“We’re happy free confused and lonely at the same time
It’s miserable and magical, oh yeah
Tonight’s the night when we forget about the deadlines, it’s time

I don’t know about you but im feeling 22
Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you
You don’t know about me but I bet you want to
Everything will be alright if we just keep danc–”

Yeah, I had about enough and decided to instead jam to Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us” for the umpteenth time. No disrespect to T-Swift, but no song could make me ecstatic about June 7th, also known as my 22nd birthday. For some reason I’m not marking down the days on the calendar or making plans with my friends to get turnt up. In fact, I haven’t even made a birthday list yet!

Yes, I’m too old for birthday lists but I lack even an ounce of care.

My sentiments toward my birthday are the exact opposite as last year, when I counted down the very second until I turned the big two-one. There was something magical about 21, and I’m not talking about being able to order a Tequilla Sunrise rather than a Shirley Temple. It felt like a rebirth, a new start. Though I was already one year out of my teens, I felt like I finally crossed over into the wonders of young adulthood. Ages 13-20 were full of awkward stages, acne, and stupid boys. But 21 felt like a brand new Lexus; 22 kind of feels like your dad’s old Buick.

Perhaps my lack of enthusiasm can be linked to all of the changes that 22 will bring. It’s a huge check, signed by reality. I’ll be graduating from college, getting ready for grad school, and starting my attempt at world domination- Oprah style. But like Rakim, I’m thinking of a master plan, and honestly it’s making my brain hurt.

To me, your 20s are the time to lay down the foundation for success. Right now I feel like I have the tools to build it, but no blueprint to guide me. I’ve learned that with age comes wisdom, more responsibilities, and even more confusion. Just when we thought we had it all figured out, we don’t. I realize this and it’s quite scary.

Since we’re talking birthdays here, being a June baby makes me a Gemini (or a Cancer, but they’re weird). Though I’m not a huge believer in horoscopes, I do agree that although Geminis are totally adaptable to whatever comes our way, we can be sometimes be restless and nervous in the process.

Geminis are such walking contradictions. Rather than try to understand, just nod and agree.

I’ve tried many ways to get excited about my 22nd birthday, especially since even my iPhone remembered. I even considered it to be the first anniversary of 21st birthday, but unfortunately Hallmark doesn’t make cards such an occasion.

As I’m writing this, a quote that I once heard just popped into my head: “Youth is wasted on the young.” Besides food, time is something I don’t like to waste. 22 may be great or it may be the pits. I could either dwell on which it will be, or choose which it will be.

Ultimately with all things, attitude determines the outcome. So on that note, where’s my notepad? There’s a Clarisonic facial brush that needs to be placed as number one on my birthday list.

Many ladies are switching up their hairdos just in time for summer. Especially those with curls, kinks, and coils since the humidity can do some horrid things to natural hair. Last year I tried every single gel, serum, and pudding I could find to keep my twist-outs defined, but I’d still end up looking like a poodle. Some would say just to embrace that shrunken fluffiness; I refused.

This year I’m prepared and started off with my old time favorite hairdo: box braids. I had them done to finally give my hair a much needed rest. Lately it seemed as if my hair was taking on a life of its own and wouldn’t do anything I wanted it to do.

I used to wear box braids a lot when I lived in New York. African braiding salons were so easy to find and didn’t break the bank. Not to mention my braids were always poppin’.

Jessie and her “Marley twists.” These are easy to do on your own with the help of a few Youtube tutorials. I tried them late last year and was pleased with the result.

Havana/Marley twists have become popular recently, at least I’ve noticed. My little sis Jessica loves them and they’ve become her go-to summer protective style. We find our braids and twists to be very convenient when we have to get up and go, or work out at the gym.

Another protective style which is popular are weaves or wigs, and not just silky straight ones. I’m noticing more women with kinky-curly dos. This trend was probably inspired by Solange Knowles, who rocks a number of natural textured wigs. I may consider a wig over a weave, only because I freak out when I don’t have easy access to my scalp. For my high school senior prom I only had a few tracks sewn into my hair and it drove me nuts after a couple of weeks.

My mini-twistsand take less time to take out than twists with extensions.

Those who aren’t a fan of extensions of any kind, can also do mini-twists on their own hair. They don’t require a visit to the salon, all you do is grab your hair and twist. This style came in handy around midterms last semester, when I barely had any time to dedicate to styling my hair every day. What I find cool about mini-twists is that they can last as long as two weeks, and you get a super defined twist-out when you take them out.

Up-dos are something I’ve yet to master, but make a cute summer protective style. Your ends are tucked away and there’s no hair on the neck or shoulders. For my big sister’s wedding, I had a braided up-do done at a nearby salon and I loved it. After I take out my box braids, I’ll either attempt the roll, tuck, and pin (which was a major fail the first time I tried it) or visit the salon again.

Jessie and I at our big sister’s wedding in February

I couldn’t end this post without mentioning that I was going to cut my hair. Yes, snip-snip! Before I went natural, I had a Rihanna-esque haircut that I adored. I’ve always felt that I looked better with short hair and thought I could do it again without a relaxer. After watching one of my favorite Spike Lee joints, “She’s Gotta Have It,” the lead character Nola Darling inspired me to check out some haircuts online. I found some really cute ones!

From left to right: Melissa Chanel, Chrisette Michele, & Natural Belle

Unfortunately when I talked about a haircut to my friends and family, I was threatened with bodily harm. As a compromise, I said I would at least wait until after graduation in December to make another big chop.

Ultimately, your hair should never come before having fun this summer. If you want to swim, vacation, or sweat in the gym for that beach body, simply find a style that will keep up with you!

P.S. When in doubt, go with the trusted headwrap/turban. Never fails me.

]]> http://tarapook.com/2013/05/17/summer-styles-for-natural-hair/feed/ 0 tarapook IMG_1904 3b8e0fa8820e11e2ad5622000a1f98e5_7 Jessie and I at our big sister's wedding in February photo 2 photo 3 photo 1 photo(58) http://tarapook.com/2013/05/14/late-night-vibin-looks-good-with-trouble-by-solange-featuring-kendrick-lamar/ http://tarapook.com/2013/05/14/late-night-vibin-looks-good-with-trouble-by-solange-featuring-kendrick-lamar/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 02:34:35 +0000 Tara Pook http://tarapook.com/?p=2145 Continue reading →]]>

Not only is Solange gracing the cover of Complex Magazine and announcing the start of her own music label, she’s also releasing new music. “Looks Good With Trouble” was originally a prelude to “Bad Girls” on her True EP, but she teamed up with Kendrick Lamar for an extended version.

“Let’s get into trouble; you make it look good…”

Solange and Kendrick (who I recently saw in concert) are constantly blasting on my iTunes playlist. In the days of “musicians” shouting out “bad hoes at Spelman” and putting mollies in drinks without consent, I can definitely vibe to this song.

You can purchase “Looks Good With Trouble,” as well as the whole True EP, on iTunes.

If you’re a college student like I am, you love Chipotle. The location near my school usually has a line that reaches the door, and I always wait patiently so I can order. One of the best parts of my beloved barbacoa burrito with guacamole is the rice. Lord, why is it so good?

I discovered a way to make Chipotle’s delicious cilantro rice, with a hint of lime, at home and it’s easy to make. No really, it’s easy. Like seriously.

Start with Basmati or Jasmine rice. Both have a great flavor and work better than Uncle Ben’s or Success white rice. Cook the rice as the directions state.

While your rice is cooking, place some chopped cilantro and squeezed lime juice into a food processor. I added a bit of minced garlic as well. Don’t know why but garlic and cayenne pepper are two ingredients that I randomly add to food.

Let the cilantro, lime juice, and garlic swirl around in the food processor. This should only take a few moments.

When your rice is finished, simply add the mixture and stir.

Voilà! You have rice fit for a burrito bowl! Told ya it was easy.

We were gifted with lungs,
So that when we breathe in distress,
We can filter out the poison,
and nourish our bodies with the lesson.

