Poetry in Motion: LUAM

“In order for your body to move, your mind has to be free.”

-Luam

Ain’t that the truth. This chick right here inspired me to run back to the studio after about 8 years of deferring my dreams. Throughout my young life, I admired choreographers like Rosie Perez, Fatima, and Tina Landon and dreamed of one day becoming a Fly Girl (Josie was my favorite.) So, in my sophomore year of college – I announced to my parents that college wasn’t for me (despite the fact that I always excelled in academics and was an honors student at the time) and I wanted to quit and pursue my dreams of becoming a choreographer and writer. Long story short – the parents weren’t feeling that idea at all and I caved. I continued to dance but set my professional dance aspirations aside in the meantime. After graduation, I set out to audition for a professional dance team when I was thrown off track yet again by a boyfriend, nasty breakup, and depression – in that order. The latter really took the wind out of my sails, which is why the aforementioned quote about the correlation between your mind and body really struck a chord with me. For years I simply could not dance. In order to dance, you have to feel the music and I was just struggling to feel like dragging myself out of bed in the mornings. It’s like my feet were mired in clay. I even stopped dancing at weddings. Well, never again!

Luam is one woman who stood her ground and pursued her passion at all costs and she is most definitely a source of inspiration, no matter what your personal pursuit may be. A former Ivy Leaguer turned choreographer and designer extraordinaire, she took the road less traveled and I for one, applaud her. Check out Nicole’s post on Luam Keflezgy for more.

Get it Girl! :o)

Today's Random Shuffle:

A Dream, Jay-Z
Start Over, Joy Denalane
Dum Dums, Das EFX
I’ve Just Begun (Having My Fun), Britney Spears
Long Way 2 Go, Cassie
Movin’ Together, Richard Dorfmeister
Summer Love, Justin Timberlake
What Is It About Men, Amy Winehouse
Supa Emcees, De La Soul
Little More Oil, Dj Rupture

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Divas & Girlfriends

“If there is any type of competition, it’s a healthy competition.”

My love/hate relationship with women's magazines aside, I am loving the cover of the Essence holiday issue. Out of the two options, I chose this one, but I'm also digging the inside shot shown below. Be sure to check out the behind the scenes video (click the cover photo above.)

Photo by: Matthew Jordan Smith

Today's Random Shuffle (up to 20):

Tangled, Maroon 5
Toothache, The Charlatans UK/The Chemical Brothers
Your Child, Mary J. Blige
Below the Funk, Rick James
Raincoat, Kelly Sweet
Every Breath You Take, The Police
Love’s Train, Con Funk Shun
Do You Love What You Feel, Rufus & Chaka Khan
Another Day, Stateless
Me & U, Cassie
You Dropped a Bomb on Me, The Gap Band
When I See You, Fantasia
Creepin’, Marti Pellow
Glad You Called, Anthony Hamilton
Area, De La Soul
Something, Musiq
Silicone, Mono
S.O.S., Rihanna
Too Good to Be True, Hill St. Soul
Breakadawn, De La Soul

Player: Pandora

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Fall Fun

Today's Random Shuffle

That’s How I Know, D’Nell
Poetry Man, Zap Mama
Break It Off, Rihanna & Sean Paul
Fontana Blue, Marco Di Marco
The Way I Feel, Remy Shand
Different Day, D’Nell
Fall Into, Stateless
Centre of Nowhere, Ladybug Mecca
Ooh!, Mary J. Blige
You Got Me (Live), The Roots f/Erykah Badu & Jill Scott

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I’m a big fan of aromatherapy. I haven’t researched it and I can’t tell you which fragrance does what. All I know is that it works for me. Without my oil burner and scented candles, I’m a mess! Whenever I need to focus, relax, or stir up some inspiration, I light my favorite Pacifica* soy candles in Brazilian Mango Grapefruit and Tuscan Orange, or burn my absolute favorite scented oil in Cranberry, and play some soothing tunes. It never fails. I usually pick up Pacifica candles at Borders, Hallmark, or Whole Foods and I’m partial to The Body Shop’s cranberry oil*, but there are others. Pacifica is distributed by various stores so if you’re interested, check their website for locations near you.

*Neither company paid me to endorse these products.

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One thing I absolutely LOVE is music. As a little girl, I even wrote and recorded my own songs with a little tape recorder. Today one of my favorite, albeit little known, artists popped up in my rotation of tunes. Have you heard of Alice Smith? I don't know why music lovers haven't caught on yet! What I like most about Smith, besides her unique sound, is that she doesn't have a gimmick. She takes the stage just as she is, as if to say, "F*** it. I'm here to sin

g - period." Not that there's anything wrong with a costume (some of my favorite artists wear elaborate wigs, stick feathers in their hair, paint their faces, etc.) It's just refreshing sometimes. There's something raw about a singer rocking a simple tee and jeans. It's like she just strolled into the joint and felt the urge to sing. In fact, when you see her, you may think someone from the crowd just hopped up on stage...until she opens her mouth that is.

Drive, Fertile Ground (2xs)
Early Daiquiris, Club des Belugas (2xs)
Guns Are Drawn, The Roots
Futuresex/Lovesound, Justin Timberlake
Thieves in the Night, Black Star
Soul Power, James Brown
If We Knew, Goapele
Love Has Found Its Way, Dennis Brown
Breeze, Stereo MC’s
Fake is the New Real, Alice Smith

* Today's shuffle isn't entirely random. I did a lot of skipping around. I know I know. Takes all of the fun out of it right?

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Cool Shoes

There's just something about these heels that I really like.




Today's Top 10 Shuffle



I Need Love, Robin Thicke
Love Song No. 3, Me’Shell Ndegeocello
Same S**t Different Day (Pt. 1), Jaguar Wright
Love Poems, Bilal
Tears Dry on Their Own, Amy Winehouse
Satisfy My Soul, Bob Marley & The Wailers
I Don’t Know, Jaguar Wright
Nature Boy, Victor Fields
Bustin’ Out, Rick James
In My House, Mary Jane Girls

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LOL Cats

I'm done. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw this. I have Strength to thank for this gem which she found at LOLCats. I browsed the site and this photo was by far the funniest thing I've seen all day.

Sorry, no playlist today!

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