Afroed & Fab

Life....

2010-09-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

We are all just grown children trying to find our own way in life. Trying to find love. Trying to find peace. Trying to find happiness. Trying to find.... the beauty in living... the best way we know how; using the tools we've been given. Some may have acquired a lot of tools and are well prepared.... and some have not. I'll try to remember this everytime someone says or does something that makes me ask myself WTF?!

Nneka

2010-08-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

I can't truly express into words how much I love this girl! I found out about her a few weeks ago and immediately fell in love with "Heartbeat". Then I heard "Africans" and I decided this girl was the truth! Not to mention her hair is fab! I found out that she was going to be in NYC and I immediately ran out and bought a ticket. Her live performance is filled with excitment, honesty and genuine love and deep concern for her home Nigeria. It was a truly moving concert. Best of all, I got to pick up her album "Concrete Jungle" after the concert. This album has been on HEAVY rotation for the past few weeks. Definitely check her out if you like true music with a message.

Power

2010-08-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

For the first time, I'm really taking a good look at this video. I'm loving the imagination of it. Pure art and I love it!

Coney Island

2010-08-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

Summer Hair/Makeup

2010-08-28T19:47:00.001-07:00

Summer Clothes

2010-08-28T19:40:00.001-07:00

Ex- Factor

2010-07-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

I forgot all about this video until seeing it again last weekend on Vh1 Soul's "soul story" on Saturday morning. What a beautiful video! Miss Lauryn's skin is gorgeous!

Dear Sad, Self-Hating Black Man

2010-07-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Historically you have been the epitome of what America loathed. Big, Black and Strong, you have also been what America feared. You were stomped into the ground, beaten, battered and broken. Accused of crimes that you didn't commit. The first one that the finger was pointed at when wrong was done. We were there for you. You were our Kings and we stood beside you through thick and thin. Cherished your strength and damn it, just loved your presence. You were a reflection of us so therefore we loved you. Loved your skin, your hair, your features. But lately, that same love has been shunned from us. We are no longer good enough...our hair too damn nappy, our skin too damn dark. You gained a little bit of money, education and possessions and suddenly we are not good enough to parade around on the red carpet, meet those closest to you or marry. We are good enough to bear your children but not good enough to take an eternal oath of commitment. Your "preference" is for those who hold physical characteristics of which you do not possess and sadly probably always longed for. A "preference" for those who never looked your way while you were being swallowed up in the pits of the ghetto or the "token Black guy" in your prep school. Parading your "preference" around while also insulting those who look like you does nothing but highlight your insecurities and low self esteem. You are no prize to anyone. Your obvious lack of cultural awareness and pride cannot enrich my life in the least. You will do nothing but reinforce negative stereotypes and teach miseducation to our children. You will do nothing but teach them how to hate everything about themselves; their skin, nose and hair just as you do, thereby continuing the cycle. You will not enhance my life in any way with your general lack of knowledge of self. Therefore, I will swallow any bitterness I feel when I hear, read or see that you do not want me.

Interior Inspirations

2010-05-09T10:16:00.001-07:00

Oh, Anthropologie

2010-05-08T22:29:00.000-07:00

.....if only I could afford you.....le sigh

Hair Pics

2010-05-08T20:22:00.001-07:00

Fun in Cancun!!

2010-05-08T20:01:00.000-07:00

I'm Back.....

2010-05-06T13:18:00.000-07:00

........In more ways than just being back to this blog. I am back to Me! I lost a little of Me for a few weeks, had a superb vacation (pics will come later....Viva La Cancun!!) than came back and more and more of Me was slowly being chipped away. I'm done....what was slowly chipping away at Me is gone...

Enough of the ignorant negroes who can't possibly fathom the idea of black people NOT EXCLUSIVELY wearing sneakers, NOT EXCLUSIVELY listening to rap music, NOT EXCLUSIVELY buying clothing from the likes of Jimmy Jazz and DrJays and NOT hanging on the block everyday, all day as their cultural activities for the damn day. I vow not to ever try to save grown ignorant fools that fit this description ever again. I'm too fly and far too cute to waste time attempting to play captain save-a-simple-minded negro. They're grown. If they really want to they would save their own damn selves because I'm done.....

and I can't wait to kick off this damn Summer season!!! :-) :-)

Alice in Wonderland

2010-04-17T19:42:00.001-07:00

Beautiful Alice in Wonderland themed holiday window pics I took at Bergdorf Goodman this winter. I forgot all about them until now

Black and Blue

2010-04-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

Ms. Badu

2010-04-17T19:32:00.000-07:00

The Hotness

2010-04-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

Loving these 2 songs and videos

AND WHERE IS THE BODYYYYYY!!!!!!

