Archive | February, 2012
February 29, 2012 

Video Vibes: Newness From Teedra Moses & Jesse Boykins iii

Photo sources (1), (2)

Two of my favourite artists dropped new videos in the last couple weeks, and I HAD to share them here with y’all. The music video game isn’t what it used to be – I remember staying in on Saturday afternoons to tape every single video that came on X-Tendamix. I memorized dance sequences, got hair/makeup/clothing ideas, and lived for nearly any Hype Williams video created.

Maybe it’s due to the fact that I’m older and have a ton of other things going on, but I haven’t been as on top of the video world as I used to be. However, when I found out that Teedra Moses and Jesse Boykins iii had new visuals out, I had to take a peek!

Teedra Moses has been one of my favourite artists and ‘friends-in-the-head’ since she came out with her album Complex Simplicity back in 2004. She’s now with Rick Ross’ infamous Maybach Music Group, and dropped her first MMG video with labelmate Wale. Teedra’s style is ALWAYS on point (she was a celebrity stylist prior to launching her music career), and she serves up a hot plate of sexy in the video for “Another LuvR”:

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Directed by Philthegod

Jesse Boykins iii is another musical gem of mine. This dude’s voice is like butter melting on silk…just smooth. I found his debut album The Beauty Created and fell in love with his music and his vibe. The video for “B4 The Night Is Thru” is like the dopest houseparty ever. It gave me authentic earthy sensuality, and had me wondering how I could get an invite to the next jam. Oh, and I was lovin’ all the natural styles all up and through:

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Directed by Dr. Woo

Are you feeling these tracks? What are your favourite music videos? Biggie’s “One More Chance” is one of mine – an ensemble video that looked like the BEST PARTY EVER? Yeah, I was lovin’ it. What say you?

February 28, 2012 

Hair Essentials: What Could You Do Without?

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In my conversations with other natural-haired ladies, we often share our product and styling regimens. Shampoos, pre-poos, conditioners, deep conditioners, leave-in treatments, oils, Curlformers, flexi-rods, clips, pins, and combs – at times it can be information overload!

When I first went natural, I fell into the trap of product junky-ism. I ended up spending a lot of time and money learning how to care for and style my hair, and while the time was well-spent, a good amount of the money was not. Natural hair sites and Fotki pages had me picking up any product or tool that worked for someone else. I bought products according to “hair type” – the alphanumeric classification where your hair could be a 2a, 3c, or 4b, or any mixture of them all. I tried to find my “hair twin” – that other naturalista whose curls looked similar in texture to mine – and followed her regimen. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn’t. At the end of the day, I learned 3 important lessons during my bout of product junky-ism:

  1. Most people are genuinely trying to help by sharing their product and styling regimen. Use them as references.
  2. Be aware that some people/brands are preying on your naiveté. Do not allow anyone to take advantage of the fact that you’re still learning about your hair.
  3. Everyone’s hair is different. I’ve thrown the whole “hair typing” and “hair twin” significance out the window, because once it’s all said and done, everyone’s hair reacts differently to various products or styling. Use your references, but learn how to work with your hair.

That being said, I started thinking the other day about hair minimalism. Though my current regimen is pretty damn simple, I wondered what the bare minimum of products/tools would be for me. Here’s what I came up with:

  • A wide-tooth comb: Finger detangling is great, but I’ll admit that I don’t always have the patience for it. A good wide-tooth comb with rounded tips is the best thing for me to use to detangle and part my hair.
  • Pure coconut oil: I can’t live without it. My hair follicles shout for joy when I use coconut oil to condition and style my hair. It’s such a versatile care and styling aid that I have to have it!
  • Shea butter: Another simple staple for me. I can use it to twist, seal ends, slick down baby hairs – and it’s good for my hair too!
  • Bobby pins: I need ones like this. My hair laughs in the face of bobby pins like this. I can pin up my twists, pin my hair into a bun,  get it up out of my way, and do whatever I need to do. Bobby pins (the thuggish ruggish kind) are great, inexpensive friends of mine.
  • A good shampoo/conditioner combo: I’ve gotta wash my hair, right? Herbal Essences or Earthtones Naturals are two of my tried and true favourites – give me a shampoo and conditioner, and I’m good to go.
  • A satin head scarf: As I wrote in my recent Three Naturals guest post, a satin scarf is vital to good overnight hair care. Plus, it can double as a scarf for bad hair days, or a tool to tie down my baby hairs after I’ve slathered them with shea butter!

I think that’s pretty much it! If I needed to get right down to the bare minimum, this is what I’d be rockin’ with. No Denman brush, no blow dryer, no hooded dryer, no zillions of lotions, potions, and mixtures – just the basics.

