Weekend Links – 11.19.2010

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Hey everybody! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week and for my American readers, are geared up for an awesome Thanksgiving! I’m on my way to Light Up Night, a holiday extravaganza in downtown Pittsburgh. Expect pictures! Anyhow, here’s some reading for you this Friday evening!

◊ Like always, here’s Danielle LaPorte, dropping truth bombs all over the place. Just read.

◊ Here’s an interesting documentary about Shadeism, the prejudice and divide that exists between darker and lighter skinned members of the same community. It isn’t very long, and is definitely worth the watch.

◊ Amazing art by Lerms on Kiss My Black Ads.

◊ On Miseducated (one of my new favorite blogs!), How to See People for Who They Really Are. Hmm…

◊ For every order of Festive Light underwear you purchase, Pact will donate a solar-powered LED lamp to Haitian earthquake victims, many of which feel unsafe at night with the energy scarcity in the area. Plus, your booty will have bokeh on it! What’s to lose?

◊ Hearing my boyfriend’s stories of how amazing Istanbul was makes me want to go there – but this post on Decor8 makes me even more hopeful to pay a visit to Turkey!

◊ Is gossip and negativity something you have to deal with? It’s been an issue in my life recently, but this is a really great article (from Oprah magazine no less!) That sheds an interesting light on it.

◊ I admire crafty people! Here is a template to make a cute little owl calendar via What About Orange.

Awesome. (via Kiss My Black Ads)

◊I’m a huge fan of paying it forward – random acts of kindness tend to spread, you know. If you’re stuck on how toss love bombs throughout your community, look no farther.

◊ Did you know there’s a new art exhibit that is visible seen from space? Well…now you do.

◊The controversial drink Four Loko has been all over the news lately – and now the FDA is taking a stand. I’ve never tried it, but I’ve heard the stuff can be dangerous if you aren’t careful. Also, for your enjoyment, a man drinking Four Loko for the sake of journalism.

Todrick Hall Does McDonalds

That’s all from me! Have anything to share? Leave it in the comments!

xoxo, Tara

The Girl Effect

So, we have a situation on our hands.

This is a cause I feel very deeply about. While I’ve mentioned The Girl Effect in posts before, I felt that it was necessary to dedicate an entire post because ladies (and gentlemen)? This is extremely important. I’ll keep it brief, because as I said, all of these videos express the sentiment far better than I can.

Soul-stealer: Happy (post)-Halloween

And that is my attempt at a ducklips + fierce hybrid, although I’m not sure how it corresponds to my peacock costume. I’m not exactly sure how well that worked out. So happy belated Halloween, everybody! Unfortunately, I do know it’s been a little while since All Hallow’s Eve. Here is the finished product of my costume – unfortunately, due to time constraints, it didn’t turn out exactly as I intended, but due to the peacock necklace I was wearing (not pictured – which is sad, because I love that necklace!) I also intended to style up my hair in a fro-hawk, but due to my hairstyling fail, I ended up leaving it as is.

Me and my friend Lynn, who dressed as Tonya Harding. Not pictured, our friend Kaitlyn, who dressed as Nancy Kerrigan. Hilarious! The face paint was from a carnival I had attended right before – I picked the “Princess” option and talked to her about my costume for later that night, so she did it in green and blue. I’m not sure how much it added to the over-all effect, but I shimmied my way into that dress to not smudge it – and managed to screw up my eye makeup instead. Oh well.

This cat “tattoo” is unrelated, but I also got it at the carnival. I had to get a picture of it, because it was too cute!

So, how did you guys spend Halloween?

xoxo, Tara

Music Feature – Esperanza Spalding

Esperanza Spalding, aside from having an amazing afro, is a jazz musician from Portland, Oregon, and my latest girl-crush. While she’s reached some exposure in the jazz world (and beyond), I still think that she is sorely under-exposed.

More about her, via her official website:

If “esperanza” is the Spanish word for hope, then bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding could not have been given a more fitting name at birth. Blessed with uncanny instrumental chops, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, and a natural beauty that borders on the hypnotic, the 25-year-old prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music.

If “esperanza” is the Spanish word for hope, then bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding could not have been given a more fitting name at birth. Blessed with uncanny instrumental chops, a multi-lingual voice that is part angel and part siren, and a natural beauty that borders on the hypnotic, the 25-year-old prodigy-turned-pro might well be the hope for the future of jazz and instrumental music.

