5.26.10 : SWEET Summer Playlist

jungle juice.

So this weekend, Friday to be exact my cousin W!LL is performing in the city! He's doing big things and I love his music! His creativity is second to none - after one listen I'm sure you'll agree. If you are in NYC this weekend check him out!

Friday - 5.28.2010

8PM - 12AM

166 W. 22nd St. (between 6th and 7th ave.)

Free with RSVP @ www.willsheridanmusic.blogspot.com

Guest list closes Friday at Noon

$5 w/o RSVP

5 Spot Soul Food.

Just had one of the BEST burgers in my life for dinner tonight. Took a little excursion down Myrtle Ave. to figure out what I wanted to eat - and as I'm walking I follow my nose into this small little restaurant which wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing. But I've learned that in New York you can't judge a book by its cover or you'll miss out on a lot... So I walk in and the wall is plastered with autographed pictures of Biggie, Malik Yoba, Bill Cosby, Marlon Waynes, etc and numerous restaurant awards.

Already convinced that I'm in the right place, I order a burger (who can mess up a burger right?) I was going get take out and eat it back at my apartment, but I had to get the whole experience. I mean, I'm eating with the greats - or so I like to think!! Let me tell you, the burger was simply amazing. The owner was laughing at me - because I kept telling him "this is the best burger i've ever had" as I'm stuffing my face. I'm sure I provided some comic relief. Next door was a Five Spot's Club, which I will be sure to check our very soon. Hope you all had delicious dinners like mine this evening - and if your ever in BK, check it out - you won't be disappointed.

Five Spot Soul Food

459 Myrtle Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11205

shine.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate;
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
“Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”
Actually, who are you NOT to be?
You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others will not feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine – as children do.
We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just some of us: it is all of us.
As we let our own light shine, we give others permission
to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others from their fear.
May we all give ourselves permission to shine today
so that the truth is reflected in all of us."

-Marianne Williamson

5.24.10 : SWEET Summer Playlist

Hi, My Name Is _______.

This past week leading up to my summer intern experience was full of uncertainty and anxiety. I was being thrust into a whole new environment with all new people. I was so nervous not only about what to expect but also about what ‘they’ would think of me. In new and unfamiliar situations, I always have some nerves about first impressions.

It’s interesting when you think about it . . . you don’t really have anything to fall back on. They don’t know and usually don’t care who my parents are, the fact that I was sports standout in HS, or that I have a pretty  solid GPA. Those things aren’t what people see when they first meet you – yes, those are things that I am really proud of and things I feel contribute to who I am, but in the first five minutes of meeting someone, they all disappear.

The ‘presentation of self’ is something we all do whether we do it cognitively or not. We manage our impression by constantly changing ourselves to impress other people so that we fit in and sometimes we work very hard to maintain a certain impression. We do this because we want to be liked and accepted by whomever – boss, classmates, boyfriend or girlfriend, We change our self so that we don’t appear to be different, strange, or weird in anyway – because although our society is one that preaches individualism, first impressions and impression management server as limiting factors. Its not until we reach a certain comfort level and security in the relationship that we begin to express our individualist selves without being embarrassed or feeling like we are being judged.

Just think about it – you’re on a first date with someone you really like. You dress up, try to look good – hair done, make-up on, fly outfit (check). Even though you don’t normally look like that, you want to make a good impression – we all do it. When’s the last time you went on a first date with sweatpants on and your hair looking like you rolled out of bed? Yeahhh, didn’t think so! We do it with the way we look, talk, and act – first impressions can make or break a deal.

Thoughts?

Rush Hour.

Pleasantly surprised this morning – rush hour wasn’t too bad this morning, but then again – I left my apartment at 7AM so I could’ve just missed it! But I actually didn’t mind the morning subway commute, I actually liked it. It definitely woke me up, especially after a awkwardly sleepless night. You know how excited you were for the first day of school or on Christmas morning and you woke up literally every 10 minutes? Yep, that was me last night – absolutely awful.

But back to my first day as a real New Yorker. It went well, met some cool people who are trying to do some BIG things with their life – awesome to see that! My day was super long, woke up at 6 and didn’t get back home until 8 (just in time to watch the Celtics beat up on the Magic) [I’m going to regret putting that in print if they don’t win tonight – so go Celtics!] Anyways, it was a very long day – but informative – and everything is going much better than I anticipated thus far. On to the next!

Navigating New York

The adjustment to life in the big city has been pretty smooth so far. Tomorrow I will meet my first real challenge of NYC – making it through rush hour traffic. Went through a dry run today of the route I need to take, but I have a pretty good feeling its just not going to be that easy. A little walking and a little subway are going to get me where I need to be. This is my first time really depending on public transportation to get me to my destination, I’m so used to driving everywhere!

I have a very independent mindset when it comes to certain things. Depending on other people to get me to a place by a certain time and just being on other people’s schedules, like the subway or bus, isn’t typically my style – but I won’t dare venture into the city with my car. That would be doing way to much too soon – just not there yet, and to be quite honest, I don’t think I’ll ever be there. NYC drivers aren’t the most friendly or cordial – I’m sure you’ve heard!

My goal on my commute tomorrow morning is to get there safely, blend in and make this as smooth as possible.

Here are a few tips I found to successfully navigating the NYC Subway like a New Yorker:

1. Get a subway map.

     -Streetwise maps are the way to go – just purchased my Transitwise map today!

