Let's Pack Our Bags for 2010!

2009 has been a WHIRLWIND. Deaths, births, new dances, new music, new fashion....the list goes on and on and on. And while I embrace change and hold a great appreciation for new ideas and innovative thinkers, not everything is worth bringing with me into the New Year.

With that being said, it's time to make some cuts. I'm super excited for what 2010 has in store for me (graduating from college is #1 on my list..WOOHOOO!), and I know that with forward movement comes change. Seasons end. Friendships begin. As you move to the top, it makes it wayy more easier when you have less unnecessary luggage with you.

Soooooo. Let's pack our bags, shall we?


First things first. What CAN'T fit into our suitcase?



"Things That Can Stay in 2009"


-Sudden Deaths- Family, Friends, Celebrities...seems like all at once, people are dropping like flies without any warning. What's up with this?? Can we have some time to prepare ourselves?? Death is inevitable, but Miss J'Marie can't take all of the out of the blue, R.I.Ps.

-R.I.P. Ridiculousness- Derrion Albert, A.J. Jewell, Shaniya Davis, Jasper Howard, Omar Edwards...The list goes on. If I had my way, We'd see less of this in 2010.


-The word "Swag" -......Seriously?? You REALLY think you have it? Probably the most overused word...definitely beat "Love" in the 2009 list of overused words. LET IT GO, PEOPLE!


-Liquid Leggings- Mkay. The "All Black Everything" phenomenon has everyone stepping out in their hottest digs, decked out in all black. And while most men look SHEXY in their all black, women look like each other's clone. Get creative with the "All Black Everything"! That does NOT mean you have to wear liquid leggings! Please let them R.I.P.

-Pretty Ricky

-MySpace-Should have been left in 2008, but somehow it creeped into 2009. Let's make sure it doesn't peep its way into our 2010 suitcase.

-Liars- It's a new year, which means we are about to be another year older. Stop acting like kids and just keep it funky! :)

-Bitter Women-- Don't get mad, get even! Do you and stop stressin' over that man that's doing him!! Embrace being single. As my girl Carrie Bradshaw put oh so eloquently, "The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that’s just fabulous.” Use every heartbreak, heartache, and disappointment as an opportunity for growth and gain a deeper sense of self-love. Stop being BITTER! :)

-Internet Beef- So what, are you typing with an angry look on your face, backspacing, copy and pasting, then clicking Submit? Dude. Get a life.

-Bad Lace Fronts

-Babies having Babies

-Insane obsession for the lifes of celebs- i.e. Chrianna, Tiger Woods, etc.

-Dumb catchy rap songs

-Dumb catchy rap song dances- Halle Berry in particular

-106th & Park


-Worldly-Sounding Gospel Songs with secular artists on the remixes-- I hope you're reading this, Mary Mary!

-Fairweather Friends --Only room for True-Blues in this suitcase!

-My procrastination.


Okay.


Things that can travel with me into 2010 :)


-Friendships :)

-Twitter

-Starbucks :) :)

-The Stanky Leg (I can't do it, but it's so fun to say!)

-Blogging, soon VLogging :)

-Fashion Blogs -Okay, I have one AMAZING one that I absolutely ADORE, but I refuse to share it... it's my best kept secret! Sorry :(...I'm sure I'll give in and share this awesomeness later on in a "What I'm Reading" post. :)

-Wine, Margaritas, Cosmos, etc. (tehehe)

--Higher Education

-My dreams

-Young Money

-Electronica

-Good Reads

-My California Dreams :)

-Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!

-Graduation

-Love <3


...so much more :)


What are you leaving in 2009/taking with you in 2010??


Happy New Year!! *cheeez*

Love. Sex. Fashion.

Love the song.
The video is pure sex.
And the fashion? Out of this world.

Everything about this piece is erotic to say the least. The lyrics. The body language. The fashion.

The fashion.

Oh God, the fashion.

I've never been one to closely follow the "what's hot, what's not" articles, although I'd like to consider myself a pretty stylish gal (nothing wrong with tooting your own horn once in a while!).

However, the wardrobe in this video is DEFINITELY in the "what's hot" category!

Leighton Meester is a new name to me, and I love her already! She did me soooo proud by placing my boy in this video. Robin Thicke. Oh, Robin Thicke.

I could ramble all night about how much I LOVE this song, LOVE the video, LOVE the sexuality and sensuality in the video, and LOVE the fashion, but what fun would that be?

See for yourself!

(The intense shoegasm starts at about 2:03. Love them!)

Daddy Wasn't There.

Daddy wasn’t there.

When all of my girlfriends went to the Daddy-Daughter dances, I stayed home. When I watched children on television talk to their mommies and daddies in the same room, I couldn’t relate. I’ve never heard the words “Go ask your father” mumble out of my Mommy’s mouth when I asked her for a cookie before dinner. It was just Mommy. It was always my Mommy. The term “combined income” didn’t refer to Mommy and Daddy’s income combined. It was Mommy’s day job plus Mommy’s night job. Daddy wasn’t there. So Mommy was Daddy…

…Until Brother stepped up.

Brother was there. Brother was there when Mommy was not. Only 5 years older than I, he played the role of the missing man who was 30 years older. He taught us to be tough. He showed us how to be strong. Because of Brother, I learned the true meaning of dedication. But most importantly, I learned how to take a punch. A hard punch. To the stomach. To the face. All over. I was a tough girl. All because of Brother. I knew how it felt to be bullied, so my classmates were nowhere near intimidating. Brother was both Daddy and Big Brother. Brother was there when Mommy was not.