Mixed emotions are the perfect cocktail for disaster.
An overabundance of feelings can often leave one with no feeling at all.
Fluid, lifeless.
Going with the flow like seaweed in the ocean.

The night can be an inspiration for triumph,
or a means of discouragement.
Whether you will enjoy morning or endure mourning,
lies between your lips.

Speak life, expect vitality.
Speak uncertainty, expect apathy.

- by Tara Pook

I’m still working on my obsession with dark colors, but I was able to stock up on some shorts at my local Goodwill. Some may be turned off by clothes worn by strangers but hey, I consider them community hand-me-downs.

When I got to Goodwill, I was on a mission. My main goal was to find high-waisted shorts, and I was lucky. I got these Levi’s for only seven bucks!

I also found a pair of pastel blue sorts from Ann Taylor Loft. They fit perfectly; not to loose, not to snug. These shorts can be dressed up or dressed down, so they make a great addition to my closet.

You can’t go wrong with Old Navy! It’s my go-to store for basic essentials: tees, tanks, whatever. Though Old Navy jeans fit me a little funny, their shorts always fit just fine.

To slightly customize my shorts, I grabbed a box cutter and a pair of scissors. Next time I plan on using bleach. You can find safe ways to use it from a few Youtube tutorials.

All I did to the Levi’s were cut off about an inch from the bottom of each leg and rolled them up (as you can see in the picture at the top). More was done to the Old Navy shorts. I cut off the hem with scissors and gave the shorts a bit of a distressed look with the box cutter.

There’s no real advice I could give on how to exactly cut and customize your shorts except to have fun with it. No need to worry about messing up, because there’s at least room for error. If you do ruin them beyond repair, you can at least say you lost a few bucks on a pair of thrifted shorts, rather than a brand new $30 pair.

Oh yeah and to conclude, here’s a quick Tara’s Lesson of the Day: Be careful when cutting your shorts, especially with a box cutter. Almost sliced my finger! I guess you shouldn’t blab on the phone with your best friend while cutting up your shorts! Womp, womp.

Are you thrifting for summer essentials? What are your favorite places? Do you have any tips for finding great stuff in an overwhelming abundance of clothes?

If you’re a MAC Cosmetics and/or Rihanna fanatic, then you guessed right: RiRi Woo. Last week I, along with many others, hovered over their computers and smartphones ready to order the first of Rihanna’s makeup collection for MAC. There was so much hype about the lipstick that it sold out in three hours! I was able to snag one with free shipping, so of course I bragged on every single social media site known to man- except Myspace. I don’t do Myspace.

Anyway, I didn’t want to try it on when I immediately opened the package because I had just come from the gym. I refused to put on lipstick while I was looking like hot trash. However, I felt yesterday was the day.

By the way, I’m rockin’ box braids as a “protective style” for the summer. More on that later!

I thought I was too cute, so I had to do a selfie for my Instagram folks.

#Selfie #RiRiWoo #Hashtag #INeedToQuitWithTheHashtags

Now that my excitement for RiRi Woo has somewhat subsided, I have to give my honest opinion…

After doing a comparison to my other matte red lipsticks by MAC, I couldn’t help but notice how similar the colors are.

If you want to get highly technical, then I did notice that RiRi Woo is bolder than Ruby Woo, and Russian Red is brighter than them all. However, all three matte lipsticks are considered to have a blue undertone.

When Rihanna was creating her shade, she said she wanted to create one that would flatter all skin tones. Though RiRi Woo does that, so does Ruby Woo.

My final verdict? If you have Ruby Woo, and wasn’t able to purchase RiRi Woo, then don’t fret. Unless you have a MAC makeup artist at your face, you could possibly lie and say you have RiRi Woo on your lips. I say this mainly because it looks different on various complexions. However, if Rihanna is your BFF in your head and you’re down with the Navy, then nothing is going to make you feel less proud of beating out tons of other women to get her lipstick.

RiRi Woo will released again in June so if you still want to try it out for yourself, then you have a chance. I don’t necessarily feel duped by MAC and Rihanna, but I wish she put more of her own flair on Ruby Woo. I feel like this lipstick is more of a slight remix, rather than something different.

So what do you guys think? Was RiRi Woo worth the purchase? I found another comparison online while doing some hardcore googling in order to get a better picture. Check it out and let me know how you feel in the comments section.

For example…

Code #3: The Bail-Out
When my friends and I first started college, we were so excited to meet new guys. Oh, and gain an education in order to become independent career women. We just knew that life after high school would have good-looking, mature and sophisticated men. Well, we were wrong- very wrong. There was a lot of trial and error and because of this The Bail-Out was invented. Now what is this you may ask? It consists of an alert, far more discrete than the Batman’s bat signal, which tells your girlfriend to save you from an unwanted admirer. Or as I like to call them, creepers.

Freshman year, I once went to hang out with a guy who I believe only liked me for my meal plan. He was slightly older (perhaps more than slightly) and wanted to meet up at Starbucks. I had a deep feeling that things wouldn’t go well so I had my roommate prepared.

“If he’s wack, I’m going to text you the number one,” I told her, “Call me and say you’re locked out and act like the world is ending.”

She laughed, but agreed.

Shortly thereafter, I sent out that text with the numero uno. She didn’t exactly sound like the Rapture was oncoming but, Girl Code definitely saved the day.
Code #29: Secret Agents
My friends and I are secret agents. No really, we are. When we have girls night out, we’re aware that creepers are on the prowl. Therefore as a way to protect our identities, we tend to use fake names. My favorite Krystal, or as I say, “Krystal with a K.”

I’m sure many girls have done the same, however you must be careful. A couple drinks, or maybe answering to your birth name for 20+ years, can cause you to let your real name slip. Take for instance a time I accidentally gave up my friend’s cover in front a creep. In order to prevent embarrassment, we had to abort the mission and scurry to the ladies room.

Some may think using fake names is mean, but we like to think of ourselves like Huck. To this day we still don’t know his real name!

_________________________

Over the years my friends and I have been able to develop our own guidebook on how to juggle the ups and downs of friendship. Some rules of the code are quite odd, and some are a must for every girl. To share them all would just be a violation, but if you and your girlfriends have a funny one to share, drop it in the comments section!

The booty don’t lie. No, no, the booty don’t lie.

If Janelle Monáe was my BFF(along with Solange Knowles), I think I’d die. Figuratively of course. The eccentric Miss Monáe recently released a song called “Q.U.E.E.N.” with Erykah Badu and the music video premiered today. Before I heard a single note in the song, I knew it would be a banger. These two are the perfect recipe for great music.

The song has an upbeat, jazzy feel with a little bit a funk. The Cover Girl addresses self-acceptance, social justice, and judgment from those who misunderstand her:

I can’t believe all of the things they say about me
Walk in the room they throwing shade left to right
They be like, “Ooh, she serving face”
And I just tell ‘em cut me up and get down
They call us dirty ’cause we break all your rules down

Erykah Badu comes in later for the breakdown, and then the best part comes in- Janelle’s rap:

I asked a question like this
“Are we a lost generation of our people?”
Add us to equations but they’ll never make us equal.
She who writes the movie owns the script and the sequel.
So why ain’t the stealing of my rights made illegal?
They keep us underground working hard for the greedy,
But when it’s time pay they turn around and call us needy.
My crown too heavy like the Queen Nefertiti
Gimme back my pyramid, I’m trying to free Kansas City.

She should’ve dropped the mic and walked away after that. Wow, just wow.

Janelle Monáe is one of the most underrated artists in my opinion. She’s staying true to real music, as well as who she is. And in the process she’s not afraid to speak her mind.

“Q.U.E.E.N.” is Janelle Monáe’s single for her upcoming album, The Electric Lady. It won’t be released until later on this year, but for now you can purchase her collaboration with Erykah Badu on iTunes.

Quick Fun Fact: The video was directed by Solange’s boyfriend, Alan Ferguson.