Have you ever fallen into the trap of product junky-ism? Are you still in it, or have you managed to dig yourself out? If you had to go down to the bare hair minimum, what products/tools would you keep?

February 26, 2012 

Artsy Fartsy: ‘Diary of Black Men’ Review

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On Friday night, the Hubs and I headed out to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto to catch Diary of Black Men, hosted in part by Toronto’s newest radio station, G98.7 FM. A couple weeks ago, I was lucky enough to win free tickets to the show through the radio station, and I’ll be honest: if it wasn’t for the fact that I won tickets AND that Thomas Mikal Ford and Carl Payne (Tommy and Cole from Martin) were part of the cast, I would not have gone. I’ll explain why in a minute.

If you’re not familiar with the play, Diary of Black Men was written by Thomas Meloncon in the late 70′s. The play was first featured off-Broadway in 1982, then hit the mainstream after an appearance on the Phil Donahue show in 1989. Directed by Russell Andrews, the play speaks to the experience of Black men in America and focuses on the relationship between Black men and women. Featuring five main characters – The Militant, The Playa, The Black Muslim, The Blue-Collar, and The Intellectual – they interact with each other and the audience to disseminate the role of the Black man in society, how they view Black women, and how to balance the associated struggles and strengths.

Diary of Black Men played in Toronto a few years back, and I made sure to hit it up with a few girlfriends. The anticipation of supporting a Black play in Toronto faded as I became more and more disillusioned with the production. The opening musical act was sloppy and rushed. The actors (especially The Playa) seemed unprepared, forgetting lines and cues. But even more so, I just couldn’t relate to the story. The ads hyped up the fact that this was the longest running Black play in North America, and it was painfully obvious. The roles, the script, and the scenarios were very dated, and I felt like I was watching more of a historical recount of being Black in America than anything else. I left disappointed to say the least.

Within the last month or so, I started hearing that voice on my radio: “How do you lahhhhhhhhhh-ve a Black woman? How do you LAHHHHHHHHH-VE a Black Woman?” Diary of Black Men was coming back to Toronto, and frankly, I didn’t care. However, the one caveat that made me think twice was the fact that Thomas Mikal Ford and Carl Payne would be part of the cast. If you know me at all, you KNOW I live for Martin. I’ve found a way to incorporate “Git tha drawls!” and “Rent ‘em spoons!” into my regular lexicon, so when I heard ‘Tommy’ and ‘Cole’ would be in the house, my icy demeanor started to melt. While I sat at work one day listening to G98.7 FM, I heard a call to send a photo of your Black man to their Twitter account. I did, and I won. Two tickets to the play were in my hands, and I thought, ‘I get to see Tommy and Cole, and have a free date night? I’m in!’ I hoped that my love for Tommy and Cole would help me to enjoy the play more than I did in the past, and I was (somewhat) right.

The Good:

  • Thomas Mikal Ford and Carl Payne were AWESOME. They breathed new life into the roles of The Militant and The Blue-Collar, and showed their acting range for folks who only know them from Martin. Their skill really added to the quality of the play, which in turn surely inspired the other cast members to bring their A-game. Which leads to my next bullet:
  • All of the actors were on point. Compared to my last viewing, the actors remembered their lines and cues, (which is really a non-negotiable in theatre), and delivered well. They were all able to hold their own and brought great energy to their roles.
  • The play seemed to be a bit more updated. I didn’t feel transported back to 1990 this time. While I could still tell this was a play written long ago, it seemed that more effort was made to bring the storylines up to today’s audience. References to President Obama, Twitter, and Facebook, etc. made it a bit more relevant for current times.
  • I laughed, I “Mmmhmmm”-ed, and I pondered. Because the quality of the play was heightened, I was able to pay more attention to the embedded messages, and gained a lot that I missed the first time around.

The Bad:

  • It was STILL too dated. After over 20 years of performance, I think Diary of Black Men in its current state has run its course. Black men and women (and their surrounding environments) have changed, and this play would be even harder-hitting if it reflected that change. What other representations of Black men can we have in the cast? What other scenarios can we play out and deconstruct?
  • The lone representation of Black women. She was represented by one female character, who did interpretive dance in lieu of a speaking role. Do I think that a speaking role was necessary for the representation of the Black woman? Perhaps, but then this may be a completely different play. The Black woman seemed to be monolithic, so I think that even if in a non-speaking sense, there should have been more variation with the Black woman as there was for the Black man.
  • Discussions on homosexuality amongst Black men. I’ve developed a more critical eye when it comes to the intersectionalities of race, gender, and sexuality, so I was looking forward to seeing this scenario again. I won’t give it away, but one of the characters reveals that he is gay – I couldn’t remember exactly how it played out, but when it did, I was disappointed. It was handled superficially and was more of a comedic point than a teachable moment. Homosexuality and homophobia are huge discussion points in the Black community, and the way this scenario played out reminded me of how dated the play was.

