommon Commentary: Creative people in small towns—to leave or not to leave, that is the question?

I once wrote a piece about this for a student newspaper for which I worked as the opinion editor. When the editor in chief read it she immediately got offended by my opinions, which I had written in the form of a commentary for the "opinion" section of the paper. She said I had to change what I wrote but I balked. The more I disagreed, the more she put pressure on me to change it and I eventually and reluctantly acquiesced, foolishly! I'm the last person who would be willing for fold under any such pressure but I did in this case and for no reason because I wrote nothing wrong!

At any rate, in this commentary I wrote about the fact that Washington State has a very limited, finite creative industry in which to play, move around in and grow. The editor in chief argued that there are plenty of options here, to which I insisted there are limits. And that is a true fact, not really an opinion. There are some opportunities here in Washington State I will say that but there is not an exhaustive amount of opportunities compared to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Atlanta to name a few.

In the commentary I also encouraged any like-minded readers to reach for the stars and make their dreams come true if they want to leave the "small town." I encouraged readers to break out of their small town mentality and imagine if they will, a world beyond main street.

I further encouraged readers not to let the haters, the nay sayers or the discouragers stop them with nasty little quips and insulting barbs about how they can't do something or get anywhere because of where they are from, who they are and what kind of family or upbringing they had. No one should settle for putting limits on themselves. I say put on your armor of confidence and be a "No Limit Soldier" (thank you Master P for coining that term)!

As a budding journalist and media maven that experience has served to remind me to fight for what I believe in a little bit harder and not buckle under pressure for anyone unless absolutely necessary.

So to you my readers, I want you to absorb what I wrote here and start believing the impossible is possible. If you are a small town inhabitant like I am and you want to live a far out dream like becoming an artist in Paris, a film maker in LA or a fashion designer in New York City. JUST DO IT! Reach for the dream and jump the hurdles and dodge the naysayers and share your story here!

New Media Fave: Moptop Maven



"Xtreme Deep Conditioning Treatment"

Moptop Maven is one of my fave blogs, which was written by a jewelry designer named Nikole. I first came across it when I was searching for other Black fashion bloggers and I turned up a website post from Coco and Creme titled "9 Black Fashion Bloggers Worth Bookmarking." (I also found the blog formerly known as Young, Fat and Fabulous, now called gabifresh.com, through that post as well). Anyway Moptop Maven's primary draw for me was the excellent advice on creating a haircare regimen and her step by step guide on how to prepare your natural hair for great straightening results. But back in February 2011 Nikole had posted that she was having some personal challenges and she would soon get back to the blog ASAP. However, there haven't been any posts since then. So today I popped over to her Facebook page and it looks like she is up and running again, at least on Facebook, anyway. So happy she is doing ok now.

Editorial Note: On 11/12/2011, I found a few posts regarding a possible Moptop Maven "controversy." She allegedly is a serial scammer and had opened numerous online shops, taken orders and not filled them. She's even been sighted in L.A. living large! I'm not going to jump on the bandwagon to say she is guilty of scamming or not because I don't know for sure.

And I don't know if the people who allegedly dug up info on her are scammers themselves. I will simply share this link from the Strawberry Curls blog and let you decide. Personally, I like the info she had on her blog. But then again, who's to say that she didn't plagiarize that material if it's true that she is a scammer.

There seems to be just one discrepancy. If she is such a scammer, then why does she put her pictures and videos everywhere? It seems like if she can be IDed then it would be harder for her to scam people, especially if she is being spotted around town. Most internet scammers are not in plain view, they hide behind a cloak of anonymity but then again some people are so brazen they don't care if their face is everywhere and people can ID them.

Oh well, that is life and the internet.

Epic Fro: Janelle Monae

Epic Fro: Janelle Monae by naturallystyled on polyvore.com

Janelle Monae is most recognizable for her fabulous naturally textured pompadour (top poof) hairdo. I like how she wears a unique hairstyle and doesn't follow trends.

Her fashion style is equally a lovely stand out. She often rocks crisp, tailored menswear influenced clothing and looks very elegant and chic.

Her personal style is truly her own and she is setting trends because of it!

Jarrow Formulas 100% Certified Organic Coconut Oil: Product Review

Jarrow Formulas Coconut Oil is a versatile product, it is primarily used for cooking but I use it in my hair plain or in my various hair care creations. I like this product best when I mix it with other ingredients such as jojoba oil, shea butter and glycerin for when I make my “Special Blend Creamy Oil.” I also love plain coconut oil as a pre-shampoo oil treatment. 

To apply as a pre-shampoo oil treatment, I take my twists out and comb my hair out with a wide toothed comb. Then, I divide my hair into 4 sections (the sections don’t have to be neat.) I take a bit of coconut oil and rub it into my palms and apply section by section. 