When I liked a boy, I had to receive Brother’s approval. When thinking about my wedding, Brother would be the one I imagined would walk me down the aisle. Brother was Daddy. And Daddy was nowhere to be found. Daddy wasn’t there to show me how to cut my food. Instead, Brother took control. He showed me the correct way to cut my pancakes: Rip them apart. He trained me how to drink like a lady should: Participate in chugging contests. Brother taught me the importance of keeping my “school clothes” clean: Roll around in the grass aimlessly whenever you see a hill. Because of Brother, I have little to NO PATIENCE. He taught me that it was okay to sneak in the downstairs closet and peek at your Christmas gifts before Mommy wrapped them. If I want to know now¸ why wait? When Mommy was gone, we always snuck. Every year. And if I hadn’t gotten excited about my Baby Wet-Wet, our cover would have never been blown. The memories are endless when thinking of my childhood. And they almost always involve Brother. Why? Because Brother was there when Mommy was not.

But Mommy wasn’t there for the same reasons Daddy wasn’t there.

I’ll never really know why Daddy wasn’t there. Mommy was making a better life for her children. Daddy was creating other lives with other women and their children. Mommy loved us all dearly. She is the strongest woman I know. And a strong woman reared strong children. But most importantly, a strong Brother. A Brother that was also a Daddy. A Brother that showed me the importance of a father figure in a young girl’s life.

So now, when I tear apart pancakes with my hands, have water-chugging competitions, mess up my “good clothes” by rolling down a grassy hill, or become impatient, I'm not ashamed. I'm grateful. That’s what Brother taught me. Brother was there when Mommy was not.

And Brother was there because Daddy never was.

Life Is A Game...

Have fun. Advance to higher levels. If you need to, reset and start again. You might win some money or lose a life along the way, but it's all part of the game. The more you advance, the harder the battles will be, but trust me, it builds character!

Life is a game. And YOU have the controller. Use it. Advance. Win money. Build character. Have fun. :)

(photos via Patrick Runte)

"I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those that haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood movie ectoplasms. I am a man of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids-and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, because people refuse to see me."

-Ralph Ellison

Networking for Dummies.

It's not about who you know, but what you know.


Okay, okay. Some people are probably thinking, "This dummy got it wrong, it's the other way around." And if you're one of those people, it might be safe to consider you the dummy for assuming that you know where I'm going with this. So, for the sake of categorizing and providing a sense of familiarity, I'll refer to you all as...well, Dummies.

In talking with my aforementioned buddy Nova Giovanni, he provided me with some info that further proves the idea that it is, in fact, more so about what you know.



With that being said, I'd like to consider this post a collaborative effort.

His profound ideas + My words

= All you need to know about networking, first impressions, and making the most of the new social phenomenon that is Twitter.

A couple of weeks ago, someone made a statement regarding success in the entertainment industry.

"It's not about how much talent you have, it's about making those that are in a position to help you-LIKE you!"

And this couldn't be more true.


Fortunately, for our generation, we have countless amounts of resources and networking tools that allow us to work on the "likeability" aspect when trying to establish ourselves in the industry. Nevertheless, these tools serve as both a gift and a curse. While having a Twitter account puts you in the path of those who are where you are trying to get, not using it right has the potential to, for lack of a better term, screw you over.


First things first. Know what you want.



Want a love connection? Get your ask off Twitter and follow this link: http://www.eharmony.com/


Wanna reconnect with old classmates? Stop Direct Messaging me asking if I'm the girl who used to sit behind you in Mrs. Graham's class. Now excuse me while I block you, and you, too, can follow this link: http://www.classmates.com/



Want to share new ideas & break the ice with people you normally wouldn't get a chance to? Ok, Twitter is for you, and you now have permission to follow @ItsMeJMarie & @NovaGiovanni :) *shameless plug of the day*



Now that you know what you want, begin to follow people who are in your field of interest.


Stop looking at the default pics and start reading the bios, damnit! 9 times out of 10, the girl who is in her picture with her chest and ask hanging out probably has "Professional Barbie B*tch" as her one-line bio.



And I know what some of you Dummies may be thinking: "Twitter is for fun! It's just something I log into to have some laughs and catch up on the celeb gossip, not to make serious connects!"

.......And this is why I call you guys Dummies.


EVERY chance you get, you should be looking for ways to "Carpe diem". Seize the day. Or in this case, the opportunity.



For example, I'm a Print Journalism major. As I began to look for internships, jobs and other journalist folks to network with, I typed "Journalist" in the Twitter search engine. From there, I found everything from Fashion journalists to Digital journalists, and even groups banning journalism in Israel. Now I have HUNDREDS of resources to add to my "Following" list, along with the celebs, random funnies, and real-life friends.


Treat Twitter like a cheap hooker or a jump-off. USE HER FOR ALL SHE'S WORTH!


This next point is IMPERATIVE.



Remember when you went to New York and walked the strip? Remember how irritated you were when that run-down, funny smelling, annoying salesman wouldn't stop asking you to take a look at his knock-off Prada bags? He swore he had the best deals, and helplessly begged you to "f*ck with him." If you could, you would've screamed "LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE! I'M NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR SH*T!"


Well... that's how you are to celebs. If you're not established in the industry, you're simply an annoying saleman (musician, comedian, WHATEVER) pushing your knock-off material. They don't want to be smothered by your never-ending promoting, so stop filling their inboxes with your stuff. While your music or material may be great, that's NOT the way to get their attention. And it certainly isn't the way to break into the industry.


You wanna get their attention? Be funny. Be creative with your replies to their tweets. But most importantly, be LIKEABLE! Eventually, they'll notice you. And if you're lucky enough, like Nova Giovanni, some might even start retweeting you and/or following you back.



