(“Unwritten”-By MilkCookie–www.deviantart.com)

I am the type to envelop myself in drama if for some reason I find myself involved.  If I become entrenched in a drama, it is sometimes the ONLY thing that I can think about, analyzing then over analyzing, thinking and over thinking.  It distracts me to no end. I promised myself that this new year would bring a different mentality, a different mindset to how I face things in my relationships with friends, lovers and family.

Put simply…if there is a problem, find the solution.  What use is there dwelling on the issue at hand and going over and over it without thinking of a resolution to it? Honesty and  communication is key to everything. I am following that to a strcit T nowadays.  There should be no hiding, no omitting of the truth, no lying, no argument, no drama…no bullshit.

I am a true believer in living for the moment. I try my best to do what makes me happy no matter what because I have spent too much time rearranging my life, my days and hours to accomodate someone, be it friend or lover. I was so fearful of being abandoned…. of anger directed towards me that I’d neglect what I deemed most important to my life just to maintain that relationship.  I denied myself in order to give to them.  And even when I did…even when I bit my tongue, rearranged my life, neglected and isolated areas of my life for them…they still were not happy. 

I realized then that no matter how hard I try, there are some people in your life that fade away and find themselves in a past chapter of your life.  Shit happens, people change, chapters close, and pages turn.  It’s the way it goes. You just have to bite the bullet, brave the wind and face the music…. live…. keep on trucking. Even when it feels like the truck just hit you…. hard. Your life is YOURS…not theirs.  Why live for someone that has not come from your womb or placed a ring on your finger nor has your blood in their veins?  Even then… who dictates what is written on the pages of your story?  Yeah…ONLY you!

I have swept the dust off of my shoulders and stood brave against the storm.  I have been through mountains of obstacles and oceans of tears and I realize that I have always come out wiser, stronger…but more importantly, alive (for the most part…LoL). Nothing can stop me… and even if I crawl along this road I have paved for myself, I am proud that I am finally on the right path…proud that it is what makes ME happy, that it is everything to ME…that it is important to ME.  I am living MY life for ME. It is what it is because that is what I choose it to be. Dig?

 You can survive if you only find the strength and the courage to stand tall. Nothing feels better than dropping the baggage.  Your choices are your own. Love who you want to love, live how you want to live (do it safely of course).

But most of all realize this.

TODAY is the most important moment of your life. What you do, say, and create in this moment will dictate all of your tomorrows.  Anger and frustration gets you nowhere but to some fucked up tomorrows.

I do this blog for a number of reasons. I am enamored with fashion photography, as you can tell. LoL. I love sharing what I think is beautiful.  I love to support my friends who have their own sites and passions and art.  I love using words to create a story, an image, an emotion.  But most of all, I do this blog, because it makes me happy. It inspires me, it enlightens me…it soothes me. And every day that I find the courage to hit pen to paper, I burst forth into my happiness, leap into my life. It makes me exactly who I am. With no help, no handouts, no bullshit…and recently…no damn drama.

*smile*

I hope you have that kind of thing in your lives.  And if you feel you don’t….I pray that you find it.

I love you all.

Angelique Imani

(“Chanel n 5″-By ChesireMarto–www.deviantart.com)

 (Written using the prompt: ‘vanilla’ given by @writingprompt on www.twitter.com)

She is reminiscent of a moment gone by….
flutters in his stomach that never lasted…
Pushed her away for fear…
he’d never shake her….
Fearful that his addiction would imbed itself in the very crevices of his soul…
and scar his future.

She was an obsession
Swathed in diaphanous moans
and perfumed in vanilla and Chanel No. 5…

She wrote his intentions down in silk…
created their love with all the right words…
And loved with such a passion,
she broke at the seams….

How could he allow this?
Brand new…
He was shining and brand new…
She was vintage lace… always his…rare…
Hard to find…

He breathed her in even when she was not there…
She felt his warmth even when he let her go…
Denied a flame and smothered it to embers…
Fear marked her mended heart….

Following impulses to hold her….
Plunge himself into warm brown sugar…
Envelop himself in her curls of vanilla scented Chanel satin thighs…
and sweet shudders…
She was no longer there.

She hid from herself.

Forcing himself to be brave,
He thrust his hands into dark velvet night…
braved the world without her…
as she had done for him…

Yet he can’t sleep……

………….the sheets smell of her.

If you know me, you know I adore 1920′s Art Deco, Jazz Age stylings.  This photo spread of German model Toni Garrn and French model Baptiste Giabiconi for the February 2010 issue of Vogue Germany is a mixture of Art Deco and the shining future.

I LOVE the fashion, the photography, the hair and makeup.  it is by far one of my favorite photospreads EVER.