2010-03-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

My inner drag queen gets dressed like this every morning

Lady Gaga and Beyonce - Telephone

2010-03-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, so this video was pretty lackluster for me. It was unnecessarily long and boring so lets just pay attention to some of the great fashion, shall we....

African Prints!!

2010-03-13T13:58:00.000-08:00

So.....I guess its cool to be African/Black now, huh? It would have been even better had these designers used more Black models (major side-eye). But......whatever. I love these designs and I love the colors

Natural Hair Beauties

2010-03-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

2010-03-13T12:11:00.000-08:00

Even though it was yesterday. lol. I'll take a piece of this cake please!!!! :-)

What I'm wearing

2010-03-13T10:45:00.001-08:00

Black is beautiful - Don't ever forget it!!!

2010-03-10T14:55:00.000-08:00

Old video but one of my favorites. The brown bodies in the video are stunning!

I'm a Black Girl with Long Hair!!!

2010-03-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

Yayy! check out my interview on http://bglhonline.com/2010/03/paris/

I've been a big fan of this site for months and I was honored to be featured on it! I love reading about other naturals who, like me, are are loving every inch of their lovely coils. The personal style of these beautiful ladies are FIERCE!!!!

check out this fab blog at www.bglhonline.com

Interior design

2010-03-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

What I'm wearing

2010-03-03T19:46:00.001-08:00

Nevermind the Bad Girls Club playing in the background. Don't judge :-p

Afro Barbie!!!

2010-02-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

Aren't these gorgeous?!!! I believe most of them are repaints designed by some really creative people and some of them are Barbie Collectibles that can cost over $100! I sure wish I had these growing up!

RIP Alexander McQueen

2010-02-13T23:20:00.001-08:00

I was just getting to know and love his designs. Absolutely stunning and regal

Decorating tips anyone?

2010-02-13T22:47:00.001-08:00

How about a wall decal to spice up your space. I got this beautiful afro chic woman from http://www.etsy.com/. Etsy is a great place to go for vintage and handmade everything. Bags, furniture, paintings...anything thats creative, they got it. This is how my afro chic decal looks up close on my wall.
I love it, although she's alittle crooked at the bottom. Aligning this perfectly on the first try is alittle challenging and you can't go back and straighten it like a painting. Once the decal is up, it ain't coming down until you're ready to remove it completely. But I love it! Its an instant conversation piece when I have friends over and I'm thinking of putting up another nice decal in my bedroom.

Grace!!!!

2010-02-13T21:09:00.000-08:00

I love me some Lady Gaga and Rihanna. I love some of their music and most of all their crazy ass style, but I must admit when I overheard some older women talking about how these two artistic fashionistas ain't doing nothing new, I felt alittle young and out of the loop. According to them, Grace Jones beeeeennnnn doing the unique and wild look. Now, of course I know who Grace Jones is and I definitely know her image but I wanted to know more so I looked her up..........

Damn.......say no more.......

Kelis!

2010-02-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

So Kelis has been receiving alot of flack for her controversial rants against PETA and her crazy looks lately but I say forget all that. Kelis has always marched to the beat of her own drum and damn it, I loved it! I especially loved when she had her hair big and curly and I love this pic

And I love this video and song. The video is so Tim Burton-ish

Ring Thangs

2010-02-13T19:41:00.000-08:00

What I'm wearing

2010-02-13T19:06:00.001-08:00

WHO IS MAXWELL?!!!!!

2010-02-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

This is what some fool at my job had the nerve to ask me as he walked by my cube at work. I have Max's pics all over my computer so everyone knows how much I love me some Maxwell. This guy who is 33yrs old and Black had the nerve to ask this question. Now I am not assuming that everyone who is 33 years old and Black know every Soul singer because I don't only listen to Soul but at the age of 33, they should know what good music is and Maxwell is the epitome of good music. Now granted, he doesn't exactly look like the type that would know anything about quality music (yeah, I'm stereotyping....so what? I was right....he only listens to whatever rap crap is on the radio) so I should have known.

So he wants to know who Maxwell is? I'll tell him who Maxwell is......

