SOMETHIN GOOD TO EAT & SOOOO SWEET!!!

Let me be a fat-person for one moment: I've been aquainted with this DELICIOUS treat 4 about two semesters @ college. No, I'm not talking about someone at school but, a dessert that will make any sweet tooth go bananas. It's called the "Rockslide Brownie", which I just discovered. Before today, it was just known as "brownie"! But, they sell these pieces of Heaven on Earth at my school and boy are they Bomb! I did some research and discovered that Sweet Treat Desserts makes them. Call me a greedy person if you want to, I don't care. If you ever taste this brownie then you will know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.
...Okay MOMENT OVER!

Next Day Air

Debbie Allen, Donald Faison, Mos Def, Wood Harris, Lauren London, Mike Epps and more all collaborate in the comedy Next Day Air. According to Wikipedia, when Mike Epps & Wood Harris' characters "accidentally receive a package of grade-A cocaine, they think they've hit the jackpot. But when they try to cash in on their luck, it triggers a series of events that forever changes the lives of ten people---". Let me just say that I'm definitely going to the movies to see this one on May 8th!!! & Can I add that, I've been really diggin' Mos Def, ever since I saw Be Kind Rewind . There's something about that man!!! Nevertheless, the trailer for Next Day Air is below.



(Source: Wikipedia)

Kim does it AGAIN!!!!

I'm loving Lil' Kim more & more on Dancing With The Stars. She works hard EVERY week, especially as the only sistah on the show! This week, Monday (April 20) the contestants got to design their own costumes for themselves & their dance partners. The outfit Kim designed had a shear fabric attached to it which IMO got in the way of her dancing a bit. You can see it became a small problem when she had to lift her legs to dance the RUMBA. But other than that....I LOVED IT!!!

Hot shhhh--

Last week I was browsing the web for a "fierce pair of tan gladiators" and I came across these. Though these beauties are faaarr out of my range, these Louis Vuitton Tribal shoes are DOPE! I so wish I had a grand to spend on these, but until then they're just eyecandy. BTW, within the next day I saw Beyonce wearing the same shoe (different color) on Concreteloop. Super FIERCE!!!

Ughh...the benefits of being a (::sigh::) "celebrity".

(Picture: Chictopia)

THINKFAST: "List 5 Things 2 Do Before I Die"

Thanks to PLINKY, I got a good idea for a post!

As days are passing, and as we grow and mature into better people we are essentially losing time. None of us is getting any younger by the second, and for that matter we must take action. Carpe Diem = Seize The Day.

Being in college has faced me to reality. The reality that doesn't wait or pause its self because I'm still young or because my parents still support me. I live in a world that is fast paced and real. A world that if I don't shape up, will ultimately knock me down.

So, Instead of being upset, down, and full of negativity, I would rather be positive and smile about the good things in life or whats in store.

With that being said, here is my list of "5 Things 2 Do Before I Die":
(In no specific order)

1) Travel all around the world. - I feel cooped up, and I kno there is soo much out there to see and explore. And I'm ready. I think I'm going to start goin somewhere special just 4 me every year...just because. But as I get older...I'm thinking Vegas, Africa, Paris, Australia...

2) Actually join a church, and attend it regularly. - This is an important one for me because, I have been to many churches and been Baptized but I didn't commit. And as I get older, I want to do that.

3) Become a successful Obstetrician. - I've always wanted to be an Obgyn, ever since I was in 7th grade. I was inspired by the "Cosby Show", and I can NOT wait to fufill my dream. With that opportunity, I want to give back to my parents, family, and community.

4) Wake up in the morning and be content with life, and not stress over miniscule things that overall aren't significant. - I just want to gain that state of mind, where my mind is in a happy place and complaining isn't involved.

5) Start a foundation/club to make a difference in someone's life. - I want to have a foundation for broken homes/divorced families. I came from a divorced family and it was hard to cope with, and I want to form a a foundation/ club where children can go and discuss their problems. A place where they'll be given some inspiration so they can keep their head up along the way. Parent's sometimes fail to realize that when the parent's divorce, the children are being torn too.

I just want to be CONTENT. I'm so over the drama. I'm way past the games. I just want to be successful, inspire, and give back. That's really all.

Can I have him please????

OMG...so yes I love Plies sooo very much. I recently spotted two interview videos of him on the web.

Here's one of him at Spring Bling. (He looks too good to be true, to say the least.)



And another from Rap-Up where he mentions that he's into decorating. Hmm...interesting.

This week on TV: "Dancing with the Stars" & "90210"

Watch Lil Kim and dance partner Derek Hough on Dancing with the Stars Monday night (April 6). The dancers performed the Viennese Waltz, and Lil Kim look like a beautiful graceful black Barbie doll. Loved it! The video is below.