Nova didn't hit celebs up like "Yo, I'm tryna get a job being on the radio." Or "Aye, my man, can you put me in one of your Baltimore productions?" He was simply himself, and these offers came to him because of that.

So be creative, damnit! If your "Target Tweetie" asks, "What time is it?" and you reply "5:45 :) ", YOU'RE WRONG, AND HAVE MISERABLY FAILED AT LIFE.

Instead, reply, "DAYtime! Now go to the thrift store & get a watch, cheap ass..."


I can guarantee you it'll get their attention. And if you're lucky, they'll start following you. BUT STILL DON'T TURN INTO HUSTLEMAN. Wait to see how things go, and after a while of interaction, use your BEST judgement to decide when it's the best time to pitch your goals to them.

It's just like a real-life relationship. Don't come on too strong. Don't come off like you're simply using them for what they can do for you. People need people, but it's up to you to utilize your networking skills and own personal discretion during times like these.


Businessman and best-selling author Clement Stone once said, “Tell everyone what you want to do and someone will want to help you do it.”


When done the right way, this WILL work for you. Hey, it worked for Nova! But then again, he IS an god living in a world among mortals!

But seriously though, I have no doubt that following these simple rules will lead you into a world of much success.

So, for any of you Dummies who fail to take heed to new ideas and advice because you "Got them connects," remember this: Increase the "Who you know" by using "what you know", and you shall go far!!

Insomnia.

Is a big, fat, energetic bitch. She never wants to sleep or let me go to sleep. I've pleaded and pleaded and pleaded. And even though it's 4:00am on an early Tuesday morning, she still won't let me drift asleep.

So I'll write about her. I'll write about her until she logs onto her computer and reads this, and finally lets me go to bed.

I wonder if she realizes that we have to get up early tomorrow for class. I wonder if she cares. I wonder if she'll stick some extra money in my wallet for Starbucks when the middle of my day hits and my eyes feel like they're holding bricks.

She keeps bringing up topics that I don't want to talk about let alone think about. Like love. Love lost. People who have the love that I lost. Jobs that I wish I had. Career paths that want to take. The fear I have for the drastic changes I want to make after graduation. Friendships.

Love. Love lost. People who have the love that I lost. Things about me that I wish I could change. Things about me that I don't want to change. I wonder if Insomnia knows that I don't want to think about these things.

I wonder why she chooses 4am to bring them up? Why not at 11am when I'm in African American Literature, dozing off at the professor who holds miles of enthusiasm for a topic I hold NO INTEREST IN.

Why can't Insomnia wait until then?

Does Insomnia know that she makes me cry?

I don't want to be awake. I want to suppress my problems and face them when the sun is up. It's always easier to face the darkness when the sun is on my side. But darkness in darkness? I don't wanna do it. Does Insomnia know how much I don't want to think about this stuff?

Love. Love lost. People who have the love that I lost. Or maybe the Like that I lost. My future. My life.

I wonder if Insomnia knows that she's making me cry?

She might. She might not. But my guess is she does. But she still won't let me go to sleep.

Why?

Because she's a big, fat, energetic.....BITCH.

I'm Thankful.

For......

Life.
Love.
God.
Faith.
Family.
Friends.
Happyness.
My mama (she gets a category of her own ^__^).
Food.
Dessert.
Goot music.
Clothes.
Smiles.
Laughs.
Tears of joy.
Tears of sorrow.
Growth.
Experience.
Art.
Relationships.
P_r_o_g_r_e_s_s>>>.
Transition.
Meaning.
Excitement.
Lessons Learned.
Personality.
Genuineness (I know it doesn't sound like a word, but I swear it is. I just learned it! tehehe).
Wine.
Margaritas.
Food. (Did I already say that?)
Lip Gloss.
Newborns.
My perfect fitting jeans.
5-inch heels.
Twitter. (Sad, I know. But it lightens up my day sometimes!! Shameless plug: @ItsMeJMarie!)
Jokes.
Fights.
Hugs.
Kisses.
Pictures.
This blogsite.
James Madison University.
Memories.
Family.
Family.
Family.




I have so much to be thankful for. Not only for the material things God has blessed me with, but the immaterial objects that can't be replaced. Through all the ups and downs, I can truly say that I am blessed beyond measure.

:)

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR??

Negligence.

I apologize :(

This is the Black Student Alliance's Hip Hop Summit week, and I've been a busy bee! Beaver! And whatever else is busy.

So far we've had the Fade to Black Fashion Show, BSA Movie Night (House Party 3), FREE HIV/AIDS testing (GYT, Knowledge is Power), and tonight is the Sexploitation of Women in Hip Hop featuring Tae Heckard (as seen on ATL and BET's The Game)!! Tomorrow we have Lounge Expos8 featuring The Band Belief, and then I'm freeeee!

Home for Thanksgiving break. And I canNOT wait!

I miss my family and friends so much :(

Soooooo. I'll be back in action next week, after all of this BSA madness has simmered down.

Okie dokie! Time for class....

Love yall!

What I'm Listening To...

Due to Myspace buying Imeem, my link to this Ryan Leslie playlist no longer works. And I can't even say that I'm mad because my link to the playlist is gone. What makes me furious is that MYSPACE bought this website that I loved and adored. I deleted my Myspace account for a reason, folks! Sheesh! Anywho.... the world will go on, Janna. The world will go on.

So back to What I'm Listening To....

