outsidesinside: January 2009

stay... out the doggy house

#1. Don't wait until Valentines Day(or any holiday at that ) to celebrate your love/like

#2. Time, Sincerity, and Effort mean so much more than material things...

#3. Stuffed Animals = High school ( unless she's just into that sort of thing or she told you about some stuffed bear she had as a kid that was destroyed ... yadda ... yadda you get my drift... sentimental)

#4. Get her something she can USE... a box of chocolates is just that... a cardboard box after the fact...

#5. A friend of mine... who gives great gifts might I add... said it best.. he strives to give an "Experience"...it last so much longer... even when you aren't around anymore :)

i am a G.R.I.T.S :down home edition

I eat out a lot... I know... a waste of my resources... but at least it's a tasty waste... My friends would say I only eat at linen table places... it's partially true... the following are the places I go when I'm feeling BAMA lol...

Nikki's West is known for their cafeteria line... it's staffed with all men... and they do not play... you may want to actually read the menu and make up your mind before you hit the line... it's fast pace soup kitchen style... They have these yummy complimentary cinnamon rolls with breakfast and dinner... I have a thing for the cornbread dressing!

Located less than two blocks from where my daddy grew up, Graffeo Bro's market is the first butcher I ever experienced. You got to get there early it's rarity yields popularity. They have the best cheese... my mom gets it sliced with souse meat ... (the Graffeo family sold the store around 06)

The best chicken wings in town belong to Green Acres. Call me crazy but I got a thing for the grease soaked brown paper bags and the "all the way" (ketchup/hot sauce/ salt & pepper) condiment.

My daddy drives us down to Chilton County for the delicious peaches... and no trip is complete without a stop by the Durbin Market for homemade ice cream and peach pralines.

The famous Jim N Nicks homemade cheese biscuits with sweet butter.I recommend the mac & cheese and the queso dip ... everything is good of course!

goodnight marc...

marc you were good to me

when no one else knew you

brought me into womanhood

i tried to continue in the family

but you changed

became popular

a household name

so attainable

i love you still

but like a phoenix...

Yes this is the same bag that I said "Pour it out for..." The lesson here is sometimes good things come around again... my only reserves are the straps... they are kinda short and I like to wear my bag on my shoulder... hmm.. guess it's just more motivation...

ladies room walls talk

The houses and the doors are all found gracing Dublin’s equally as famous Georgian Squares, which were laid out during the Hanoverian period in the 1700s as the city attracted new wealth and rejuvenation.

It was 1970 around St. Patrick’s Day that a colourful collage of Dublin doors appeared in the window of the irish Tourism offices on Fifth Avenue in New York City. People on their way to watch the parade were stopped in their tracks by what they saw. Drawn by the uniqueness of the image, many of them went inside to find out where they could get a copy. There were so many requests that Joe Malone, North American Manager of Bord Fáilte at the time, commissioned the poster that has since become an icon of Ireland.

THE Jazz Corner

One of my favorite places in Hilton Head... The Jazz Corner ( jazz 7 days a week)

eAr strOKes

George Benson- Jazz guitarist, Pop and R&B singer.

"I was an entertainer first," he says proudly "As a kid I sang, danced and played the ukelele in a nightclub. As my career has progressed, I've had the pleasure of playing with the baddest jazz cats on the planet. But that doesn't change my desire to entertain folks. That's really who I am."

The first sound of George that I witnesses was This Masquerade. I'm on an instrumental kick right now so I got a couple of his on rotation... but don't be mistaken I am particular to the scat

clean stems

Glass Bubble Vase

A sketch of the wonderful vase I received this weekend.

Slight difference: the bubbles are the same size, connected, and are elevates by glass feet.

em . in . i and u

James Earl Jones and Cecilia Hart

The SAG awards will honor Mr. James Earl Jones tonight. I caught him on the red carpet with his wife of 26 years Cecilia Hart. Loved what he had to say about her " She's a Gemini so it's like I married two women..." I see he recognizes how exciting it is to be loved by a Gemini woman... It reminded me of this astrological synopsis about Gemini women... "Once you've proposed to her and she's accepted, you can pity all those men who are doomed to a life of monogamy with just one woman. You'll have five wives when you marry your Gemini." So true ... don't try to turn me in lol, but I sometimes feel like five people lol!

