Journey to Me

OMG! It's been so long since I've posted. My last post was in February and it is now October, pretty much November. I don't even know where to begin! I've been through so much, it seems like the process never ends (not that I'd want it to!). I can say that I'm definitely making progress. So, here's an update. I hope I don't miss anything.

I am in my last semester of undergrad!!!!...!!!!! I am absolutely overwhelmed with life at this point. My classes are a handful, but I'm holding it down. I'm taking 12 credit hours right now, which doesn't sound so bad. I'm taking a class about Sustainability where I've had 2 group projects going on at once. One is done so far, the other will be done when the semester ends (thank goodness). We're working on seeing how we (the University) can use the Green Roof on the Physical Sciences building to grow native, threatened, and/or endangered plant species to preserve, protect, and reproduce them to replenish and beautify the campus. I'm also taking a class called Biology and the Environment, which I could take with my eyes closed. It's a 1000 level course that I'm taking as an elective. It's pretty interesting, though. Up until now, I wasn't familiar with Environmental Science at all. This class is pretty much an introductory course. I am also taking a Black History course to finish my minor. The professor seemed so intense and uptight at first, but she's really just a sweetheart on the inside. She's just really about her business!! We discuss some pretty interesting topics that cover the antebellum period in America. Finally, I'm taking a course called Capstone which is the exit course for the Interdisciplinary Studies major. I did say I changed my major, right? lol...

I'm graduating December 14th, 2012 at 2:30pm. Yes, Lord. Thank you! I can't begin to express how I feel about graduating after 4.5 l o n g years! I'm just so thankful for the support system that I've had in my family this whole time. It hasn't always been easy, but it's turning out to be very much worth it. All the tears and feeling homesick and lonely sometimes, it was all worth it. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I am a first generation college student, so I'm very proud to represent my entire family when I walk across that stage. I dedicate my graduation to my parents, grandparents, and older brother. WE have all arrived. And to my younger siblings and cousins, ya'll need to handle business now. I changed the game for you!

I am also working for the first time during the school year. I love and hate my job at the same time. I'm in retail right now and I love meeting new people and helping women look their best, it's just time for a change. I've been there since the end of March and I'm ready for something new. The pay sucks, but my 40% employee discount (that's right) is everything!! Can you say shopaholic?

 I am still dating the same guy. We've been together for over a year now :) I'm in love *swoons*!! I'm about to get mushy here, so if you'd rather be spared, then skip to the next paragraph. Anyway, I never thought I'd feel this way about someone. I've been completely open with him about my entire life, pretty much, which I've never done with anyone before. He looks like a big tough guy, but he's just a big teddy bear. He's so loving, giving, protective, kind, loyal, honest...I could go on and on!! Geez. Where had he been all that time before? How did we not cross paths sooner? He's been home with me a few times and met my family. My grandparents adore him. They always ask me when we're getting married. You know how old people are. "This isn't the 1950's, Poppy." That's what I have to tell him. lol... You don't marry the first person you seriously date these days. My grandparents have been together 49 years and my granddad is 73. *does a quick computation* He was 24 when he married my grandmother. Yea, people don't get married that young anymore either. Any who, I'm rambling. We're both 22 and just enjoying each other, for now!

My hair is growing! I decided not to cut it anymore. It's time for something new. My goal is to have a nice bob. I'd like to try the asymmetrical bob with a little color in it. We'll see how it goes. I'm smack dab in the middle of the awkward phase right now. I just don't know what to do with it. I'm about to try to make my own clip ins so I can give my hair a break from all the heat styling I do to it. I'm about an inch away from being out of the awkward phase. My make up is looking great these days, but that's a separate post! I'll update on all my new products soon!! (like I really have an audience, anyway) lol...

Oh, I moved into my own apartment at the end of the summer! Finally, room mate free! It feels good. I can do anything I want to, anywhere in my apartment, butt naked if I so choose! Yes, that's the best part of living alone. I've always spent a lot of time with my man so he's there with me more often than not. So, I don't get lonely. However, I do get super bored when he's not around! I live in a pretty nice community. I just go out and go for a walk around the park if I'm that bored. The people there mind their business, but are friendly enough. Okay so the biggest difference I've noticed now that I don't live in student housing is the peace and quiet!!! OMG, I think that's the best part. My last semester in student housing I believe my upstairs neighbor was a DJ. I'm not even exaggerating. The music was non-stop!! Where I live now is so quiet! I love it!

Well, I'm going to write a book if I don't stop here. I think that covers pretty much everything. Life is good, I can't complain! Just living it up!

♥ Dai

Window Seat -- Erykah Badu

http://universalmotown.com/videos/playlist.aspx?plid=1457712391&v=76010451001&aid=0

I am so excited! I have not seen a music video or heard a (current) song that inspires so much thought! I have always been a fan of Erykah Badu. She bares her soul in every song! And that's what I love. She takes everyday issues and just puts them in words on a beat we can all relate to. REAL MUSIC !!

I know I'm super late seeing this video and hearing this song, but I just saw it tonight and I had to get my 2 cents out there. I've been hearing alot of people say what they do and don't like about the video, but personally I don't see anything NOT to like!