Ryan Leslie - Transition (Deluxe Edition)

Ryan did me proud with this album. It's phenomenal to say the least. I have the actual cd, but while I'm on campus my iPod is blaring this whooole album track for track. Ever since it came out last Tuesday, I've had it in heavy rotation, and I don't see it changing anytime soon.

So listennnnnn. :)

Nova Said It Best...

"...I believe life REALLY starts when you stop giving a fuck about what other people think of you... "



...And I couldn't agree with him more.


People always worry about what YOU'RE doing, and in turn, you're worrying about what THEY'RE thinking.

I've made a promise to myself that I was going to start living life for Me. Janna. Marie. Hall.

And nobody else.

At the end of the day, I have no one to blame for any unhappiness that I may have stumbled upon in my life. It's just that.

My life.

And I'm going to live it to the fullest. Let me make my own bad decisions. Let me do what I feel is best. And if I mess up, so be it. If you're a true friend, you'll offer a shoulder if I need to cry on it, and words of advice that don't consist of "I told you so."

Life really starts when you stop giving a fuck. Period.

...So I'm about walking through life with two middle fingers in the air and a smile on my face. It's time to start living for me.

And I'm excited.

:)

{Shout out to THE funniest man on Twitter and my fellow Richmond native @NovaGiovanni. His tweets make my day THAT much better. Love him. Follow me too! www.twitter.com/ItsMeJMarie :)}

This Video Speakssss to Me.

This is the epitome of what matters to me right now.

Freedom.

Happiness.

True friendships.

Lust for life.

The song makes me so happy. A perfect blend of sunshine and rock and roll.

And not only is this group "Girls" from my dream state of Cali-forrrn-eye-ayeee, but this is definitely feeel goood music. I love their entire album, titled "Album". How crrute???

Now watch the video and join in on the Sunshine Dance with me! :)

"I wish I had a suntan. I wish I had a pizza and a bottle of wine!"

... I do! I really do!

The First Day of November And..

j

m

I feel like crying.....but I won't.

j

m

My Daily Confession.

A MILLY. A MILLY. A MILLY.

...And I'm not talking about Wayne's song, either.


I swear I've died and gone to Spring 2010.


(Notbecause of graduation, either. We all know I hafta wait until December 2010. **evil face**)





Michelle Smith's Milly Spring 2010 line is GIVING ME WHAT I NEED, HONEY! Bright colors, racy patterns, appropriately risqué minis, and yards and yards of fabric left to use your imagination to accessorize however you please. I'm loving this collection already.





Now, I must admit.




I've never really heard of Michelle Smith until I came across her pieces on Fashionista101.com (shout out to this website. Their articles are amaaazzinnnng.)








But ever since I discovered this woman, I've been in loooove.


Hopefully, I'll be sporting a Milly piece come Spring. :) :) :)




<3






--Her pieces are more than just clothes. They're an art form.












(photos via style.com, materialgirlsblog.com, thefashionator.ivillage.com)

Haters.

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their time trying to make you look small so they can look tall.

They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever good enough! When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters…

That’s why you have to be careful with whom you share your blessings and your dreams, because some folk can’t handle seeing you blessed…

It’s dangerous to be like somebody else… If God wanted you to be like somebody else, He would have given you what He gave them! Right?

You never know what people have gone through to get what they have… The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they don’t know my story… If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too!

We’ve all got some haters among us! Some people envy you because you can:

a) Have a relationship with God

b) Light up a room when you walk in

c) Start your own business

d) Tell a man / woman to hit the curb (if he / she isn’t about the right thing)

e) Raise your children without both parents being in the home

Haters can’t stand to see you happy. Haters will never want to see you succeed. Most of our haters are people who are supposed to be on our side.

How do you handle your undercover haters?

You can handle these haters by:

1. Knowing who you are & who your true friends are *(VERY IMPORTANT!!)

2. Having a purpose to your life: Purpose does not mean having a job. You can have a job and still be unfulfilled. A purpose is having a clear sense of what God has called you to be. Your purpose is not defined by what others think about you.

3. By remembering what you have is by divine prerogative and not human manipulation. Fulfill your dreams! You only have one life to live…when its your time to leave this earth, you ‘want’ to be able to say, ‘I’ve lived my life and fulfilled ‘my’ dreams,… Now I’m ready to go HOME!

When God gives you favor, you can tell your haters, ‘Don’t look at me…Look at Who is in charge of me…’

~~Maya Angelou

Beyonce: Broken-Hearted Girl Official Video

Love it.

The Runaway Blogger.

Shhhhh!!!

Please don't tell my teachers that I escaped from their kung fu grip of reading and papers that can probably create a pretty solid novel-sized collection once the semester is over.

I needed a break. Seriously. Last week I only had time to blog once, and as much as I wanted to write, I NEEDED to get work done.

Oh, the life of an English major.

The work never stops. If it's not writing, it's reading. And if it's not reading, it's studying. And if it's not studying......it's BSA business. I must admit, though. I prefer staying busy. I love knowing that my work is getting done and I'm THAT much closer to graduating (HUGEEE HAPPY FACE).

Anywhooooo...

This past Thursday was BSA's (Black Student Alliance) first Lounge Expos8!!

Lounge Expos8, or L8 as we call it, is a big talent showcase where JMU students come out to, well....do just that. Showcase their talent.

This month's theme was "I Love the 90s", and we took THE most amazing trip down memory lane.

Back when music was real. Back when the music moved us. And not in a "stanky leg" kind of way.

Since I'm the Special Events Coordinator, this was MY show. From finding performers, to rehearsing, coordinating the music, making decorations, EVERYTHING. I did it, with the help of my awesome exec board. :)

The show was a huge success, and for the very first time, I hosted AND performed!!