Maxwell is an artist, a real artist, who writes and composes his own art. He is labeled as a Soul singer but his work is much too great to be stamped and boxed off into any one musical genre. He mixes up Soul, R&B, Jazz, Funk, Ambience and Alternative into songs so beautifully that you feel as if you are caught in galaxy where there is only grass, flowers, water, stars, and the moon and you're alone surrounded by all of this. His voice is so mellow and smooth that you are left to wonder when the saxophone stopped and when his voice begun. His lyrical content speaks of love and the heart and soul of a woman. Lyrics so poetic that it can only be fully appreciated with experience and maturity. And did I mention that he was fine.....so so fine.....

THAT'S who Maxwell is you 33 year old, baggy pants wearing, only listen to rap music, close minded, ignorant fool. Grow up, pull up your pants and open up your mind to other music that doesn't just feed you a total fantasy of money, hoes and clothes. Thank you and goodbye!

Red Obsessed!!

2010-02-04T10:11:00.000-08:00

I'm loving red right now! Its the perfect pop of color for these drab cold days where here in the NYC everyone pulls out their winter blacks. Actually, my red obsession started with a Christmas gift given to me by my boss in the form of a fab nail polish at Sephora. Its the Sephora by OPI nail collection sold exclusively at Sephora. The color is called Personal Shopper and is described as a "rich Vixen red" and boy oh boy is it!!

Here's the way the bottle looks. Next to it is the Personal Shopper color

Now, when I first saw the shade I thought that it would not work with my skin tone so I wasn't excited about it and didn't use it right away. But I got tired of all my nail shades so one day I gave it a shot and loved it! Its a rich red and all you need is 2 coats to get the bottle color and it goes on so evenly. The staying power is pretty good....as good as can be on natural nails. I love the pop it gives to all my outfits especially when I'm wearing my winter blacks and my big gold rings. This can be found at Sephora stores and http://www.sephora.com/

Since I'm loving the red nail, I figured why not get some red lip. Now, this is where the real issue comes. There are a million red lip shades! Some with more plum tones, some with more pink tones and some with more orange tones. Now being a brown girl, I thought I should stick to a darker red (more plum tones) so I tried out a lipstick that was too dark and wasn't the bright vixen red I was looking for. I mean, it was cute and I have rocked it doing my goth chic look but it just wasn't....IT. A regular stop in at my neighborhood pharmacy yesterday and I randomly picked up Black Radiance Perfect Tone Lip Color in Reggae Red. This color is absolutely perfect! And why would it not be since Black Radiance specifically targets women of color. duh! I love this color and can't wait to wear it out.

I'll put up a pic alittle later of how it looked on me but it totally reminded me of this fierce female's lip color.

ETA: Here's my pic. Am I as fierce as ms. lady over here?!

The name describes it perfectly. Its more of a red that has a Caribbean feel to it with what I'm guessing to be more of pink undertones. When I wipe it off, it looks pink on the tissue. Its very pretty, giving your winter drab clothes a pop and as you can tell from the above picture, giving your summer clothes a Caribbean feel. This will be MY lipcolor for a while. I'm getting tired of lip gloss anyway :-)

find out about where to buy Black Radiance products at http://www.blackradiancebeauty.com/

Congrats to my boo for winning two!

2010-02-02T14:21:00.000-08:00

Yeh, I know i'm late on the Grammy thing but maybe because it was totally uneventful for me. Even my girl GaGa's performance was just meh. Even the Michael Jackson tribute was just ok but maybe that was because I didn't have the 3D glasses. The highlight for me was Pink's and The Black Eye Peas performances and I don't even like The Blackeye Peas. Even my boo Max was a bit hoarse but cute as hell. Roberta Flack was.....nevermind. I'm not gonna even go there. Whatever. Max didn't even get a chance to have his moment to accept his win on television. How messed up is that. After being snubbed 6 times before for Urban Hang Suite and Now (and I think Embrya) and having a hot comeback after 8 YEARS, he couldn't even give a televised acceptance speech! And don't even let me get started on Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it) winning best song writing over Pretty Wings. I mean, I like Beyonce and all but....really? Those lyrics were better that Pretty Wings?! umm...yeah whatever. Anyway congrats to Max finally getting his Grammy. He deserved it.

Lovin' Le Coil

2010-01-29T14:15:00.000-08:00

I love love loooove...this blog. Its one of favorite places to go to see natural hair in all its beauty. This blog features only photos of beautiful naturals looking fab. They also highlight other bloggers and artists who feature nature hair. I love the fashion inspirations also.

visit at: http://lecoil.tumblr.com/

The best book of 2009!

