Will Smith's Wisdom

Kanye West's Short Film - Runaway

Mid-Summer Nights Dream at the PlayBoy Mansion

I had the pleasure of going to the Playboy Mansion once again. This time for Hugh Hefner's Annual pajama party called A Mid-Summer Nights Dream! As you can imagine it was amazing with wall to wall beauties in lingerie, top notch catered food, full open bar to order anything your heart desired and live entertainment. There was also wall to wall high powered celebs to network with. I bumped into someone I hadn't seen in a while, Mr. Berry Gordy! I met him and his family years ago at a dinner party in Beverly Hills and instantly clicked with them about a project. Some how I had lost contact with them due to  lost phones and contacts, but we were reunited again at the mansion with lots of laughs, stories and possible future projects. For the youngins who do not know who he is, Berry Gordy discovered Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and The Tempations just to name a few. He also produced and directed one of my all time favorite movies, Lady Sings The Blues. Very powerful man with very easy going demeanor. Glad we reconnected. I would love to work with him on something and plan on it.

I had such a wonderful time hanging out with my girls Neferteri Shepherd and Lake Payne! Also in attendance was Jamie Foxx, Brett Ratner, Too short and a live performance from the "Toot it and Boot it" boys, (I have no idea what their name is) just to name a few.

Overall it was a great night minus an unhappy couple getting into it and pepper spraying the whole crowd. By that time I had already did all my networking so I was ready to go anyway. So it didn't ruin my night, just my lungs and eyes for about 2 hours lol! Until my next adventure...

The Los Angeles Flower District

So my BFF Karla comes over to my house for some adult time away from her kids and I cook and we drink wine (I'm on a alcohol fast now though) and celebrate life.  Just catching up and she tells me about this Flower District in downtown LA??  Anyone who knows me really well knows I love Orchids and Sunflowers.  So I couldn't wait to get down there. 

When I arrived I couldn't believe it . It is right around the corner from the fashion district! I have been to "The Alley" a million times and this Flower District is walking distance from it????  With store after store filled with flowers at wholesale prices??? INSANE!  So I enter one of the stores and I walk into what looks like the Holy Grail of Orchids.... I just stood there with my mouth open in awe like I was a kid in a candy store :O Needless to say I bought some :) I will be going back bi-weekly now for my plants and flowers.  I have always loved them. I will get HUGE bouquets.  But now I can get them for a fraction of the price my florist charges me!!!  I think I get it from my mom who has always had a green thumb, with beautiful exotic plants everywhere.  I am going to go back and take my time next time.  I got there kind of late.  It was noon and I think it closes at 2pm.   Don't quote me but they were closing down while I was there.  I kind of lost track of time.  Make sure if you go, to go early so you can savor every smell and beautiful flower you can!! 

Here are a few pics from my BlackBerry.  I need a new camera now to really capture the beauty of it all.  I will post pics of my bouquets.  I just bought Orchids this time :)

2010 ESPY Awards

So it was quite an eventful couple days for the Espy's.  I went to the Playboy Mansion for the annual pre-Espy Awards Bash with my girls Lake Payne, Dayana Fralin, DeAndra Avery, Suzanne Mari and Neferteri Shepherd.  It was AMAZING with great food, open bar and a high energy performance from LMFAO. Jamie Foxx jumped on stage and was on the mic getting the party hyped! Kim Kardashian was there with her new beau.  My favorite part of the night was talking to Joaquin Phoenix and his wife for a half an hour before realizing it was him! lol! Classic moment.  They were mad cool. It was a star studded event.  I managed to get only a few photos.  I was too busy networking, trying to raise money for a project I'm producing.

The day of the award show I was invited to go but I opted not to.  I"m not a sports fan enough to sit through hours of acknowledging people I don't know.  I decided to go to the after party instead, which was at Club Nokia and Congo room.  They are right next door to each other so it was a back and forth type of night.  The food was phenomenal!!! Omg.  The ESPY's do not spare an expense at all! Nothing like the BET awards at all.  Open bar too.  I didn't drink that night though.  (I am fasting from drinking for a month). There was LIVE performances by Lil Kim, Flo-Rida, Gucci Mane and Robin Thicke.  I only got to see Robin Thicke and Flo-Rida though.  I'm pissed I missed lil Kim! But oh well.  I recorded this lil video below....  

 

 Ran into Hill Harper!  Super positive brother :)

4TH OF JULY

I love this picture. It almost looks like a postcard! This is me doing me in Vegas at the Bellagio. The day before, I mindlessly snubbed my pinkie toe on my brand new sectional couch. I guess I'm not used to it being there yet. It's kinda huge. Anyways I was in severe pain but was not going to let it ruin my holiday weekend in Vegas. Needless to say I drank a lot of alcohol to keep it numb and it worked lol! I was a little bummed that I couldn't wear any high heels, but I still had a blast at the poker tables. Yes I am a mean poker player. I didn't take a lot of pics, because as they say.... What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...

Janet - Discipline (Live at Essence Festival)

I love when Janet takes sexy to the edge...

Every Woman Should By Maya Angelou

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to....
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .......

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a feeling of control over her destiny...
how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

M.I.A.- Born Free (Short Film/Video)

Now that's a video!

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Drake - Over

Exactly how I feel right now :)

Sa-Ra Feat. Erykah Badu Fantastic Vampere

This is one of those underground BANGERS that I can't get enough of! I first heard this back in 2006. Just found it on youtube so I'm so excited! Beat is so sick! Sexy song... I guess a fan made a video for it so enjoy...

Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce - Telephone

I don't really care for the song but the video is interesting...