One night as I was heating up some water for my Yogi Green Tea, I heard Jilly from Philly soulfully sing:

Too much on my mind… Too much on my mind…

I nodded as if she could see me agree with her words. It had been one of those tough and trying days when you just want to close yourself off from the world. Perhaps even call upon Calgon to take you away. As much of a cheerleader I am for family and friends, it’s rather difficult for me to cheer myself out of my own rut. I continued to brew my tea until I heard Jill croon:

When I wake up, everything I went through will be beautiful…

I had to stop for a minute because of how thought-provoking those words are. You couldn’t tell me Pandora didn’t pick that song especially for me. Soon after I ended my pity party. It was only right to.

Some of the most beautiful times in life comes after a mistake, a disappointment, or a failure. After we’ve gone through the number of emotions that we have a right to feel, there comes a peace. That peace comes from realizing that you went through it all for a greater purpose– to make you a greater person.

When we see that the reason for our troubles is not for suffering, but rather for growth, they no longer seem incapable of overcoming. After winter comes spring, and after night comes morning. Therefore joy is soon to follow sadness.

Looking back, your first thoughts will no longer be in remembrance of the heaviness in your heart or the tears falling from your eyes. Instead you’ll realize, that everything you went through was beautiful.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. [Psalm 30:5]

There’s something about lobster and just thought of it that makes my mouth water. And living in Florida–especially South Florida– you better know how to tear up some seafood. Unfortunately, you can’t always have lobster when you’re living on a chicken budget… Unless you hit up Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine.

This is where I grin as big as the Cheshire Cat.

Saturday night I had a chill girl’s night with my boos, also known as my cousin Tracie and little sis Jessie. Linda Bean’s is a small and cozy restaurant with café-style seating in downtown Delray Beach. I’ve been there a quite a few times but this was my first time eating there in a while. They did some redecorating and revamped their menu.

Now when I say almost everything on the menu has lobster in it, I’m serious. There’s lobster salad, lobster mac & cheese, and just lobster. If you don’t want to overdose on it like we desired to, there are menu items such as salmon, broiled scallops, and clams.

I couldn’t wait to dive in to my favorite, the lobster bisque. It’s so sinfully good and only five bucks for a cup. To add on the abundance of lobster, you can even add chunks of it to the soup. They also serve a really good clam chowder, but I was there for one reason and one reason alone. You guessed it. Lobster.

Next came the grand finale, the lobster roll. It’s huge pieces of lobster on a butter-toasted roll and Linda’s “secret herb dressing.” In my opinion it’s tastes sort of like a dill sauce, but it’s good nevertheless. Jessie opted to pour the bisque on her roll and as gluttonous as it sounds, it was quite tasty!

Along with the roll you get a serving of kettle chips, bread and butter pickles, and cole slaw.

Everything was so delicious and I think you can proof is the pudding… or plate, whatever.

See that I’m soul and spirit, troubled by mind and body.
And these words that illustrate my struggles don’t make me an outcast
but it makes me a human being,
who possesses a beating heart filled with a desire to be understood.

Every stroke of my pen is a strike at my bondage.
The world is a cold gray dungeon,
capable of sealing out the slightest ounce of sunshine or hope.
But these letters and punctuation give me strength,
and a will to break free.

I have an overflowing gratitude for this right hand,
for it gives me the power that my voice never could
Each time I grab hold of this pen.

-Tara Pook

In addition, scarves can be used to protect your hair from some of the crazy weather that comes along. Whoever coined the phrase, “April showers bring May flowers,” should have mentioned that it also brings messed-up hair dos. With all of the humidity and heat that this season can bring, your mane could use some protection– especially if you have natural hair!

My kinky hair suffers from major shrinkage, so on humid days I like to keep my hair tucked away. Considering it’s too hot for a knit beanie, the right scarf can do the trick.

I’ve accumulated a number of scarves after learning how to tie different styles of headwraps and turbans. You can find great prints at stores like Target or Forever 21, but if you really want a bargain hit up your local fabric store.

On Saturday I went to Jo-Ann’s Fabric Store to see what I could find. There were floral and checkered prints as well as solids and plaids. I was a little overwhelmed because there were so many different prints and materials to chose from. Probably 10 minutes were spent wandering around the store. Womp, womp.

Thankfully, all confusion went away when I found the good ol’ remnants shelf with leftover fabric discounted at 50% off. I was in bargain heaven.

The two fabrics on the left were found in the remnants section and I purchased them for about $5 each. Of course I had to give in to my obsession with the color black and buy the fabric on the right.

When buying fabric I’ve picked up a couple tips. After selecting a fabric, the salesperson will ask how much you want. I’d go with a yard and if it’s too much, it’s better than getting too little. Also, rectangular cuts of fabric work best for a number of headwraps and turbans.

Lastly, I’ve found that stretchy material is the way to go. When going through the racks, tug at the fabric or check for a small amount of rayon spandex. This makes tying your headwrap a lot easier than with a stiff material.

When you’re ready wrap your scarf, feel free to experiment. I learned a lot of different ways on Youtube, but sometimes I like what I come up with when I’m just playing around. My favorite ways to tie my scarfs are the bow you see above and what I call the front bun. You can check out some pictures below:

Also, if you’d like to see a close up of the scarves and fabrics I bought, you can check them out as well:

Happy headwrapping everyone! If you have any questions, feel free to drop it in the comments section.

I’ll be straight up honest with you guys: I’m too broke for a Clarisonic Electric Cleansing Brush. On more than one occasion I’ve thought about saving my pennies and getting one, but the $100-plus price tag didn’t seem appealing to me.

As someone who has struggled with acne-prone skin, finding the right products can be tricky. I thought the Clarisonic would be the answer to my skincare prayers, until I came across the Bass Body Care facial brush.

I was at my neighborhood nutrition store and for some reason, I thought to ask one of the employees if they sold facial brushes. She then pointed to a wall of body brushes to our immediate left.

Duh, Tara.

I picked up the brush to check it out and once I saw the price tag, which is under $10, I was sold. Like a product junkie, I couldn’t wait to rush home and try it.

Initially I was concerned about the bristles, but once I opened the packaging, I noticed how soft they were. It feels like a baby brush.

Of course I used my favorite facial cleanser, Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Liquid Soap. Just two drops was all I needed after wetting the brush. I think this cleanser works perfectly with it because of the thick lather you get.

When using the brush, massage your face gently in a circular motion- as the directions state. Then rinse your face with cool water. Based off of experience, using hot water will leave your face feeling way too stripped and dry.

After I finished, my skin felt so clean! Normally I use witch hazel to get anything left behind after washing, but there was barely any need. What’s also great about this brush is that it’s gentle enough to use every day.

Here are the other benefits, which are listed on the packaging:

• Thoroughly cleans all areas of the face, forehead, and neck
• Nylon bristle will help to deep clean skin pores
• Helps remove blackheads
• Exfoliates to remove dead skin cells
• Helps tighten and tone facial skin and muscles
• Promotes overall healthier looking skin
• Aids new skin cell growth
• Stimulates blood circulation

I’m happy I came across the Bass facial brush, because I definitely would’ve gone searching for loose change in order to purchase a Clarisonic. It may not be electric, but it definitely gets the job done. Since I started regularly exercising, I see how important it is to get my face clean after a workout. I was starting to get tiny bumps, and refused to have my skin look like hot trash (lol).

The Bass Body Care Facial Brush can be purchased online or at a number of health/nutrition stores. I bought the nylon brush, but you can also buy the brush with 100% natural bristle.

I’ve been putting meals together for the past few weeks and not only is it good for my body; it’s also good for my wallet. You can order a pizza and a side for $20, and it’ll last you for about a day– maybe two. Or you can hit up the grocery store and get so much more for about the same amount.

Here’s how to fix up a deliciously healthy meal that even the laziest of lazy cookers can make.

From Walmart, I bought a pack of chicken thighs for about $8. If you’re looking for a healthier piece of the chicken, then go for chicken breast. It has less fat than dark meat. Unfortunately I couldn’t find chicken breast at Walmart without rib meat added so I went with thighs. Sigh.

But as long as you’re not deep frying it in Crisco grease, you should be ok.