The Verdict:

  • It was MUCH improved, but we wanted and needed MORE. Everyone I spoke to after the play agreed the play was good, but was lacking something. In my personal opinion, I think it made us think about things and want to get deeper into uncovering various perspectives and truths. However, the play was limited in its scope (due largely to being written so long ago), and that left us hungry for more. Perhaps original audiences used this play as a jumping off point for discussions about race and relationships, but today’s audience is already having these discussions, and needs our art forms to enrich us. That’s the next step for Diary of Black Men – find a new way to relate to today’s audience and give us that enrichment that we need.

Did you see Diary of Black Men? What did you think? I’d especially love to hear from people who saw it for the first time. I’m glad we have a vehicle through G98.7 FM to promote and support events like this. We often are reminded to support Black art – do you feel obligated to do so even if you don’t think the quality is up to par? I had a few people give me the side-eye because I vehemently refused to see the play initially. What say you?

February 22, 2012 

Yes, I’m a Groupie: Sharing My Love For Henkaa

If you’ve been keeping up with this site, you’ll know I stan hard for Henkaa dresses – these are gorgeous multi-wear/convertible/infinity dresses that you can tie a million and one ways for different styles and looks.

I found Henkaa when I was looking for my bridesmaid dresses last year – as I had girls of all different shapes, sizes, and bank account depths, I had to find something that would look good on everyone, that wouldn’t cost an arm and leg, and that they might want to wear again. Henkaa was PERFECT.

Never mind Mommy on the side taking care of the little ones...

I made sure to scoop one for myself, and you’ve seen me wear it twice already on the blog (here and here). A dress that can look any way you want it? I’m ALL IN. Now, this post isn’t sponsored at all – just showing love for some local ladies who are making big moves, and sharing something that you savvy readers might be interested in! Hit up their site for more info, or check their Facebook page for a cool contest they have going on - finalists have entered their love stories to Henkaa in order to win dresses for their bridal party. Help them and help yourself too! As a voter, you could win a short Henkaa dress of your very own! Just look for the “Vote and Win” tab on the left!

Good luck to all the finalists and voters!

February 20, 2012 

No One’s More Youer Than You: A Lesson In Self-Confidence

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On Saturday, I joined the world in watching the homegoing of Whitney Houston. So many thoughts and feelings flickered through my mind and heart, but one thought hit me square in the middle of my head like a dart, and I haven’t been able to shake it. What would it mean to be truly secure with yourself? Let me explain.

A common thread in the remembrance of Whitney Houston, and a key characteristic of hers that I (like many) admittedly overlooked was her generosity in mentoring and supporting other female artists. I never paid close attention to the enormity of what it meant for Brandy and Monica to be mentored by her. I didn’t recall her essence of sisterhood until I saw replays of the “I’m Every Woman” and “Heartbreak Hotel” videos. This was something that Whitney just DID. She was never looking for accolades, tributes, or recognition for what she gave, but she just did it.

So, you might be asking what that has to do with being secure with oneself. Kelly Price summed it up perfectly in a memorial on BET by retelling the story of recording Heartbreak Hotel – she thought her voice was far too overpowering, so she attempted to hold back. When Whitney realized what she was doing, Kelly said she “cursed her out” and told her that she needed to “open her mouth and sing”. Kelly said that it spoke to Whitney’s confidence in her talent – she was not afraid of what the next woman would bring to the table. She was not in the business of minimizing others in order to make herself look great. She was secure in her abilities – so what did she have to worry about?

How many of us feel that way? From what I’ve personally experienced, I’d say very few. I see it in the workforce. I see it in the blogging world. I see it in the Toronto arts & entertainment scene. I see it among friends and family. Too many people with gifts, talents, and skills but lacking the self-actualization to be truly secure with themselves. People don’t help others because they’re afraid that person will surpass them. People don’t mentor up-and-comers because they’re worried about losing their place. People are wary about combining their talents with others because they don’t want to split the reward. There could be valid and understandable reasons for this, but I feel that ultimately, innate lack of self-confidence is the culprit.