WHY - Villa Yacht by Wally Hermes

I've been on plenty of fly yachts in my life but this one is sick! End of story. For more info on the "WHY" series yacht click here. By the way... it ONLY costs $160,000,000. Check the video below...

My Vacation In Rio De Janerio

What can I say.... It was everything! For a whole week it was fun, exciting, relaxing, sexy, steaming hot with a hint of danger and very spiritual. I'll begin with the hotel...

We stayed in a HUGE suite at the Fasano :) It's a fairly new luxury hotel (maybe 2 years old) with every amenity imaginable. Beyonce and Alicia Keys had just left a couple days before we got there. They were there shooting a video together. Madonna, Lourdes, and Jesus (her boy toy lol) were staying there while we were there. Somehow people found out that Madonna was in the building and all hell broke loose. It was like TRL outside of the hotel with screaming fans right outside my damn balcony for 2 days! It was madness and Madonna had a huge bodyguard entourage every where she went. I just got a glimpse of her but I have met her once before already in LA so it wasn't a big deal to me. Well.. maybe just a little lol! But yes, the hotel was amazing, especially the infinity rooftop pool. We chilled up there a lot getting a head start on my tan for 2010. Nicole Scherzinger (pussy cat dolls) frequented the pool often as well. It felt so good to get some R&R far far away.



The Rio Carnival was way more than I anticipated. It was breath-taking! The day we arrived I was thinking people would be all over the streets dancing but I now know, that is the Trinidad Carnival. This carnival is held annually at the Sambodromo specifically built for this occasion. The parade goes on for HOURS each day. At least 9 hours. Unbelievable, right? It's different parades per school and each float tells a story. We were standing there and the parade ended after about an hour and a half. I was like wow, that was beautiful! I'm thinking it was over but no one was leaving. About a half hour later, a complete new parade with a total new theme started! So you'd better had a comfortable seat or some comfortable shoes because you could easily be there all day. One float with more wow factor than the last. It keep going and going like the energizer bunny lol. Needless to say we were wore out because we did two days for about 4-5 hours. But it was well worth it... to see all the work they put into this amazing affair. My favorite parade was the King and Queen, Royalty type theme, especially Cleopatra and her servants!!! I took so many pics I don't even know where to begin to add them...

It's like the whole city gets involved. If you are from Rio, 9 times out of 10 you have participated in the Carnival because it is such a prideful event with lots of heart! I felt so blessed to witness the BIGGEST Carnival in the world.

It also has it's religious connection... 40 days before Easter. It officially starts on Saturday and finishes on Fat Tuesday with the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday after which one is supposed to abstain from all bodily pleasures. Carnival with all its excesses, celebrated as a profane event, can be considered an act of farewell to the pleasures of the flesh. I'm not Catholic though so I won't be giving up anything :)

So after experiencing the spirit and soul of the city, we did some more relaxing by the pool, then spa pampering, then shopping, then sight-seeing. I'm realizing right now that we never made it to the beach. It was just steps away but the pool was too nice and it had waiters lol! Next time!

Our last day there, we were so in the moment. The beauty of God was everywhere! In the birds, the people, the sea, in us. We were high on life and thanking GOD for all his blessings!! The next step was to go see why they call this city, The City Of God.


My favorite part of the trip was seeing the "Christ The Redeemer" statue. It was so high in the sky! Think Empire State building high, but wayyyyyy higher! We took a trolley type train that was hanging from wires up the mountain. It was a lot of Asian tourists on there. Our ears were popping and it literally looked like we were on an airplane by the view with the clouds eye level to us. Up and up we go til we finally reached the top. My friend Ann couldn't breathe well because of the thinness of the air. It was so hot that morning, like 90 degrees at 10am. Plus we had not been to sleep the night before because we wanted to sleep on the airplane back home. (15 hour flight) It had been a very spiritual morning because we watched the sunrise and was leaving that night so we took it all in.

Christ The Redeemer is a MUST SEE. No pictures will ever do it any justice. It is by far one of those things that should be on your bucket list. It was built in the 1920's but I still can't figure out how they got it up there Or how they worked so high in the sky, especially back then. It took 9 years to build and it only cost them $250,000. Amazing! I wonder how much something like that would cost today... If you want to learn more about it click here.

We were deliriously happy and giggly. It was the best time I had had in a long while. With the everyday hustle of life you forget sometimes what's important. Paying attention to GOD's signs and living in the moment is the beginning of a spiritual rewarding life. All work and no play makes anyone dull. Take time to actually hear the waves crash and the birds sing! I was well overdue and it was just what the doctor ordered. I feel so refreshed and new. I feel like I am back on my spiritual path :) I can go on and on about this trip but that would be a book in itself. Bottom line it was AMAZING.

Here's a video of me doing the "Samba" on the trolley type train that was hanging on wires in the air on our way to see Christ The Redeemer at 9 AM... With the Samba, from which I learned from a Brazilian at Carnival, it really is about the fancy footwork but you can't see it in this video unfortunately. I heard drums and had to dance! I have other vids I recorded of the parade and other things but for some reason it won't let me download. I'll take it as a "sign" that it's not really significant at this point. Enjoy...



Til my next adventure...

Derringer Cycles

Ya'll know I attempted a 30 mile bike ride on my cruiser bike lol! I now know that they are only made for 'cruisin' unless you get one of these types with a motor...

Derringer Cycles feature a top-loader gas tank unlike most mopeds of the 70s, the frames of these bikes are reminiscent of cruiser bikes. A Derringer Cycle is– a cruiser bike with a gas-powered assist.

So FLY....