(Picture: ABC)

(Picture: A Purple State of Mind)

OK, the CW's hottest show IMO, 90210, is full of drama, drama & more DRAMA this season! Silver, Dixon's girlfriend, is crazy in the head. Last week, she made a video for her class of her and Dixon in the act! She didn't even tell Dixon she had filmed him & had the audacity to present the film to her class. Because the project was about "Love" the girl thought it was okay to publicize that intimate part of their relationship...WRONG! Then Dixson flipped out on her, like any NORMAL person would but, she was so blind to see that what she did was wrong. So, she got real crazy, and began to blame others, especially her teacher, who assigned the assignment, for her actions. She stated that he had set her up and threw stuff at him and ran away to go back to Arkansas, Dixon's birthplace, to understand him a bit more.

This week, Silver attempts to run away to Arkansas but, she ends up missing the train. A random guy in the train station spotted Silver and how crazy she was acting, and while she was sleep (yea, she fell asleep), he took her info. to call her sister. So, Silver's sister, Dixon and his parents all came down to rescue Silver, basically from herself. And she bursts in tears and finally explains her thought process. But in the end everything is resolved, as you can see in the snippet below. (But IMO b/c of what she did, the chick is still crazy no matter WHAT!!!)

THINKFAST: Describe your "happy place"

(Picture from: Caro's Lines)

I was over at Mindbump in search of some blog prompts and I found a pretty good one:

"Describe your "happy place". What are the thoughts that help you escape from a stressful situation and calm you?"

I think being in college has had a great deal of influence on me because, I find myself working and studying all the time. Whether I'm eating, dead-dog tired, or whatever I'm always preparing for the next assignment. I try to live by the motto, "You can sleep when you're dead" and I know at times that can take a toll on me, in which only then do I take a nap.

So, often when I'm "breaking", I like to relax in simplicity. I've never been the person who ALWAYS had to go somewhere to be satisified. I can stay in a room and be content, as long as I'm watching a good show or on the computer, and I'm happy by that alone. Call me a "homebody", if you want but, simple things are okay by me.

So, my "happy place" is somewhere, anywhere, where it's just right for me. For instance, I remember sitting outside on campus and how peaceful that was. It was a beautiful moment, and I didn't have to answer to anyone or verbally explain my presence. It just was.

Often, when I listen to r&b soothing music, I feel alive. It's like stimulating a new pore. I can just play my I-Tunes or throw on my I-pod and listen. And I'm content.

That's another reason why I can't wait to get my first apartment. I'm ready to go out into the world and be an adult. I want to be able to pay all my bills and be responsible in all I do, and not rely on my parents. As for now, my home and my room are my "happy places" but, it's really a state of mind. I pride myself on not being drama oriented at this stage of my life. I don't like the heavy confusion it brings along. I like being able to go to sleep and my biggest worry isn't "what he/she said" but it's "what am I'm going to wear tomorrow?"


(Picture from: faeryboots *busy lady*)

Basically, my "happy place" is where I can be myself with no judgements and no questions asked. A place where I can listen to "Turn My Swag On" (Soulja Boy) but, vibe out to "Feel The Funk" (Immature) at the same time. A place where I can just stare out into the ceiling and think about what's in store for me. Somewhere where I only possess the key to, and only my soul can unlock. That's my "happy place".

Sally Hensen Nail Lacquer - Spring 2009 Collection

Just recently, I got into nail polish (as far as my finger nails are concerned). But it's really hard to find a good nail polish that LASTS. I hate buying nail polish that chips at the end of the day, it's like a waste of my time! And I rather do my own nails then pay for someone else to, so good durable polish is necessary at this point.

I went to CVS and purchased Sally Hensen Nail Lacquer, not knowing how good it was. I was looking for a bright color that would go well with my skin, and I choose "Shrimply Devine". Now it may sound wierd but it's the prettiest bright pink! But, it retails at about $6 and is so worth it. The polish lasted well into the week until it started to wear just a little. But that's a good 'lifespan' on polish IMO.

I also bought another Sally Hensen polish but it was less expensive & it chipped the same day I used it, so I won't be using it again unfortunately.

But I'm telling you, this polish is great!

Below is the new Spring 2009 collection, which I spotted on BellaSugar. And I'm diggin that dark purple, Night Hydrangea.