The video definitely represents the process of groupthink and how it's destroyed us as a people, collectively. Alot of people claim to be individual thinkers, but if we all say the same thing, then we too are participating in a form of groupthink! As much as we all want to believe we are truly individual thinkers, I just don't think it happens as often as we'd like. The force of media alone kind of herds us to believe what "they" want us to. Badu shows this in the end of her video in 2 ways that I thought about it: 1) Assassination of group think can only get us to see the greater good. 2) Assassination of the individual thinker/the mind/the soul is where we are now. The fact that this happens in the same spot where JFK was assassinated...I bet the majority of people who saw this video didn't even pick up on that!!

Another thing that I noticed in this video as Badu sheds her clothing, is the concept that we must shed the preconceived notions that people have of us. At the end of the dare you can only be you. People's thoughts of who and what they think I am, majority of the time are wrong. Although she's literally taking off her clothes, it's the thought that people need to stop hiding behind what others want for them. I am not who you think I am or who you think you want me to be. I don't want what you want for me and your expectations for me are not the same expectations I hold myself to. I don't hide behind those false thoughts. I can only be me. Until people realize that, they shouldn't let what others think of them affect them. If not, then we'll all be fooled by the ravening wolves disguised as sheep!

I like that she's not afraid to get naked even though they have to censor it. It shows that through her music (one of the things I'm sure she's the most passionate about) and anything else she does, she's not afraid to be herself and bare her soul, essentially showing who she really is at the end of the day. You either love it or you don't!

[[I'll post what I think of the lyrics later]]

~LaDai

Fresh Faced!

So I've become a fan of make up and I want to step my game up some! I mean I think I'm already on point, but there's already room for improvement. So I'd like to put some make up karma out there in hopes of gaining some for myself. Hopefully, this helps someone out there.

For one, I didn't start wearing make up until the end of my senior year in high school. Then secondly, I didn't know a thing! I was so scared to try any colors out of fear that it wouldn't go well with my skin color/tone. I started off just wearing eye liner and lip glosses. Then I got into mascara and eye shadows. As far as foundation, I still don't wear it on the regular, just on special occassions. Everything I know about make up, I found through the internet and friends.


The main thing that I do is my eye shadows! LOVE them. I think my eyes are my best features so I like to make that my focus. For eyeshadows, I use mostly Covergirl. Their Queen Collection (QC) line is pretty good. I have trio and quad palettes like Golden Sunset, Dazzling Metallics, Coffee Shop, and Desert Bronze (which is from the QC). I have singles like Emerald and Copper Penny (which are both from the QC). I have a quad of purples that my friend gave me from a line called Ulta. As far as everyday wear, I stick to golds, bronzes, and earth tones. I like to play with colors like purple and green, depends on the shade of the color. I haven't really tried any other colors though. I like metallics for when I go out. And the classic smokey eye for special occassions. As far as eyeliner, I'll use anything. I just buy the cheap liner from the beauty supply stores. I have tried a few things as far as mascara. I have used Mabelline XXL Extensions--great if you like long and thick lashes. I have also used Colossal Volum' by Maybelline--hated it! Maybe I had a defective tube, but it was super messy and clumpy! I have Wet n' Wild Mega Volume for the days when I want super thick lashes--love this one. I also have Maybelline's Lash Stiletto--absolutely adore this mascara! Best I've used yet! It's great if you like your lashes long. I usually use 2-3 coats and get the thickness that I like, too.

Love the luscious lips! I use alot of different things on my lips, from glosses to chap sticks to colors. I'll just share my fav products for this section. I like Rimmel's Lasting Finish Lipstick. I have it in Birthday Suit and Fudge Brownie. BS is more of a nude color, I wear it under my tinted glosses for a pop of color. FB is a soft brown color that I wear alone. Sometime's I'll even mix the two. They are great, though! I have Avon Glazewear in Chocolate Fling. It's great, nice and creamy, shimmery finish. Umm...Covergirl Wetslicks Wine Shine. This one doesn't last that long, but the color and shine is great! I LOVE Bath and Body Works lip glosses! I have their Liplicious in Brown Sugar. It tastes great, has a super smooth and shiny finish, sheer tone, it's just great! I also have their Soda Fountain in Hot Fudge Sundae (which they discontinued *sad face*). As far as lip colors, I stick to sheer browns, bronzes, and wine colors. I have never tried the red lip. I don't know what shade would look good on my skin tone.

The foundations that I do own....a color from the Covergirl QC called True Ebony and a color from Mary Kay Bronze 2. I am very careful what I put on my skin as far as foundations go. I have SUPER Oily skin, it's unbelieveable. I don't break out as much as I used to, but I do suffer the occasional pimple because of oiliness. Neither one of my foundations help with oiliness. If I could find a product that did, I would definitely try it out. I am not that willing to put my time and money into figuring out which products work for my skin type, because I don't want to be disappointed and broke! So I skip on the foundation! Any suggestions are definitely welcome, though.

Hmmm...I think that's it. I hope this isn't too long.

Oh, and I don't use blush. I always thought it wasn't necessary because black girls don't blush so I just never incorporated it into my routine.


Any tips, tricks, colors, and/or suggestions...are very welcome!

~LaDai

PS: I was super bored when I wrote this lol...and it took me forever...gave me something to do for a while though lol...