Harper's Bazaar You Say?

With the insanity of the last two weeks, I forgot to share my wonderful news: I am interning at Harper's Bazaar magazine this spring. I am incredibly happy about this.

Many of you know how worried I was about finding a job once I moved to New York.

While this isn't a job, this internship will make finding a job that much easier.

And it's an opportunity I would have shaved my head for.

So thanks to everyone who told me I'd find something.

Thanks to everyone who told me I wasn't cut out for:

New York

Fashion

Writing

(because I am the kind of girl who'll say "I told you so").

and thank you God because I know who answers my prayers.

I'm going to watch the Grammy Awards now.

Happy Birthday Kerry Washington

I am a huge Kerry Washington fan!

HUGE.

So since she recently celebrated a birthday, I dug into my fashion box and pulled out some of my favorite Kerry Washington looks.

Happy Birthday Kerry!

Ha, like she'll read this : )

JMO: Rihanna Deserved It? Are you High?

So I'm procrastinating as usual and checking out ybf.com's coverage of the annual Clive Davis Pre-Grammy party.

It's a great opportunity to style stalk.

This is why I never get anything done people.

Anyway, I go through the photos and make it to the comment section where I read this crap from Mizundastood: i wish chris brown beat rihanna to death. that would of been the only accomplishment of the black race.

At first, I brushed it off and assumed it was some cyber bully trying to get a rise out of people. What I find incredibly disturbing are the comments left afterwards. Some were along the lines of "she got what she deserved", "she's so ugly", "i'm so tired of seeing her yellow face","she ruined chris brown's life" and so on.

Okay, I understand the whole concept of being a superfan but seriously?

I know a lot of people dislike Rihanna for whatever reason (whiny voice, mediocre music, bafflement at her success, light skin jealousy, annoying attempt at edginess) but let's be real for a minute:

Regardless of a person's feelings towards her, abuse should never be excused or tolerated and I truly pity anyone that can successfully rationalize what happened to her.

If your boyfriend or girlfriend hits you, do you deserve it?

For the record, I am and always have been indifferent to Chris Brown and Rihanna. I think he's cute, I think she's pretty. I'll listen to both of their music if it's on the radio but I never have been and I doubt I ever will be tempted to buy either of their albums. I think they are two people who are young and I hope they learn from their mistakes and move on.

With that said, I find it sad that people - especially women - continue to say "Rihanna ruined Chris Brown's life."

Let me just say Chris Brown ruined his life when he decided to NOT walk away like a man should. I don't pity him. I don't feel bad at all for the backlash he's receiving. It's expected;he beat the shit out of his girlfriend people!

Can we stop expecting less from people and hold them accountable for their actions?

Abuse is not okay. EVER. Do not accept anything less than respect from your partner. And if you think what happened to Rihanna is okay, I strongly suggest therapy.

That is all.

JMO...

Does anyone else find it incredibly pointless when a person declares "FIRST" in the comment section of a post?

I ask myself this every time I visit a blog and peruse the comments section so I have written a letter to those who feel the need to participate in the "first declaration."

Dear First Declarers,

What does one get for being "first"? Is it the gratification of knowing your joblessness paid off? Is it knowing you were able to show the world that you've been waiting more obsessively than anyone else for a new post to pop up so you could validate your life somehow?

Or am I missing the bigger picture?

Please advise.

Best,

Me

Who Would've Thought? Virginity Up for Sale

I'm a little late with this but better late than never right?

A Northern Ireland teen wants to sell her virginity. Here's the article.

It's prostitution but is it her right to give up her v-card to the highest bidder so she benefits in some way?

I don't know so I'm asking you.

By the way, she gets points off for lack of originality. The whole virginity for sale idea is so last year.

Better Late Than Never: Naomi Campbell in the September 2009 issue of Harper's Bazaar

People, I bring you Naomi Campbell in all her fierceness.

Photographer Jean-Paul Goude did a great job as usual.

This is from HBZ's September 2009 issue and it's kind of epic, don't you think?

Happy Friday : )

R.I.P J.D. Salinger

Here's a terrific article written by the New York Times about the The Catcher in the Rye author.

Solange Looks Good in Green

You know you got it going on when you don't have to hide behind hair to look good.


Solange Knowles, I hate you.

In Fashion News...

The Row now has a website.

Here's the link.

It's nice.

Sorry for the lack of enthusiasm; it's not personal.

To be frank, I never really jumped on the "Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are it, big fashion icons!" bandwagon.

To each his own, right?

JWoww, Fashion Designer?

Like many people, I am currently obsessed with MTV’s reality show Jersey Shore. I can’t put my finger on what makes it so funny but I’m hooked. GTL for life baby!

With that said, I thought I was being punked when People.com posted a story about one of the cast member’s new fashion line.

Excuse me?

Jenni “JWoww” Farley is coming out with a – and I quote – “collection of skimpy made-to-order party tops so others can replicate her signature cleavage-baring look.”

My question: why?

It gets better people. According to her site, “Jenni has created the ultimate in fashionable clothing. She will be reinventing the term ‘Sexy Sophisticated.’ Not only will her line be ‘Edgy’ and ‘Sexy,’ but it will make people of all ages and body type feel more confident in ‘the scene.’”