I knew I wouldn’t want to cut and clean chicken during the school week, so on Sunday night I took care of it. After I was done I placed two pieces of chicken in each freezer bag and then stored them in my freezer.

In the morning, take out one of the bags of chicken and place it in your sink to thaw. When it’s thawed after a class or two, take the chicken out of the bag and place it in a Ziploc container. I’m sure you don’t want bland tasting chicken, so use a salad dressing like balsamic vinaigrette to add some flavor (you can also try these other marinades). Seal the chicken in the Ziploc container and place it in the fridge so it can marinate.

After you’re done with classes, club meetings, and/or work, it’s time to finally prepare your meal. First preheat your oven to 375°. While you’re waiting, you can check up on Facebook, post some tweets, or just twiddle your thumbs.

When it’s done, place it on a baking sheet and set the timer for 25 minutes. As it’s cooking, you can prepare the other parts of your meal.

Growing up, my family was built on love and Success rice. I’d tell you how to make it, but I feel as if that would insult your intelligence. I used to think brown rice was icky, for lack of better terms, but it’s grown on me. It’s a lot healthier than white rice, which loses vitamins and nutrients in the process to make it white.

Next, you can work on your salad made with spinach. Dark leafy greens are loaded with more vitamins and nutrients than romaine lettuce.

Eating just spinach would be boring so I cut up a cucumber, which was only 85 cents. After slicing a few pieces, I saved the rest in the fridge for another day.

Since I already used the balsamic vinaigrette to marinate the chicken, I decided to use ginger dressing for my salad. I’ve been hooked on it thanks to Japanese restaurants that would serve it on their salads.

By the time the rice and salad is prepared, the timer set for the chicken should be buzzing. It looked so good when it first came out of the oven, I should’ve snapped a picture.

There ya have it folks! Dinner is served. This meal didn’t take much time and effort. And for those who may complain about the size of their dorm kitchen, mine is just as small!

Yep, that’s all there is to my luxurious kitchen.

Despite my excitement, it soon hit me that maybe I’m not to ready to leave. On Thursday night, rapper Kendrick Lamar rocked the stage at my school’s annual concert, Freaker’s Ball. There I realized how little time I have to make college memories with my friends.

The energy was so high in the auditorium. People you wouldn’t have guessed were waving their hands in the air and rapping along to “Swimming Pools” and “M.A.A.D. City.” Some of them could barely remember sociological theories or mathematical formulas, but they sure knew those lyrics.

Even our school’s mascot, Owlsey, joined in on the fun.

Not many rappers can perform well– they often scream and point to the crowd to recite the words to their songs– but Kendrick Lamar put on a good show. I’ve listened to his album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City while riding in the car with friends, but that concert sent me straight to iTunes to get it for myself.

Can you say new workout music?

Some would consider this a compliment but I, on the other hand, have an issue with it. It’s often been said that too much of a good thing is a bad thing. So then I’d be justified in believing that when someone tells me that I’m too nice, it actually means “Umm fix that.“

One night my friends and I were watching a horrible excuse for television- The Bad Girls Club. If you’ve never watched show (in that case you deserve a handshake), it showcases the tomfoolery committed by a group of hot-tempered women thrown under one roof. The end result is a whole lot of hair pulling and a once lovely house turned into something a pig would turn its snout away from.

Out of pure curiosity, I asked my friends how long they thought I’d last in The Bad Girls Club, and I was given a day. Yes, 24 hours. Their reason? You guessed it, because I’m too nice.

Though I should’ve seen being unfit for The Bad Girls Club as a compliment, I actually felt a little insulted. I likened myself to Spongebob Squarepants as he tried to into the Salty Spittoon, a bar for tough guys. Was there some sort of litmus test that I had to pass in order to prove that I wasn’t a goody two-shoes and could stand my own ground? I was beginning to think that I had to.  We tend to claim that we don’t care how people see us, but I call B.S. on that. The perspectives of others affect their treatment of us, and I’d never want to be treated like a doormat.

When I think of someone who is too nice, I think of someone who’s considered a pushover. Perhaps they’re a yes-man due to a fear of being disliked, and live a life full of pleasing everyone but themselves. A good example of this would be Millie, from the 90s show A Different World. The sweet yet shy good girl was Whitley’s only friend during the first season, but mostly her minion. Poor Millie was someone I’d consider to be a poster child for the Pushover Club, as she agreed with everything Whitley said and barely took her eyes off the ground.  I mean, homegirl never even made it past the first season. So would I ever imagine a picture of my face next to the textbook definition of a butt-kisser? Absolutely not.

I pride myself in not being a doormat, nor having the temper of a “Basketball Wife”. Cussin’ someone out and throwin’ bows isn’t my first reaction to conflict, but neither is fleeing. My reactions to problems are not always quick and swift, but they are void of regrets and full of reason. It’s about finding the mid-point between doing nothing and doing the irrational.

Now I do have a tendency of avoiding some awkward sticky situations– like Publix stock boys hitting on me while I’m looking for my favorite Lean Cuisine meal– however I believe that’s quite a few people.

I will admit that I do possess some qualities that would cause someone to label me as too nice. My voice isn’t drenched in assertion, so it makes arguments rather difficult. How many would feel threatened by a verbal lashing from an angelic voice? Sometimes even our family dog refuses to sit when I command him to.

It’s important to take something from criticism if it’s of substance and I believe that the accusations of being too nice should make me stop and evaluate myself. I, along with many others, am still learning the strength that I possess as well as the power behind saying “NO!”

I understand that I may never be qualified to be a Bad Girls Club cast member and I suppose that in today’s culture, that’s a good thing. Kindness is a rarity and perhaps, as a result, seen as a bad thing. Try saying hello to a stranger passing by, and take note of the crazy reaction you may get.

This world could use a few nice people, whether they’re seen as weak or not. And even if the compassion isn’t returned, it’s their karma and not yours, isn’t it?

Oh and Target, but this post is about Whole Food’s.

I had intentions of finding a natural moisturizing shampoo (which I may review) and grabbing some lunch, but I also tried something new. After losing my mom and sister Jessie in the store, I found them at the smoothie counter.

The smoothie counter at Whole Food’s. There’s also a bakery right next to it, so the temptation was strong!

Before I could ask what they ordered, Jessie was handed a green smoothie. Though green is my favorite color, I was unsure about drinking anything that color. Back in the day I asked my mom for green ketchup, and promised I would eat it on every burger and hot dog. Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring myself to eat anything it touched. She ignored my begging for any odd food until I could purchase it myself.

Anyway, enough childhood horror stories.

I tried a sample of the Green Dream smoothie which is made with spinach, kale, pineapple and apple. It was actually quite good! First you taste the veggies and then the fruit kicks in. I decided to order one myself.

I’m the type of person who would rather buy something than make it at home, but green smoothies are so easy to make. Adding dark leafy greens to a fruit smoothie can boost it with tons of vitamins and minerals. For those who still think vegetables are icky, it’s a delicious way to add more vegetables to your diet. Just gather your favorite fruits and then add a handful or two of spinach or kale. You can throw in other vegetables like cucumber or celery but if that’s pushing it, I understand. Sometimes we need to take baby steps.

Jessie and I getting our sip on.

Are you into the green smoothie trend? If not, I found 30 delicious recipes that seem worth trying. If you know of any others, share in the comments section!

]]> http://tarapook.com/2013/04/01/getting-my-sip-on-first-time-trying-a-green-smoothie/feed/ 2 tarapook photo 1 photo(51) http://tarapook.com/2013/03/30/ch-ch-changes/ http://tarapook.com/2013/03/30/ch-ch-changes/#comments Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:57:38 +0000 Tara Pook http://tarapook.com/?p=1792 Continue reading →]]> The past few weeks, I’ve been swamped y’all- again. In the midst of classes, work, and writing for my school’s newspaper, my beloved blog has been neglected. But worry not, Tara Pook is back with fresh ideas!