"The limited-edition shades are available in March, and include:
Tassel: A rich gold that's got just the right amount of sparkle.
Honeydew: A lively teal blue with a little shimmer.
Azalea: A bright red.
Nasturtium: A vivid coral/tangerine.
Forsythia: A soft chartreuse. The boldest of the bunch.
Night Hydrangea: A mellow purple with just the slightest hint of pearlescence.
Beet Stain: A beautifully wearable purplish red. "

Some of My Favorite TV Characters

Yesterday for some reason, I thought about something that made me reminisce of the TV shows I used to watch. I don't know why but "three snaps" came into my mind. "Three snaps" is what these two characters played by Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier on In Living Color used to say on their comedy sketch "Men On Film". They are HILARIOUS!

..."Men On Fitness" (played by Damon Wayans & David Alan Grier on In Living Color)



...."Homie Don't Play That" (played by Damon Wayans as well on In Living Color)

[When things get out of hand, just know that Homie is always there to bring it back to normal. LOL!]



..."Sheneneh" (played by Martin on comedy series Martin)

[Sheneneh was the junk man! She always cracked me up with her phrase, "Oh my gooodness" and "Tah-mee" (saying "Tommy"). Dang, I miss this show & I'm glad I got it on DVD.]

You Be The Judge: A Day in The Life of a Goonette

Ok, so I admit that I absolutely love Plies. He is my guilty pleasure, & I really could careless what anyone says about it. But, I was on his page and he's finally shooting for his new TV show called "Goonette" (go figure!). We all know Plies is known for creating names such as, "Bust it Baby" and "Goon", so there is no surprise at the name of the show. Here is the video, that is a MUST see, seriously. After this one I was speechless. Watch to see the "Goonette" trailer.

"Goonette" Trailer

(Video from: Pliesworld.com)

I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT: AIN'T I?!

When I say "Ain't I", best believe that I'm NOT talking about Yung L.A. I'm talking about Sojourner Truth and her infamous speech "Ain't I A Woman?" at the Women's Rights Convention in 1851. She basically stated that though she was indeed a woman, she wasn't treated as other non-African American women and men were. No one treated her like a lady by doing anything nice for her, and anything a man could do, she could too!!

Here's a excerpt of what she had to say:

"....Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say. "

....AND I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT!!!

(Excerpt from: Feminist.com) *Inspired by a class reading

Touched: Musiq SPEAKS to me

Musiq has always been one of those "go to" artists whenever I need to really relax. Artists Jill Scott (I love "He Loves Me"), India Arie, and Floetry do the job too. But today, I heard Musiq Soulchild's new single "Sobeautiful" and I just felt "touched". His voice is truly amazing and he is very slept on in the industry!! I love how he also combines the words to all his songs ("Don'tchange", "Teachme", etc.), that's very creative. While I have been loving his music, I sadly admit that I haven't purchased any of his albums but, I'm really considering this one, On My Radio. (He is in my I-Tunes though, don't get it twisted!!) And from the singles I've heard it sounds great. Now I know that this album was released in December 2008, so I'm mad late but, I'm definitely aware now. Below is the video for "Sobeautiful" & the song is really beautiful.

MUSIQ SOULCHILD "So Beautiful" Music Video from Alejandro Lalinde on Vimeo.

Below are some of Musiq's suave promo pics for On My Radio:



(Pictures above (4) from: Musiq's Official Myspace )

JusHeard: New Music

(Picture from:Haitian Hunny)

"DOWNLOAD"

So, as I was on the interstate on my way 2 the mall, I heard two hott songz that were new to me. The first one is "Download" by Lil Kim, who is currently on Dancing With The Stars (see yesterday's post). The track features T-Pain and is very reminiscient of "Computer Love" (Roger & Zapp), and I'm diggin it! Kim's last album before her term in prison, Naked Truth, was the TRUTH, so I'm anxious to hear more from her next one. The song brings me back to the movie "Love & Basketball" when Que & Monica were dancing at the prom. So, check out the link to listen and download "Download", no pun intended.

(Picture from: Young Steff's Myspace)

"SLOW JUKIN"

The second track is "Slow Jukin" by Young Steff. I was really vibin to this song. I don't know much about him but, the fact that he can sing and he could be promising. I can't wait until the official video is released for this one, people are going to go crazy. Check it out above!

THINKFAST: "Recount the Origins of Any Nicknames/Petnames You've Had"

I was desperately thinking of what creative content to write on here and I found some interesting prompts on PLINKY, which is a site full of thought provoking prompts.

I chose the prompt, "Recount the origins of any nicknames or pet names you have" because I've had a few in my 19 years of life on Earth.