me and mine

Let Your Motto Be Resistance - Smithsonian Books

This weekend I met up with my sister-friends for lunch, shopping, and of course gifts! I was in a mood so I gave books! A couple of others in the bag were : Spa by Allison Atieff and Bryan Burkhart and Adrienne Arieff and Deborah Bishop ...lol... TIME magazine Inauguration Preview and Person of the Year issues (Barack covers). I received this incredible vase... pics coming soon!

weekEnd pIck UP

Keds Champion CVO Rainbow - Plum

em . in . i = i'm tired but not through

Whitney Houston- My Love is Your Love

You ever get tired of being unhappy... I really honestly can't figure out what I am doing wrong... I took a risk... I never take a risk... I went against the grain... I have never non-creatively went against the grain... Everybody keeps telling me nothing is wrong with me... I'm a hot commodity... for years I have bathe in praise... I never once took advantage of it... besides some inner consumption of ego strokes... I may think bad thoughts... but I am not a bad person... my insides stay inside... and that's what this blog is about ... bringing them out

save the date

Vintage Desk Calendar

I'm not sure where you can get one... I have had mine for quite a few years... It sits on my desk... literally ... lol ... I don't use it to keep date... I had it set on my birth-date until a couple of days ago... ironically when I found this pic it matched the day I had moved my calendar to... creepy huh?

it's yo money/mind

While thousands of movie goers flocked to the theater to support a highly glamorized film that I will not name... I took my mom to see Gran Torino. In a time where people are putting such an emphasis on "change" Gran Torino is an important film to see. It covered so many issues... my favorite had to be that while the movie had a strong theme of racism... it was not about black and white! As a matter of fact there were only three black people in the whole movie and they had about two minutes of screen time... get deep people ... go see Gran Torino! Oh yeah don't worry there weren't any police standing guard at the entrance/exits.

say what... consort

em⋅press [em-pris] –noun
1. a female ruler of an empire.
2. the consort of an emperor.

I am a hater

"When people ask me what I do, "Designer" seems inadequate. I tell them that I'm in the fashion business. But that is what happens with ready-to-wear. You become an enterprise." - Mr. Lagerfeld

I'm warning you now I'm about to harp... my peeves

If you got money... don't tell me about it ... I don't care

It does not impress me that you are wearing designer from head to toe

It really doesn't impress me if I can identify that you are wearing designer head to toe because you have on logos head to toe.

It really irks me if I can't identify that you are wearing designer but you have to let me know.

It's not cool to cause a scene so that people will know you are wearing designer head to toe... ex... "Did you just brush up against my $800 such and such(insert designer) shirt?"...

If someone ask you where you got an item... if you know it's out of their range...lol... just say it was a gift... lol

If you don't have money... don't tell me about it... I don't care

not for the neck

Valentino - Noeud d'Amore Clutch

carTOON

Political Cartoons from Scott Stantis

I check his cartoons every morning in the Birmingham News online. Stantis is also the artist of national comic Prickly City.

reach out and

Help Somebody!

Snowflake 2002-2006

Blizzard 2006- current

I think it's time to upgrade...

nip no tuck

I had some dental work done today... I can see how this self improvement stuff can become addictive... I have a few more trips to make... did I mention my dentist office is pretty fly... water falls... hardwood... flat screens... Dr. Paige R. Lester

vINtAGE

"Woman under hairdryer at the world championships of hairdressing."

--- October 1964, Basel, Switzerland

" High Pony" 06

"Sleek Contour" by Lura de Gez, from Woman's Day, 1949

i couldn't be more grateful

kitch⋅en

tonight i met a young man ( 17ish) that could not spell kitchen... i am not going to speculate at his reading level... as i witnessed his writing skills... just be aware people... so deeply blessed...

on the dotted line: sIgn

I contacted the local Institute of the Death and Blind a couple of weeks ago to get on the list to learn ASL... Ironically this morning while getting breakfast a straight cutie stepped to the grill... he began to order his breakfast... silently... the woman working the grill gets mad props for working it out and communicating with him... I watched in awe... see I could have helped shorty ( he was at least 6'2") if I had thought about bridging my language gaps earlier in life... time to crash for my CPR re - certification .