I’m made fun of pretty often for my abundance of notebooks. I seriously have a book for everything. Whether it be for jotting down ideas for poems, potential graduate schools, or hair products I want to try. The other day I began thinking and writing down of all the new things I want to do on my blog.

For starters, as I mentioned in a previous post, my sister Jessie and I are embarking on a healthier lifestyle with more fruit and less fast food. The other day, I ate at Pollo Tropical- where I used to say had ”healthy fast food”- and I felt so blah. I almost slapped myself in the head because I should’ve had a V8, and maybe even an apple.

Jessie and I are working out three days a week and learning about better food options. I’d love to share them with you and even gain some tips from you guys. I have a boat load of goals in this life, and I’d like to be healthy enough to accomplish them! Remember that you can never been too young or too old to get your butt in shape.

On another note, I feel like I should share more personal posts with you all. Beauty posts are fun to do, but so is sharing other aspects of my life and even more of my poetry. I love food like Kel loves orange soda, so I also want to share some of the restaurants I try. This will give birth to a new category, Out & About.

Speaking of categories, unfortunately last week’s Weekend Links will be the last. You will still be able to read them, but I want to focus more on posts that will make this blog super duper. Can you tell how excited I am? I just used super duper in a sentence.

Stay tuned y’all!

Love, Peace & Afro Grease,
Tara Pook

Unfortunately a classmate of mine never learned how to cover their sneezes or coughs. I don’t understand how though. The informational posters, and the cartoon with a head like a cheese wheel, are everywhere. Now that I’ve been gifted with his cold, my weekend will be full of echinacea tea and television. Oh, and of course these links!

• I’ve had my share of bad pick-up lines and catcalls. One that always made me scratch my head was “You look mixed,” because well, I don’t. Shayla Pierce explains why this isn’t considered a compliment.

• I dig Solange’s style- a lot. On my Tumblr, I have to refrain from reblogging every picture I see of her. If I could steal her closet, I’d do it in a heartbeat and never look back. But apparently, I don’t have to. Joy Adeze shows how to get her signature colorblocked look. 
• Amanda Chatel gives some examples on how to get your ex to notice you on Facebook. When I read this, I cracked up. Mainly because I’m guilty of doing some of those shenanigans. Don’t judge me; I know I’m not the only one!
• Though I wouldn’t consider myself too into fashion, I love myself a good outfit. One of my favorite Tumblr blogs, Black Fashion, will make you want to deplete your bank account on new clothes.

Why hello spring!

Spring is finally here! Now is the time to clear all the clutter from our homes. Out with the clothes, papers, and junk that are sitting around and collecting dust. For me, parting with the countless magazines stacked in my room will be a daunting task. I loathe parting with a good magazine. Nevertheless, a clear space allows for a clear mind. It’s important to part with the old and make room for the new and exciting.

What people often don’t realize is that spring cleaning doesn’t just apply to things; it also applies to people. Just as the clutter in your room can overwhelm you, so can a certain person- or two. These are the type of people whose relationship you share now feels like a chore. They have already served their purpose in your life, and are now over-welcoming their stay. Now this doesn’t mean that best friends for life don’t exist. Just make sure that you’re aware of when it may be time to move on from that boyfriend, girlfriend, homie, or associate. As ‘Ye says “They say people in your life are seasons, and everything that happens is for a reason.”

I think back on relationships I’ve had with people and how I believed deep down that God had put them in my life not for a season, but for a lifetime. They weren’t just people who I went out with on weekends or shared gossip on the phone. Instead, they were people I considered friends who spoke into my life. Could you blame me for wanting them to stick around?

My dad once said, “You ever have someone in your life who was a blessing and then suddenly they disappear? Do not get upset about this. God will ensure that the people you need in your life will stay there.” Unfortunately, with those relationships I had to learn the hard way that forcing people to stay in your life only causes you harm. This can taint the lessons and love that they shared with you. Instead, be grateful for the time you shared with them and keep it moving.

So when you start your spring cleaning, get rid of those old Converses and donate those shirts you never wear. But remember to clear out those who brought negativity and discouragement, and bring in those who will speak greatness into your life.

Me and you are built like armor
Nothing can stop love from loving on us
And I’m not asking for much
Just a couple of forevers

In case you’re wondering, Chrisette’s love interest in the video is Guitar Slayer, who has played for her as well as Vivian Green. Together they stroll through the park and even get matching infinity symbol tattoos.

Can I also mention that I had no idea Chrisette Michele had this much ink? Homegirl is tatted! Her new edgy and stylish look is evident as she rocks her version of Grace Jone’s box cut and a Monroe piercing. I’ve been a fan of Chrisette’s ever since her first single and it’s cool to see her evolution, not just in her looks but also in her music.

Her new album Better is set to be released next month, but for now you can purchase “A Couple of Forevers” iTunes.

Weekends don’t count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.

-Bill Watterson

Happy Friday everyone! The weekend has never looked so good. I’m ready for a good nap and… well, that’s it. Though there’s work to be done, I’m just going to kick back and catch up on some of my favorite blogs. Check out some of these links with me:

• Currently, I have nine piercings. Yes, nine. I’m thinking of more but I don’t want to creep out my mom with what she calls my “hardware.” Taking care of piercings are very important, and if you’ve ever seen an infected one you’d understand. Gabi Rivera-Morales from xoJane shares her favorite products to care for them.
• Swagger New York demonstrates how to throw shade in four steps. I’m a recovering subconscious shade-thrower (Yes, I just invented this diagnosis) so I found this hilarious. Sometimes I can’t help my facial expressions when I see tomfoolery, but I’m working on it!
• No one likes a complainer; they find fault in any and everything! I especially loathe seeing on my beloved Twitter. Sometimes I just want to buy them a diary. One would think women are mostly behind the constant complaining, but I think this study will make you think again.
• After one of my regular trips to MAC, I picked up a few products to fix my blah brows. They’ve always been so light in color, but I refuse to dye them. Properly filling in your eyebrows gives them a nice defined, yet natural look. Ariel from FaintyMasculine.com show you how to do it.

Um, Tara? Where are the posts?

It’s my first week back at school after a restful spring break, and it’s been a busy one. Back to reality, I suppose. Rather than blab on what I’ve been up to, I’ll just show you with the help of Instagram.

On Monday, I was already yearning to go back to bed. The end of the semester is within reach but for some reason, classes seem much more draining. So what do I do when I’m in a boring class? Write a poem about how boring it is.

Luckily I managed to turn my attitude around and get back to being the big ball of positivity that I am. Right on my door I posted a daily reminder to myself, as well as my favorite Bible verse:

For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.
-Habakkuk 2:3

On an even more positive note, I’m becoming serious about my health. My sister Jessie and I picked up some healthy snacks at the grocery store and hit up the gym.

I ate an apple y’all, and it wasn’t in a pie!

This may be a struggle due to my obsession with the golden, crispy deliciousness that are french fries but I’m trying. This week I prepared myself a dinner of grilled chicken, brown rice, and a salad with my favorite ginger dressing. Even after one week of healthier eating, I no longer feel sluggish like I would with junk food. It feels like I have more energy to get things done. Well, if I can get over my slight procrastination problem. I put the “pro” in procrastinaton.

____________________________________

That’s been my week! Hope all is well with you guys. I have a bunch of posts in mind to share starting Monday, so stay tuned.

Oh yeah! By the way, feel free to follow me on Instagram!

Will I have some good news by Monday? Maybe, maybe not. In the meantime, enjoy some of these links with me:

• Afrobella lists 25 of the best MAC lipsticks for women of color. I have 7 of the shades (some are named in a previous post)  listed, which isn’t too bad. I thought I’d have more!
• Some girls have a habit of blaming their single relationship status on the lack of good guys. Marci Robin instead examines herself to figure out why she’s been single for seven years.
• “I guess one woman’s notion of disrespect is another woman’s version of kudos.” Ebony Blanding explores the term “bad bitch” with humor and insight.
• Did I ever tell you that I’m part of the underground sub-culture that is Tumblr? Go ahead and follow me. Don’t be shy

Many girls have played dress-up with their mom’s clothes and I’m no different. This  picture inspired me to raid the back of my mom’s closet, and see what I could find.