Here they are: (BTW, my name is Desirae)

1. Desi - My parents would call me this when I was little and every now & then, they do. I admit that I absolutely hate this nickname though, because it makes me sound like a little girl, which I'm not anymore. Sometimes old friends that I went to school with in Elementary often call me this too, but they don't know any better.
2. D ("Dee") - I rarely hear people call me this but, I thought I'd add it. Most of the time it's people who haven't known me for long. (I don't know why people want to continuously shorten my name) But, it's ok I guess.
3. D-Rae - I was given this name in 7th grade by a friend and I surprisingly (I'm a freshman in college) still use the name. I don't walk around saying "call me this" but it surprises me that people who never used to call me that, call me 'D-rae' now. But, as I get older, its goin to have to go. Even the name plate on my car :( No time soon though.
4. Illustrious - Okay, I gave this to myself as a "rap name", when I was actually considering being a rapper. Seriously, I would be in Geometry (around 9th grade?) and I would have my notebook and just write everyday. But, I kind of stopped since then because I really want to be an Obstetrician. But the meaning of 'Illustrious' meant to me to be very descriptive and expressive. And as a rapper name, I thought it suited well.
5. [Don't laugh!] Wintah Fresh - I secretly was going through a phrase when I was thinking of rap names, along with 'Illustrious' and well, this was one of them LOL. It is what it is...you know cold on the mic, real fresh style. But that idea lasted as long as this sentence, thank God!
6. [Almost forgot this one] Desire - Some people called me this to be funny, which was fine, and I can take a joke. People who don't know how to spell my name off back often write this and I'm like "seriously?". 'Desirae' & the "fire and desire", that Teena Marie sung about are two different things.

But that's all for this one. As you can see nicknames can be really crazy & die quickly or stick with you for almost forever. Oh the power in a name!

Album Review: Bow Wow - "New Jack City II"

(Picture from: Bow Wow's Official Myspace)

Mr. Lamborghini Moss himself, better known as Bow Wow, released his sixth studio album, New Jack City II (Part Two), on March 31st 2009. The title stems from the orginal movie New Jack City, which if you haven't seen it, was about the negative effects of the drug game on two close friends. Unfortunately, they let the turmoil and stress get to them, and one of them ends up killing the other. JD took from the movie and named the album basically stating that Bow and himself were once separated due to the business, but they have settled their differences since then and have collaborated on Bow's latest album, just as they had in the past.

I was personally excited about this album especially with him constantly amping the album up on his personal YouTube page, Prince Bow Wow. The album features the singles, "Roc The Mic" and "You Can Get It all", which is currently topping the charts on 106 and Park. The album consists of 11 tracks, which is disappointing because I was expecting more music this time around. There are three versions available: the Standard edition (red cover) which includes a poster, the Walmart edition which includes three bonus tracks, and the Deluxe edition with a dvd of live performances and footage of Bow Wow himself.

THE REVIEW: 3.5 Stars
The first track is "Get That Paper", a real head bumper. Basically Bow talks about what he does best, and proves why he is 'Lamborghini Moss'. Real fresh beat on this one too, produced by Nitti. An okay starter. Then it goes into "What They Call Me" feat. Ron Browz & Nelly. It's a typical Bow Wow song (upbeat & catchy). Very radio friendly, and it has a catchy hook. You'll be saying "Big Time" right along with the track before you know it. It could be a solid single but, I personally think Bow needs to go in a different direction for the next one. The third track is one of my favorites, "Roc The Mic" , feat. JD (of course) which samples Slick Rick's "La Di Da Di". I must admit this one is a DOPE song. Basically, Bow and JD rap about their similarites, as people often compare them to one another, and their reunited friendship. To me, this is the core song of the album, as it explains the title of the album perfectly. The next song,"Been Doin This", features T.I. (I swear T.I. is EVERYWHERE this year!) and is exactly what it means. Both rappers prove that their rap sheet is legendary as both are veterans in the game, but it's nothing special. Shawty..."You Can Get It All" featuring Johnta' Austin is the fifth track, which I'm loving at this point. The beat sounds very familiar. The beat is sampled from TLC's "Baby Baby Baby", which originated from Taana Gardner's classic "Heartbeat". (Remember Musiq Soulchild's song "Buddy"? Same sample.) I love this song and this side of Bow Wow. He talks about his feelings for that special girl and how she's always on his mind. Very sweet. Next is "Like This" in which Bow raps with JD's new signed artist Dondria. JD killed this beat and I admit, I wear this song out! The beat is chill, and the chorus sort of reminds me of the song "Like You" that Bow Wow did with Ciara. Nevertheless, it's a great track, and I think it would be a great third single. The worst effort on the album, is "Sunshine". I'ts hard to get into and doesn't really flow well with the other songs on the album. The album is definitely star studded with T-Pain on "She's My", "I Ain't Playing" with Trey Songz, and "Shake It" with Swizz Beats! But my guilty pleasure is none other than "Pole In My Basement" in which Bow attempts the voice machine which made artists T-Pain and Lil Wayne real famous. Bow is just simply letting all the ladies out there know, that he has equipment in his basement, so there is NO need to hit up the club. According to him, he and the LB DUB gang has all the (How do i say this?) funds to make it precipitate. I'm sure the fellas will be lovin this one. And if it weren't for the kiddies, this would be a bomb single too.