First, I apply to the front right section of my hair. Second, I apply to the front left section of my hair. Third, I apply to the back left section of my hair and finally to the back right section of my hair. I comb through each section, twist or braid each section again and put a plastic cap on over night. The heat from my head will work with the oil to penetrate the hair shaft. The next day I wash my hair, condition, detangle and twist my hair with my “Special Blend Creamy Oil” or other oil.     

Features:

16 oz  brown jar
It is completely solid at cool room temperature. It softens at warm room temperature and melts when placed near moderate heat or when the jar is placed in hot water
Its scent reminds me of petroleum jelly (yet does not contain it)
100% pure and natural with nothing added

Product description on bottle: "Jarrow Formulas Organic Coconut Oil is expeller-pressed from the dried fresh of the coconut palm fruit and does not utilize any solvents in the manufacturing process. Coconut oil is a source of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), such as lauric acid (C-12) and caprylic acid (C-8). Coconut Oil is stable even during long periods of storage. Because its melting point is 75-76 degrees Fahrenheit, coconut oil can be used in both liquid and solid forms."       

First five ingredients: 100% pure certified organic coconut oil 


Grade: I give this product an A+ because it increased the manageability and softness of my hair before and after I washed it. It aided in a smooth post-shampoo comb out. 

Clothes, Accessories and Shoes: Totes and Shopping Bags

Totes and cute shopping bags are some of my favorite items these days. The lighter weight ones that pack up tiny to fit in a purse are a big bonus for me too. My first really cute tote was one that I bought at Esprit at the beginning of my NYC college experience back in 2007.

I bought it at the persistent suggestion of my eldest sister when we were shopping in the city for the first time as she helped me settle into my new city and move in to my dorm. She insisted I buy it because she thought my hand decorated bag I carried (that I made in high school) which I loved, was ugly and even tried to get me to through it away but I refused!

Since then I have become something of a tote connoisseur since I grew to love the magenta Esprit tote. It is so sturdy, waterproof and adds a pop of color to my usually dark, neutral outfits. I went on to amass a pretty sizable collection of totes and cute little shopping bags.

Below are some of my favorites:   

- Shiny black & white houndstooth check shopping bag (purchased in dollar section at Target)

- Black (Product) Red light weight fold up tote (purchased on clearance at the Gap for about $3)

- Peach, coral and white light weight fold up tote (purchased at Daiso Japan for about $1.50)

- Black waterproof Esprit sturdy tote (purchased at Esprit for about $19.50)

- Jansport magenta, tan and chocolate colored peacock feather design tote (purchased at college bookstore for about $17)

- Black & white fancy design shopping bag set of 2 (purchased at Marshall's for about $4)

- Forest green grocery shopping bag (purchased at Whole Foods Market for about 99 cents)

- Multicolored grocery shopping bag   (purchased at Whole Foods Market for about 99 cents)  

Uncommon Commentary: I love Seattle (sort of)

My love of Seattle started back in the 80s when I use to visit my eldest sister at the University of Washington when I was 5 years old. Seattle through my child-eyes back then was great and I especially liked the sprawling campus of the UW. I remember a burger joint near my sister's apartment called Arnold's and she had discarded burger wrappings in her trash which smelled heavenly like a real burger not like McDonald's or anything but I can't recall if I was able to get a burger from there.

As a teen, I continued going on trips with my sisters to Seattle and I expanded my horizons to Pike Place Market, the waterfront and the downtown area around the Westlake Center. And the myriad of cultural festivals that take place in Seattle Center have been my main interest now for about 10 years. In addition, I love the shopping options in downtown Seattle.

The Westlake Center, which is a great mall has so many great stores but my fave is Daiso Japan, the Japanese Dollar store or 100 yen shops as they are called in Japan. I also like the food court with it's extensive selection of affordable restaurant options. Pacific Place, Uwajimaya, Nordstrom, Gap, Banana Republic, Spehora, J Crew, H & M and Macy's are some of my other favorite stores downtown.

The scenery, the shopping and the cultural events are all the things I love about Seattle.

Now for the bad news, the part where I only am sort of loving Seattle these days. It's simply because of the growing amount of litter on the streets that is not getting picked and the shady characters that lurk around the city. These include homeless people and drug addicts which are often one in the same. Many of these people are very brazen in their attempts at harassing and intimidating people and begging for money. Because of this, Seattle is becoming an increasingly family unfriendly place and I barely see families out in droves like I used to see in NYC.

My wish for Seattle is that it would become a more family friendly city and work on the homeless problem so that both families and single women can safely walk around without having to worry about being accosted by ne'er-do-wells.

New Media Fave: Young Fat & Fabulous Blog

Gabi Gregg, the writer of the Young, Fat and Fabulous blog is truly fabulous! I think she is forward-thinking for reclaiming and using the word "fat" in her blog title and she often refers to herself such, which I think is refreshing and different. She also doesn't shy away from talking about the challenges and triumphs of shopping for her body type.