And that’s saying alot.

Photography by Karl Lagerfeld

[Someone posted this song on my FB page and I fell in love. I love this band and this song is phenomenal.]

“….best,
you’ve got to be the best
you’ve got to change the world
and you use this chance to be heard
your time is now…”

People seem to have their own opinions about Jay-Z. Some prefer the older albums and some love his newest music.  I personally think he’s amazing period. Despite rumors of being in the Illuminati and being a Satan worshipper (check out the YouTube postings on it…LoL), I think Jay-Z shows progression and growth throughout his albums.  Furthermore as a friend of mine said, I appreciate and respect CAREERS not gimmicks and punchlines. 

His career speaks for itself.

The photography of this particualr photspread for the February 2010 issue of Interview magazine is pretty sick.  Really iconic photos.

Photographed Craig McDean

*ME LOVES!!!!*

The collection hits Target stores and the website on April 25, 2010. 

I LOVE the bright floral ankle length dress and the NYC casual glam of the collection.  Can NOT wait for this to drop!!!!

Michelle Trachtenberg has such a goofy, quirky prettiness about her….and yet sometimes she’s so beautiful with her big bright blues and creamy skin that all the goofiness seems to fade.

 I ADORE the new TV show she is on “Mercy,”  which if you haven’t tuned in is an awesome show!!!!

Here she is in the February/March 2010 issue of Complex Magazine looking like the sexiest super villian.  I love the red lip, the poses and the unique styling. She looks awesome!!!!

Photographed by Danielle Levitt/ Styled Anoma Ya Whittaker

I found this amazing artist as I was looking through some of the blogs I frequent and I adore the work. The portraits are feminine , sensual and beautiful.  The shading and color, the photo-like quality of the pieces are amazing! Me likes.

Find more work by the artist on

www.krislewisart.com

MEREDITH: [narrating]

“Intimacy is a four syllable word for: Here is my heart and soul, please grind into hamburger, and enjoy. It’s both desired, and feared. Difficult to live with, and impossible to live without. Intimacy also comes attached to the three R’s… relatives, romance, and roommates. There are some things you can’t escape. And other things you just don’t want to know.”
 

• Season 1, Episode 4: “No Man’s Land“

Every year for their December/ January issue, Vogue Paris drops their annual calendar.  For 2010, models Iselin Steiro, Natasha Poly and Raquel Zimmerman are swathed in colorful lights, creating a very retro glam, dsico stripper decadence. 

I think the photography is phenomenal and the colors add almost a Studio 54 sexiness to it. Enjoy.

The photos are in no particular order in this posting.

Photographed by Mario Sorrenti at the Lido in Paris, France

…..::::::Me Likeys:::::….

Check out the first set of pics posted…I love the floral dress and the tan leather jacket….and that trench? *DrooL* Very cool.

The line should be hitting Target stores and their website on March 7th, 2010.

I have the ultimate pleasure of being close friends with Mr. Elstabo Aviles and the honor of being one of his subjects for his art (please see poetry postings “I am Art (Sublime)” and “Shedding Skin”). 

I am ALWAYS on him about being less cryptic with his target audience and how his fans need somewhere to really connect and know more about what he does, how he does it, and what it all means to him.

I FINALLY convinced him to create a blog in which he can share his process, his creative inspirations, sneaks peeks of upcoming work AND where his work is being featured. So far, it’s been coming a long great. 

Please take a look at the blog, y’all. It’s some awesome stuff on there!

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS!!!!

“lately i’ve been realizing how important it is to abandon the ego . better yet , realizing the power of knowing when to embrace it & when to conceal it . just because u can doesn’t mean u should . makes more sense than ever to me now . cheers to trusting my vulnerability . adopting the motto , don’t take it personal . tripping without actually tripping . . .”

As debonair as Diddy portrays himself to be, I don’t ever expect him to be in high fashion magazine spreads. Yet, here he is alongside model Natalia Vodianova re-enacting an old-school Hollywood romance movie in the February 2010 issue of US Vogue.  The photo spread is called “Brief Encounter.” 

I love the picture of her leaning up to kiss him goodbye on the train…so beautiful.  The photo spread really tells a story.

Photographed by Annie Leibovitz

I found these pics of Kristin Cavallari and though I am no longer a fan of the show “The Hills,” I can honestly say I really like this photo spread. She looks different and not in her usual style and she looks better than I have ever seen her. THUMBS UP!

Pictures retrieved from www.CocoPerez.com

Ashley Greene, who plays Alice Cullen in the Twilight movies is absolutely beautiful. Check out these racy pics from the February 2010 issue of Interview Magazine. I love the black and white and the black leather and who ever styled her hair and makeup, BRAVO!

