Fab Fridays

Today was awesome!

I was featured in a "I want her JOB" feature on Teen Diaries Online - and also going to be on their radio show next Thursday. (Don't tell them Im not really that cool)

And though my cough still sounded like hot death, I felt a whole lot better after having to skip on a fab event one of my mentors was hosting and high tail it home the night before.

And though journalism doesn't have the highest salaries, the perks are oh so cool sometimes. Sometimes its as simple as the bosses offering lunch from BBQs for the staff on the first Friday of March like today or later in the afternoon popping into a meeting with our online fashion editor as she met with Kwame from Apprentice who has his own tie line, Krimson. He had plenty of samples and each is named and inspired for a different city. The Harlem tie was kinda fly (see pic), and the Atlanta one was so southern and straight laced, with red and blue, which I thought was perfect to include the colors of Coke and Delta, but hubs in the city, though not sure if that was intentional. Now, the Charlotte tie was a bity wacky to me with green and flowers, but the good people of Charlotte, his hometown, seem to love it. And I didn't realize he was a Kappa but his pride was definitely shining through, and turns out both of his parents are HU alum.

Then the day ends with the relationship editor D setting out books and uhm items she has gotten in for uhm love and adult fun. I went to check out the items just for research for potential stories and there is no experience like the ladies in a pack sifting through books and goodies on the bedroom and beyond. Comedy!I did scoop up this Sex Check Book that was just too cute with IOUs and UOMEs that we had written about in the Spice Jar

While riding the train and blowing my nose this week, I'm also reading this book with a professional, brown and curvy girl meeting this guy from St. Croix at work and having to end up going to his homeland as his accountant to help get his profitable music business in order. Yes, I was already itching for an island getaway, and felt this was a sign . . .no? Let's see what the universe has in store . . .

My daughter . . .

Isn't she beautiful?

Just celebrated her 6 birthday . . .
in the hospital. Because she was recently diagnosed with a tough strand of leukemia. No she's not really my daughter, but reading her story I felt pulled to her. A little girl who we have the chance to save, by simply getting tested if our bone marrow matches. She was adopted as a child and has been taking her chemo like a champ.

I can only imagine what her mom and other family are going through watching her little body fight this deadly disease. That's why the chance to actually do something and save her is so special. They only swab your mouth which is awesome news. When I was diagnosed with cancer, they had to do this test where they check your bone to see if cancer has started forming there. By far the most painful 20 minutes of my whole life as they hold you down and stick a needle all the way into your bone on your back, with the strict instructions not to move, unless you want to be paralyzed. See, a swab doesn't sound so bad? This little girl is so brave and Yes We Can save her. I'm going Saturday, and if you are in NYC I hope you come too!!

Jasmina's donor drive will be held Saturday at Public School 41 (116 W. 11th St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact DKMS, a nonpprofit marrow donor center: (866)-340-3567.

Weddings, Winter and What Not

So I flew to Atlanta Friday nigh and seems I picked the perfect weekend. I originally booked for a bridesmaids meeting for the wedding in April. Then realized it was the same day as the wedding of one of my childhood friends. And talking to a publicist in Atlanta, I mentioned I would be in town and got invited to speak on a panel and hit up LeBron James's party. So yeah, the weekend was full and fabulous! Well, outside of being snowed there an extra day with my flight cancelled and coming back with a serious head cold. . .

The wedding was SO cute and the first ever to be at New Birth in Atlanta. It was one of my church friends so all the folks who dont even go to the church anymore came out. They're all mamas and wives now, so my eyes were extra big to see how much has changed, and the longer you talk, you realize how little has changed. My friend is the church drummer and his new wife cooridnates dance so there was plenty of creativity and art in the ceremony. They had African dancersperform and when she came down the aisle Three ladies in African garb sprinkled petals for her straight out of Coming to America. And the song playing was "That's My Dream" from 'Dreamgirls' - which the bride and groom had pre-recorded singing themselves;)

And Bishop Eddie Long made me realize how serious marriage is - and the importance of making sure it is the right person. Love is patient and kind!

And then it was time for the reception . . .
they got down! Mid conversation with my old Sunday School teacher I jet off because Cupid Shuffle starts playing and it was time to move. . .
to get the women out for the bouquet toss they play "Single Ladies." It is coming straight for me and I freeze. Luckily a few of the other ladies aren't so startled by marriage and quickly grab for it.

That morning I had stopped by old hairdressers ( I already had told her I had decided I wanted a perm again for the minimal maintence), then my little sis came along as I joined a media panel during a great PR Workshop hosted by the fab Garner Circle (they are so cool). Sitting in a room of young Black media professionals gave me a nice boost of energy and humbled me.

That Sunday we drove to South Carolina so I could see my grandmom and hurried back, thinking I was flying out. Well, the white snow that blanketed the highways made for other plans. I couldnt get out until after 6 so missed the the Harlem Heights premiere at the Apollo. But I did catch the show. I liked it. Of course it's really scripted, no place you go to is ever as empty as it is for the cast, and the cattiness is so extra (honestly people are too busy trying to make it to worry about what someone is wearing to their own bday party, grow up) . But it was just fun to know and have been to all the places featured. Guess I get out more than I give myself credit for . . .