Back in the 90s, my mom’s wardrobe consisted of three major things: denim, black shades, and red lips. Oh, and how could I forget her trademark gold hoops?

I had fun, but I should probably get my mom’s stuff back in her closet before she kills me!

Dress| Mom’s
Gold hoops| Mom’s
Belt| Forever 21
Watch| Betsey Johnson
Glasses| American Eagle
Lipstick| MAC’s Russian Red

Photos courtesy of Jessica Taylor

My Curls is a London-based hair company that I learned about thanks to Twitter, the new mecca of communication and networking. They kindly sent me a sample of their Curl Smoothie hair lotion and I was excited to try it. My hair regime is in need of some revamping, and a new product or two could help.

This is the sample size.

The Curl Smoothie comes in a 250 ml- or 8.5 oz- bottle that sells for £11.99 or $18. It claims to reduce split ends and breakage, which is great if you’re trying to retain length. The hair lotion also has beneficial ingredients, such as palm kernel oil and coconut oil. Here is the full product description from My Curls’ site:

Looking for a lushious creamy hair lotion that makes your hair super soft? Sounds like you’re in need of the much-loved Curl Smoothie!

This creamy, natural hair lotion is an absolute essential for very curly, tightly coiled and afro textured hair.

Filled with effective natural ingredients, the Curl Smoothie has received rave reviews and it’s not surprising why. It’s perfect as a daily leave-in moisturiser and nourishes without being greasy.

The Curl Smoothie smells delicious but please do not eat it!

When I first opened the bottle, I noticed the scent. I’m allergic to most perfumes, but luckily it didn’t cause my eyes to become itchy and watery. My Curls says it has a “Fruitylicious” smell, but I’m not sure if that’s how I would describe it. I would just consider it a nice, light scent.

The Curl Smoothie has a texture similar to lotions you would use on your skin. It’s not a thick hair lotion; it’s quite loose in consistency. My super kinky, coily hair requires a lot of moisture so I was a little concerned about how well it would quench my strands.

I decided to use it after co-washing (washing with conditioner) my hair. In order to retain as much of my hair’s natural moisture, I haven’t been shampooing as often. When it was time to apply the Curl Smoothie, I used it as part of the L.O.C. method. This is a routine that I learned from various naturalistas, to keep your hair moisturized. Shea Moisture’s Restorative Conditioner was my leave-in, coconut oil was my sealant, and finally the Curl Smoothie was my cream.

The mixture made my hair easier to comb and detangle. My Curls does not mention this perk on their website, but it’s mentioned on the bottle. Next, I began to separate my hair for a braid-out.

Oh yeah, sexy huh? I loved how my hands glided as I braided my hair. I finished braiding my entire head in 30 minutes, which is the quickest it’s taken me.

I took out the braids after they set and there was a huge difference in the feel of my hair. My sister touched my hair and agreed that it no longer felt dry and brittle like it did earlier. I did a braid-out with intentions of stretching it out for mini-twists later on and it still felt moisturized. On the second day, I didn’t have to reapply the Curl Smoothie. My hair was still soft and not coarse. I’d recommend this hair lotion if you need something to refresh and lightly moisturize your hair. To spruce up my mini-twists, I applied it to my hands and fluffed them out.

Now, if you have hair that gets very dry like mine, then use it as the “C” in the LOC method. As I mentioned earlier, its consistency is not thick enough to thoroughly moisturize my kinky strands. However, if you have a looser curl pattern, then it may do you more justice.

Thanks again to My Curls for allowing me to sample this product! I will continue to use the Curl Smoothie on my mini-twists (which will stay in for about two weeks) and will give you all an update about the product. Loading up on thick creams can cause build-up on mini-twists, so I believe the Curl’s Smoothie will come in handy as a quick daily moisturizer.

Pros

• Nice scent
• Made combing and detangling easier
• Works well with the L.O.C. method
• Good for daily use

Cons

• Not very thick or creamy in consistency
• When used alone, didn’t thoroughly moisturize my hair
• Unsure if I’d spend nearly $20 for the bottle

To purchase the Curl Smoothie and try it for yourself, check out My Curls’ website.

Twitter has a way of making you feel left out when you don’t watch a particular show that everyone’s tweeting about. Once these shows come on, I know it’s best to just log off and read a book.

There are quite a few shows that make me feel like a loner, and here they are:

1. The Walking Dead
Every Sunday night my Twitter timeline is full of tweets about this show:

“Andrea is so annoying!”

“Omg I’m sleeping with my night-light after tonight’s episode!”

I began to feel out of the loop. I wanted to know who this Andrea was and why she was so annoying. Bump sleeping with a night-light though.

Anyway, yesterday I finally broke down and decided to watch the very first episode of The Walking Dead on Netflix. A few months ago I attempted watching it, but it gave me the creeps and I never finished it.

After my “Walking Dead” marathon. I looked so drained that I could’ve passed as a walker.

At the end of the day-or should I say night- I had watched the entire first season. Now I’m ready for season 2! Hopefully I can catch up and finally contribute to all the Twitter talk about the current season.

I do agree with that one tweeter about needing a night-light. I had a dream that I was trying to escape from walkers in downtown Manhattan. While randomly stopping for shoes (yes, shoes) my sister’s friend had her neck chomped into. Ick.

2. Girls
As I always say, I’m a broke college student. Therefore, we don’t have HBO and all those other fancy channels people in the “real world” have. When I first heard about Girls, I also heard about some of its controversy. Like Seinfeld and Friends, it’s a show that takes place in New York City but has no characters of color. I did, however, hear that Donald Glover has been thrown into the mix to fill the token black guy quota.

Despite it not being a melting pot, Girls is a good show from what I hear. Maybe one day I’ll move on up to grown-up cable and get a chance to watch it. Or maybe Netflix will stream the first season? Wink, wink.

3. Breaking Bad
Yup, the show with the dad from Malcolm in the Middle. When promos first aired for Breaking Bad, I still had no idea what it was about. After the show started rolling, I heard so many great reviews about it, and once again I felt left out.

I unknowingly watched one episode of it (I thought it was some movie or whatever) and enjoyed it. This show is also on Netflix, so I may need to do some catching up.

4. Sons of Anarchy
A former co-worker of mine would show me pictures of hot men on motorcycles and I would always think “Umm, where can I get another dosage of this sexiness?” She would always rave about Sons of Anarchy.

The FX drama series about a bad-ass motorcycle club already has a few seasons under its belt but lucky for me, it’s on Netflix as well. Can somebody say, super sexy Sons of Anarchy marathon?

5. Pretty Little Liars
This show confuses me more than algebra. Is the girl dead? Is she a ghost? Is someone pretending to be her? Who would have that much spare time?

Whenever someone asks if I watch it and I say no, they react as if I said I’ve never tried sushi. “Oh my God, you don’t watch Pretty Little Liars? You gotta watch it. One day we gotta watch it together. Believe me, you’ll love it!“

I’m not a huge fan of shows on ABC Family, except Fresh Prince of Bel-Air re-runs. Maybe Pretty Little Liars is the show I need to make an exception for so I’ll fit in. Or maybe not.

                                            _________________________________
This post wouldn’t be right if I didn’t shout out Netflix. Despite its abundance of movies I’ll never watch, it’s allowing me to chip in on conversations about shows I once felt left out about.

Today is the first day of Spring Break and the weather is too cool and gloomy for the beach. Oh well, chillin’ in bed and blogging is fine with me!

