We have our moments and then there's Jesus. Four girls who are all recent grads of esteemed universities are tossed into the real world and face the trials, tribulations, and hilarity of trying real life. We face all battles with a smile, but even we have to admit we don't know shit.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

It's Not You, It's Me.

(Okay...it might be a little bit of you as well but it's not your fault.)

FaceBook and I are not doing so well. This can't be an "only me" problem so I thought I would share. Senior year of high school is when I first joined the social network. It was new and everyone was excited about it. Tagged was played out and MySpace was getting weird. This is how the story went...



So here I am today, scrolling through my newsfeed unamused and wondering how I can fix this. My solution? Make a new page. Duh! I did and realized how boring my page was. All my pictures weren't there, all my friends were not added yet because I could not remember everyone, and I was back at square one, unsatisfied. So in an attempt to fix my problem yet again, I decided to delete friends from my old page. After about 10 minutes maybe 20 people were unfriended. Did you know that every time you unfriend a person the page has to refresh? Yeah it's the most agonized task ever. So I gave up on that and ended up here...writing this post. I know someone is reading this and saying just get off FaceBook all together. To that I say "No *insert grumpy cat face here*". I am on FaceBook for the entertaining group chats (the stickers are amazing on FB Messenger) with my favorite people and to be able to go down memory lane when I'm feeling nostalgic. I guess this summer will have be...


This relationship will be repaired and I will be happy. I don't want to be friends with couples, entertainers, party promoters, young bucks, catfishers, graduates of Hustle University, or game and interest group addicts. Im taking back my newsfeed and I encourage you to do the same. You don't have to suffer. It will get better.



Cruel Summer

Summer is quickly approaching so that means beaches and vacations galore. Swim suits will be in full effect and the agonizing task of finding the perfect one starts now. Since you can find a bikini in a size 10 and under virtually anywhere I decided to aid everyone else in their search for the perfect suit. Every body is a beach body.

Image 1 of ASOS CURVE Longline Bikini Top In Blanket Print
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I did not care for the bottom that accompanies this top. It did not really embody my idea of high waisted. Thanks to the multi colors you can mix and match it with almost any bottom.

Image 1 of ASOS CURVE Crochet Beach Kimono
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I love this cover up. It can go from pool side to the casino easily.

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Plus size blogger GabiFresh created a line of plus size swimsuits that are absolutely amazing. Unfortunately the Galaxy two piece is sold out.





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Serve up an ole nasty piece of Annette Funicello this summer and find your summer romance.


One Shoulder One Piece Swimsuit
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The cut on this suit and the ruching in the tummy is perfection.



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This suit is everything I tell you everything!



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This scuba style suit is so creative a beautiful. If you don't want to show your arms this is perfect.

Standing in your season

According to Merriam-Webster a season is a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature. We are familiar with the seasons of weather, where nature either blooms or frosts, it is easy to determine those, and something we were all taught from childhood. However, can you define the seasons of your life?

People, places and things come into your life for a season. Very few remain permanent, however, what is important is that you differentiate a season from a lifetime.

You stand in seasons, as they help you define your life.

What exactly do I mean ‘standing in seasons’? Allow me to explain. Every season has to be weathered. Be it a good or bad job, good or bad relationship, or living situation. A season is that time period where you are exactly where you should be, to help you grow into what you will be.

It isn’t always easy to be where you are. It is quite easy to be antsy about life or try to advance before your time. Why? Because you think you belong there. You think you deserve something, or someone. It is often confused with ambition. However, throughout your season you start to notice how things fall together.

In the spring, the rain comes and brings the bloom. In autumn the trees lose their leaves and the ground hardens. Life’s seasons are no different. There will be times where things are just extraordinarily good. There will also be times where things are horribly wrong. Its how you weather or ‘stand’ in your season that counts. Just like nature’s seasons, we adapt to wearing coats or flip flops, same with life’s seasons. You will start to realize what needs to be done to get the promotion or job you want that will take you from that entry-level position. You will start to see people’s true colors, and be able to weed out the good from the bad.

Life’s seasons are temporary. They change all the time, however, when the change comes, the way you stood in your last season will determine your success in the next. So my encouragement today is no matter where you are in this walk of life, remember that everything happens for a reason and you are being prepared for the next level. So stand happily in that season, and wait for the next.