Whether things change and we begin to help, lift up, and support one another more is secondary to the fact that first, we must have a sense of security in ourselves. Once you own that, there is no room to feel threatened. How can that be accomplished? I’m not expert, but I’ll tell you what I think:

Define what you do. What is your gift, talent, or skill? Do you have more than one? What are you good at? Figure this out. A major part of insecurity is not knowing exactly where you fit. We all have something. What’s your thing?

Know it and grow it. Once you’ve identified your gifts, dedicate yourself to perfecting your craft. Be the best lawyer, singer, or customer service rep you can be. And while you’re at it, stay on top of new trends that can help you to evolve. Stagnation leads to insecurity about your skills. Always be ready to remix or further develop what you’re good at – but never lose sight of what the essence of your gifts are.

Understand that no one can be more ‘youer than you’. Don’t sleep on the wise words of Dr. Seuss. One of my favourite Seuss quotes is “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” LIVE IT. Recognize, above all, that there is no one in the world exactly like you. No one can do what you do, the way you do it. Feel that what you do is not good enough? Well, go back to Step Two and work it out. But never forget that there is no one with your gift and experiences. The words roll right off the tongue, but take a minute to think about it. Throw away the insecurity and cloak yourself in the fact that you are the only you ever. What are you going to do now?

Let me bring it back full circle. and note that two things are crystal clear. Whitney was incredibly embracing of her fellow artists, and she possessed an undeniable gift. It dawned on me that Whitney was able to be so embracing because she was confident of herself and her abilities, and that made me think about how I can reach that same level. Life is hard enough as it is – a little self-confidence will make it a lot easier!

How confident are you in your gifts and talents? Do you know what you’re good at? What helps you to build and maintain your self-confidence? If you’re struggling with insecurity, what are your triggers? Let’s talk about it!

February 14, 2012 

August 1, 2010: Best Valentine’s Day EVER

Finally, it’s arrived. The day that department stores have been ramming down our throats since approximately December 26th – Valentine’s Day. As of tomorrow, the pink and red will be replaced with shades of green as the store promotions turn to St. Patrick’s Day, but for today, let’s indulge in love :)

I figured today would be a good day for this post. As you may recall, I recently posted a story about the Proposal That Wasn’t – but today, I’ll share with you the Proposal That Was. It was exactly 1.5 years ago that Homieloverfriend put a ring on it, so in commemoration of our first married folks’ V-Day, I’ll fill you in on how things went down.

Keep in mind one important thing: I am obsessed with the old TV show Martin. I know every episode and can recite the script word for word. Martin is NOT a game to me. Just remember that. Ok – here we go:

Caribana '10

It was August 1st, 2010. We had just jumped up in Caribana ’10 the day before, and planned to spend that day (which was our 3rd anniversary for the 2nd time – another story for another day) relaxing with each other and winding down from the bacchanal of the parade. Being that it was our anniversary, HLF said he had something special planned, so I sat back and enjoyed the ride. We ran to the west end to HLF’s bro-in-law’s church, then ran back to the east for lunch. The day started off relatively normal, but this dude completely annoyed me by not putting his phone down for one minute while he drove, then confused me by stopping at gas stations for strange things. Add to the fact that he seemed to have no clue about where we were going and what we were doing – I was wondering if the Master Event Planner had lost his touch.

Next thing I know, we ended up at Miliken Park, the spot where we had our very first date back in the summer of 2002. The weather was perfect, the park was gorgeous, and I was looking forward to hanging around with HLF in the spot where this whole thing started.

As we walked towards an ice cream stand, I saw a photographer friend of ours. We ran over to say hello, and he asked if we’d mind posing for some pics while he tested light in the park. If you know ANYTHING about me, you’ll know that I live for photos. I’ve been posing since I was a baby, so I wasn’t about to turn down a free photo shoot! Mr. Photographer placed us by a tree and snapped a few quick shots of us before thanking us and heading off.

At our "free photoshoot"

HLF and I quietly sat together for a while, watching two little girls play with boats in a water fountain. It was so serene, so peaceful – until I heard rustling in the bushes behind us.

I look back and see one of my best friends walking towards us with a bouquet of flowers. I was clearly stunned at the fact that she literally came out of the woodwork, but my questions of “What are you doing?” went unanswered. Her and HLF were having a bartering session, and next thing I know, he bought the flowers from her for $5 and handed them to me. Needless to say, I was confused.

Bootleg "Pam"

While I was interrogating him about what was going on, I heard more rustling. I looked back into the bushes and saw one of HLF’s homeboys roll out of the leaves. My man walks up to us with a bottle of champagne and a CD of love songs – the same bartering technique as before, which ended with Homie buying the goods for $5 and his friend walking off into the wilderness. It was then that I noticed two things. One was that Mr. Photographer was hiding behind ANOTHER bush not too far from us, and was peeking his camera lens out to take photos. Then, I noticed something that the champagne deliverer said…something along the lines of “I have for you here, a bottle of the finnest – uh, FINEST champagne. And yes, it is for sale.” This sounded SO familiar to me, but in the midst of my confusion, I couldn’t place it.

