There are certain things in my life that, even now as a 20 year old, I still don't understand. The first thing that comes to mind when I say that is my parents' rules at home. Through middle school and high school, I was always that kid who's parents knew every single move I made. I believe that's how it should be anyway, but no matter how old I got, it still remained the same. Alot of the rules are unsaid, they've never really been established as so, it's just something that is understood in order to keep the peace.
For example, even when I go home on breaks, such as this coming Christmas break, there's never a time where it's acceptable for me to just leave the house and not say anything to anyone about where I'm going. I've tested it. It does not work! For safety reasons, of course, it makes sense. When I think of myself as an adult living in a house with other adults, you would think it wouldn't be an issue no matter how close or far I'm going. However, in a sense of me as their offspring, no matter how old I get, as long as I'm dependent on them, it's one of those unspoken rules that will always be in place.
There are other things that work the same way, and although I don't quite understand it...the point I'm making here is that some things should be done to simply keep the peace. There's nothing I can or can't do that causes a disturbance. If it keeps a happy balance, then I'm all for it!
~LaDai
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
I'm a Badu-ist !
Let me begin by saying that I listen to alot of music! Different people in my life have opened me up to different kinds of music, so I think it's safe to say that I listen to a little bit of everything; from Taylor Swift to Plies, everything! One of the main genres that I really enjoy to my core is Soul and Neo-Soul music. My love for Soul music comes from my mom, one of the most influential people in my life. I think that's why I'm so in love with it. Living away from home, when I miss her, that music is there and it takes me back to certain memories that I have of her. It's just comforting.
My mom got me into Erykah Badu. I was about 7 years old when Baduizm, her 1st album, debuted. But, I can vividly remember hearing these songs. Then, Live came out not too long after that (within the same year I believe), followed by Mama's Gun in 2000. That's when my love for Erykah Badu really became real (lol)!
I remember my mom playing these albums almost everyday for a long time. I heard Erykah Badu's voice when I was getting ready for school, after school in the evening, relaxing on the weekends, just all the time! I can remember singing the songs, just knowing the words. As I got older, hearing the same songs, I began to understand what she was saying in my own ways. When she was talking about love and relationships in general, I understood it for what it meant to me years later as a 13 year old and even now as a 20 year old. Even now, having heard all of these songs for years, I pick up on things that I heard her say, but didn't understand. Recently, her song Didn't Cha Know from Mama's Gun took on a new meaning for me as I was really trying to figure out my purpose and what I wanted to do in school and life in general: "Ooh, heyy...I'm trying to decide, which way to go. I think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere." The first verse is exactly what I was feeling at the time.
The majority of her songs take me to a different place. Her songs about dealing with feeling insecure, self-discovery,social issues, and just being independent as a woman have left a lasting impression on me that I carry even to this day. I think it's safe to say that these three albums have really been influential and comforting. So comforting that when I miss my mother I can close my eyes and listen to Badu's voice and in an instant, I'm back at home!
Erykah Badu has had 3 albums since: Worldwide Underground, New Amerkah Parts 1 and 2 (4th World War and Return of the Ankh), which suprisingly, I haven't really gotten into, but I still plan to. It's just something about the 1st 3!
Now, Badu isn't the only artist my mother has introduced me to. We both enjoy artists like Jill Scott, India.Arie, Kem, Anthony Hamilton, and Chrisette Michelle. My personal favorite, of course, is Erykah Badu!
I think that's it for now...I may have to return later and add something I may have forgotten.
~LaDai
Picture Credit: http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward/2010/05/erykah_badu_at_the_midland_can.php
My mom got me into Erykah Badu. I was about 7 years old when Baduizm, her 1st album, debuted. But, I can vividly remember hearing these songs. Then, Live came out not too long after that (within the same year I believe), followed by Mama's Gun in 2000. That's when my love for Erykah Badu really became real (lol)!
I remember my mom playing these albums almost everyday for a long time. I heard Erykah Badu's voice when I was getting ready for school, after school in the evening, relaxing on the weekends, just all the time! I can remember singing the songs, just knowing the words. As I got older, hearing the same songs, I began to understand what she was saying in my own ways. When she was talking about love and relationships in general, I understood it for what it meant to me years later as a 13 year old and even now as a 20 year old. Even now, having heard all of these songs for years, I pick up on things that I heard her say, but didn't understand. Recently, her song Didn't Cha Know from Mama's Gun took on a new meaning for me as I was really trying to figure out my purpose and what I wanted to do in school and life in general: "Ooh, heyy...I'm trying to decide, which way to go. I think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere." The first verse is exactly what I was feeling at the time.