“The best is yet to come”- Somebody

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Opinions are like....well you know

I find myself telling people this or at least wanting to quite frequently. Especially when it comes to my life decisions. Since it was Mother's Day everyone felt it necessary to wish me this as I passed them on the street. My response was either "don't you put that on me Ricky Bobby" or stare them down. In church several people decided to question why I was not a wife or mother yet.



 I honestly pity those who feel that is the main priority for all women. Yes one day I will put on a big white dress and sign over my freedom...just not anytime soon. I have my own thoughts on children, but that's a three page post in itself. There is happiness to be found in love and family, but why do  have to find it now? There is a world of opportunity waiting for me as an educated twenty something in America and I plan to explore all of it. 

I somehow entered into a conversation with someone who has been teaching for a long time and I was explaining to her the problems I am currently facing. She began questioning why I would even work with small children. You know all those high school kids who can't read well of course they can't because they didn't have anyone to guide them in their formative years. You're welcome. Ma'am I really just wanted a letter of recommendation. 

The best thing you can do for someone is to just listen. Not everyone needs a lecture just to get things are their chest. 

Rut 101


Lately I’ve been in rut. Nothing has been wholly bad, but it hasn’t been all that fantastic either. My life has just been a little lackluster. It’s like I’m missing something. I’d like to think that I’m not the only person that goes through this, that I’m not the only person that has these moments where I feel like I’m on an island with population one—me; in just this one case, I hope that I’m not unique. So what have I been doing to assuage this solitude? Well, a variety of things. Some are healthy ways to deal and others not so much. But I’m human, and life is all about balance. So here’s how I’ve been coping. SN: To save myself from appearing to be a slightly neurotic and unhealthy emotional person, I’ve indicated “unhealthy” and “healthy” next to each.

  • Closed myself off from the outside world. This includes being short during conversations, avoiding gatherings, staying as far away from Social Media as I possibly can, and wearing a permanent scowl on a sunglasses-adorned face. Unhealthy.
  • Listening to music artists that make me smile and believe momentarily that I am in a studio session with Pharell, Babyface, or Vincent Herbert. Healthy.
  • Working out until I am literally dripping sweat and I feel like the only thing that is keeping my legs moving is gravity or some other higher force. Healthy.
  • Making plans. And then cancelling said plans because I just want to be in the house. First part, healthy. Second part, falls under the whole closed off thing…unhealthy.
  • Reading magazines, watching Fashion Police, marathons of Sex and the City and NBA playoff series games. Totally healthy.
  • Shopping. Healthy.
  • Spending too much money from said “healthy shopping.” Unhealthy.
  • Playing in my makeup. Healthy.
  • Reaching out to friends to talk. Healthy.
  • Getting testy when friends aren’t available to talk and then ending up being rude to them. Unhealthy.
  • Crying. My mom would call this healthy, I don’t.
  • Wine.
  • Wine.
  • Wine.
  • Wine.
  • HEALTHY.
  • Going to bed early. Healthy.
  • Going to bed early because I want the day to be over with and then sleeping all day. Unhealthy. 
And there we have it. My list of things that I’ve been doing to get myself out of my rut. I’ll be the first to admit that this list needs a little help. But like I said, I’m human. Making this list has actually helped me to figure out the best ways for me to personally cope when I’m in a rut. And, ironically enough, it’s actually taken me out of it a little bit. So if you’ve got time, sit down and make a quick list of all the things you do when you’re feeling down for no reason (or for a reason you don’t/can’t admit or figure out). Be honest about all the things you do—the healthy things and the unhealthy things. And the next time you’re in a rut, refer to the list. Remind yourself of all the things that you normally do when you’re feeling down. I bet you’ll laugh at it, think you’re pathetic, do one or more of the things on the list, find something to do that isn’t on the list, or do some combination of all of those things.

The worst thing about being in a rut is that feeling you get of complete lack of self control. It’s like the rut controls everything you do and feel. With your already-compiled list, it’s like being one step ahead of the rut. You already know how it operates so even if you’re feeling down, you get to control what you do, how you’re going to feel during whatever you do and the consequence that it’s going to have. Not that damn rut. I think I may have stumbled on to something. Hmmm.