( I cameo'd on the Fresh Prince theme song ^_^)

Once I had the Lounge Expos8 under my belt, I headed to Virginia Tech for the big game!!

MIAMI HURRICANES vs VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES!!

One word.

Wet.

And not in a good way.

It rained NONSTOP. And even though I had a fun time, I got completely soaking wet. There wasn't a dry spot on my body AT ALL. My hat and poncho did NOTHING for me. :(

My poor head got destroyed :(

You think the rain stopped me from cheering for those good ol Hokies?? Not at all :)

While I yelled until my voice got hoarse, my bestie danced her tushie off in the rain. I tried to take a picture, but I couldn't get close enough...

If you look verrrryyyy closely, you can see her dance team on the sidelines.

After the game.....wait. I must take a second to address how AWESOME the team played.

The Hurricanes may want to change their name. Because obviously no one taught them how to play in the rain. ;-)

31-7, babayyy.

After the game, we dried off, tried to create a miracle with our hair, and headed out to party in HokieTown. I had a blasttttt. Another trip is definitely in the works.

The road back to JMaddy was a long one, but it gave me plenty of time to reflect on the awesomeness that is Virgina Tech. :)

Well...there you have it. I escaped long enough to give you a recap on my weekend. But trust when I say this. Next post will be worth it. I'll have time to sit down and really work on it.

I'm already fed up with the neglegence. I love you guys, I swear. :)

Rock That Bob.

So this is what my girls have been up to.


Dana and Tiona. Also known as "Dainty".





Love it.


I like to call this song the "Ladies Anthem of 2009."

Rock That Bob.

Super long weaves are soooo 2000 and LATE. As the song says, "We're in a new era, got a black president. It's time for a change, and the bob is it!"


We don't need long flowing locks, our bobs are just fine! We're wearing our short hair proudly. Edgy cuts and exposed necks. So IN.


I love my bob and I rock it proudly. You ladies should, too. :)




*Rock that bob, girls!*

{Sidenote: I wrote this post in Maroon and Orange font to acknowledge their undying love for their school Virginia Tech. Die-hard Hokie fans, I swear. Haha ;) }

Peep their video. Uber cute. :)

A Night of Chills, Thrills, Career Kills, and......Wait, Is That A Bird's Nest?

I was distracted from homework for 3 hours last night watching the MTV Video Music Awards.

....Wow....

That's really all I can say about the show.

From on-stage circus acts to somewhat scary outfits, I think it's safe to say that this show will go down in VMA history as the biggest.....well...hot mess.

But I must admit. The "hot mess-ness" of the award show last night made for great entertainment on Twitter and Facebook.

{Shameless plug of the day: Follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/JMarie823 :) }

Here are some of my high (and low) lights of last night's show...

THE ULTIMATE HIGHLIGHT OF LAST NIGHT'S SHOW...

1.) One word.

Or should I say "color".

PINK.

Homegirl was AMAZING! How many artists have you seen get on stage and perform a trapeze act?

I'll wait..... ^_^

The idea was sheer genious, and to see it actually performed had me floored the entire time.

You go girl :)









2.)Janet Jackson. No. MISS Janet Jackson.

That was the best MJ tribute to date. She performed her heart out for her big brother, and I think I speak for everyone when I say we all felt it. It was so powerful, and you could see her emotion towards the end of the performance. Although I wish Chris would've performed too, this tribute was outstanding nonetheless. Glad to see her back on stage :)





3.) Russel Brand.

He's the kind of host/comedian you watch with one eye closed tightly, cringing the entire time.

And I love it.

His rawness. His uncut material. His awareness of American politics. All of this combined makes him a great host, and VERY fitting for MTV.

And it doesn't hurt that I find his accent and long, messy hair rather...sexy. ;)

4.)Waleeeeee.

Anyone who's read this blog before knows I am a devout Wale fan. I love everything about him from his music to his fashion. So to see him perform before and after every commerical break was a DEFINITE highlight for me. :)





I have another highlight, but that'll come later....

Now onto to the NOT so high-lights of the show.

FIRST AND FREAKIN' FOREMOST.

1.) Kanye, Kanye, Kanye.

There's no blaming it on the alcohol this time. Your behavior was beeeeyond unacceptable. Taylor Swift works very hard on her music and worked very hard on that video, and for you to come and ruin her moment because you thought Beyonce should've won was....tasteless. Immature. A disgrace. The list goes on.

Yes, you have a temper, and yes, we all know you throw tantrums occasionally. But that is no excuse. You're talented, accomplished, and your music speaks volumes. But before all of that, you're a grown ass man. And she is a teenager. You completely ruined what was supposed to be the happiest moment in her career. Her life.

Not only have you embarrased yourself, but you've embarrassed us as a people.



Thanks for the apology blog, but no thanks.



**sigh** I could go on about this clown.

(I'm not gonna post the video....Ridiculousness)


2.) Way to kill what little bit of a career you DID have, Lil' Mama!

Who died and made this chick Queen of NY? Who gave this chick the authority to come on stage with the great Jay-Z and Alicia Keys? This was an ultimate FAIL.

When I see this picture, I can't help but laugh. I think I laughed so hard at my TwitterFam last night that I cried. Thanks to Fabolous, who created the Trending Topic #lilmamais...people were going in on her ALL night. Hilarity.

#lilmamais Jay-Z's hypeman, she just got there late.

#lilmamais the one who gave Kanye that sh*t tonight.

#lilmamais picking out her bowtie for larry king.

#lilmamais at the bar w/ Kanye talkin' bout "You know we fucked up right?"