She says on her blog, "I'm a big fan of the 'make it work' philosophy. I shop at straight size stores and find things that I can wear, regardless of whether it fits the way a designer intended it. When you're fat and stylish you have to be creative."

I know many women who would fret that they can't fit into certain items rather than just taking the situation by the seams and altering said item. I think there are many items that can work fine for any size wearer but creativity is key. And that is what Gabi stresses in her style philosophy all the time.   

I admire her motivation and creativity in the fashion arena. She looks amazing in everything she wears and knows it because she has found what is flattering and what works for her and she WORKS IT! (snaps, heeeeyyy :-)

She's been showcased in Vogue Italy's curvy women's video features talking about great places to shop for plus sizers and in Glamour Magazine's August 2011 denim issue wearing a chic jeans ensemble. Also, check out her Youtube.com channel GabiFresh and her other blog on Tumblr.

Editorial Note: I use to be fat, so this post is not meant to offend anyone. Also, as of July 7, 2011 I've discovered that Gabi has changed the name of her blog to GabiFresh, click the name to be routed to her blog post explaining why she changed the name. In addition, she is hosting her YFF Conference Saturday July 9- Monday July 11. For more information, check out the YFF Conference on Tumblr.

Epic Fro: Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes, comedian and actress has the coolest, wearable Afro style I’ve seen! The shape of her fro is like whoa…very neat, rounded, has great defined curls and a great color. To me, you really can’t get more perfect than her fro and I’ve been trying to figure out how I can go about getting my hair to look similarly. However, I’ve noticed that she and I don’t have the same hair texture as hers looks like it has a looser curl pattern than mine.  

The Vitamin Shoppe 100% Jojoba Oil: Product Review

The Vitamin Shoppe's Jojoba Oil was the very first natural product that I have purchased. I am so glad I did. I use to use this oil a lot when I initially began two-strand twisting my hair. It worked well to moisturize my hair but I felt it wasn't heavy duty enough for my hair texture. 

As time went on I started mixing my own blends of oil and I used the jojoba as an ingredient, which worked wonders with the other oils. So I decided to use jojoba in blends rather than alone. I will occasionally put it on my hands to keep away dryness and sometimes I also like to moisturize my arms, legs and feet with it.  



Features:
4 oz clear bottle, $9.99
This light yet effective golden colored oil is liquid at room temperature and has a mellow neutral scent.
100% pure and natural with nothing added

Product description on bottle: "Pure jojoba oil from The Vitamin Shoppe is a moisturizer, makeup remover and hair conditioner derived from natural plant extract. Massage a few drops of this rich, moisturizing oil into your hands and feet for a luxurious treat that leaves your skin feeling softer than ever. Jojoba's natural emollients also make it an excellent makeup remover. Use it to gently and thoroughly smooth makeup away. Jojoba oil is also healthy for your hair. It conditions and moisturizes your hair and scalp."  


First five ingredients: 100% pure jojoba oil
 
Grade: I give this product an A because it is so versatile and I especially love it on my skin. I would recommend this product to anyone.  

Uncommon Commentary: Shopping in Japanese Dollar Stores

I don’t remember where I first read about Japanese dollar stores (a.k.a.100 Yen Shops in Japan) but I instantly loved the concept. They are the equivalent to what we know as dollar stores here in America. 

I was intrigued when I read that they have much cuter and more interesting stuff than standard American dollar stores. After I found that out I immediately did a Google search to see if they had any in America and indeed they did! And fortunately they have some in Washington…in Seattle to be exact! 

The store is called Daiso Japan and they have some great stuff. Every time I go to Westlake Center I just have to stop by there. But recently they began construction of the new Nordstrom Rack at Westlake, which has displaced Daiso Japan, what a bummer. 

They will be relocating soon to the street entrance level of Westlake. Hurray!! But for now I will have to make do with the store's other location in Seattle's International District and I think I might go there for a few things.

Anyway, the price range at this store is $1.50 per item but some items can be more expensive depending on what you get. My favorite finds at Daiso have been plastic containers such as my makeup organizer, black 3 pocket pouch, pouches with red and yellow trim, stacking shelf and notebooks. I have many more items but these are the things that have been indispensable as of late. 

Daiso Japan is all over the West Coast but I’m sad to say that they don’t have one in NYC nor does there seem to be really decent Japanese dollar stores in New York that I am aware of either. I am very shocked about that too. But I've heard there are some Korean imitations of Japanese dollar stores in the city but they are more expensive that the usual $1.50 per item at Daiso. 

Also, there is the expensive but awesome Kinokuniya Bookstore in NYC though and certainly many Asian stores that could substitute for Daiso in New York as well.  

For Washingtonians and New Yorkers who would like to check out Daiso Japan and Kinokuniya Bookstore check out the info below. 

