What’s In a Selfie?

dbinstagram

We all take “selfies” for different reasons.  Sometimes we want to show off an outfit, a piece of jewelry, our make-up or maybe we want to just update the world on what we are doing.  Whatever the reason, a picture can be worth a thousand words.  But, which words are we choosing exactly?  Are we feeling sexy?  Mad?  Tired?  More importantly, why have people latched on to the Instagram/social media craze?  I have to admit, I also love to take selfies…quite often.  I’m confident, beautiful and love to share my thoughts/expressions with all of you!

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Everyday people like you and I aren’t the only ones indulging in this guilty pleasure…celebs do it too and I must admit, I love seeing them be “normal” people.

BEYONCÉ DOES IT!!!!

Source: Instagram

Source: Instagram

DESEAN JACKSON DOES IT!!!

Source: Instagram

Source: Instagram

KIM KARDASHIAN DOES IT!!!

Source: Instagram

Source: Instagram

RIHANNA DOES IT!!!

Source: Instagram

Source: Instagram

USHER EVEN DOES IT!!!

Source: Instagram

Source: Instagram

So, if you are one of those people who get annoyed with selfies, I say just keep scrolling and let us shameless, face pointing, perfect angle, photographers live!

“You Don’t Embrace Your Black Side!’

Source: Google Images

Source: Google Images

I just so happened to be watching an episode of the Wendy Williams show (I’ve loved her since she was on the air in Philly) and she had Tahj Mowry (Tia and Tamera’s younger brother) as a guest.  Wendy began discussing the issue of his sister being openly ridiculed and verbally attacked for marrying and having a baby with a white man.  Tahj began sharing stories about how his followers on social media reach out to him saying things like “you don’t have any black friends” if he happens to post a photo with only white people.  They even say things like “you don’t embrace your black side” and it shocks him.  He and his sisters are bi-racial, with a black mother and white father.

Source: Google Images

Source: Google Images

I can’t express how disgusted I am that things like this still occur.  Growing up as a mixed kid, I feel his pain.  I was never black enough and I was never Puerto Rican enough…I mean, what is “being black enough”?  Are there certain stereotypical things that I should be doing or is there a certain way that I need to speak in order to be considered black?  CRAZINESS!  It’s so sad that any one person can be placed in a box or expected to “act” a certain way simply because others THINK they should (a total sign of insecurity and ignorance).  If only the world minded their business, lived their own lives and stopped caring about stupid shit, the world MIGHT be a more enjoyable place to live.

First Promo Poster for 50 Shades Revealed!

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FINALLY!  There is some headway in the production of Fifty Shades of Grey!  We have been patiently waiting for a sneak peak, a glimpse, even a sign of who was cast as the infamous Mr. Grey!  Well, the lucky man is supposedly Jamie Dornan (pictured below) and the first installment of the trilogy is set to be released on Valentine’s Day 2015.  I am eagerly anticipating all three films as I was a huge fan of E.L. James’ masterpieces.  Here is the hottie, Jamie Dornan!

Source: Google Images

Source: Google Images

Did LUPITA NYONG’O Get the BEYONCÉ Treatment?

Famed actress, Lupita Nyong’o, known for her moving role in 12 Years a Slave, has been the center of a touchy subject.  She recently did a photo shoot with Vanity Fair and they are catching some heat because fans and readers believe that Lupita’s skin was lightened (hence the Beyoncé treatment).  There has always been a stigma when it comes to black skin.  Some act as if dark is not beautiful.  Is this the case with Vanity Fair or was it simply just the way her skin photographed with an all-white background?  Either way, she is beautiful, but I really hope and pray that this was not intentional because that would be just sad.

Lupita on the red carpet:

Source: Google Images
Source: Google Images

Lupita in Vanity Fair:

Source: Vanity Fair
Source: Vanity Fair

Lupita in Vogue:

Source: Vogue
Source: Vogue

Was her skin darkened for this photo shoot with magazine, Dazed and Confused?:

Source: Dazed and Confused
Source: Dazed and Confused
Source: Dazed and Confused
Source: Dazed and Confused

Celebrities Have Big Things Going On Too!

You know my motto…I keep celebrity talk classy!  Here are some big things that are going around in celebrity-ville; check it out:

EVA’s ABOUT TO POP!

Source: Instagram

Source: Instagram

Eva Marcille is pregnant with her first baby with singer and songwriter, Kevin McCall.  She is due any day now and I must say, she is one of the cutest preggers I’ve seen.  She’s been sharing her belly growth on Instagram throughout her entire pregnancy and there’s nothing more beautiful!

Source: Instagram

Source: Instagram

Wishing you the best delivery ever and your latest photo proves that you are ready to pop!

Source: Instagram

Source: Instagram

CASSIE’s EN-WHY2EL-AYE!

In other news, singer and Diddy’s girlfriend, Cassie, is extending her reach into the entertainment world with her brand new fashion partnership with clothing brand, Young & Reckless.  Cassie will be creating her own line, “EN-WHY2EL-AYE” which is a funky derivative of NY to LA.  Some of her pieces incorporate artwork made personally by Cassie herself, which is pretty cool and original.  It’s no secret, she is a beautiful girl, so modeling her own pieces is a no-brainer!  Work it girl!