The list goes on.




What possessed her to do such a thing? Who knows. Maybe it was her uncontrollable love for NY. Maybe she felt like had some part in MTV since she's a host on ABDC. WHATEVER the case, her career is ruined, and she'll forever be known as #lilmamais....and not Lil Mama the rapper.



smh.



ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE:





In the midst of the chaos, Beyonce managed to create THE biggest highlight of the night.




Reflecting on the time she and Destiny's Child won their first VMA award, Beyonce calls Taylor Swift back onstage to "have her moment". The crowd went wild.




And so did I.





Some blog sites are saying it was a publicity stunt, for the purpose of saving face, but I don't care.











It was admirable. It gave me chills and a new love for that girl. Gon' 'head, Bey.







Best and Worst Dressed for the night.

















Beyonce. Love this look, love this color. Super plunging neckline. Showing off those great legs. **Two snaps for you**












This is a really nice look for Alicia. This dress was sooo cute! And the shoes worked. It's always nice to see Miss Keys in something a little more feminine.






This suit is a nice look for Taylor Lautner. Very handsome. GQ.








I love Fefe Dobson. I'm not even gonna lie...I forgot about her for a minute. But she showed up and showed out last night in this fly rocker chick outfit. **Peep the shoes**






Two words. Regal indeed. Love this dress on Nelly. She's such a beautiful gal, and the detail on this dress really brings out her gorgeous facial features.






Katy Perry never disappoints me.






Cassie, Cassie, Cassie. I think you're a gorgeous girl. But that MIGHT JUST BE where it stops. The shaved head isn't cutting it for me anymore. It just isn't. And it might be helpful for you to figure out what you want to do with the side of your head that DOES have hair. Because a ponytail just isn't working. The shoes don't compliment the dress, and the dress is, in my opinion, not really that hot.






J.Lo. Are your arms okay?





I love this dress, but Stephanie Pratt is giving me much "Aubrey O'Day" with this ensemble and I'm not sure if I like it too much.









Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga. You're such a free-spirit. You do what you want. And you dont' care what people think. And I respect you for that. I'll leave it at that.

The VMAs are over, but I'm sure peole will be tweeting about it all month. And I don't mind. Nope. Not one bit. :)

(photos via MTV.com)

Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.

-Albert Einstein

Hip Hop is NOT Dead.

It just went underground for a minute.



I've been vibin' to HIP-HOP all night tonight. Real Hip-Hop. I know I spoke on him last week, but another mention is soooo necessary. I already talked about this artist being a powerful breath of fresh air. What the game's been missing for so long. You know who I'm talking about....



Waleeeeeeee.


I'm rockin with him hard.



A Mixtape About Nothing.


Now don't be deceived by the title. Oh, it's about SOMETHING. The very things we NEED to hear right now. What we SHOULD'VE heard a long time ago. He just believes that nowadays people love to hear the music that isn't talking about anything. Trash. Soulja Boy and the likes of him.



Soooo.



He named it a mixtape about "nothing". So now maybe people will listen.

Ha.

Clever.

If this mixtape had as much hype as Drake's "So Far Gone" or Trey's "Anticipation" does now, half of the music that's out now wouldn't be out. People would feel the need to step their game up. Wale is indeed. The truth.


It's A Mixtape filled with real shit. Powerful music laced with his obsession with "Seinfield". Cute.
Creative.


So with that being said....



Download it here. Now. ;)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=m7u1rqgy

"A dog is more to be trusted than many a Christian man, for he never forgets a friend and loves the hand that gives him bread."

-James Fenimore Cooper

Because I Felt The Need To Repeat.

You can't always change people's opinions of you. They're gonna think what they want. If someone has tainted your name, sometimes you gotta let it ride. Fuck what others think and do your own thing. It's not your job to run around and make sure people don't believe what they've heard about you.

Live life with no inhibitions and lots of ambition. As long as you're happy with what you're doing, that's all that matters. Friends aren't always gonna understand. They might even have some misconceptions of you based on what they've heard. But you don't always have to "clear the air" with them, either. Sometimes it's best to say nothing.

Even if that means your truth isn't heard. You can't fight every battle.


I kinda just preached to myself there.....

Nice Guys Don't Finish Last...

Soft guys do.

Fellas, let me give you guys a little word of advice. From a girl's perspective. From MY perspective.

Too many guys nowadays are suckers for love. They'll do and say anything to get a girl. But the problem is that they want so badly to be in a relationship that they're doing and saying so many of the wrong things.

Yes, we do appreciate the sweet gestures, but don't show us your hand up front. The roses, the "Just Because" cards, the poems, all of that stuff shouldn't come right away.

I've talked to countless amounts of guys, and all of them say the same things:

"Give a guy something to work for. Don't put it all out there. We want a challenge. We want to WORK for it."

Well...

Ladies like it the same way!

Of course we aren't going to pursue you the way a man would pursue a woman, but guys, just because a woman appears to be "wife material", does that mean she is? Give her time to "prove herself worthy". Of course WE know we're worthy of whatever special treatment you want to give us, but YOU haven't seen it yet.

Showering us with gifts and sweet talk right away makes us feel like you're (for lack of a better word) desperate.

Like you've waited so long for an opportunity to finally give a woman all you've got, and now that you found a woman that embodies some of the qualities you look for in a wife or even a girlfriend, you're ready to give her the world right away.

We know you have the goods, and we WANT the goods, but we also want you to play "hard to get" when it comes to relinquishing them.

Which brings me to my next point.

Don't be so nice!

Nice guys don't finish last, but they come damn near close in my book.