Now I immediately chastised myself for judging a book by its cover…I decided to check out jwoww.com before passing judgment. There’s not a lot to choose from but if you’re looking for a tight, super-revealing, slightly trashy club top, this will be your Mecca.

Now I will give Ms. Farley credit for knowing her target audience. In reality, no one would take her seriously if she attempted to create a real fashion line. Credibility is important and that’s just not something the Jersey Shore cast has, at least not yet.

On a positive note: I love JWoww’s makeover. She looks tons better without her fake blue eyes and blonde extensions (see above photo in comparison to the one below).

Thank your stylist!

Shits and Giggles Mondays: Glee Goes International

Sorry for being MIA and Happy Monday : )

Yes Yes Yes!

Dear God thank you for giving us Johnny Depp.

Amen.

I'll be picking up this copy of GQ like now : )

Veganize It: Mac and Cheese

About two years ago, I decided to give up animal products. I went this route for a lot of reasons and I haven’t regretted it once. I’m healthier, I sleep better, I don’t get migraines and I’ve lost weight.

I NEVER lose weight.

Anyway, veganism has been good to me. There are plenty alternatives to my must haves and what I can’t easily find in the stores, I find recipes for online. It’s now a hobby of mine to veganize meals. I like to play around in the kitchen and try to perfect an animal product free alternative to some of my favorite foods.

So far, I’ve had BLT sandwiches to die for, yummy cupcakes (you all know I went to work perfecting that recipe asap), burritos, pad thai, and some other good stuff.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I miss cheese. I literally dream about gruyere at night. And I don’t care what anyone says: most vegan cheeses taste like a donkey’s ass unless it’s cooked in something.

Since I can’t put it on a cracker, I decided to use my block of Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet Cheese Substitute to make macaroni and cheese.

Check it out : )

Ingredients
1 block of Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet Cheese Substitute in Cheddar
16 oz of fresh or frozen chopped spinach (I chose frozen)
16oz of rotini or pasta of your choice
Olive oil
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

The Process
I’m not exactly a star in the kitchen so I like to keep things simple. I boiled the pasta and drained it and added the spinach which was defrosting a bit while the pasta was boiling.

I like adding spinach to my mac and cheese because I like the way it tastes, it’s healthy and I think the green and yellow looks pretty… Obviously you can omit it.

Anyway, after adding the spinach, I added olive oil. I did this mostly to prevent the pasta from sticking to the pot.

I added the cheese after coating the pasta with olive oil, stirring the pasta until the cheese melted.

The last thing I did was add salt and pepper to taste.

Bon appétit!

Note: In the future, I think I’m going to grate the cheese because it took forever to melt.

Double note: I only used one block of cheese but if you want cheesier macaroni, use two blocks.

Verdict
It’s not bad. I ate my mac and cheese with tofu on the side (see first or last picture) and I actually really enjoyed it but will probably tweak it in the future. A friend told me nutritional yeast macaroni is AMAZING.

That is all. Let me know what you think of my recipe if you’re brave enough to try it : )

Shits and Giggles Mondays

Thanks Stephanie; you delivered my laughs for today : )

Buh bye.

I said goodbye to a lot of good people this week as I made my move to New York. I considered staying but I just didn't want to so away I went.

So this a proper shout out to my loved ones: you guys are too special to forget: )

That's me and my hairstylist/confidante/mentor Yolanda. She's a Betty, right?

The other pic is of me and Brandon; one of the best people I know.

Anyway, I'm back to blogging from New York. I hope you'll stick it out with me as I transition from student to badass _______

I haven't found a job yet so that part's blank.

Stay tuned...

She Gives Good Face: Rihanna

Her album is blah but at least she's pretty...

Check out W magazine for the interview.

College Graduate in Need of Direction

I didn't sign up for this shit.

As many of you know, I recently jumped the major hurdle called college. That’s right bitches; someone’s actually going to give me a degree.

Hahaha, suckers.

Once upon a time my parents didn’t think I would make it to high school let alone college (something about my inability to listen and respect authority). But I managed to go through the conventional growing up steps unscathed. I did it when many people thought I wouldn’t.
Yeah… I don’t really know where that leaves me.

I’m now in the position many young people find themselves in; jobless in a shitty economy with pockets full of dreams and the disappointing realization that the master plan may not pan out.

As a graduate I get asked the same question by every person I talk to: “what’s next?”

“What’s next” sounds simple enough; it’s a broad question. But when people ask a recent graduate “what’s next” they actually mean “so do you have a job? Why don’t you have a job? Do you plan on getting a job or living off daddy and mommy? You thought graduating was going to be fun, huh; life as an adult? Ha, welcome to the big leagues kid! It’s all downhill from here!”

What’s next!?! I don’t freaking know people; I don’t have a map! My god, the pressure…

Sorry.

So what now? Do we take what we can get and risk getting stuck with jobs we hate because it pays the bills or do we say damn the man and keep on working towards our dreams, surviving on hope and ramen?

Can we afford to be picky when employment opportunities are scarce? I guess not. But we can’t afford to be submissive either. Going through life unsatisfied with it is unacceptable.

What’s next? I don’t have the answer but I know sacrificing happiness for comfort isn’t it.

Shits and Giggles Mondays

It's never a bad time to shake what your momma gave you.