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I thank you for your past support and I hope that you will be entertained, inspired and informed by our future connections.

Have a great summer!!!  www.cnakeesha.com

Trying to keep things light in terms of eating…it’s warm again so I’m all about the smoothies and the salads.  I still have not shed my holiday weight.  If I’m going to gain twenty pounds every holiday, I may have to start boycotting the holidays.  It’s just too much.  My body can’t take the yo-yo and I can’t fit anything in my own closet.  I have to fit my own clothes, jeez.

I have been getting my walk on.  Three to five miles 3-5 times a week.  I hope to keep this momentum up for life.  I am trying to re-condition myself to stop falling off the wagon.  I will do great for a while, a few months, long enough to lose twenty pounds.  Then I get lax, and create the same scenario that made me gain the extra twenty in the first place.

So I’m following my favorite motto: fresh food & fitness ~ Nature’s Health Care Plan! And taking life one day at a time…

I hope you are well readers in the blogosphere.  Seize the day, and smile along the way!

My birthday is next week. I always go through this lull time right before my birthday. I suppose it is because I am getting older. Examining the state of my life.  Wondering where I went wrong and in which ways can I improve.  Accepting that the past is the past.  Learning each day to live in the present while setting myself up for a better future.

THANK GOD FOR GROWING UP!

While I sometimes long for the fearless energy of my youth, I also deeply appreciate the lessons I’ve learned in communication, faith and patience.  I see my growth and I love that about myself.

Going gray is one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me.  It’s a family trait.  Many of the women in my family gray early.  Some of them so much so that they where mostly gray by the time they turned 40. 

It’s so interesting because I feel like it is direct evidence that I am still growing.  Like, when you go through puberty, you know certainly, physically that you are going through life changes.  So before my eyes, streaks are forming, the ‘salt’ is slowly integrating with the ‘pepper’. 

It’s not a mainstream look.  Many people try to convince me to color it to its orginal ‘deep, almost black brown’.  I’m cool. I like it. Scratch that, I love it. I embrace it as a right of passage.  If I ever color it, it will of course be because I got the notion to do so, not because of external prodding.

I do not buy the idea that the gray makes me look older.  Personally, I feel I do not look much different then I did in high school, save the obvious progression of my swag.  I was blessed with just enough melanin to get in on the ‘black don’t crack’.   Practicing wellness maintains my youthful appearance.

Totally off subject: I need a photographer, a videographer, and a literary agent, ASAP.  I am ready to seriously flex my inner techy. INTERACTIVE: sounds fun!

Be sure to include me in your thoughts of blessed energy and know that I am meditating on our collective ascension.  I appreciate my audience and I encourage your input. 4sho ~ you are my inspiration.

another day, another day, another day…

the beat goes on

The way that the world moves is still mysterious to the average lay person. Even the super humans I know still have doubts. This is life.

Some people believe the monumental movement of the earth, climate are due to human engineering, others believe there is a Mother who manipulates the motions of this place, Earth. If I should fall under the beacon call of any, let it be her.

Living high on the good life requires a certain’ je ne sais quoi’ that many people simply lack.  We should not apoligize for our blessings. It dishonors them, we should be happy with the moments we are granted.

America, we are at the crossroads. Our desicions are vital. People, let your hearts be strong. 

With strong blessings come strong responsibility.  None of us knows the answers. If you take it with any more than a grain of sand, you may be too serious.

My girlfriends’ joke with me all the time…’your one of those light-skinned girls with good hair’.  (No, I still haven’t seen the Chris Rock movie.)  The good hair comments used to irk the shit out of me but, these days it doesn’t.  The truth is I don’t have good hair, I have GREAT hair.  And even with great hair, it takes regular maintenance and conditioning to achieve healthy stylish looks.

When I say conditioning, I’m not talking about the hair product conditioner.  I mean it literally:  to condition your hair to behave the way you want it to behave.

I am going to share my hair care regimen but don’t think I’m foolish enough to believe everyone will LISTEN.  It’s amazing to me how many women I come across who compliment me on my hair BUT REFUSE to take my advice on maintaining their own.  I am not an anomaly, most of us can grow hair.  Brothers, ya’ll are doing alright!  ~ Braids and locks are wonderful natural options.  I like my hair braided sometimes in the summer, adds a little variety ~ takes 20 years off my look, too!