Bootleg "Cole"

While HLF was talking to me about making the CD full of songs that meant something to the both of us, or that reminded him of me, it hit me. Our friends were reenacting the scene from Martin where Martin proposed to Gina (the real proposal, not that nonsense he did to keep her from moving to NYC). My homegirl was Pam with the flowers, our homeboy was Cole with the champagne – so that meant no-job-havin’-ass Tommy was coming with the ring??? That’s when it happened.

Me talking to myself while "Tommy" and "Martin" do business

Again, out of the bushes, another good homeboy came out and walked right over to us, ring box in hand. As him and HLF started reciting the lines from Martin word for word, I retreated into my own head. He’s proposing. No he’s not. There’s a ring in that box. No there’s not. Maybe it’s a cupcake. Maybe it’s keys to a new car. Maybe it’s a dog tag for the puppy he got me. Maybe it’s all a joke. Or is he really proposing? After their exchange, our friend walked back into the bushes, and HLF turned to face me. On one knee.

He said the most beautiful words. He asked me if I would marry him. And I said:

“I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

I really did, y’all! Belly full of roti with all this excitement, what did you expect? But when I saw the look of confusion and disappointment on his face, I blurted out, “No! I mean Yes! I mean, no I’m not going to throw up – but yes I’ll marry you!” He still looked confused and asked if I was sure, then when he was satisfied that I was serious, we kissed and he hugged me tighter than he ever had before.

Yes.

We didn’t get serenaded by a fake Brian McKnight, but our friends – the photographer, bootleg Pam, Cole, Tommy (check his blog, y’all!), and the “stage directors” – came out to celebrate, and all was well. Miliken Park was bursting with joy that day. Not only did I get engaged, but HLF chose to do it in such a personal way, a way that encompassed one of my favourite things. There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING like a partner who knows you, inside and out, quirks and all – and honours that when they get the chance.

For reference (if you aren’t a Martin freak like me), here is a clip of the proposal scene:

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So there you have it! Not really a Valentine’s Day post, but a post about love all the same. Yes, V-Day is unnecessary and a money grab and a fake holiday created by Hallmark and the company that makes those red hot hearts – with the argument being that we should show love everyday. True – but most folks celebrate birthdays even though we should be happy to be alive everyday, right? Maybe I just like excuses to celebrate :) Who are you showing love to today? Your significant other? Your child? Your parents? Your closest friends? Above all, don’t forget to show love to yourself! That’s the most vital love to have.

February 12, 2012 

Remembrance: In Honour Of Whitney Houston

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“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” – Chuck Palahniuk

I had been looking forward to this Saturday ever since I crawled into bed last Sunday and prepared for another long work week. I started this day out with the highest of hopes, but had no clue it would turn out the way it did. I got to sleep in. I got to do some much-needed housework. I got to put on some D’Angelo and wash my hair with the house to myself while Homieloverfriend was out for his usual Saturday runnings. Then, a miscommunication between him and I led to one of those arguments where I scream and cry, and he sits silent until I’ve tired myself out. I felt that the anticipation of this day had been too much…so obviously it all had to go wrong.

I got the news on the way to the Harbourfront Centre’s DJ Skate Party where we had planned to meet up with friends. There I was, sitting icy cold and steely-eyed in the car, the cloud of our earlier argument almost suffocating me in the car as we drove. Playing on my phone, I refreshed my Twitter feed, and saw Tweet after Tweet: Whitney Houston was dead.

I was floored. Whitney was one of those people who just was. She was just always there, and would always be there, through good times and bad. The loss was devastating. A child has lost her mother. The world has lost an incomparable gift. I lost a piece of my childhood. Like so many of my friends, I grew up with Whitney’s voice floating through my home. Dad had her singles and albums on 45s, so on the weekends when he’d play tunes,  Whitney was ALWAYS in the playlist. When my parents divorced, my mom would play Whitney songs to console herself and drown the pain in that crystal clear voice. I think Whitney was able to say things in her songs that my mom couldn’t say herself. And when it was time to party? Oh, nary a celebration went by in our home without my mom doin’ the Butt to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. My mom can’t dance, y’all – but she did not care once that song came on…and when I hear it today, I can’t help but smile.