I have recently had the pleasure of seeing Esperanza Spalding perform – and she is amazing. Absolutely amazing. This talented bassist (although she plays other instruments too) is only twenty-five (!) and has performed for the likes of President Barack Obama at his Nobel Prize Ceremony.

Even though I went to her concert at the Byham Theater kind of tired – it had been a long day, alright?? – I was captivated by her soulful performance and the sheer passion she exuded. Every note seemed to light her on fire and the radiant smile on her face was a testament to how much she loved music. Even when she paused her playing, she would close her eyes and hum along to her band, the Chamber Music Society. And while she writes her own music, it amazed me how she was able to play intricate musical compositions while singing along. Take it from a former piano player: that is NOT easy. I became an instant fan.

For more information on Esperanza Spalding, check out her official website. To preview more of her music, listen to the player on her website or her fan station on last.fm.

If you have any music you’d like me to check out, leave me a comment or send me an email! (Contact info in the about me page)

xoxo,

Tara

Poem: Nikki Giovanni – Ego Tripping

This is my favorite poem, and has been for many years. (as those of you who correspond with me on AOL Instant Messenger would know) So here it is, for your reading pleasure:

Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why)

by Nikki Giovanni

I was born in the congo
I walked to the fertile crescent and built
the sphinx
I designed a pyramid so tough that a star
that only glows every one hundred years falls
into the center giving divine perfect light
I am bad

I sat on the throne
drinking nectar with allah
I got hot and sent an ice age to europe
to cool my thirst
My oldest daughter is nefertiti
the tears from my birth pains
created the nile
I am a beautiful woman

I gazed on the forest and burned
out the sahara desert
with a packet of goat’s meat
and a change of clothes
I crossed it in two hours
I am a gazelle so swift
so swift you can’t catch me

For a birthday present when he was three
I gave my son hannibal an elephant
He gave me rome for mother’s day
My strength flows ever on

My son noah built new/ark and
I stood proudly at the helm
as we sailed on a soft summer day
I turned myself into myself and was
jesus
men intone my loving name
All praises All praises
I am the one who would save

I sowed diamonds in my back yard
My bowels deliver uranium
the filings from my fingernails are
semi-precious jewels
On a trip north
I caught a cold and blew
My nose giving oil to the arab world
I am so hip even my errors are correct
I sailed west to reach east and had to round off
the earth as I went
The hair from my head thinned and gold was laid
across three continents

I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal
I cannot be comprehended except by my permission

I mean…I…can fly
like a bird in the sky…

xoxo, Tara

Snapshots – 5.19.2010

Suuup. Here is a photographic digest from my life! These were from the past week or so as I found myself in all sorts of exciting locales around the Baltimore area. I am trying to cram in time with the boyfriend before he leaves for Turkey, plus a few surprise opportunities came up that I couldn’t pass up. Depending on how eventful my days are, I may make more of these posts. Let me know what you think in the comments! By the way, I am open to name suggestions, because “Snapshots” is Blah.

Photos from Belmont House

My boyfriend’s program had a picnic at the picturesque Belmont House in Elkridge, MD. It was a great place with fantastic food, gorgeous nature and a wonderful backdrop for Ian’s budding fashion photography career (Ha!). We took an impromptu nature walk towards the lake (the path seemed endless…and full of goose poop towards the end) to snap some photos together.

Hill Harper in Baltimore, MD

I was lucky when my cousin decided he couldn’t use his ticket for the annual Enoch Pratt Booklover’s Breakfast. Although I was a little wary when I found out I had to make it downtown by 8:30 in the morning, I decided at the last-minute the night before to just get up early and go. I don’t regret it! I had a great time and got to meet Hill Harper, who was quite cute in person, as well as pick up his book Letters to a Young Sister. While I do think I am too old for that book, it is an excellent read for those of you who are high school age looking for some guidance told with frankness and honesty. And later…

Pho from Baltimore Pho in Hollins Market. Mmm...

Oh my goodness. Seriously. Oh. My. Goodness. I had never eaten pho before this day, but I am officially an addict. This pho was seafood “Hollins Style” (subtract some of the noodles, replace them with veggies) at Baltimore Pho. Highly recommended. I took half of it home and enjoyed the succulent shrimp (seriously – look at that shrimp) two days later. Add some plum sauce and my mouth is feeling blissful fireworks of flavor. Oh, and that is my dad in the background.