Washington

Daiso Japan
Westlake Center
400 Pine St.  
Seattle, WA 98101

Phone #: 206-625-0076
Fax #: 206-625-0087

E-mail Address: westlake@daisojapan.com
 
International District  
710 6th Ave S
(between Cherry St & Lane St)
Seattle, WA 98104
 
(206) 355-4084 


Kinokuniya Bookstore
525 South Weller St
Seattle, WA 98104
 
Phone: 206-587-2477
Fax: 206-587-0160

Hours: 
10:00am - 9:00pm (Mon-Sat) 
10:00am - 8:00pm (Sun)


New York

Kinokuniya Bookstore  
1073 Avenue of the Americas
(Bet 40th & 41st St)
New York, NY 10018

Phone: 212-869-1700
Fax: 212-869-1703
 
Hours: 
10:00am - 8:00pm (Mon-Sat) 
11:00 AM - 7:30 PM (Sun)
 

New Media Fave: The Styling Dutchman

I enjoy reading posts and browsing through the photos of The Styling Dutchman blog, written by Annebeth. She has a definite retro/modern cool style. She features a lot of outfits with great retro dresses and skirts that hit below the knee. Her style is somewhat easy for me to follow and I could probably point out in a line up. Lol. I tend to like consistency and she certainly has a consistent style vibe that she builds upon.

A feature of her blog that I love is when she gives reviews of the various events that she attends. I especially liked the one where she attended the showing of designer Tiany Kiriloff's new collection. 

Annebeth looked so chic and cute in the white embellished dress that she wore to the event and the photos of the food served at the event were also what got my attention. As a big time foodie, my radar is always out for the food mentions and pics. :-)

Besides that, I like the way she tells a story in her posts and they tend to be a little long but that’s OK. Her humorous, witty personality really shines through and makes each post a fabulous read.  

Epic Fro: Solange Knowles

You gotta admire Solange’s courage for going natural. She is in the public eye, which is a very critical eye. She is a singer, so she has to be looking on-point and everything. I remember seeing her on Oprah a few years ago when she decided to do the big chop and she had super short hair. She talked about how she was ready to do that because at that point in her life she felt she wanted that kind of change for various reasons. 

She talked about the thousands of the dollars spent, I think somewhere around $40,000 + per year, maintaining just her hair. Ouch, says the wallet! I was floored but I thought it was cool that she didn’t mind going against the grain and being herself. I think it’s cool anytime regular women or female celebrities want to change up their look and look closer to their own natural self rather than looking all glitzy, made up and fake. Kudos to Solange for keeping it real and natural!  

Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Hair Smoothie: Product Review

Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Hair Smoothie (intense conditioner treatment) smells divine like real vanilla. The scent lingers for a week or two, however my hair does not feel moisturized after I use it, detangling is not improved with it in my hair and it doesn't add any luster to my hair. I've been using this product on and off for a year year and a half. I'm trying to use it up so it doesn't go to waste.

Since my hair is very dry and doesn’t retain moisture well, I would not recommend it to others with dry hair despite the fact that its label calls it an intense conditioner treatment. I would recommend this product for people whose hair does not have a moisture retention problem. I love this product’s scent and would only use it to scent my hair.  


Features:

8 oz clear jar 
The color of the conditioner is light brown and has the thick, smooth consistency of pudding.  
Its scent is AMAZING, smells like lightly spiced vanilla pudding, which makes me want to eat it. But the scent translates into a great hair scent.
It is free of  parabens, petroleum, mineral oil and artificial color. 

Product description on bottle: "Our bye-bye tangles recipe contains naturally moisturizing oils of olive fruit, sunflower seeds and rapa seeds. Detangles and conditions for healthy shine."

First five ingredients: Water, cetearyl alcohol, glycerin, amodimethicone and sunflower seed oil. The shea butter was sixth to the last ingredient, so there probably wasn't much in there to have any moisturizing effect on my hair. I'm sure if the shea butter was in the first five ingredients it would have made a noticeable difference on my hair. 

Grade: I give this a C+ because the scent was amazing but it wasn't the right ft for my hair.  

Note: I received this Black Vanilla Hair Smoothie as a gift from my parents for Christmas 2009 and it cost $25 from AAFES (Army Air Force Exchange Services). This product came in a set called "Recipe for Smooth and Shiny Hair." The other products included were Black Vanilla Herbal Shampoo, Healthy Hair Butter and a plastic tortoise shell style comb.  

Clothes, Accessories and Shoes: Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans were one of the most ugly trends that I had see when they first came back in style, mainly because I wasn’t into tight pants at the time. They also slightly reminded me of those tapered jeans that I grew to hate in the early 90s. 

You know the one’s that if you were too short they’d bunch at your knee?! I wore those because that’s pretty much all there was at one time (when I was in elementary school) before I wore baggy pants and jeans in middle school and high school. I was stuck in the middle of the hip hop and skateboard girl style back then. 