Overall, the album was alright. I was expecting so much more being that he is in his twenties and his raps are getting better (as seen on his YouTube page). But, to be honest 11 tracks is not enough to grasp the full potential of what this album could have been. But, it does have the two solid singles which have been successful. So, I give this album a 3.5.

[FYI: According to Bow, this might be his last album so if you are a die hard fan, you should definitely cop!]

Pictures of Bow Wow promoting New Jack City II at Live at J&R:


[Bow posing for a picture.]


[Bow holding his latest album in hand.]


[The fans show their love & come out for Bow's album release.]

(Pictures above (3) from: Live at J&R)

I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT: Lil Kim Crushes Competition on "Dancing With The Stars"!!!

I must say that I have been absolutely shocked by this woman's ability to dance the way she does. Who would have thought that Lil Kim of all people would be on this show? We have seen her go from the bottom to the top and I TRULY think this is her moment. If you have been under a rock for a month you may not have a clue of what I'm talking about. But, female rapper, Lil Kim, has been literally killing the competition on ABC's hit show, "Dancing With The Stars"! She has been shining since she debueted on the show and I'm rooting for her until the end. Other than Kim, some of the other dancing stars include actor David Alan Grier, actress Denise Richards, and even co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak. Whether or not these celebrities are still on the show, I have no idea, as I'm more interested in Lil Kim. And I have to admit, I've missed a couple episodes but when I saw this video below of her and dance partner Derek Hough dancing the Tango, I was amazed. Everything from her form, to the choreography, to her facial expressions are on POINT! Click HERE for more information on "Dancing With The Stars"!!!

Watch Kim's stunning performance of the Tango, which aired Monday (March 31st):

(Video from: WSHH)

(Picture above from: ABC)

Seriously, WTF is GYT???

I know many are wondering "WTF is GYT?". Well, I was right along with ya until I actually thought about it. Celebrities such as Santogold, Big Boi, Soulja Boy, and NERD to name a few have participated in the GYT Campaign. But, what exactly does GYT mean? Just recently, April 2, 2009, the answer that stumbled many was finally revealed. Poplular television network, MTV, and the Kaiser Family Foundation have partnered with Planned Parenthood Federation of America to bring the GYT Campaign, which stands for "Get Yourself Tested".

It's unfortunate that people partake in unprotected sex but, ever more so disturbing that many sexually active people aren't taking the responsibility to get tested. GYT(click link) is providing the information about STDs and how to get tested. And with todays' technology it's so much easier.The site states, "Rapid HIV tests can provide results in as fast as 20 minutes with a swab inside the mouth." The site even has quick personal tips on topics regarding birth control, condom use, how to prevent pregnancy, and even a locator to find a STD testing center near you. And not to mention its full of informative videos about sex life. So if you haven't been tested or it's been awhile (FYI: It is recommended to get tested every six months) make sure you hit this site up!

Big Boi telling people to GYT:


Watch celebrities guess "WTF is GYT?", The official GYT Campaign commercial:


REMEMBER, sex is nothing to "LOL" about. "Its your (sex)life", so remember to GYT!

REFLECTION: "It's been awhile....but im back."

As you can probably see I've been away for almost an entire year but, I think I'm ready to go at it again. Currently, I'm finishing up my first year of college. It's honestly been an interesting experience. I know when people think of college the good times comes to mind. You know, the parties, the fun late nights, dining and shopping at the best places. But though, I have experienced all of that especially as a Freshman, I also feel as though I have equally grown into a better person. I believe the saying is true about college and how it allows you to be independent. You learn that some people in your life arent' meant to be in your life, and that's ok. You learn that completely bombing a test isn't going to kill you, and you will survive. But most importantly, though you've been looking in the mirror everyday, that person you see is different and you have grown. I have done all the above, and I'm just living my life the way God and I see fit. And no one is going to stop me from acomplishing my dreams, and yours too!!!

I want to leave this reflection with two quotes that I stumbled across...
"Insist in yourself, NEVER imitate." -Emerson
"Independence is happiness." -Susan B. Anthony