That’s all for now! Has there anything been going on with you guys? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,

Tara

What Can Be Learned from Josephine Baker

How do you start an article about the inimitable Josephine Baker? She is one of my true idols and a true inspiration – and I think she could inspire you, too. While it is nearly impossible to encapsulate her fabulous persona into a short blog post, here are some bits of inspiration from the life of La Baker.

• Her achievements are vast: She is the first African-American to start in a major motion picture, the first to integrate an American concert hall and the first to become a world-famous entertainer. Not only that, but she is a noted contributor to the American Civil Rights Movement, as well as an assistant to the French Resistance during World War II. Talk about multi-faceted.

• Baker was so popular with the French that even the Nazis were reluctant to cause her harm while they occupied France during World War II. In turn, she became an “honorable correspondent” for the French military, passing along secrets as she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Japanese officials and Italian bureaucrats. She sometimes smuggled secret messages written in invisible ink on her sheet music.

• She protested in her own way against racism. She refused to play to segregated music halls, prompting integration for her sake. She also adopted twelve orphans (Angelina, eat your heart out!) from various countries around the world

Simply put, Josephine Baker means a lot to me. I first heard of her when reading the book Beautylicious by Jenyne M. Raines. After hearing extravagant stories about what a fascinating woman Ms. Baker was, I had to learn more about her myself. And learn I did.

As a young black woman, to me, she redefines what it is to be a black beauty in an early era where faces like mine were notably missing. She partially embodies one of my favorite eras of history, the Harlem Renaissance. Generations ahead of the curve, she learned to do what she wanted, when she wanted, and became an international icon in the process. The woman was fearless, fantastic. Who else would stroll down the Champs-Élysées, fabulous from the clothes on her back to the diamond collar that adorned the neck of her pet cheetah (yes, cheetah), Chiquita? Her influence and legacy continues to be seen in many of the other women I view as personal inspirations – from Eartha Kitt, to Diana Ross, to Beyonce Knowles.

One of the most amazing facets of Josephine Baker is just that – she is a unique, multi-faceted woman. Not only is she a style icon, but she was a groundbreaking performer, a civil rights pioneer and a dutiful global citizen.

xoxo,

Tara

ps – My deepest apologies for this late post.

Slowed Down Sundays – 4.4.10

Slowed Down Sundays – 4/4/2010

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Happy Easter Weekend, everyone!! I missed this post last week, for which I sincerely apologize!

So this time it is a DOUBLE-STUFFED Slowed Down Sunday (think a mega-lovable oreo). Without further ado:

♥ The Vira Heinz Women in Global Leadership retreat! I had a fantastic time, met incredible young ladies who are doing big things worldwide (no seriously – everyone just blew me away), met gracious, fabulous mentors and learned a wealth of information. I can’t gush enough about how great of a time was had. Not to mention the amazing food…I still have Pineapple soda from the Mexican lunch in my fridge, by the way. If you are an upcoming sophomore woman at the University of Pittsburgh (or one of the other participating institutions found on the website) you should strongly look into applying!! Through this program, I found another awesome young lady who is going to be in the same district of Tanzania as me this summer! So much love for such a short weekend -  I can’t wait for the second retreat come September!

♥ Catching up with old friends – One of my old friends came up from Maryland to visit and we got to meet up. Let me tell you, it was epic! We explored the depths of the Cathedral of Learning like we were Indiana Jones, from the Nationality Rooms (more on that in the link) to the epic lookout point at the top of the Cathedral. After that, we traipsed around Oakland until we reached Phipps Conservatory where we caught up on the years we lapsed on while surrounded by the most beautiful garden you can imagine. What more can you ask for?

♥ The Barefoot Soccer Tournament!! This past Saturday, there was a charity barefoot soccer tournament organized by a coalition between University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. Red Bull came out to support the tournament (!) as well as Nike (!!) who used it as a platform to collect for their reuse a shoe program. There were twenty-four teams participating, and the venture raised over a thousand dollars! It was a great time with a DJ, bare feet and tons of soccer.

♥ Realizing that this entire slowed down Sunday thus far has consisted of an ode to Pittsburgh, specifically the Oakland area. And not minding at all.