Photo source

Obviously, the last major celebrity death that everyone recalls today is MJ. But for me, this death feels more similar to when Aaliyah passed. I always looked at Michael Jackson as a mythical creature with otherworldly aura and talent, but I saw myself in Aaliyah and Whitney. A little, skinny brown girl who could see these other little, skinny brown girls on TV – they were points of reference for me as I grew up as a young Black girl. Whitney, I think due to the age difference, represented what I wanted to be. She was a diva, a queen, a regal, passionate, and once-in-a-lifetime being who had such immense power tucked away in that tiny body. When she opened her mouth, she blew me away. When she was on TV, you pressed pause on your life to watch and listen. I couldn’t sing worth a damn, but wanted to find my niche in life where I could also be regal. I could also be a queen. I could also be powerful and one-of-a-kind. Whitney represented those aspirations for me, and will continue to embody them.

Yes, Whitney had rough times. Times that we may not ever know the full depths of, but times that many of us feel entitled to judge, dismiss, and mock. Was I disappointed? Hell yes. I was even guilty of judging a time or two. I couldn’t understand how someone who seemed to have it all, and seemed to be in control of it all, could let it slip between her fingers so easily. None of it made sense. Yes, weaker beings may have succumbed to the pressures of having God-given talent used for man-made fame, but not the Queen! Not Whitney! When she started making the moves to attempt to return to the glory of her former self, I was proud. Both the voice and the woman on the TV screen were grittier than I had known, but she was still that regal diva. I still couldn’t turn away, because I knew that the piece of her that I identified with was still there.

In the car when I found out that the news of Whitney’s passing was true, I immediately flashed to thoughts of my cousin, thoughts of my own mortality, thoughts of what the legacy will be that I will leave behind. Thoughts of how just moments before, I had been sulking over what seemed to be the worst Saturday ever – but I realized I was still here, I was still breathing, and I still had a chance to express love and do right and make great things happen with whatever time I have here on Earth. I wish Whitney still had more time to express love and do right and make great things happen, but I will be forever thankful for the memories of the times that she did all those things, and more.

Rest in peace, Whitney. 

February 10, 2012 

Hair Boredom: What To Do When You Need Something New

Hey y’all! I got a few posts out this week, but still feel neglectful :( I had an assignment due for one of the classes I’m taking this semester (I’m finishing up a post-grad certificate in Health Promotion), so I had to devote a lot of research and writing time to that.

TGIF in a major way though! It’s shaping up to be another busy weekend, but I’m looking forward to catching up on some sleep and FINALLY doing something with my hair! It’s been draped up in a tired bun for the past few days, so I can’t wait to wash and make it look half-decent.

Can’t lie though – I’ve been getting increasingly bored with my hair. My usual two-strand twist-out is getting PLAYED out, so I need something new, and fast. Part of this yearning for newness likely also has to do with the fact that the days are getting longer, which means spring is just around the corner (even though we’ve been enjoying a crazy mild winter in Toronto). With spring comes all things fresh and new, and I always get the urge to switch things up once winter thaws out. But what to do?

Photo souce: Party Over Hair

I’ve been dreaming about twists for a while now. Thick kinky twists, small Senegalese twists…this style is so easy yet so versatile. I’d love to rock some super-long twists to get the best of both worlds: I can take a hair break AND still have crazy style options? Where do I sign up?

Photo source: Popstar

Even further back than the twists, I’ve had colour on my mind. I usually go light for the spring/summer, but skipped 2011. I’m craving some multi-dimensional pops of colour, and Tanika Ray has always been my hair dye dream girl. I’ve coloured before with no real damage, so I’m not afraid to take that leap. Some sunshiny-bright hair would definitely give me a new look, so maybe that’s the way to go…

Maybe I just need to do a quick lil’ flat iron and rock some straight locks for a while? I haven’t straightened my hair in a few months, so maybe that’s the change I need. The only thing that annoys me about straight hair is having to wrap it at night…sometimes a girl just wants to throw it in a bun and jump in the sack! I can’t be bothered with the extra work at times – but it definitely allows me to keep my ‘do looking fresh for a LONG time. A good wrap at night = no need to do any touch-ups with the flat iron. I got a great trim at my last hair appointment and I’ve been working hard to protect my ends, so it would be nice to see how much length I’ve gained/retained…

With my favourite cup - one that I got at my 3rd birthday party!

Makeup-less...but I could have at least put a lil Vaseline on my lips :/

With the little sis!