-It's okay to have an ego. We have one, too. Just don't go overboard with it.

-Show us that you WANT us, but you don't NEED us.
It's possible to for us to know we mean a lot to you without you telling us every 5 minutes.


-When we're together in public, especially if we've JUST started talking, dating, whatever...
Don't smother me. We don't need to hold hands and kiss when we're out at parties or public functions. Give just enough to get the kiddies talking, but don't give them any concrete answers. Let our private life be our private life. People are gonna talk regardless, so let them talk!

However!

While I appreciate being discreet, don't act like you don't know me at all when we're out. Saying hey and conversing in public won't make people think something is up. If you try to carry things as if we're barely friends in public while we're clearly more than friends in private, that's grounds to get the boot.

Don't treat your lady like she's some kind of jump off. And if you genuinely feel as if she IS a jump off, don't send mixed signals. Don't make her feel as if feelings are there when you know very well that it's strictly sex. Not only will that make her feel stupid when you guys are in public, but her "Niggas Ain't Shit" mentality will slowly, but surely increase.

Next...

-It's okay to pick with us.
If you don't like our shoes, you can make fun of them. But keep in mind that we're gonna wear what WE want to wear. It may not be what everyone else is wearing, and our clothes might not even match. But it's what WE like. It's what looks good to us. It's OUR PERSONAL STYLE. So don't expect us to change. Because we won't. I WON'T. Make fun of the little things. We aren't insecure or have low self esteem.

{It's actually a good conversational piece ;) }


-Don't expect us to be your picture perfect queen all of the time. We tie our hair up at night. We don't wear make up all the time. We like to wear sweats sometimes. Our...well...MY breath stinks in the morning. And the more you can understand this about women, the better off you'll be.

Most importantly...

--Keep us on our toes!

Without telling us, let us know that at any moment a woman will try to take our spot. (Ladies, even though many of you say "I'll never fight for a nigga!", the truth is...you have to. And I don't mean "fight" like physically. We have to keep ourselves up. Give our men something to be proud of when he looks at us. Make him proud to show you off. Let your intellect compliment your appearance, as well. Let your confidence be the fighter. Have the kind of confidence that stands out and lets the other chicks know that you're "it", and there's really no competition.) Guys...make us feel like we HAVE to keep ourselves up. Yeah, we know you'll like/love us regardless of how we look, but....simply put....KEEP US ON OUR TOES.




So...

Like I said. Nice guys don't finish last. The soft ones do. The kind of guys who don't give a woman a chance to prove herself to be worthy of you. The same challenges you like in a woman, we like in a man. We don't want anything that comes easy.

Now I'm no relationship guru, but take my word for it.

Dear King...

Happy Birthday.

You're amazing. The best to ever do it, and the best that will EVER do it. You'll forever be missed.

Google had this as their icon when I logged on today, and I got chills. It's so real. You're gone. And granted, I'm still young, but you're music has greatly impacted my generation, although it's not apparent in music right now. Your legacy will live on. If not in music, then in our hearts. My heart. R.I.P.

Happy Birthday

Dope.

I'm soo diggin' this song right now. When I hear it, I wanna slip on my sexiest pair of 5-inch heels and stroll down the street. Any street. Preferrably a busy city street.

I love Wale. He's fresh. Dope. So DC. He has a youthful manliness about himself. And I love it.

And that's just his style.

His music is what we've been missing lately. A powerful breath of fresh air. Singable, but not "SouljaBoy-esque". You can dance to it, but not in a "Stanky Leg, Halle Berry", immature shallow kinda way. It's good music. REAL music. The type of sh*t I appreciate.

Keep doin' ya thing, babe.


...And the video is fire too.

Free.

Guess Who Loves Their Classes??!!

Me.

I absolutely LOVE my classes this semester! I couldn't be more excited to do work (super duper wierd, I know.). But as a Journalism major, it's imperative that I'm not only well read, but am able to see things from others' purviews.

And that's exactly what my classes are about this semester.

African American Literature- We not only read poetry and prose from African Americans in the 1800s-2000s, but we also dissect things that many of us enjoy on the surface.

Today we analyzed Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh's "La Di Da Di" and "The Show"! How freakin' cool is that? It makes me appreciate music so much more when I look at the lyrics and actually see what the people mean when they say the things they say.

I'm not really feeling a lot of the rap nowadays for THAT very reason. Who cares what kind of car you're driving, or how much your clothes cost? Tell a good story in your music. Humor me.

Humor me.

I appreciate things like that.

That's another reason Solange is my favorite artist right now. She tells stories in her music. She lets us into her life, and talks about REAL LIFE SITUATIONS. Not just things that "sound good". Many people don't even like her music, but she put it plainly:

"If you don't like it, I didn't make it for you."

And I love it. Real music in my opinion.

Advanced Composition- Everyone needs a challenge. And this one is challenging indeed. We have to analyze a tv show, movie, or really anything, and write a paper on what issues are discussed, or maybe even hidden, that deal with society.

(Between me and you, I'm writing mine on the misconception of life and friendships in the hit tv show, F.R.I.E.N.D.S. I'll give you guys more details as I write my paper, but that's definitely gonna be it. :)

Philosophy- Woahhhhh. This class is pretty intense. On the first day, he tells us about his "No Bullshit Policy". It's hottt. I love it. He says, "If you don't know an answer, don't give me a bunch of bullshit. I will respect you so much more if you say these three simple words: I DON'T KNOW." He even gives people partial credit on an answer if they put I DON'T KNOW. I can definitely dig it.

Our first class discussion is going to be Does God Exist? Wow. I don't know if I'm ready for this.