The majority of her songs take me to a different place. Her songs about dealing with feeling insecure, self-discovery,social issues, and just being independent as a woman have left a lasting impression on me that I carry even to this day. I think it's safe to say that these three albums have really been influential and comforting. So comforting that when I miss my mother I can close my eyes and listen to Badu's voice and in an instant, I'm back at home!
Erykah Badu has had 3 albums since: Worldwide Underground, New Amerkah Parts 1 and 2 (4th World War and Return of the Ankh), which suprisingly, I haven't really gotten into, but I still plan to. It's just something about the 1st 3!
Now, Badu isn't the only artist my mother has introduced me to. We both enjoy artists like Jill Scott, India.Arie, Kem, Anthony Hamilton, and Chrisette Michelle. My personal favorite, of course, is Erykah Badu!
I think that's it for now...I may have to return later and add something I may have forgotten.
~LaDai
Picture Credit: http://blogs.pitch.com/wayward/2010/05/erykah_badu_at_the_midland_can.php
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Major Update
So the first few weeks of school have definitely been suuuuper hectic! Math has been running my life, it's just so time consuming...it makes it hard for me to find time to do other things like talk to people or actually update my blog! So basically, I've been in my room or somewhere on campus trapped by endless math homework and quizzes due. My other classes aren't that bad and thankfully I don't have any other classes that are this time consuming. BUT, everything is going pretty well. I'm finally getting a handle on my time management skills. I have no time for procrastination, which is a good thing, anyways.
In between all that, I have had time to try out a new beauty product! Well, it's not exactly a beauty product...but it helps alot! I'll give a little back story first. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it, maybe I have, but I have super oily skin. No matter what products I have tried, it just won't go away. So, I basically learned to just accept it and live with my oily skin. I stopped worrying about it and just let my light shine through! One day last week, I was on YouTube looking up some skin care regimens and reccommended products for oily skin when I came across the unbelievable. The product is Philip's Milk of Magnesia. Now most people know what that is and what it's inteded for. If you don't know, Philip's MoM is a laxative. And my first response was, "I'm supposed to put that on my face?? Yea right!" But everybody who did a video on it and used it said it works wonders. Alright, why not? Either it will work or my face will still be oily. Nothing to lose. So I tried it.
AMAZING! I'm telling you, I can go a whole day now without touching up my make-up or blotting my face because it's oily. I am shine-free! I shake it up really good, use less than a dize size worth of it, and just rub it in on my face. I make sure I get my forehead, cheeks, and nose...and I am good to go for the day no matter how hot and/or humid it is outside. In a week, Philip's MoM has become a key part in my make-up routine. It's great. For any ladies out there who are battling with an oily face...please, try this product!
I have come to the concusion that I will not go natural...for now. I'm just at a point where I think my hair works for me and there's no need in changing it until I'm ready. I questioned it alot about if I really wanted to do it or not and I'm just not ready. When I'm ready, I won't have any hesistations about it and it'll be something that I'll just be able to go for and I'll love it! Just not yet.
I was missing home so bad last night. I don't know what it is, but I'm just ready to be home for a while. I hadn't planned to go home until Thanksgiving, but there's no place like home and no feeling like being around family. Lately, I've been thinking about what I want to do once I'm finished with undergrad, and it's really just stirring up some nostalgic feelings. It makes me realize how much I've grown up and how much more growing up I've got to do. It just makes it feel like my childhood is that much more in the past. It's not that I want to hold on to being a child, but I don't want to forget these memories that I've got. I doubt I will, but it's just the thought.
Well, that's it for now. Stay blessed!
~LaDai
In between all that, I have had time to try out a new beauty product! Well, it's not exactly a beauty product...but it helps alot! I'll give a little back story first. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it, maybe I have, but I have super oily skin. No matter what products I have tried, it just won't go away. So, I basically learned to just accept it and live with my oily skin. I stopped worrying about it and just let my light shine through! One day last week, I was on YouTube looking up some skin care regimens and reccommended products for oily skin when I came across the unbelievable. The product is Philip's Milk of Magnesia. Now most people know what that is and what it's inteded for. If you don't know, Philip's MoM is a laxative. And my first response was, "I'm supposed to put that on my face?? Yea right!" But everybody who did a video on it and used it said it works wonders. Alright, why not? Either it will work or my face will still be oily. Nothing to lose. So I tried it.
AMAZING! I'm telling you, I can go a whole day now without touching up my make-up or blotting my face because it's oily. I am shine-free! I shake it up really good, use less than a dize size worth of it, and just rub it in on my face. I make sure I get my forehead, cheeks, and nose...and I am good to go for the day no matter how hot and/or humid it is outside. In a week, Philip's MoM has become a key part in my make-up routine. It's great. For any ladies out there who are battling with an oily face...please, try this product!