…or maybe I just need to stop being lazy. If I put in more effort, I’m sure I could make the most of what I’ve got! I was (at one point) pretty creative with updos (like the top photo – loose flat twisted front into a low bun) – if I took the time, I’m sure I could come up with something cute! I could also pull out some heat protectant serum with my trusty blow dryer and do a blown-out wash n’ go (like second photo) or blow my hair out prior to twisting. Or, I could take my own advice and get busy with my Curlformers (used in third photo)! I’ve been meaning to rock with them as of late, so I need to be like Nike and just do it. Maybe the only change I need is to make some more time for myself and explore something other than a bun or a twist-out. Could the answer be so simple?

Anyone out there also stuck in a hair rut? Do you have any big plans for a new spring style? Have an idea for a style I should try? Let a sista know!

February 8, 2012 

Artsy-Fartsy: ‘Better Mus Come’ Gala & Screening Review

Photo Credit – BizBash

Have you ever been so inspired by something that you almost didn’t know what to do with yourself? Like, you got filled with this bubbling energy that you just had to pour somewhere, but you didn’t have the right vessel? This past Saturday, I made sure to clear my afternoon schedule for something special, and ended up with that exact feeling when I left.

Saturday was the premiere of Better Mus Come - a film written and directed by Storm Saulter, an up and coming Jamaican filmmaker. TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) Bell Lightbox, in conjunction with Caribbean Tales put the event together, which included a Caribbean brunch, awards ceremony, and film screening.

I arrived at the amazing TIFF Bell Lightbox venue in time for the awards ceremony, which I’m SO glad I didn’t miss. Honoured were Ian Harnarine – Trinidadian-Canadian filmmaker, and Denham Jolly – media entrepreneur and philanthropist responsible for the creation of FLOW 93.5 – Toronto’s 1st urban radio station. Mr. Harnarine’s story truly impressed me. Born in Canada to Trini parents, he obtained a degree in Physics and Astronomy from U of T, then travelled to Chicago to complete his Masters in Nuclear Physics. Yes, I said a Masters in Nuclear Physics. Then, he seemingly got bored and decided to pick up filmmaking – he enrolled at NYU’s Graduate Film School, and now sits on the faculty for both NYU’s Physics department and the Graduate Film School. Mr. Harnarine was being honoured for his multi-award-winning short film, Doubles With Slight Pepper, which won Best Canadian Short Film at TIFF 2011. I was floored not only by his obvious intellect, but also by his determination to follow through with his passion for filmmaking. It reminded me of my thoughts on ’83 To Infinity: “…the fact that you’re NEVER too old to learn something new, do something new, or be someone new.”

Denham Jolly (L) and Ian Harnarine (R)

Photo Credit – Livewithculture.ca/Roys Creative Photography

Denham Jolly’s story also educated me on some Canadian history that I was not previously aware of. Born in Negril, Jamaica, Mr. Jolly moved to Canada and began building his legacy. Property owner, teacher, publisher, entrepreneur, and founder of the Black Business and Professional Association – Mr. Jolly had his hands in many different areas of Toronto. His battle for the creation of an urban radio station in Toronto lasted over a decade and was consistently wrought with obstacle, but her persevered. He finally succeeded in his quest when FLOW 93.5 was born in 2000, and Mr. Jolly became known as the first Black Canadian to receive a radio license. Mr. Jolly accepted his award on Saturday from the Hon. Jean Augustine, and solidified his lifetime achievement with a poignant quote: “It’s amazing how lucky you get when you work hard.” Ain’t that the truth?

Finally, we settled into our seats to watch Better Mus Come. Both the writer/director Storm Saulter, and the lead actor Sheldon Shepherd were in the house – after a short intro by Storm, the movie began and I was instantly transported back to a time that I wasn’t even alive for – Kingston, Jamaica, 1978.

Credit: Photo by Sarita Louis, Ryan Singh Enterprises Better Mus Come Gala Brunch and Screening, Hosted by Caribbean Tales Youth Film Festival. Storm Saulter, Writer, Director

If you’re unaware of the history of this time, the long and short of it is that Jamaica was in political turmoil. The JLP (Jamaica Labour Party) and the PNP (People’s National Party) were both clamouring for power of the country, and as Malcolm said, they would do it by any means necessary. Jamaicans were extremely invested in the political process as it stood, but both political parties sought the assistance of street gangs to really drive their campaigns home. The infamous Green Bay Massacre of 1978 was a crucial element of Better Mus Come, but the film was well-rounded with influences of Perry Henzell’s The Harder They Come, and the documentary Rockers. Throw in a little Romeo & Juliet action, and you have the makings of an amazing film.