2. Learn the difference between uptown and downtown.

     -Usually if it says Brooklyn – its going downtown. If it says Harlem or Queens – its going uptown. Queens – can go either way.

3. Buy a MetroCard.

     -Will make travelling much easier

4. Keep valuables close and secure

     -Don’t target yourself by pulling out the iPad, iPhone, and MacBook – not a good idea! (I’m and Apple girl)

5. Don’t stare or make eye contact with unusual people

     -NYC is filled with so many types of people and there are people who may not like you looking at them . . . and won’t be afraid to say or do something about it. Keep it moving.

Wish me luck!

futbol.

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup on the horizon - I stumbled upon this commercial. Once again, Nike has outdone itself with this "Write The Future" commercial. Whoever develops Nike commercial is absolutely brilliant - they just keep getting better! Anyways . . . I think its pretty cool - here's the full version - check it out!

PS: How many of us wish we could actually be there??? The South African futbol experience is going to be so dope!

Summer Soul.

Alright, alright …  I may be a little late with this one but better late than never right? Before I left for NYC I made a little stop to our wonderful little newly renovated mall and stopped in Athropologie. Looking through rack after rack a song comes on that I’d never heard before – but I really liked, and as I do all the time I pulled out the iPhone and “Shazam-ed” the unfamiliar song. If you are an iPhone user and you don’t have the Shazam app, it’s a must have – trust me on this one. So the song title came up as “You are the best thing” by Ray LaMontagne and I did a little research on some of his music -- I must say, I do like his style. He’s got a lot of soul and his raspy voice is so chill and soothing. I think you guys might like – and should definitely be an addition to those sweet summer playlists!

BK . . . All Day

Arrived in NYC around 3PM after severe packing procrastination. And I must say, the first day has been amazing. I've fallen in love with Brooklyn. After only being here 7+ hours - I have a feeling this summer is going to be one to remember!

Journey to . . . where exactly?

Headed to the Big Apple tomorrow. Wow. As I’m sitting here packing I’m overflowing with all kinds of emotions. Excited to spend the summer in the city. Nervous to be on my own in such a big place. Overwhelmed, it was less than a week ago I was packing to leave Providence and come home and now I’m packing again to leave home and go to New York! Things are moving crazy fast, and as we know – life waits for no one! All I know is that I better get a little pep in my step if I want to make it in the big city!  But there’s one emotion I didn’t mention – which is what I’ve been feeling the most lately; Fear.

For most who know me, you might think that’s a little strange, but its not – I feel like its only natural. In everything I do – I do it with confidence and fearlessness – everything  do. I’m a risk taker! Taking a chance and going to an Ivy League school. Leaving home to go to college 6 hours away from home when I had never been away from home for more than 2 weeks! Deciding to play Lacrosse in college rather then basketball, when basketball was the love of my life. And spending a summer in Atlanta, but at least I had some friends and family. But there’s something different about this move, something I can’t quite put my finger on. I mean, my life, as I know it could change forever because of this one summer! That’s a little scary don’t you think?

I think the biggest thing I fear is uncertainty. A new home, new friends, new job, new lifestyle – shaping my future when I’m not even sure of it myself. I don’t know what to expect. Am I going to like the city life or will I absolutely hate it? How, where, will I meet new people and make new friends? My job, will I like the company, the people, and the actual work – because this could be a place that becomes a major part of my life. Living in a place that is so different from anywhere else I’ve ever lived. Subways, busses, millions of people, blocks and blocks, monuments and sky scrapers; the city that never sleeps. Now I’ve been to New York many times before, but I’m sure that we can all agree that living somewhere is a completely different thing.

Its important that when we embark on new journeys in unfamiliar territories that we keep perspective. We can’t let fear inhibit our goals and dreams. Can’t let it deter us from being ambitious and accomplishing the things we were intended to do.  The best leaders in life are those who didn’t run away from fear but rather looked it in the face and took it as a challenge. Don’t’ play it safe, take it to the next level, be better today than you were yesterday. Never settle, don’t become complacent. If you don’t take away anything else from my rant about my nerves this summer, remember this:

“If you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.”

original.

o·rig·i·nal  [uh-rij-uh-nl] adj. capable of or given to thinking or acting in an independent, creative, or individual manner n. a work, writing, or the like, as opposed to any copy or imitation

Originality isn’t always an easy task, as a matter of fact – in this day an age it can be a rather difficult task to accomplish.  Regardless of America being viewed as an individualistic society, where uniqueness is encouraged, accepted, and praised, we are immersed in a culture where oftentimes different is critiqued. Engulfed in a society where professional athletes, singers, models, actors and actresses are idolized and emulated. It’s so easy for us to fall into the trap of living our everyday lives the way we “believe” we are supposed to as portrayed by the media and pop culture.


Originality past the surface level involves our thoughts and the process by which we create and construct those thoughts, opinions, and ideas about what each one of us thinks is important.


That’s the idea behind bluRRed bRilliance. Letting you into my mind and the processes that shape my life. Everything. Thoughts. Ideas.  Events. Pictures. Opinions. Articles. Places. Likes and Dislikes. And in the process, breaking the barriers of conformity in hopes to create something different. Presenting things in a light that someone reading has never seen or thought about. Staying original is my challenge. Hold me to it!

Enjoy!