• Speaking of gloomy weather, my hair’s shield against it are head wraps/turbans. The other day it was rainy outside, so I decided to rock a turban with my favorite green scarf. I received a few compliments, too. The cashier ringing up my bag of sour gummy worms said to me, “How come when I wrap a towel around my head, I don’t look as beautiful as you do?” OK, well I gave a little side-eye but I also took it as a compliment. Anyway, check out this video of some cool ways to tie a head wrap:

• Sometimes we don’t always get the closure that we seek from an ending relationship. It can be tough to understand that it’s not given to you by your former significant other. Instead, that moment of peace and clarity is reached on your own. What once was, is no more, and you’re a better and wiser person in the end. OK, let me stop my rambling about life and love. Check out Khalea’s thoughts in “So What IS Closure, Exactly?“
• As I mentioned, Spring Break is here so I will definitely try to get in some me-time. Winona Dimeo-Ediger shares 10 things to do alone, and don’t worry you won’t feel awkward doing them. I’ve always wanted to go to the movies by myself, as loner as it sounds. Maybe I’ll finally give it a try.

• Can we put this on a billboard for all the world to see? Amelia McDonnel-Parry lists the 10 biggest dating mistakes people make on Facebook.

My only issue is that I wasn’t a fan of the prices. I want to look good, not go broke. I saw that Maybelline had their own BB Cream, and since it was under ten dollars I decided to give it a try for my sister’s wedding. Risky, I know.

I give Maybelline kudos for having my shade but in terms of preventing Crisco-face, it didn’t really do it for me. It did however give a nice coverage that wasn’t cakey. After checking out their website, I realized it doesn’t promise to prevent shine and the description said it’s “ideal for normal skin.” So I would recommend Maybelline, just not for my shiney-faced gals.

Though slightly discouraged, I kept looking. I heard companies like Garnier and Olay had BB Creams and I was excited to try them. Unfortunately, that excitement didn’t last long when I saw them in the store.

The variety of colors stink!

It’s often difficult for women of color to find makeup that matches their skin. If it wasn’t for Queen Latifah, many would be out of luck when it comes to finding affordable foundation. I was disappointed to see that Garnier or Olay didn’t think about other skin tones while making their BB Creams.

Finally I moved on to Smashbox’s Camera Ready BB Cream. I like it, though I’m not a fan of the 39-dollar price tag. Rather than swipe my debit card, I took the broke college student route and got a sample from Sephora first.

You don’t need much so my sample is still pretty full. Applying it with a good beauty sponge does the trick. With Smashbox’s BB Cream, I had a slight amount of shine but not the super greasy look that I’m used to having by 5 p.m. It also gave my face the right amount of tint without looking cakey. I had a natural looking color.

As much as I like this stuff, I don’t think I want to pay $39 dollars for it. Suze Orman wouldn’t approve, so I’ll decide once my sample is all gone.

So I guess in the meantime the hunt goes on? I guess this is where I cue the black screen that says “To be continued…”

Life is meant to be enjoyed, meant to be cherished. However, it’s also a test of our will and drive to fulfill our purpose. From the time we were placed on this earth we were given abilities and talents in order to make that purpose happen. So why waste them? It’s as if Oprah or Bill Gates handed you a million dollars and rather than invest it, you let it sit in a Nike shoebox in your room.

When I was in grade school, my dad would always ask about my grades.

“They’re good,” I’d say with a shrug.

“You’re pulling all A’s right?” my dad would ask.

“Ha, right,” I’d reply, drenched in sarcasm.

“It’s not because you can’t, it’s because you don’t want to,” he said.

Back then, I would just get frustrated. Why would I choose not to get straight A’s? I took those conversations as my dad having astronomically high standards for me that would be impossible to reach. I figured all parents had them for their kids, and went on about my day, full of chatting on the phone and void of studying.

Now that I’m older, I look back on those conversations with my dad and realize that he was right. Many times we don’t obtain greatness because we choose not to. We do this by getting comfortable with the mundane, selling ourselves short, and refusing to take a leap of faith. Little do we know, we’re letting our potential wither away.

Our potential is like a flower. We have to nurture it, help it to grow. In the end, it should be multiplied; transformed into a vast garden. Not a barren field.

 

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

-Langston Hughes

Wouldn’t it be crazy
If he felt how I felt, overwhelmed and terrified
But he took my hand
And he took his chance, can I have this dance
If only we were in a Cinderella story

I love Elle Varner’s music- her big curly hair, too.

“Not Tonight,” is a single from the underrated artist’s debut album, Perfectly Imperfect. I’ll admit, I was a little slow catching on to Elle’s music, but I was hooked once I heard “Refill.” When it comes on the radio, my sister is ready to change the channel but I’m always ready to karate chop her hand before she does. I just love that fiddle in the background!

Anyway, in “Not Tonight” Elle sings about her lack of courage to approach a guy she has feelings for. Can I just say that this is the story of my life?

But maybe, maybe in another life
I could be the girl who walks up to the guy
And tells him, tells him how she feels inside
But, not tonight, no not tonight

Elle’s Perfectly Imperfect came out in August of last year, but I’m ready to break down and buy it now. I love her style and the fact that she’s staying true to R&B, a genre which seems to have faded some. The house/techno/I don’t know phase is cool and all, but there’s nothing like kicking back and listening to a slow jam that speaks to you.

“Not Tonight” as well as the album, Perfectly Imperfect, can be purchased on iTunes.

Now that the wedding has been taken care of and classes are done for the week, I’m ready to relax! Hopefully you can get some sleep in as well. Check out these links in between naps.

• “Others can betray you, but only you can betray your own peace of mind.” GG Renee Hill shares how to get revenge without getting your soul dirty. Good read.
• Last night some of the homies came over and as usual my place looked a mess. No matter how much I clean, the second I need to find an outfit to wear, my room looks like a hurricane hit. Min Lee shares her no-excuses, lazy-girl way of cleaning. I need to take notes.
• If you’re a single black woman, then you’re sick of reading articles that claim how out of luck single black women are. Demetria Lucas hilariously provides a solution to the SBW Crisis.
• I’m not sure how I feel about the new Harlem Shake phase. When I think of the original Harlem Shake, humping the air in a pair of undies doesn’t come to mind. I’ve been waiting to hear what people from Harlem have to say, and here it is:

“Yo that’s not the Shake, B!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

OK, I think you all get the point. If you’re like me, it’s a struggle to keep your skin looking matte. Living in the Florida heat and humidity doesn’t make things any easier for me. Though at times I just grin and bear it, I’ve picked up some tips on how to keep the face looking shine-free.

1. MAC Blot Powder
What would I do without my MAC powder? I never leave the house without this stuff- ever. Though it has a tint of color, this powder is not considered foundation. With a few touches, shine and oils are absorbed to give you a matte finish.

I have sensitive skin and I’ve never had a break out while using MAC’s Blot Powder. However, make sure you replace the powder pad at least a couple times. If you don’t, then you’ll be blotting your face with the same oils you’ve been trying to get rid of. Ick! Stores like Target sell pads for a little over a dollar.

2. Blotting Sheets

For the times when you do leave the house without your blot powder, make sure you have blotting sheets handy. By pressing (not wiping) them against your T-zone, your face will be shine-free.

Bonus tip: If you’re completely out luck and don’t have your blot powder or blotting sheets, make your way to the ladies room. It may sound gross, but the toilet seat covers can be used to blot away oil. Just make sure you use a clean one, of course.

3. Milk of Magnesia

Yes, the stuff that treats constipation. I’ve used this trick especially during the summer time. I’ll let beauty/natural hair vlogger Ambrosia explain this one, since I learned about using milk of magnesia from her channel:

4. Facial Masks

Many facial masks found in drugstores or supermarkets help treat oily skin. Incorporate them into your skin regime at least a couple times a week. Below are a few of my favorite masks.
Earth Science’s Mint Tingle Purifying Facial Masque
Freeman’s Feeling Beautiful Mint & Lemon Facial Clay Mask
Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque

5. A Good Cleanser

I find that cream cleansers leave a residue on my skin after using them. It’s important to find a gentle cleanser that will really clean up the dirt and oil, but not leave your face as dry as a desert. I’ve bragged about Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Liquid Soap in a Pook’s Product Review, and I continue to use it.

6. Witch hazel

After I wash my face, I clean up any oils or dirt that may have been left behind with Witch hazel. I use it as a toner. Rather than buy expensive toners, Witch hazel can be purchased for only a dollar at drugstores.