Better Mus Come centres on the life of Ricky (Sheldon Shepherd), head of the JLP’s security, and also the don of the local JLP-supporting gang. Raising a young son on his own (his child’s mother was killed by PNP gangs), Ricky faces the struggle of doing dirty work in the immediate future in order to secure a better future for him and his son. Ambushing political rallies, shoot-outs at polling stations, and blatant murders of key figures in the community were all part of the game, and Ricky and his crew did what they needed to do to survive. Once he meets Kemala, a “country girl” who is a PNP supporter, things are turned upside down in more ways than one. Love, allegiance to family, dedication to community, and fierce protection of political interests all come together in the tapestry of Ricky’s life and the lives of those around him.

So – what did I think of the film? I. Was. In. Awe. The cinematography, the musical score, the authenticity of the wardrobe, slang, and mannerisms, the talent of the actors (most of whom had never acted in a movie before) – it was all too much for me. Maybe I’m just a Jamaicaphile who loves anything to do with ‘Yard’, but I tried to put that bias aside while watching the film. Even doing so, it STILL came out on top for me. Storm Saulter has an innate mastery with the camera. The way he was able to combine image, light, and sound (or the lack thereof ) totally brought about the emotions that I think we, the viewers, were intended to feel. The raw and rugged acting style from the cast really brought out the history of the time – I could hear older viewers laughing at some of the ol’ time slang and commenting on some of the 70′s style fashions that they used to wear. At times, the film seemed so authentic that I felt I was watching a documentary of days gone by in the country of my parentage. I couldn’t help but feel pride when watching it – yes, much of the history depicted was despicable, but everything from the passion to defend one’s rights to the passion of the actors who portrayed these characters spoke to an undeniable Caribbean energy that I love. I think that feeling was amplified (for me, at least) by knowing that Bob Marley’s birthday was just around the corner, so it was a timely screening.

Credit: Photo by Sarita Louis, Ryan Singh Enterprises Better Mus Come Gala Brunch and Screening, Hosted by Caribbean Tales Youth Film Festival. Storm Saulter, Writer, Director Sheldon Shepherd, Actor. www.no-maddz.com

After the film, we had a great Q&A session with Storm and Sheldon (who played Ricky). Let me tell you…I had a mini-crush on Sheldon, and I’m not scared to admit it. Charisma was on TEN, and both men had the audience fascinated with the discussion. Sheldon even buss out a quick spoken-word poem that he performed for his audition…and I’ll just say this: keep an eye out for Sheldon Shepherd. Remember you heard it from Bee first! Keep an eye out for Storm Saulter as well – this film is CLEARLY the beginning of something huge, not only for him, but for the Caribbean film industry as a whole. We’ve come a long way from Dancehall Queen, y’all. Storm Saulter is paving the way for a new breed of Caribbean storytellers, and I’m excited to see what’s next!

Here is the Better Mus Come trailer:

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Special thanks to Ryan Singh Enterprises.

Did you see Better Mus Come? If so, what did you think? What’s your favourite Caribbean (or other international) film? Keep up to date with TIFF’s schedule for the month of February – Cameron Bailey, co-director of TIFF, mentioned that they’ll have some big things on tap for Black History Month! Make sure to check them out!

February 6, 2012 

Happy Birthday, Bob!

February 6th will always hold a special place in my heart. Today marks the birthday of the man who has been one of my biggest sources of inspiration. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels a connection to Robert Nesta Marley and his music, but my bond with him is almost familial.

You see, Bob Marley bears a striking resemblance to my paternal family members – so Baby Bee thought that the portrait we had of Bob in our living room was one of my own father. Mom tells me that when I finally understood that it wasn’t my Dad, I figured he was my uncle. Dad would play his music every Sunday, and I would listen, look at the photo, and point and smile – thinking that this man was connected to me by blood. As I got older, I came to understand that this man and I were not directly related – but by then I had learned enough about him to know that family or not, an indelible connection was there.

Bob’s music has been part of my life’s soundtrack for as long as I can remember. His quotes have both calmed and motivated me. He satisfied a thirst for knowledge that I didn’t know I had when I started researching Rastafari. He showed me the complexities of the human spirit – who else could come across as an ethereal otherworldly being and a flawed, earthly man at the same time?

Y’all don’t understand – or maybe you do after this post – but I love this man.

I’ll leave you with one of my favourite Bob songs – it was one of our first dance songs at my wedding (I say “one of” because we did this mash-up thing, and…yeah. I’ll explain another time!), and it’s one of the best songs to play first thing in the morning, in my humble opinion. Happy birthday, Bob!

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Do you have a favourite Bob Marley song? I swear I call about 90% of his songs “my favourite”, but I have issues when it comes to Bob and the Wailers :)

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