Let me know if this is as genius as I think it is.

It's August.

Last year when I went to New Orleans for Essence Festival 2012 I was so excited when I stumbled upon this artist. I was listening to the radio getting ready to head out of the hotel to attend one of the concerts. One song in particular caught my attention. It wasn't the typical New Orleans bounce music or mainstream urban music. I waited to leave my room in hopes that the DJ would say who it was. I was so glad when he said it was August Alsina because I knew he was going to become my new favorite underground singer. After the trip I began doing my research on who August was. I followed him on Twitter, liked, FaceBook page, and began to download all of his music. Listening to him made me smile every time because is voice was so smooth and different. Over time I got to figure out who he was and what he wanted musically and I was in love. 

He started as a YouTube singer 6 years ago. He would cover different songs that were popular at that time. He recently signed with Def Jam and is currently working with The Dream for his album. But while he is working on an album he is always releasing new music both covers and original. This week he released The Product 2. The songs aren't your typical R&B ballads because he isn't your typical R&B artist. He is very "New Orleans'. The streets are never far from his lyrics. He sings things you would normally here from rappers. It's refreshing to listen to someone singing about real life oppose to only sex and love. At only 20 years old Im so excited to see where he goes from here.

From this...
to this...


A Mile in HIS Mocassins


I honestly think my faith in humanity is waning. I like to see the good in every person, including those who look most sinister. Some call it naivety, but my role on this Earth is not to judge. The reason being, I don’t know that person’s story. I don’t know if they have had a bad day, or if life has handed them a particularly bad hand. However, what I do know is that I always try to help those in need without judgment.

This is not the case for everyone, and I get it there are a lot of people in this world, who will do what he or she can get away with. Particularly when it comes to panhandling. So people are less inclined to donate, or help out their fellow man in the fear that they’re being ‘swindled’.

Terribly enough, Chicago is an epicenter for homelessness. With many thousands of homeless people occupying our streets every night. These are people without a bed, change of clothes, proper shoes, or even proper outerwear for the harsh winter reality. Seeing homeless people, it is tough for us to even fathom, not having a warm place to lay our heads, however this is the reality for many people in one of the most popular cities in America.



This is the case for the life of Ronald Davis. I was extremely touched by his story as told on YouTube a couple of weeks ago. In the short series, Ronald reveals he is homeless and living on the streets of the city. He depends solely on the generosity of others to live. Shaking a cup on one of the city’s streets Mr. Davis is subject to the weather conditions, and the startling cruelty of humanity. People heckle him on a daily basis or ignore his presence altogether. As a human being, place yourself in Mr. Davis’ shoes. Regardless of the history behind how he ended up on the streets, he is still a human being, who deserves to be treated as such. I do not see how people can just walk right past someone who is crying out for help. A person who clearly is down and out, and just wants a little change to eat that day. Yet, I see it everyday. People who ignore the homeless or preach at them about finding a job, or doing something with their lives. Nothing boils my blood more than these people. You never know that person’s tale of how they ended up on the wrong side of a happy story, nor do you really know how far you are from being in their shoes.

Life can be changed completely in an instant; It is terribly unpredictable. However, one thing you can bet your money on is no matter what walk of life a person is from, they expect to be treated with respect. It is simply human nature. So next time you see a homeless person, reply at least; wish them well, or give the pocket change you’ll completely forget about ever having. Since Ronald’s story went viral, there has been an outpouring of support and people helping him to get off the streets. I only hope this will get the ball rolling on the decrease of the homeless population in Chicago. My faith in humanity? We’ll see.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

It's A Small World After All.


What's the worst part of moving back home after school? Moving back home after school. Not because of the living situation or job search struggle but because of who is there. In school I made connections but made sure they stayed at school. Home? I left for a reason and that reason wasn’t so I can be missed more. It’s as if someone sounded the alarm and yelled I was home, THEN proceeded to pass out weekly schedules of where I would be. Have you caught on yet? I’m talking about exes (boyfriends and special “friends”). The longer I’ve been home, the more guys from my past I’ve come into contact with. While they want to chat it up and rekindle old flames I’m looking for the nearest exit. I’m friendly when I’m bored and my little black book shows that. They don’t get the hint though, even when I say (literally) “I’m not interested in starting anything back up”. They think I’m joking. Nope, I’m not. Can you please just stay back there where I left you. There are only two guys that I understand why they are still around and that is because I entertain the idea. The rest of you need not reapply. What makes this situation even worse is the fact that even if I don’t run into an ex, I meet someone new with the same looks and/or personality. Is this big city really that small that I can only meet guys that remind of other guys or am I a magnet for these “you were fun for a while” guys? I am thoroughly convinced this city breeds the same type of guy, which is all the more reason for me to move as soon as possible. Le sigh.