Cassie-models-for-Young-Reckless

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DAY 26 IS BACK!

Remember the Bad Boy group, Day 26?  They made some pretty popular hits, such as Exclusive, and since their abrupt disappearance from the scene, fans have been wanting a return.  Recently, all-female Bad Boy  group, Danity Kane, reunited (minus D. Woods, whose publicist refused to make a statement on the subject) and they are making their way back on the scene.  Therefore, it’s not a surprise that Day 26 followed in their footsteps.  This week, Day 26 will be performing in NYC at SOB on Sunday; details are below.

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Source: Instagram

Source: Instagram

Is Richard Sherman Ignorant or Confident?

Not sure what to think of Sherman’s latest rant, but I’m thinking he’s walking a fine line between ignorant and confident.  Whether you are an elite athlete, lawyer, doctor, writer, etc. professionalism goes a long way. If you have something to address, do it professionally and take your brand into consideration.  Check out his interview on First Take where Sherman verbally addresses Skip Bayless:

Would You Be Willing to Give Up Everything for Personal Happiness?

We all must walk our own path in life.  No one person in this world can live our life for us.  That means that we all possess an immense amount of power, starting at birth.  However, most don’t even know the tools that they are equipped with to help them on their journey through existence.  Think about even the most basic of tools such as tear ducts.  Who knew that we would have a tiny hole on our bottom lids to release fluids?  When we are upset, hurt, happy, etc. we can release those emotions through tears.  Imagine if you had to keep those emotions inside; how weird or traumatized would our bodies feel?  Let’s take it a step further.  What about our limbs?  We have limbs to help us run, walk, jump, crawl, roll, dive, swim, hike, flip, etc.  In danger, we can move fast.  In competition, we can excel. We are able to work, play and survive.  Humans have intricate organs to keep them alive and healthy and are given the most important muscle of all; a brain.  This isn’t an anatomy class; this is understanding that we have everything we need, to make decisions for ourselves and to work for the things we want in life.  So, why are people stuck in their unhappiness when they can essentially create any situation that they want to be in?

We are attached to personal things and create a false sense of value for ourselves that eventually clouds our judgement.  We work crazy jobs with long hours and unhealthy environments, just to be able to pay bills.  Daily routines are established that produce robots out of people who are meant to be extraordinary.  So, I ask the question again…would you be willing to give up everything for personal happiness?  All of the things and people that you are personally attached to, could you let them go?  Could you jump out in the world with only your God-given tools and make something of yourself?  Instead of working to pay bills, could you work to travel and enjoy life?  True happiness isn’t being able to afford the best things, it’s being able to feel fulfilled without.

I’ve heard this preached to me many times, I’ve read books to explain this concept, I’ve tried to adopt the principles of such a lifestyle.  However, I just never allowed myself to fully live in the premise because I was too attached to what I thought was happiness.  It wasn’t until I lost the “things” that I was attached to, that I began to think in a different way.  All of the attachments I had used to make me feel safe and protected.  I was able to pay rent and bills, I had friends whom I became dependent upon too much, I was comfortable.  My world was shaken when I lost my comfortable job of four years.  I had no clue which way was up and I was devastated.  But, then I realized…it was a sign.  I would have never left my job.  I was good at it, it paid my bills and I had my routine down.  Now, I realize that I was just going through each day with no sense of living in the “now”.  Days, months and even years had passed and I didn’t have much personal happiness to show for all of the time invested.

Fast forward to present day.  I’m in a basic job where I serve.  How much money I make is dependent upon the level of effort that I want to put in.  I don’t work everyday, I pretty much make my own schedule.  I don’t have an apartment anymore that I have to pay an extreme amount of money for.  I have a very tight circle of friends whom I just appreciate for being in my life.  I don’t have it all, but for the first time EVER, I feel so free.  I can pick up and move where I want to, I can take as much time off of work that I want, to just travel and explore, I’m not tied down to material things.  I have so many moments that I didn’t have before.  I don’t just feel happy; I AM happy.  Can you say the same?

“We don’t grow out of comfortable situations…we really start to grow when it’s uncomfortable for us.” ~A Friend

Jay, Thank You for the D.C. Love!

Source: Danithedreamgirl

Source: Danithedreamgirl

I have seen him perform plenty of times and the experience never gets old.  I loooove watching Jay-Z perform.  He goes on stage with no back-up dancers, no hype men, no extras…just himself and a mic and he rocks it every time!  I had a blast and didn’t sit down once last night during the Magna Carta World Tour.  For that, thank you and D.C. appreciated every second of your show!

Source: Danithedreamgirl

Source: Danithedreamgirl

Source: Danithedreamgirl, Nelson Mandela tribute

Source: Danithedreamgirl, Nelson Mandela tribute

Source: Danithedreamgirl

Source: Danithedreamgirl

Source: Danithedreamgirl

Source: Danithedreamgirl