em . in . i

Anthony Armstrong- Me Myself and Eye

why?... do I or don't ... I was checking out one of the blogs I follow and lets just say a reputable publication went in hard on the blogger... as I read the article I found myself sympathizing with the blogger... I had a lot of nooooo and aweeee thoughts ... I mean they went in hard .... so unnecessary... then I scanned the reader comments .... wow... they went in even harder... freedom of speech... wow... so powerful... I've been blogging on this spot for a couple of months... I have told about five people about it... I have posted it's existence on all of maybe one spot... essentially I am blogging for myself... I get to entertain myself... with things that entertain me...lol... kinda like if I ever lost my memory I could come here and remember what it is that I adore... shot out to blogger for letting me have this outlet... While I read a lot of blogs... I never leave comments... I've got a different personality online when I interact with people...lol... out of respect I rather not subject them to the em. in. i ... I also ran into feeling like I don't want people to think I am biting off their success ... trying to create traffic for myself... I actually saw an instance where this guys blog got on from the fact that he was associated to another individual... yes people may have been visiting his spot because they really wanted more info on the primary individual... but u have to stay open... maybe they checkin you by chance... maybe under false pretenses ... yet you never know you might actually gain some honest interest... to say the least seems that the guy start blasting and infringing on freedom of speech ... didn't make the new followers happy... and I have to say they are a pretty influential group of followers so story t.b.c... and me I'm happy writing for myself !...lol...

"It may not mean nothing to ya'll...but understand nothing was done for me... so I don't plan on stopping at all... I want this ish for ever mane ever mane ever " - Drake

I'm suggesting an Artist

I would never suggest music ... I use to love to "play" A & R exec on YouTube... last spring I ran across a guy covering Brand New - Drake... so I looked up Drake ...

Aubrey Drake Graham

Age:22

Occupation(S): Actor, Singer, Rapper

Home Base: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Mixtape Monster: Room for Improvement

Comeback Season

Heartbreak Drake

So Far Gone

Checkin for him: octobersveryown.blogspot.com

femiNINE candy

Tiffany & CO - Paloma's Sugar Stacks Ring

"Picasso moved from designing jewelry for herself to creating a special piece for a play in Paris. From the beginning, her natural tendency was to design on a large scale. Her bold creations have inspired confidence and strength in women the world over."

Dori Csengeri - Gustav Collection

"Dori's pieces are reminiscent of generations of fashion icons. Made By and For women, Dori's pieces use the same embroidery and beading techniques that female craftsmen have used for centuries in jewelry making."

in MY handbag

#17 Liliane Bettencourt

Age: 86

Fortune: inherited

Source: L'Oreal

Net Worth $22.9 billion

When Forbes "The World's Billionaires" list first came out I quickly scanned it until I found the first woman on the list... I printed Ms. Bettencourt's pic/profile... I carried it around in my handbag for months... don't ask me why... maybe for inspiration... I do comprehend that she was the heir to the company/money... However, I'm looking at how long and well she has maintained it...

Mrs B. recently caused a stir when she donated a billion dollars in gifts to a society photographer. read about it here

say what...

aus⋅pi⋅cious [ aw-spish-uh s] - adjective

promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable: an auspicious occasion.
favored by fortune; prosperous; fortunate

I've been missing out

on all the simple joys of life...

Beverly Ewing and Bill Howland at the

Plamor Roller Skating Rink (1947)

from the book, " Legacy: Treasures of Black History"

by Thomas C Battle and Donna M Wells, Moorland- Spingarn Research Center

wiNdow paNe

Fortunate Couple

So I've got this thing about people eyeballing me ... lol ... ok ... ok... let me be real... sometimes it's kinda flattering to have folks checkin for ya....

However, if I am walking down the street and a person is coming towards me ...I will not look them in the face. (If you are not from the south you are probably like um... ok ... what's wrong with that? ) Even if I am going to like a gathering/party etc. I will walk straight through and it's my GOAL to not have to look anyone in their face.

Now granted this treatment weighs heavy on the male species and I know the first thing people will say is... ok, you are shy or people will throw out that I am insecure ... um ... not so much ... don't twist it ... I walk with my head high ... no shame in saying it took me a minute to get there and lets just say I am definitely past that minute now... I am a bit reserved when I meet a person, as many people are ... got to feel you out first... I haven't met a person that I couldn't deal with yet... knock on wood... I'm pretty good at picking up peoples vibes so.. i know when to cut a convo... start a convo... turn a convo etc... all that tooting of my own horn to say... I've got decent communication skills.