I have come to the concusion that I will not go natural...for now. I'm just at a point where I think my hair works for me and there's no need in changing it until I'm ready. I questioned it alot about if I really wanted to do it or not and I'm just not ready. When I'm ready, I won't have any hesistations about it and it'll be something that I'll just be able to go for and I'll love it! Just not yet.
I was missing home so bad last night. I don't know what it is, but I'm just ready to be home for a while. I hadn't planned to go home until Thanksgiving, but there's no place like home and no feeling like being around family. Lately, I've been thinking about what I want to do once I'm finished with undergrad, and it's really just stirring up some nostalgic feelings. It makes me realize how much I've grown up and how much more growing up I've got to do. It just makes it feel like my childhood is that much more in the past. It's not that I want to hold on to being a child, but I don't want to forget these memories that I've got. I doubt I will, but it's just the thought.
Well, that's it for now. Stay blessed!
~LaDai
Monday, September 13, 2010
Well, I'm Back.
It's been a while!
Well...school has been keeping me plenty busy. At first, it felt like it would be a breeze, but at the beginning of the 4th week of the semester now I'm not so sure about that! I'm taking Biology 2, Intro to the Teaching Profession, Theories and Practice Teaching ESOL, and... College Algebra. Honestly, my schedule isn't so bad. I have Bio on MWF and the lab on Fridays and my other 3 classes only meet once a week, all on Tuesday and no class on Thursday. What makes it difficult is the fact that College Algebra is uuber time consuming (and running my life). I'm actually in the middle of some homework right now and decided to take a break. (At least I found something semi-productive to do.) I have a service learning project in my Intro to Teaching class and I'm excited to get started. I get to volunteer in a local school and gain some classroom experience!
Lately, I've been thinking about what I want to do after graduation. I'm not so sure, yet. Grad school is definitely a possibility. I just don't know ho soon after graduation that can happen for me. It's crazy how time flies! I feel like I was just a Senior in high school not too long ago. I'm a Junior this year and I'm looking at an expected graduation date of Spring 2013. I'm glad that it's a goal that's actually in reach and very attainable. I just feel like everything is going good for me. Loving life right now!
I went to my first football game Saturday night. We played NC State and lost...but it was fun anyway!
~LaDai
Well...school has been keeping me plenty busy. At first, it felt like it would be a breeze, but at the beginning of the 4th week of the semester now I'm not so sure about that! I'm taking Biology 2, Intro to the Teaching Profession, Theories and Practice Teaching ESOL, and... College Algebra. Honestly, my schedule isn't so bad. I have Bio on MWF and the lab on Fridays and my other 3 classes only meet once a week, all on Tuesday and no class on Thursday. What makes it difficult is the fact that College Algebra is uuber time consuming (and running my life). I'm actually in the middle of some homework right now and decided to take a break. (At least I found something semi-productive to do.) I have a service learning project in my Intro to Teaching class and I'm excited to get started. I get to volunteer in a local school and gain some classroom experience!
Lately, I've been thinking about what I want to do after graduation. I'm not so sure, yet. Grad school is definitely a possibility. I just don't know ho soon after graduation that can happen for me. It's crazy how time flies! I feel like I was just a Senior in high school not too long ago. I'm a Junior this year and I'm looking at an expected graduation date of Spring 2013. I'm glad that it's a goal that's actually in reach and very attainable. I just feel like everything is going good for me. Loving life right now!
I went to my first football game Saturday night. We played NC State and lost...but it was fun anyway!
~LaDai
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Back to School...
I'm really just in the spirit of appreciating these last 2 weeks I have here at home before I have to go back to school. Spending time with my family and friends, just the summer in general has been pretty awesome! I really like being a student and I'm just ready to get the semester started. I'm taking 4 classes: Biology 2, Chemistry (which I am retaking lol), Introduction to the Teaching Profession, and Theory & Practice Teaching ESOL Students; all of which I'm pretty excited about taking! It should be a pretty interesting semester this fall.
Another thing to be excited about is the fact that I'll be getting new roommates this year! This go round, I have opted to live with 3 of my friends. For the last 2 years, I've had random roommate assignments and although they haven't turned out horrible, I just never really made a connection with any of the other girls. I'm looking forard to living with people I already know, actually will enjoy being around, and not coming home and heading straight to my bedroom.