Anyway, as time went on, the modern skinny jeans grew on me and my first pair were from Old Navy. But those didn’t fit right, they were cut too loose at the waist and legs even though they were technically suppose to be fitting. Plus, they didn’t have the stretch they needed in order to make them cling in all the right places. 

A few years later when I was in NYC I ended up buying a couple pairs of skinnies in Old Navy again and one pair fit great, with lots of stretch. The other pair fit great but didn’t have much stretch and even though they were technically skinnies, they had a definite straight leg fit. 

Then, I starting searching for the ultimate skinny jean. I eventually found the perfect pair in H & M. They are black and have zipper detailing on the back packets and the front pockets. They had a superb fit!

Last year I found another perfect pair at the Gap, my fashion refuge! They always have the perfect things that I’m looking for. These Gap skinnies have the perfect amount of stretch, fit perfectly and they are a deep, rich indigo color that I adore.

Sometimes it takes years to find the perfect skinny but once you find them you will love them and live in them. 

New York or Bust!—My Favorites Places in NYC

I have many favorite places in New York City. Just thinking about them makes me nostalgic for the good old college days I spent in the city! Here is my top ten list of fave places, in no particular order of importance.

 

- The Shops at Columbus Circle: This place was one of my after school hangouts. I’d check out the latest stuff in different stores like Sephora, J. Crew, Esprit, United Colors of Benetton, Sisley, Borders and Whole Foods Market. 

 

- Whole Foods Market: This was my definitive grocery store because it was inside The Shops at Columbus Circle and so quick and easy to get to after school. I love the ambiance, the healthy food and selection there, I also like the other location in Union Square and I like how they have different things in the hot food buffet, salad bar and hot food serving station.


-Fairway: Fairway is my second favorite grocery store that I often frequented at night after school. It was closer to where I used to live than Whole Foods Market and I would walk home from here many times. I loved the hot and cold food buffets but the selection is quite limited though. I love the atmosphere here, it's very lively but it doesn't have an elegant ambience like Whole Foods Market. The layout is very cramped and the floor is always dirty, which is standard in the majority of grocery stores in NYC that I've been in.   

 

- Borders: I came here every night on my rounds through The Shops At Columbus Circle and I’d usually buy a book. (Since I’m such a bookworm, I signed up for the Borders Rewards program, which has saved me countless dollars as a member). I’d also buy a magazine, some cute note cards, notebooks and other things. I really loved the events here as well. They’d have guests from all corners of the culture hawking their latest projects. My faves were Rocco DiSpirito and his mother. Chris Kimble founder of Cook’s Illustrated and host of America’s Test Kitchen, at the time was speaking about his latest series Cook’s Country. Michael Medved, radio talk show host, pop culture expert, political commentator and movie critic. Travel guru and author, Peter Greenberg. Nina Garcia, fashion director of Marie Claire and Project Runway judge. Carmindy, makeup artist and the resident beauty consultant on What Not To Wear. Thom Filicia, interior designer, host of Dress My Nest and former decor guru for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. The former lead singer of Savage Garden, Darren Hayes and Hungry Girl cookbook author and TV show host Lisa Lillien. Editiorial Note: As of September 30, 2011, the Borders company has closed shop on all of its stores nationwide and is now a fond memory :-(

- 5th Avenue: Posh shopping destination, what more can I say!? I love the H & M and Gap on 5th Ave, both are some of my fave locations of these stores in Manhattan. These locations are expansive and have a great selection. I also love the upscale stores, just to browse in and live my aspirational fashion dream.     

- Union Square: The first time I went here was when I volunteered at Tribeca Film Festival. I was just passing through on my way to East Village Cinema where I would do a few hour’s worth of volunteer work at Tribeca Film Festival helping out with screenings. My other fave Whole Foods Market location is here as well. I also shot a video promo for Volvic Water here for a school project.

  

- Rockefeller Center: I walked all around this place my last night in NYC in May 2009. All I can say is that it was a magical, larger than life experience because it is one of those iconic places you hear about and see and you never think you’ll actually see it until of course you actually see it!

- The Upper West Side: This is where I use to live! West 88th near Riverside Drive baby! LOL. I liked the area except for the massive amounts of dog feces and urine polluting the sidewalk and air! Dog owners were SO DARN inconsiderate about leaving their animal's waste on the sidewalks and they were too lazy to pick up the poo with a plastic bag! I found myself constantly looking down in order to dodge "s" bombs on the sidewalk, which basically created a poop minefield. Very annoying and disgusting! But other than that the Upper West Side was amazing and it was a grocery shopper and restaurant patron's paradise. With all the great little food shops, markets and eateries one could get lost in food for years without having to try the same thing twice.       