Photographed by Mikael Jansson

Janet is an undeniable icon. I mean, if I say Janet, you ALL know who I am talking about. LOL. here she is in the most recent cover of Gotham magazine, looking sleek and gorgeous. Very glam and elegant.

I love her. )

Images courtesy of Gotham Magazine

WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE DEVASTATION IN PICTURES. JANUARY 12TH, 2010 A 7.1 EARTHQUAKE HIT HAITI AND AFFECTED 3 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING THERE.  THE STRONGEST BUILDING IN THE CAPITOL COLLAPSED. THOUSANDS OF LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST AND AID IS NEEDED. WATER IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE, ALONG WITH FOOD AND CLOTHING.

*HERE IS A LIST OF CHARITIES THAT YOU CAN DONATE TO:

http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/ 

*PLEASE ALSO VISIT WYCLEF JEAN’S WEBSITE FOR HIS YELE HAITI ORGANIZATION FOR UPDATES AND DONATIONS: WWW.YELE.ORG

*TEXT “YELE” TO 501501 AND YOUR NEXT CELL PHONE BILL WILL BE BILLED A $5.00 USD DONATION TO THE YELE HAITI ORGANIZATION.

*TEXT “HAITI” TO 90999 TO DONATE $10.00 USD VIA THE RED CROSS.

*HERE IS AN EVENT LISTING TO THE FRESTHETIC OPENING WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN TURNED INTO AN OFFICIAL “YELE HAITI’ CLOTHING AND FOOD DRIVE FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF. FRESTHETIC’S LOCATION WILL BE KEPT AS A LOCATION FOR DONATIONS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=383636265315

PLEASE BRING CLOTHING, BOTTLED WATER, FOODS (CANNED, PASTA, EVAPORATED MILK) TO THIS LOCATION

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE TO INQUIRE ABOUT RELIEF EFFORTS, AS WELL AS CHURCHES, SUPERMARKETS AND HOSPITALS.

THESE PEOPLE NEED OUR HELP….NOW. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON ALL THOSE SUFFERING AND THEIR FAMILIES LOOKING FOR THEM.

(“Imprisoned” By KasiaPea–www.deviantart.com)

(Written using @OohErika’s prompt of “Imprisoned love”)

Heartbroken…
her heart caged by her own loyalties…
she waits patiently…
until the warmth of his embrace
will cure her of her wandering spirit

Unsure of his love…
she spins words in blue ink
and sends perfume through the breeze…
hoping the little she does
can keep the grays from going dark.

Mails him rays of light to pierce his clouds…
reminders of all that is here…
arms wide open…
an ocean spread to the horizon…
His horizon….her ocean….
smooth and calm…
and filled with diamonds…
that will light his way back to shore…

So…
she fills the pages with blue ink sunlight
and kisses words with emotion…
There’s strength in the stroke of her pen…
compassion in the honey of her heart…

She gives what he needs….
so when his moon is once again full…
he can filll his world with brightness…
and flood her mind with the light she gave to him…

Stony support….
she is waiting….
hoping that her intentions lead to his sincerity…

Drops her words into the wind
and prays they get to him.

She waits….
and writes… giving all of herself in every single second…
she waits…remains…. she stands strong….

Her heart is imprisoned with his.

(The first activity of Revolution Ladies Night was to write a piece inspired by a post card that was given. Everyone received different postcards.  The above picture is the post card I received featuring art by the artist TooFly…and below is what I wrote inspired by it)

Beautiful darling…
Untouchable…
with hair down to her ass and
luscious lips and full hips…
she breathes beauty in the beast of the city

No response to tire hisses and cat calls…
she sees life in shades of purple…
mysterious and sweet…
tinged with night and brightened by stars..
She walks confident.

Until one day he comes along
and sweeps her off her feet…
whispers rose colored dreams in her ear..
so…
she believes…
her concrete walls crumbling
with a kiss and a sigh…
sugared gilt words that lick his lips
every time he speaks….

She’s flushed…
She’s in too deep…
thinking her love for him….
will tear down the corners..
and keep him home…
he paints her world green with envy…
makes her feel as if she should be threatened
as if her smile isn’t enough…
her love isn’t enough…

By then too late…
the thoughts of white-picket promises and blushing brides
fade away into her reality…

and she is left with nothing
but the beating of her own heart.

Standing stronger…
she sews patches over bruises…
tends to wounds cut into her soul
with the salted blades of his neglect,
his abuse…
his ignorance…
sweeps the greens from her life…
dusts her shoulders
and smiles……

She reminds herself of who she is….
a beauty in the beast of the city.