Other miscellaneous love shout-outs:

Five Guys, specifically their French fries, which must be fried in some kind of awesome-sauce; sunshine – I feel like I’m photosynthesizing!; the sights of Craig Street in Pittsburgh; the Hogwarts-esque commons room within the Cathedral of Learning; Wild Young Hearts by the Noisettes on a warm spring day; wearing a skirt as a dress; winning a soccer ball and using it to dribble around the circumference of my floor; talking to my boyfriend in between his shifts; Ceres Berry Medley juice – pears, guavas, pineapples, papayas, mangoes, peaches and passion fruits? Yes please!; Sangria Señorial; flamenco lessons; drum circles; leopard-print scarves that call my name; girly nail-painting sessions with friends (current shades: The IT Color by OPI and Strawberry Fields by China Glaze); VV Brown; Ebony Bones!; jam sessions at the hookah bar to Jason Mraz, badass violin soloists (also at the hookah bar), the autobiography of Miles Davis; applying sunscreen on your face and smelling like summer at the swimming pool; cooling spring breezes; the fact that it is still sunny out even at 5:20pm!!

What has made you happy this past week? Share in the comments!

xoxo,

Tara

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Weekend Links – 4.2.10

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Sorry about the posting delays! Exam week is on the horizon so my classes have kicked into overdrive. I won’t try to miss posts, though! (Sorry in advance if they’re late)

◊TIGHTROPE (by Janelle Monae) is here! Watch it. Now. It’s okay, I won’t be mad.

◊This is something I’m still trying to get down: The Power Nap! On lifehacker, there’s a handy-dandy how-to guide. Check it out!

◊My spring break has come and gone, but I know people for whom it’s just starting! Here’s how to get back into the swing of things after a break!

◊This is gorgeous: a kaleidoscope of colors. Some of the most beautiful interior decorating I have ever seen.

◊Did you take part in Earth Hour this year? Flickr blog has documented some of the most amazing images from this hour-long conservation effort.

◊Another link from Earth Hour, this time it’s interactive! Mouse over images of famous places to see what they appeared to be before – and during – Earth Hour. It’s eerie, actually.

◊Finally, here are a collected set of images from Earth Hour worldwide, as found on Oh No they Didn’t! Politics.

◊Now this is just awesome. Greek myths, illustrated in an amazing mural.

◊This is really interesting. This is a series of photographs by David Fenton that illustrate the nature of protest, in all of its forms.

◊“30 Habits that will Change Your Life”. Pretty self-explanatory, no?

◊Are you reading The Oatmeal yet? If not, you need to, especially if you’re a nerd like me. I love it! Suggestion: all the grammar comics. They’re hilarious.

◊This short animated French film might seem frightening at first, but there’s a really awesome twist ending! Check it out!

◊Maybe I’m the only one who cares about this, but Super Mario Galaxy 2 is coming out! And soon! There’s a new trailer on Game Trailers.

◊I recently did a blog entry about dealing with change, and here’s another resource! “How to see Change as A Glass Half Full”.

◊I looove this site, so I am definitely passing this along: Win a sassy session over at The Sassy Minx!

◊Jackie Collins in the HBIC. Over at Agent Lover, she’s been interviewed, so definitely go read it!

◊Watch the much-buzzed Window Seat video by Erykah Badu. Click on the ankh to view it. It’s very interesting, and I like it.

Have a nice weekend, everybody!!

xoxo,

Tara

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My Happiness Manifesto/a!

source: www.galadarling.com

Worry Less.

Smile More.

Accept Criticism.

Take Responsibility.

Listen & Love.

Don’t Hate.

Embrace Change.

FEEL GOOD ANYWAY.

I think that life is far too short – we shouldn’t spend it dwelling in negativity and wallowing in stagnation. I feel that everyone should instead live their lives doing what they love, engaging in activities that stimulate them in mind and body. They should be entitled and empowered to a life of joy, adventure and passion.

While these are important enough that they could call for separate posts (which are forthcoming), I would like to talk about them briefly here. I also don’t want to go without mentioning that today, February 13, 2010, is Madly in Love with ME Day, a day of self-love. How cool is that?!

EDIT: Now that this series has concluded, click the headings of each topic to read the corresponding article. Enjoy!

Without further ado:

MY HAPPINESS MANIFESTO. (not just for me, but for everyone!)