- Saint Esprit Church: Free French classes take place here on Sunday. It's located at Park Avenue near 60th street. I went to a few sessions my first and second year of school but I decided not to go back because I wanted my Sundays free. I went to one of their October Fest celebrations and they had a few different selections of tasty quiche.

- The East Village: I loved the grittiness of this neighborhood. The old remnants of an era of punk rock, shady, sketchiness still remain yet wiped clean of all the real meaning from when it was first established. The store fronts are rife with tatoo parlors, peep shows and alternative apparel and of course restuarants. I liked Trash and Vaudeville, the neighborhood salwart and punk rocker apparel heaven (website after all these years! Yay!). Another cool place was Bamn Automat, an interesting dining concept where the inside of the restaurant had a life-sized vending machine style wall that dispensed all sorts of fried food goodies and the other side had a place to sit, sad to see it's gone now (but the website is still up). Last but not least, Pommes Frites, I loved this place, they sell great substantial fries and portions (AMAZING frites and creative sauces).    

New Media Fave: Two "What I Wore" Blogs

There are two “What I Wore” personal style blogs that I absolutely adore, one is called What I Wore and the other is called What I Wore 2Day. 

Jessica Quirk, who has parlayed her successful blog into a book deal, produces What I Wore. The book she wrote is titled “What I Wore.” I would love to eventually purchase that book since I love her blog. The book can be purchased on amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders and Indie Bound.

I admire Jessica’s style because it is just so darn neat and put together. To me, her style can be best described as creative, fresh, modern, colorful and lady-like chic. She incorporates a lot of color, patterns and textures into each of her outfits. 

She mixes up her style for a very eclectic look. I couldn’t point to a specific outfit of hers and say ‘oh that definitely her style’ because the very hallmark of her style is variety! The quality of her blog photos is superb and the backgrounds for each are simple and varied. 

Two unique features of her blog that I think are way cool are her “Blogger Swaps,” where she borrows and loans clothing items with her favorite bloggers. I think that is a great, creative idea because the swaps inspire her own styling of the pieces that she loans after she sees how her blogger friends have put items together with the piece. Here is a link to a swap example. 

The other feature that's cool is “Search by Color,” which you can click one of the colors in the accompanying color palate and see all her outfits that incorporate that color. Pretty ingenious, huh? Love it!! Here is a link to an example. 

The second blog that I love is produced by Kasmira Kit of What I Wore 2Day. She is equally eclectic and creative in her wardrobe choices. She is fantastically colorful and uses lively patterns and styles to her advantage. 

Some of the unique features of her blog that I love are her “Theme Weeks.” She has done many wardrobes based on a theme for one week. Some of the themes include specific color schemes such Mardi Gras, yellow, tomato and olive. 

The capsule wardrobe is another awesome theme that she has done, which was the very first post that I read of hers when I was searching for tips on building a capsule wardrobe and I become an instant fan. 

Her other themes include accessories such as scarves, shoes and belts. I also like how she took inspiration from specific magazines such as InStyle and books like The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style and made the suggestions fit what was in her wardrobe. 

Another great feature she has is “How To,” which gives great tips on everything from how to add more color to you wardrobe, dealing with excess belt length, using Rit dye in the washing machine, to tips on dying your eyebrows, swapping your clothes, bundling for a cold commute and creating a successful style diary.           

Epic Fro: Eryka Badu

You gotta love Ms. Badu’s daring hairstyles, from the matted, so wrong they’re right ponytails that she has sported to the fantastical fros. I admire her ability to take risks with her different looks and not care what other people think or say. She should be the example that all of us look to when we think about finding inspiration in defying hairstyle norms and go for something very daring and unique.

Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Herbal Shampoo: Product Review

Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Herbal Shampoo (for dry, damaged hair) smells divine like real vanilla. It has a great lather and the scent lingers for about a week. However, my hair never feels moisturized after I use it. My hair is very dry and doesn’t retain moisture well, which is probably the reason. I've been using this product on and off for a year year and a half. I'm trying to use it up so it doesn't go to waste.

But I would  definitely recommend this product for people whose hair does not have a moisture retention problem. I love this product’s scent and would only use it to scent my hair. 

Features:

8 oz clear bottle
Shampoo is a brown liquid the consistency of maple syrup
Paraben free, no petroleum, mineral oil or artificial color

Product description on bottle: "A thick, rich recipe of gentle cleansers infused with intense moisturizers, nettle, lavender, red clover and comforting notes of warmed vanilla." This sounds so irresistibly luscious and hard to pass up.  

First five ingredients: rosa centifolia flower extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, rosemary extract, nettle extract and lavender extract. The ingredients are interesting to me because no where on the label was there water or glycerin. I don't know how I feel about that.


Grade: I give it a C+ because of the great scent, lather, my hair felt clean but the only short coming was that my hair just didn't feel moisturized after using it, which is key for me. 