I was following a young lady named Cynthia on Twitter and she tweeted about this group she was starting with her friend, Tina, called Revolution Ladie’s Night.  I had NO idea what to expect, but I felt compelled to hit her up. So, on January 5th, 2010 I ventured down to the Lower East Side (strange territory for a Bronx girl like me) and met up with some amazing young ladies.

As stated on the website:  “REVOLUTION LADIES NIGHT IS  A CREATIVE WOMEN’S FOCUS GROUP CREATED AND FACILIATED BY TINA G. AND CYN CIITY TO CREATE A SAFE AND NURTURING SPACE FOR WOMEN TO OWN THEIR FEELINGS AND EXPERIENCES; AND TO ENCOURAGE EMPOWERMENT THROUGH CREATIVE RISKS. RECOGNIZING THE ADDITIONAL PRESSURES OF THE URBAN WOMAN, THE GROUP’S FOCUS IS TO ALLOW WOMEN OF ALL RACES, AGES, SHAPES, SIZES, AND STATUS TO COME TOGETHER AND ENLIGHTEN AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER CREATIVELY THROUGH COMMUNICATION AND CONNECTIONS. MUCH LOVE TO THE STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN OF URBAN CITIES EVERYWHERE LOOKING FOR A CREATIVE OUTLET.”

I am proud to say I am a part of this group and will be featured prominently on the official blog once I begin spring semester classes. The blog will not only include work from the members of the group, but makeup tips (we ARE ladies after all), event listings, programs to look into and inspirational items. We’re definitely off to a good start!

Located on 184 Eldridge Street (on Rivington Street) in coordination with University Settlement (www.unversitysettlement.org), meeting every Tuesday night from 7:00pm-8:oopm.

For any inquiries, please contact the group via email: RLN_LES@yahoo.com

Nelson Cabán was a part-time cortero de caña and cowboy astronaut before encountering his lifelong nemesis, a color wheel, in preschool.

Raised in Spanish Harlem, and currently a graduate student at CCNY, he has studied art at Cooper Union in New York City and Estudio 13 in Madrid and Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona.

His work has been exhibited in New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Paris, and Spain and Nelson has been featured in the New York Times, Time Out New York, Hispanic Outlook magazine, and Metro (España).

Among the more notable collectors of his work include U.S. President Barack H. Obama, the F.B.I. of Puerto Rico, and Dr. Dulce Maria Garcia.

He is currently the resident artist of La Pregunta Arts Café in New York City and is involved in several upcoming exhibitions in the New York City area as well as a children’s book and a website dedicated exclusively to art-related ventures. 

If you guys get a chance, go onto Nelson’s blog. It is one of the most intelligent, eloquently written blogs I have ever read.  The topics are current and relevant and range from the economic issues arising from the Tiger Woods scandal to his artistic views on death. Full of his passionate views on art and current events, the blog provides insight to the mind of a phenomenal artist and writer. I look forward to his blog entries. And so should you.

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS!!!!

For business inquiries and info, please email at: 

nelsoncaban@hotmail.com

Although I think Rihanna’s style is becoming quite redundant for the most part, I can appreciate her beauty paired with some amazing style and photography.  I think she looks amazing in  this photo shoot for the February 2010 issue of W magazine. Really amazing.

Photographed by Craig McDean/ Styled by Lori Goldstein

She’s hot…. I think that’s enough said, huh?

Here Megan is in the upcoming ad campaign for Emporio Armani underwear and Armani jeans. *DrooL* Despite her hammer thumbs…she’s uber hot.

Photographed by Mert Alas/ Marcus Piggot

30 artists were given blank female busts and told to create something.

January 29th, 2010, will be the closing event for a two-month tour and it proves to be an amazing event. With pieces ranging from science fiction to erotica (*covers eyes* LoL)…and with artists that range from a tattoo artist, graffiti artists, mixed-media artists and a toy designer, I am excited to see what they have to offer.

Fortunately, I have the honor of knowing some of the artists personally and I can vouch for their talent. Absolutely stunning work. Each artist has their own unique and distinctive style and it is sure to be a hot event. Really looking forward to it.

Cypha Taino Management and PushArt Management , two phenomenal artists rep businesses have collaborated in handpicking artists and in hosting the event.  During the process, PushArt’s Craig Smith passed away and the show has become a tribute to him. (RIP)

Pieces range from $200 USD- $5000 USD

THERE IS NO COST TO THE EVENT.

I’ll be there.

For any business inquiries, please contact:

Frankie Velez, founder of Cypha Taino Management: velez.frankie@gmail.com

PushArt Management: PushArt@verizon.net