2010-01-25T14:24:00.000-08:00

So all of the "best of 2009" lists may be over already but I felt I HAD to write about this book. I read it TWICE in 2009 and I frequently go back to read my favorite parts when I want to feel inspired. This book is the TRUTH! It's called "Its Bigger than Hip-Hop: The Rise of the Post Hip-Hop Generation, written by filmmaker/professor M.K. Asante Jr.

Here's a synopsis from www.barnesandnoble.com:

It's Bigger Than Hip Hop takes a bold look at the rise of a generation that sees beyond the smoke and mirrors of corporate-manufactured rap and is building a movement that will change not only the face of pop culture, but the world.

M. K. Asante, Jr., a passionate young poet, professor, filmmaker, and activist who represents this new movement, uses hip hop as a springboard for a larger discussion about the urgent social and political issues affecting the hip-hop and post-hip-hop generations.

Through insightful anecdotes, scholarship, revolutionary rap lyrics, personal encounters, and conversations with youth across the globe as well as icons such as Chuck D and Maya Angelou, Asante illuminates a shift that can be felt in the crowded spoken-word joints in post-Katrina New Orleans, seen in the rise of youth-led organizations committed to social justice, and heard around the world chanting "It's bigger than hip hop."

Let me explain....this synopsis doesn't even do this book justice. This book not only calls out the non-political, non-creative and all around negativity that has become of mainstream hip-hop, but it also calls out the major music corporations that have aided in the downward spiral of a once revolutionary art form. Why has this musical genre become no more than bling bling braggadocio? Is this "thugish" act real or is it just a facade rappers and aspiring rappers take on to make it in the music industry? This book takes a look at all of that. What I really love about this book is that it doesn't just talk about music. It talks about the hip hop and post hip-hop generation and what plagues us through honest glimpses of poverty in our neighborhoods, our school systems, our prison system and our government's role in all of it. I couldn't put this book down! Its truly eye opening and I think EVERYONE should read it.

Fun with pics!

2010-01-24T09:58:00.001-08:00

I know I shouldn't have done it!

2010-01-24T09:37:00.000-08:00

I just went shopping earlier this week! but I had to have these shoes! And I figured while i was buying these I mine as well buy a few accessories :-)

All from F21

Can't wait to wear them to a party

I know I'm late but...

2010-01-24T09:07:00.000-08:00

I'm loving this video and song. The visuals in this are stunning. La Roux is the bizness!

My shopping trip

2010-01-24T00:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a few things I got from my latest shopping trip to F21

Love these boots. Comfy and cute. This twelve by twelve top is kinda plain looking in the pic but cute on me and real cute with these boots.

Accessories!!!

I love this 2 finger parrot ring. I can't take it off. I can already see that two finger rings will be my "thing" this Spring/Summer.

Things I love!!!!

2010-01-23T22:55:00.000-08:00

Ok, so let me start off by talking about the things I absolutely love because they will be things you will see alot in this blog...

1) Fashion: F21 and H&M....I know, I know...not another blog praising these two places. But hey, the clothes are cute, trendy and budget friendly. Can't get any better than that. I'll throw in some stuff from some random store every now and then to keep things interesting :-P

2) This man right here.................

His music, REAL music makes you think, grow and feel inspired......AND he FINE....need I say more? (yeah i know this is an old pic but I looovvvve me some afroed Maxwell)

3) My natural hair. I decided to go natural in the summer of 2007 after a tramatizing experience at the salon that damn near left me in tears. I thought to myself that there HAD to be a better way. There was. I transitioned for 8 months from August 2007 until my birthday in March 2008. It was THE best decision I've ever made in my life. It changed my perspective on everything not to mention my big cheeks are framed ALOT better with my kinky coils. IN LOVE!

My last perm in 2007

Fall 2008, about 7 months natural

Spring 2009, about 1 year natural

Winter 2009, a year and half natural

All fears aside

2010-01-23T22:17:00.000-08:00

...and dive right in. Ok, so I told myself that for 2010 I would start writing again. I love to write but lately I've been on a downward spiral when it comes to putting my thoughts and ideas on paper. So I though, "why not join the rest of the world and start blogging"...hey why not. It'll sharpen my writing skills and I can be down with all the cool people who blog :-P

Anywho....this blog will pretty much be a documentation of all the things I love: fashion, natural hair, books, and REAL music with a lil sprinkle of interior design, restaurant reviews and travel destinations on my wish list. I hope to keep this interesting, funky and cute....just like me :-)
Enjoy!

-Paris