Note: I received this Black Vanilla Hair Smoothie as a gift from my parents for Christmas 2009 and it cost $25 from AAFES (Army Air Force Exchange Services). This product came in a set called "Recipe for Smooth and Shiny Hair." The other products included were Black Vanilla Herbal Shampoo, Healthy Hair Butter and a plastic tortoise shell style comb.    

Clothes, Accessories and Shoes: Structured Shorts

I've never been a shorts kind of girl, I must admit....until now! But back in the mid 2000s I kept seeing Johnson shorts in lots of the fashion magazines and I thought they were so cute but I couldn't afford them since they were well over $100 and many in the $200 price range. 

However, I wanted a piece of that trendy action, so I bought two pairs of Old Navy shorts similar in style to the Johnson ones. Each pair was on clearance for about $12 or less and I jumped right at the deal. 

Both pairs are fully lined. One pair is a brown and white blend tweed with button detailing at the side of the hem and the other pair is black and white herringbone patterned tweed with cuffed hems and pleating action. 

The pleating on these shorts are flattering despite what we all know about pleating, which is that they tend to make pants and shorts look dated and drab. But the lower rise and slim cut of the shorts helped alleviate any possible old-fashioned styling.

The classic materials and lining in the shorts plus the quality construction at an affordable price are what really sealed the deal for me. But I didn't actually wear them right away and they sat in my closet for ages. 

Back in May of this year was the first time I wore the black and white pair and my friend complemented me on my outfit! 

The day I wore them, it was actually very chilly so I paired the shorts with a fitted, ribbed long sleeve black turtleneck with a black t-shirt underneath. I also wore a thin pair of black leggings with thicker black leggings over them, little ankle socks and black leather flat heel Enzo Angiolini knee boots with side tassel detailing. 

To top off the look, I wore my black and white large print houndstooth check wool jacket, cinched with a Forever 21 stretchy belt and my (constant) neckwear was my fave Target drapy purple infinity scarf and Gap black slouchy hobo bag. I just loved the feeling the outfit gave me-- so chic and put together!   

  

I can't wait to wear the brown shorts soon. I am also now on the hunt for a few more pairs of equally cute structured shorts in solid black and a lush berry color in velvet or corduroy. 

New York or Bust!—The Minimal Life, Part 2: Bare Essential Dwelling Accoutrement

In this post, I will share some tips on creating a minimal life, including the items you need to just get by with and still have maximum convenience. 

In my May 26th post, The Minimal Life: Part One, I discussed the general usefulness of living a minimally materialistic life. I emphasized this in the areas of wardrobe, accessories, shoes and cosmetics/personal care items. This is especially handy when you are a woman moving to a place that is likely to be a temporary home such as college, study abroad or programs such as Americorp. 

But having a minimal amount of stuff is not always a no-brainer for people and for me it wasn't either. Even though I was advised not to collect lots of stuff, I didn’t listen! I had casually amassed tons of items, especially books and magazines, by the end of my first year of college in New York City. I thought nothing of it until it was time to pack and head home. 

Even before the end of that year came, I had already decided that I was not going to toss out all my stuff like many students are famous for doing. But I did have to leave behind a few favorite things just because I couldn't fit them into my suitcase and I didn't have time to send the remaining items home. 

After looking back at my time of living in New York City for 2 years for college (minus summer breaks) and experiencing owning too much stuff, I can attest to the fact that living minimally is a more ideal option than having tons of stuff that you think you will need. I believe it is better to live minimally during these transitional periods just to help save peace of mind and your pocket book when it's time to move. 

So with that said, below I've included the bare essential dwelling accoutrement that I've found helpful during college. After reflecting over time about my first two years away at college there are certain things I came to realize about myself. One being that I didn't use 80% of the stuff that I had and two, there was no justifying why I had all that stuff just going to waste.

Below is one list with multiple categories. This list encompasses both a minimum and maximum amount of items you'll need to survive and thrive in college. The reason why I say minimum and maximum is because it's both the least amount of stuff you'll actually need AND truly all you need. Of course, some items here are optional and can vary depending of personal needs/preferences and if you can get by on much less that would be awesome! 

Bare Essential Dwelling Accoutrement  

School Supplies

Laptop + cord (the lighter the computer is, the better)

1 high capacity flash drive (4 GB or higher)
  

Small agenda planner

1 large multi-subject notebook (for one consolidated place to keep all class notes)

1 small personal notebook (to keep track of ideas, misc. information)

1 small notebook (For journalism, media and communications students like me)

Small pencil pouch with the following: 3 black, 3 blue and 3 red pens, 3 mechanical pencils, 2 skinny highlighters, 1 fine point & 1 regular felt tip permanent Sharpies, White Out, colored pencils (optional), mini Scotch tape, mini stapler, mini staple refills, book of stamps, Post It flags, small stack of Post It notes.