As a tip, use it only on the parts of your face that are susceptible to shine. Many only have a few spots that get oily, like the T-zone. Over-drying the non-oily parts of your skin would only irritate it.

7. Water

It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t include water in these tips. I used to give a big, fat “Whatever” to those who would tell me water is the key to great skin, but now I’m listening. I’m still using my Bobble, and I believe it has encouraged me to drink more water. Perhaps because it looks so cool to me.

What you put in your body is just as important as what you put on your body, so get to sipping!

_____________________________

There are many other tips out there to help fight oily skin. I’ve heard about the BB Cream phase and I’m anxious to try out the ones that claim to reduce shine.  Hmm, a new Pook’s Product Review?

If you have any tips to help fight the struggle against oily skin, share in the comments section!

However, over the years I realized that what made sense for me did not necessarily make sense for others.

You see, this one time at Bible Camp (yes, Bible Camp) I tried my best to fit in, which was rather difficult since I was the only camper boo-hooing the entire time due to homesickness. During the rare times I was included in conversation, I was beyond ecstatic. One blistering hot day I was outside with a group of campers doing outdoorsy things, when we began talking about things that teens and pre-teens talk about. I finally got the attention I thought I was seeking when a girl bluntly said to me, “Tara, you’re an Oreo.”

Check out the rest here.

• Am I the only one who’s been sleeping on Elli Ingram’s cover of “Poetic Justice” by Kendrick Lamar? Love her voice; it adds a new vibe to the song.

• Khalea from CollegeCandy.com is not ready to graduate. To be honest, I’ve been ready since freshman year.
• Is 2013 the new 1993? This article on Swagger New York gives a pretty good argument. All of the 90s babies should enjoy.
• Going natural can be tough. As I mentioned in a previous post, not everyone will be on board when you decide to embrace your kinks and curls. Maya K. Francis shares her family’s trouble accepting her natural hair.

Due to my appreciation throwback jams, I decided that this Late Night Vibin’ would be a little different. Here are some of the songs I can’t get out of my head.

1. “Looking for a New Love” by Jodie Watley
When I was a kid, my mom had Jodie Watley’s workout tape. Yes, a VHS tape. My sisters and I would do the cool dance moves and when this song would come on, I’d hit each move like with extra oomph. Or at least I thought I was, with my awkward skinny frame.

My love was true, still you threw it all away. Now other guys will have me, they’ll appreciate my love. Tell me, how does it feel?

Ya gotta love this song; it’s a break up song with swag!

2. “I’m Ready” by Tevin Campbell
I remember when Tevin Campbell sang the Happy Birthday song to Ashley on Fresh Prince. Lucky girl. If I could get Trey Songz to sing to me for my 22nd birthday, someone would have to call the paramedics.

Anyway, I digress. I always felt that Tevin Campbell helped pave the way for R&B artists after him. Is it me or does he deserve more credit? His voice is as nice and soft as a kitten laying in freshly cleaned linen. “I’m Ready” is one of my favorite songs to hear that voice sing.

Baby, it was uncool to love me, then leave me standing here now without a goodbye. And maybe I am the fool you call me. ‘Cause I’ll be here standing, waiting.

How can a girl reject that?

3. “Raspberry Beret” by Prince

Sigh, Prince… My Gemini Twin. We share the same birthday so I think that makes me rather cool.

This song doesn’t need much explanation as to why it’s so good. It speaks- or sings- for itself.

She wore a raspberry beret, the kind you find in a second hand store. Raspberry beret, and if it was warm she wouldn’t wear much more. Raspberry beret, I think I love her.

They just don’t make songs like this anymore.

You can purchase all of these songs on iTunes. Do you have any old school jams you love? Share ‘em in the comments section.

Throwback picture of my sister during our “We hate Valentine’s Day” days.

For some, Valentine’s Day is the bane of their existence. They’ll shut themselves away from all social media in order to avoid pictures of lovey dovey couples, but not without tweeting how lame the day is. I understand the deep loathing for Valentine’s Day, since I used to feel the same way. Walking by the Cupid-themed aisles at CVS or Target, filled with cards and candy, always made me wish St. Patrick’s Day would hurry up.

Oh, and let’s not forget high school. Back in those days, students would write cards to be sent to their sweetheart in class. Then on Valentine’s Day, during 5th hour, they were delivered with a flower. I was the girl mean-mugging everyone, while secretly wishing for even an unknown creeper to send a card her way.

Things have changed a lot since then. Even after once having a relationship end on Valentine’s Day, my dislike for it has faded. Nowadays I’m a lover, not a hater. Tonight I will be indulging in ABC’s Scandal rather than a romantic dinner, and though it sounds like a complete fail, I’m still OK. Watching Olivia Pope’s hot mess of a love life may prove to be therapeutic.

I digress from my constant Scandal talk.

You see, I’ve come to realize that bashing Valentine’s Day not only makes people look bitter, it makes people look super bitter. Sure they can use excuses like “Why chose one day to show someone love? Why not show it every day?” but it doesn’t work. Let the couples have their day of posting pictures on Instagram of teddy bears and boxes of chocolates that they’ll only eat half of (the coconut-filled ones are the worst).

Worry not, my fellow singles, we have our own days. Days like birthdays! Don’t think of Valentine’s Day as a painful reminder of your Facebook relationship status. There are some perks to the day if you’re single:

1. While some are spending cash to outshine those Kay Jeweler commercials (even though they’re still dealing with bills from Christmas) you’re just chillin’ and watching a romantic comedy on cable.

2. All the good candy goes on sale the next day!

3. Um, that’s all I can think of.

I may not be very convincing, but let’s be honest. On February 14, 2014, you might have a Valentine of your own and those Cupid-themed aisles at your local CVS won’t seem so bad. You’ll then look forward to not just that one day with your boo, but even more days together. So again, let the couples have their time and let us have the 50% off Valentine’s Day Candy sales tomorrow.

I’m young, I’m fabulous, and I’m broke; so of course I downloaded this book onto my beloved Kindle. Suze Orman’s The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke has taught me so much about my finances in just the first couple of chapters. She breaks down money and credit problems in a way that it is easy to digest. I’m the worst when it comes to numbers (I’m the journalist stereotype), but I’m able to understand how to escape brokedom.

The book also has an online component known as the Action Planner. Each copy has an access code which will allow you to use tools such as the Student Loan Calculator and Get Me Out of Debt Calculator.

I’ve always wanted to be financially savvy but Target, Groupon, and a good sale are my Kryptonite. I’m the type of person that will justify buying something nice for myself because I made it to class on time all week. Yes it’s bad, but don’t judge me. I’m seeking help from Suze!

My goal this year is to save enough cash for graduate school visits in DC and possibly back in New York. I’d rather spend my money on experiences I can look back on, not clothes I’ll get tired of. Oh, and fast food that will go anywhere but my tush.

We’ll see how things go once I finish this book. I don’t want to rush through it, so I’m reading about a chapter a day and making highlights as I go along. If you would like to purchase Suze Orman’s The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke, go to Amazon.com where you can also check out a sample.

I have to apologize for how irregular my posting has been. School, work and preparing for Black History Month (I serve as Black History Month Director for my school’s Black Student Union) has kept me busy. To always keep room for blogging, I’ve dusted off my planner and squeezed in some time for my first love- writing.

Now, on to these links!

• If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I’m a big time Scandal fan. Correction, I’m obsessed with Scandal. Therefore, I had to share this picture that I came across on Instagram. I bet being a senator’s wife doesn’t sound too shabby to Olivia Pope. “Love isn’t supposed to hurt Liv.” Preach Edison!
  
• Thank baby, teenage, and adult Jesus that spring break is almost here. Some of you may be planning a trip, and Danielle Pointdujour shares some tips on how to cut travel costs.
  
• Senam “SistaTV” Amegashie wants you to not be a umm, jerk to your black friend. I almost shed tears from laughing at this.
  
• Being a broke college student often means surviving off of fast food and good ol’ Ramen noodles. It doesn’t have to mean this for you. Learn some cheap ways to eat healthy.