WORRY LESS- This is an issue that I, personally, have a problem with. But honestly, in many situations what good does worrying do? If you have a major interview or an exam around the bend, will it help you to succeed to dwell on the possibility of failure? Of course not! Is it worth it to avoid new experiences due to anxiety and worry about the unknown? Of course, there are things that are genuinely worth your concern, but these are often different than worrying. Worrying typically does not focus on facts, but rather the “what-if’s” of a situation. Being concerned, of course, can be constructive – it is always responsible to give things the serious thought and consideration they deserve – but anticipating chaos and negativity before it happens can be quite undermining. And while it’s been disproved that worry can gray hair, it can still make you sick!

SMILE MORE – This is a simple and straightforward one – making a point to smile more can do wonders for your self-confidence and mood! Studies have shown that smiling can actually help increase your mood and happiness. Some cognitive psychologists believe this is because you closely associate certain facial expressions with mood, and keeping a smile on your face may help convince you to be happier. In that same study, it was mentioned that people seem to “catch” emotions, so smiling at a stranger on the road may help them feel happier as well. Give it a try!

ACCEPT CRITICISM – This one is tough. But it is extremely important to not let criticism put a serious dent in your self-image. Criticism is often meant as a suggestion for self-improvement and it does not make you a bad person; everyone has a fair amount of work to do on themselves! Criticism should not be geared towards making you feel like the scum of the earth – and if it was meant to, that criticism is obviously rubbish! But learning from someone’s constructive criticism can often be valuable; it is extremely hard to be self-aware at all times, unless you are prone to out-of-body experiences!

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY – To a reasonable extent, of course. While shouldering the weight of the world isn’t feasible (and you shouldn’t have to, either!). It is also important to take responsibility of certain aspects of your life. One thing I have learned growing up is that while there are hopefully people who are able to support you, the only person who is with you one hundred percent of the time is yourself. Not only that, but I feel that unless you feel a personal responsibility and investment in whatever it is you do – whether it’s in school, your job and even your relationships, you will lack the driving passion that allows you to be more successful and truly appreciate what you have and what is in store for the future.

LISTEN AND LOVE – These two are extremely different concepts, but they are strongly related at the most basic level; they both require an open heart and mind. As far as listening, some of the most remarkable people in the world are ready to share their experiences to someone who has an open ear to listen. Everybody has a story to tell, a talent to share, wisdom to give. Without taking the time to listen and appreciate these people, you may miss out on some of the most fantastic insights you have ever heard! Opening yourself up fully to others can be difficult, but the most amazing, passion-filled relationships are formed that way. Leaving yourself vulnerable to love can be extremely terrifying, but can ultimately be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. This may not just apply to other people, but also yourself.

DON’T HATE – This one seems obvious, but true! In my opinion, the feeling of hatred is the direct contrast to the feeling of love – aside from the other; the two are unmatched in their intensity and all-encompassing nature. Hatred is a poisonous emotion that builds and consumes you. But think about someone or something in your life that you love – consider how often it crosses your mind, and how profound the positive change in your mindset can be when you remember the value it holds in your life. Is it really worth it to reserve an identical space in your heart for such negativity?

EMBRACE CHANGE – Change is virtually inevitable, whether we like it or not. Huffing and puffing won’t stop winter from following autumn! Embracing change and the new experiences it can bring can be fulfilling and inspiring, while resisting change with all of your heart can be boring and stifling. Change does not always have to be a bad thing, and when one door closes, another opens. And if change ends up being for the worse, know that there is always a new day on the horizon, and things may change again.

FEEL GOOD ANYWAY – The simplest of all. It obviously is not possible to be upbeat every single day. Things may not go your way, worry may be consuming you, and it may be hard to smile. For some reason, it has become difficult to accept criticism, your responsibilities may be overwhelming, you are not in the mood to listen to anyone, there is this person or thing that is pissing you off, and you can feel hatred rising through every vein in your body. But it doesn’t have to be like this, at least not all of the time! Happiness can often be a choice, based on your attitude and outlook. The world outside may be a load of watered-down weak sauce, but happiness comes from the inside, not what is happening outside. Count your blessings, do what makes you happy and try to love every minute of it!

With that said,
What is YOUR personal happiness manifesto?

xoxo, Tara

ps – Happy Self Love Day, everyone!! (and happy birthday to my blog!)