Desk Organization/Personal Items

1 accordion folder + extra dividers (for storing homework, term papers and important school documents)

1 foldable stacking shelf (for textbooks, books, magazines & accordion folder)

1 all purpose desk organizing tray or small supply box

Small business card folder (you should collect important ones and keep them organized)

Light weight photo album

5 small/or light weight items that help decorate, add color and personality to your space

2-3 personal books that are indispensable to you wherever you go

Electronics

Cell phone + charger (instruction manual if needed)    

IPod Touch + ear buds + USB cord for charging (optional)  

Travel size surge protector (I recommend Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB Changer) 

Digital point and shoot camera + 1, 4 GB or higher memory card (for pics and descent video) + manuals if needed

1 extra rechargeable battery set and charger (for camera)

Mini memory card reader

Small, inexpensive MP3 player + USB cord for charging (must have audio recording capabilities for recording lectures, speakers at events and interviewing for journalism, media and communications students) 

Small case to consolidate all electronics

Kitchen Supplies

1 microwave safe glass mug

1 microwave safe glass bowl

1 microwave safe glass plate

1 plastic plate to use as cutting board

1 shallow baking pan or small cookie sheet (optional)

Silverware set: 1 fork, 1 knife and 1 spoon

Misc. kitchen tools: 1 all purpose sharp knife, 1 large cooking/serving spoon, 1 compact spatula, 1 heat proof silicone pan mat, 1 oven glove, 1-2 small kitchen towels (optional: depending on your needs and kitchen or lack there of)

Electric skillet or medium frying pan + medium pot (optional: depending on dorm rules for electric cookware, your needs and kitchen or lack there of)

Hot pot (optional: depending on dorm rules for electric cookware, your needs and kitchen or lack there of)

Bed, Bath and Closet

Plastic fitted twin mattress protector + water proof pillow protector(s) with zip closure

Twin sheet set: 1 fitted sheet, flat sheet, pillow case (compatible with both a standard or long mattress)

1-2 comfy pillows (required)

1 warm plush fleece blanket

1 multi pants hanger

Set of skinny hangers covered in flocking (strong and you can hang pants, shirts and jackets on them)

1 vertical multi-shirt hanger

1 belt loop hanger (serves double duty to stores belts and scarves)


1 narrow hanging sweater organizer (can double as dresser in a pinch)

Shower organizer/caddy with handle (for community bathrooms outside your room)

Turbie Twist Hair Towel

Towel wrap   

NOTE: Special considerations for communications, film, journalism and other media students.

You may need to bring your own camcorder depending on a few factors:

1.) Your school's policy on borrowing cameras, which can be a very short length of time, maybe one-three days (even when you have an important project). Generally, the more flexibility you have on time using the camera, the better off you are for completing your video taped projects in a timely and unrushed manner.

2.) Also, you are probably going to want to go around the city shooting video in your off time to get as much practice as possible. That is where having your own cam is very important.

You may need to bring your own large external hard drive (with spinning parts and firewire cable) depending on a few factors:

1.) How many video projects you will need to do and how important are they going to be to you? If you'll only be doing less than four videos for the sake of class requirements there is probably no need to invest in a large external hard drive to store your footage. In this case, saving the orginal tapes on which you filmed the project and a few DVD copies of your finished project should be sufficient.  But if you know you will be doing projects that mean a lot to you during school AND you will be doing more than say 6 major video projects you may want to consider investing in a good large external hard drive to store the footage on, in addition to saving to footage in its orgininal medium such as mini DV tapes.

2.) Consider your school's storage resources and data security. Depending on your school's loan policy of hard drives during the semester and what options they have to store your work on computers securely, you may find this option better and more cost effective than buying a large external hard drive.

The camera and the external hard drive for footage storage are two major parts of many media student's daily equipment repertoir, so investing in them can be very important but not essential since the school can usually loan these items to students.

Both years in college, I took my own camcorder, which is an old bare-bones Canon ZR40 from 2002, I believe. The second year of school I bought a large Western Digital "My Book Home Edition" External Hard Drive with 1TB (terabyte) storage capacity, which should be sufficient for a film student, broadcast journalism or TV production students who do a lot of on-location shoots.      

I would also suggest a sturdy, light weight tripod plus optional monopod and mini tripod for desk-mounting, shotgun mic and lavelier mic set for the serious students who know they will be using the equipment a lot and plan to do independent personal projects and maybe a little freelance work on the side.

A few options to secure data and belongings include investing in an online data backup service, a portable dorm room safe that locks onto the bed or desk and having your equipment, computer and all other belongings insured before you leave home (you can insure all your stuff for one flat rate with special dorm insurance policies).

But again this is optional depending on budget, space constraints and if the dorm has built in options to lock up your stuff in your dorm room. However, because roommates and/or friends can and will steal your equipment if they are thieves, you must think about these things before bringing all this to school.

I hope this post has provided some useful ideas and options on what to bring to college. If you have more suggestions please add them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!