An older woman once shared this story with me of how her grandma noticed her now husband courting her... she says her grandma warned her... "do not look into that boys eyes"... and of course you have picked up on the fact that she obviously did as he is now her husband.

Now I felt the way that I feel about gazing before she told me this story so I'm not being a sucker for folklore ...I guess I do believe there is a special connection in the eyes... and I'm a private person... I'm just saying... I can't go gazing at every man that's checkin for me.

Here's what the folks over at Body Language Signals had to say

The way a person looks at someone reveals a lot… and the intensity and direction of their stare can reflect a person's thoughts.

Let's look at different scenarios:

- Glancing sideways could show romantic interest, flirting in a subtle way

- Glancing for a prolonged period of time, intermittently but repetitively -sexual attraction, lust if in the distance - interest in the conversation if face to face while one of you is talking

- Staring hard without interruption at all- invasive and threatening (usually accompanied by small pupils)

- Avoiding gaze - could be lying, or feeling guilty or uncomfortable about the subject discussed. If they are looking away after a long gaze, it could just mean they are "taking a rest", or distancing themselves from the subject.

- Gazing regularly - positive, inviting attitude - open to communicate with you

amour de trois choses I

MAC Adoring Carmine Brush Sets

I'm no type of diva so this x-mas gift was much

needed and appreciated!

Ceramic Egg Crate

I picked up about five or so of these in this little store ( I would give them some pub but they slighted me on a buyer position) about four years ago. They were on clearance because of course college students didn't understand... I use them to hold everything but eggs! My keys, change, paper clips etc...

"Emma" Long-Sleeve Cashmere Turtleneck

This is my winter staple... I'm mad simple... I use to hate t-necks ... now I can't understand how I lived without them...

em . in . i

how it starts...

Sunday... debated brunch all Sat night... daddy was suppose to take us to din today... needless to say I got up caught me some JO & scraped myself presentable for brunch... No mimosa today but lots of thinking... I got a lot of stuff I want to post on... most pressing is the "why I haven't moved yet" topic... lol... I participate in two other blogs... but ... I don't participate in two other blogs... On my walk back from brunch I passed by the museum ... did I mention I am ADDICTED to brunch... Wedgwood was calling my name... particularly fond of "The Cream" collection.... took a peek and on my way out the security guard was like " You must have known exactly what you were going to see"...lol... yeah.. made me really think... i'm a junior patron at the museum... only by funds and name ... lol... i never ever ever participate until the summer... Art on the Rocks... ever felt like one of those people who knows everything but does nothing... I have been practicing on become a better "fan" lol... and so I checked out a couple of interviews of my most admired musician... he said something to the gist of ... the years of twenty are bull ish ... I think this year I'm going to be thirty... and when I legally turn thirty ... i'll be thirty-five... lol... "There is only one way for the creator to know itself experientially as the creator, and that is to create." -CWG

I'm not a frou frou chic...

NIVEA

I grew up on this stuff!

A + D Ointment

Now it doesn't have the most pleasant smell but

it cures everything except a bullet wound lol!

Vaseline Cocoa Butter

I have fallen in love with the stuff I have about 3 bottles!

Too Faced Mascara

sweat and waterproof it's perfect for

the minimalist make - up diva

i DISlike the concept

Model/Photographer: Samantha Nandez

I really dislike the concept of TIME

it dictates when. where. how...

u love, u live, u feel, u express...

Happy New Year!

when you BELIEVE

- You go on tour even though you haven't had a new album out for 7 years

- You sale out 20 of 33 shows

- Your snippet (1 min 38 secs) of a song on your forthcoming album is #35 on "The 80 Best Songs of 08" list.

I BELIEVE: the above perceived measures of "success" are insignificant in relation to your ability to believe in and preserve "pure artistry"... did I mention... You amazingly still manage to feel the need to say "Thank you!"

*If you know me then you know it takes a lot to get my "attention" especially when I know you "want" or "need" it. I have never had a mentor... and so the "when you BELIEVE" post will highlight people that are "true" to me...

eVERY little bIT

Okay, so this took some getting use to... but I made the switch... there are a decent amount of choices... so do your research and figure out what's best for your lighting needs!