The only thing I'm worried about is I know it can be a different situation living with friends. We're all cool girls with diffferent personalities and that's beneficial to our friendships together because we all bring different qualities to share with one another. As far as living together, I'm a little eager to see what the mix of our personalities will stir up. Regardless, relationships with other people never always consist of blue skies and sunny days, but I think we'll be able to handle living with eachother. It's going to get crazy at times, I know this lol...But I love my girls and I know we'll make it work!
~LaDai
Another thing to be excited about is the fact that I'll be getting new roommates this year! This go round, I have opted to live with 3 of my friends. For the last 2 years, I've had random roommate assignments and although they haven't turned out horrible, I just never really made a connection with any of the other girls. I'm looking forard to living with people I already know, actually will enjoy being around, and not coming home and heading straight to my bedroom.
The only thing I'm worried about is I know it can be a different situation living with friends. We're all cool girls with diffferent personalities and that's beneficial to our friendships together because we all bring different qualities to share with one another. As far as living together, I'm a little eager to see what the mix of our personalities will stir up. Regardless, relationships with other people never always consist of blue skies and sunny days, but I think we'll be able to handle living with eachother. It's going to get crazy at times, I know this lol...But I love my girls and I know we'll make it work!
~LaDai
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Penny for your thoughts
This is just something that I've noticed. I've tried my hardest to ignore it, but the more I hear it, the more it bothers me...
What is up with some people being all over this light skin, yellow, redbone...etc...frenzy lately?? I know the thought has been around for ages, but it seems like it's more prevalent now or maybe I'm just taking notice. It seems like it's coming from everywhere, especially in the music...mainstream "hip-hop/rap" to be exact.
Women already have pressure to look a certain way because of images in the media. Now this particular genre of music is targeting black women by basically saying we have to have a certain skin tone to be attractive to our men. Whether you are fair skinned like Faith Evans or as dark skinned as Alek Wek, we are all beautiful! I just wish that more of our music and anything else in the media would portray that!!
Faith Evans
Alek Wek
Fortunately for myself, I grew up in a household where I was taught the difference. I know that even if my mother is a few shades lighter than me, I am no less beautiful. Same with anyone else. It's the little dark skin girls who have no one to tell them they're beautiful or no one to tell them they're gorgeous no matter what their skin tone is or what they see portrayed in the media that I worry about.
I've read alot about how the color complex came about, but what I don't understand is how it still exists as something that we as black people put on ourselves. We are all one as a people no matter what we look like...Why should it matter who's "light" or who's "dark"? We're all black people. We're all gorgeous.
*I don't own or claim the rights to any of the pictures I post if they're not of me or I haven't taken them myself*
~LaDai
What is up with some people being all over this light skin, yellow, redbone...etc...frenzy lately?? I know the thought has been around for ages, but it seems like it's more prevalent now or maybe I'm just taking notice. It seems like it's coming from everywhere, especially in the music...mainstream "hip-hop/rap" to be exact.
Women already have pressure to look a certain way because of images in the media. Now this particular genre of music is targeting black women by basically saying we have to have a certain skin tone to be attractive to our men. Whether you are fair skinned like Faith Evans or as dark skinned as Alek Wek, we are all beautiful! I just wish that more of our music and anything else in the media would portray that!!
Faith Evans
Alek Wek
Fortunately for myself, I grew up in a household where I was taught the difference. I know that even if my mother is a few shades lighter than me, I am no less beautiful. Same with anyone else. It's the little dark skin girls who have no one to tell them they're beautiful or no one to tell them they're gorgeous no matter what their skin tone is or what they see portrayed in the media that I worry about.
I've read alot about how the color complex came about, but what I don't understand is how it still exists as something that we as black people put on ourselves. We are all one as a people no matter what we look like...Why should it matter who's "light" or who's "dark"? We're all black people. We're all gorgeous.
*I don't own or claim the rights to any of the pictures I post if they're not of me or I haven't taken them myself*
~LaDai
I Know My Heart Will guide Me There
I got a new haircut yesterday! I haven't relaxed it in a while so I have lots of new growth! Like I said in a previous post, I'm ready for a fade. BUT I went to a new barber and he said he didn't want to cut it all off so I didn't let him lol...When you tell someone what you want for your hair and they tell you they don't want to do it, it most likely means they CAN'T lol! I wasn't in a babershop so I didn't sweat it. I'm just going to continue to not relax my hair and take good care of my new growth, which is feeling so lovely right now! I don't use my flat iron daily anymore, so I would say I'm making pretty good progress.
I'm using the Hydralicious conditioning shampoo and Organic's Olive Oil as a leave in conditioner while it's still wet. I've been letting it air dry for the most part lately and blow drying when I don't have the time. Nothing too complicated, I'm letting my hair do it's own thing!
~Dai
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