"Thinking that what you currently believe may not be true is the requirement for learning."

That's what he said! I don't know if I'm ready to open up my mind to doubting God's omnipresence.

We'll see what happens, though!

I also have a government class, but that needs no discussion. Not really that interesting. It's just a course I'm required to take before graduation.

I absolutely LOVEEE my classes. For once, I'm actually LEARNING things that I can share with you guys and my other peers. This is what school is all about. Forget math and all of that other nonsense if you're not a "Math and other nonsense" major. The learning doesn't really begin until you actually get in your major classes.

Now I see why seniors hated GenEds. And now that I'm a senior, I hate GenEds. They're pointless.

So now that the first 2 days of class are under my belt, I'm prepared for the upcoming semester. It's gonna be awesomery. And with the help of some good friends who are willing to be my study buddy and God, of course, this semester will be a breeze. I'm claiming it!

Happy Birthdayyyy

To me.





:)





Finally 21, baby!!





It feels so good to be able to go out and order a Mimosa for brunch, or a martini during dinner. I'm so happy to be able to sip wine and watch tv...legally. hehe.





Words can't even begin to convey how blessed I feel to have not only reached 21, but to celebrated it with such true friends. I couldn't ask for better friends. We had a blast at The Tobacco Company. Shots of patron, amaretto sours, blue motorcycles, cigars, and lots and lots of dancing. It was an awesomery night, indeed.





I'm blessed. Blessed. Blessed. Thank you Lord for another day, another year.

One. Foot. In. The. Door.

Highway 288. Done. I-64. Sigh. Highway 81. Sniff. Exit 245. Wipes eyes. This is for real.

This is for real.

I can't believe I'm pulling onto JMU's campus and there are actually people walking around. Some with bookbags. Some with bookstore bags. Some walking dogs. But there's one thing EVERY person has in common.

They're all wearing some kind of JMU paraphernalia. They're ALL JMU students.

"School is REALLY about to start, huh?"

I can't say that I'm ready, but I can't say that I'm not excited, either. I'm excited to see the new people. I'm excited for the amazing things this year has in store for BSA. {Oh yeah, I didn't tell you guys. BSA is Black Student Alliance. I'm the Special Events Coordinator this year, and we're doing BIG things. Stay tuned ;) }

I'm excited because I'll be 21 this year. So no more bootleg parties at these little clubs. I have something to do even if there's "nothing" to do. Harrisonburg, although it's a small town, has awesomery bars and other little places you can go to hear some great live music, see breathtaking art, and meet the interesting people that DON'T attend James Madison University.

Oh yeahhh. ^_^

So I drive through campus and get to my apartment. Sigh. I have so much to unpack, and this isn't even all of it. I didnt' even realize how much junk I have in my room/closets until it was time to do some organizing and cleaning.

Out with the old, and in with the new!

I found old cards, birthday and "Just Because" cards. **Sniff sniff**

Old work from my first year at JMU, and even stuff from my freshman year at Coastal Carolina University. I love finding old things! Pics, clothes, accesories, galore.

It's the little things.

After 3 hours of unpacking, cleaning, reminiscing and organizing, I needed a break.

Two of my good JMU friends came over to help me set up my new tv and dvd player, and we went out to lunch. Nothing like some local grub. Good 'ol Sams Hot Dog Stand. Yummmmm. :)

Even though I had the itis, I drove home and brought a friend with me. He kept me up though, because we had the best conversation. Love, life, relationships....I'm feeling a blog comin along about his outlook on love. It's pretty darn interesting!

Finally, I'm home! And tired as ever. But Real Housewives of Atlanta is on, and I REFUSE to miss another episodeeee.

So there we go. I officially have one foot in the door when it comes to getting my apartment...hell, my LIFE in order to prepare for this school year.

Now it's time to buckle down.

Yeah, I'm buckling down.....AFTER my 21st birthday celebration on Saturday!

I'm Just Feelin Like....

yeah.

ijustwannasay...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BESTEST FRIEND A GAL COULD ASK THE GOOD LORD FOR!

Tiona Nicole Bland

YOU ROCK!

Thanks for being my friend, my best friend, through thick and thin. When life got hard and when life was a-ok. From elementary school cheering to visiting each other at college. No one has proven to be as true blue as you. :)

Seems like yesterday we were 9 and couldn't wait to be "double digits" lol.

Now, we're 21 and all grown up. {Well, you're 21, I have 5 more days to go. :) }

"Oh soul, you worry too much. You have seen your own strength.You have seen your own beauty. You have seen your golden wings.Of anything less,why do you worry?You are in truth the soul, of the soul, of the soul."

-Rumi

What We're Debating...

Trey Songz- Anticipation

or

Drake- So Far Gone?

Which one is more of a banger?

Which one has received more buzz?

Can the two even REALLY be compared?

One is a rapper, one is an R&B artist who occasionally raps. Both amazing.

So who is better? Which mixtape goes harder? Is the reason why it seems like more people rock with Drake because as a rapper, he has more punchlines that people often quote?

With Anticipation being a slow, love-making, R&B Mixtape, there's not many punchlines to quote. It's all good vibin' music.

So in your opinion, which was better? Or can the two even be compared?

In MY opinion, it's apples and oranges. Two completely different tasting fruit, but equally delicious. It's all fruit. Both good for you, and that's all that matters. Can't be compared.

They are equally great. And together, they are a force to be reckoned with. So let's not separate the two with silly comparisons.

I wanna hear what you guys have to say...

Tweet Me! www.twitter.com/JMarie823

I'd love to hear your opinions!!

:)