Right At Your Doorstep.

So I've discussed how you can get a runway look for less, now I want to give you some ideas on how to get beauty products for less. From hair to makeup to polish, here are some companies that send you your favorite and soon-to-be favorite products.


CurlBox.

Curly headed girls, this is for you. CurlBox helps you explore curly hair products. If you're like me, you are always buying new hair care products trying to find the best ones for your hair. I have way too many products just sitting in my bathroom because they did nothing for my hair. You don't want to get rid of them because they were way too expensive to just toss because they couldn't get rid of the frizz or made your hair too heavy. CurlBox will send you a box of hair care samples every month. It's $20 a month and you can cancel at anytime. The downside is that the company is so popular there's a waiting list to join. So if you're a curly headed girl looking for better products I suggest to hop on the waiting list soon. It doesn't hurt to try this at least once.

Fellas, there's a curlbox for men coming soon. Hop on the mailing list to receive more information. You need to keep your curls in order as well. You're welcome in advance.


Beauty Box 5.
If you love buying beauty products just to try something new the Beauty Box 5 is the company for you.  For $12 a month you can receive 4-5 beauty product samples like makeup, lotions, perfume, etc. Once again you can cancel at anytime so there is no commitment. 

Julep.
Can't keep your nails the same color for longer than a week? Become a Julep Maven. For $20 a month you will receive a box with a few polishes plus an additional beauty product like mascara. You take a quick style quiz so they can get an idea of what you might like, then they place you in one of the four groups pictured above. I was placed in the bombshell group so that would be an example of what I would receive. 

Ipsy.
Makeup lovers! Become and ipster. You can receive a makeup bag monthly for just $10. Ipsy will send you a makeup bag monthly and also email you videos from some of your favorite YouTube makeup artists that will help you create looks using the products in your bag. This is meant for makeup lovers of all levels. No clue what to use for what, the videos will help you out. Just want new ideas to recreate, you can do that too. The products are all popular brands like Kiehl's, Urban Decay, MAC, and many more. 

Here are a few more companies offering similar subscriptions...

Glossy Box: $21 a month. Box filled with a range of beauty samples. 
Birch Box: $10 a month. Beauty and lifestyle products fill the sample boxes.
Beauty Fix: $49.99 per box. Unlike the other companies Beauty Fix gives you regular size products.


The summer is a great time to have some fume with you beauty regime. Try one of these out and let PGSD know how it went. I'm sure other readers are curious about your experiences.

(Don't forget about the gold box on the right. Send us tips, ideas, questions, and comments anonymously.)





Theme Song.

My fellow PGSD girls already know what my theme song is. Thank you, Cow from the Real California Cow commercial for introducing me to it. My life is forever changed. This song makes me giggle and yet also empowers me. And the cow sings it with such...well...swagger jagger as the song's title says, that you just feel it. So if you haven't had a chance to see the video, two things: 1, you're clearly lacking in the swagger jagger department and 2, you HAVE to see this commercial! After you watch it, you can listen to the real Cher Lloyd song, but I promise you, it'll pale in comparison to the Cow's.

Watch the commercial here:










My theme song would be...Im not really sure. It would be happy, quirky, and put me in a great mood. I attempted to put something together that would be the blueprint to my theme song but I got bored of figuring it out. So here is what I have so far and hopefully you can get some sort of idea of what I want in a theme song. 



This question was particularly hard for me. I settled on Fergie's song Labels or Love. If you give me the choice between the two...welp lets just say Christian Louboutin is my dream hubby. Everything about this song is me. "No emotional baggage just big bags filled with Dior/ ima shop for labels while these ladies lay and wait for love". On top of that its featured on one of my favorite movies, "Sex and the City".