I change looks with the seasons.  In the summer, I most often wear my hair in its naturally curly state.  It gives me the opportunity to deep condition it and wear it wild and big.  When it’s warm I wash or wet my hair every few days.  Water is moisture!  I like to twist it or braid it and let it loose, again it gives me variety on the curl pattern I’m rocking.  I wear a lot of headbands (my favorite is a long black lace tie) because I like my hair out of my face and it protects my edges.

One perk about the winter is that the lack of humidity creates a fabulous climate for straightening curly hair.  I wash my hair (early in the day) with all natural soap and/or a good quality shampoo.  Most recently, I tried Biolage: I like, very hydrating. I am sometimey about conditioner, because I like hot oil treatments.  It gives me enough moisture so I don’t need much conditioner, plus, I can use all natural oils ~ additives don’t do anything but weigh your hair down.

I recommend air drying your hair.  Trying to blow dry your hair while it’s still wet adds so much more heat than needed.  Once, my hair has dried I section it into four clips. I would be insane to try to take on this entire head on all at once.  I blow dry the back sections with a hand-held w/diffuser attachment and a circular open bristle brush, then the front sections.  It is so important to make sure your hair is COMPLETELY DRY before you flat-iron it.  Give your head a moment to cool down after blow drying.

***ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE:  DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR HAIR ONCE YOU RINSE OUT THE CONDITIONER.  ~~NOTHING!!!~~ I have had arguments with hairdressers about this point.  They think they know everything and they will have your ass leaving the shop looking like a grease monkey before they listen to the advice of the person whose head they are doing. WTF??? If you put grease, oil, sheen ~ anything on it before you blow dry & flat-iron you are just putting fuel on your head to fry.  NOT OUR OBJECTIVE.  This is what causes the gookey equipment syndrome ~ ya’ll know what I’m talking about ~ brown crusty gooey charred equipment – not in my head.***

Once my hair is dry and cool, I section it back out into four. Working from the back, I take small pieces and flat-iron from root to end. (Sometimes, I go bone straight, other times I spiral curl it all over – big body ) My mother got me a HER-styer flat-iron a couple years ago and I LOVE IT!  It is an awesome product (not to be confused with the In-styler – not the same product or price).  I think the ceramic plates and the thin design makes it wonderful and versatile.

Take your time. Embrace your natural state and learn how to manipulate it.  Put on some music and work your way through your head.  Your hair will grow faster with less chemical processing, I swear by that.

Keep me posted on where your head is at…I like comments and progress…Let’s be great, together: au natural

Getting my air dry on. Keep in mind this is after months of straightening. Rocking my favorite hair tie.

The Finished Product: So Worth It! Spirals Everywhere

I have learned so much about people’s personalities and what we do in the name of our self-interests.  We are able to convince ourselves of anything. Lately, I’ve had too many occasions to witness parents who will call their children crazy – like clinically – before they are willing to admit they (the parents) are wrong, about simple things.

It is breaking my heart. Especially because, if these parents could come to terms with the root of their mistakes there might actually be room for some real growing in these families.  I believe we need an eleventh commandment: ‘Honor thy children’.  If you till the seed properly you can trust the blossom.

The weather has been lovely in Georgia since yesterday, strong sunshine, mild temperatures and random breezes.  You can get away with wearing a sweater in the day and a light jacket at night. I hope it lasts.  I am over the cold.  If I do not make it back to New England before the spring, I will not complain.  Fall is my favorite season up north.  In the winter, my preference is the tropics…surprise, surprise.

It’s just so hard to jump-start in the extreme cold, we should  hibernate like the bears in that type of weather.  Our bodies are saying – rest and our minds are saying – keep pressing forward. We are at odds with the nature around us and within.

I am listening to my mind.  It is stronger than it’s ever been. Pressing forward, getting my groove back dominates all my thought processes.   I am okay with that, this is a big year for me.

You know how you can know your way around one neighborhood and then know your way around another neighborhood but not know how to get back and forth between those neighborhoods?  At times, you have to go all the way home to get to either neighborhood.  There is an awesome ‘got it’ feeling you get when you figure out the paths between those neighborhoods.  That is how I am feeling: Like I can see the forest and the trees. It feels good.

Stay connected.  There will be many changes coming to this site in the coming months.  More frequent posts, new urls, strategic partnerships and more.  I am glad I am writing and I am super glad you are still reading.

Stand firm in your own two feet. You don’t have to be anyone but you. Know you well.

peace

Have a great day!

Nakeesha Charles 2009 Soul Train Awards

I had my first red carpet experience this week attending the filming of the 2009 Soul Train Awards  in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center. It was an interesting experience to say the least. I was invited by my lovely sistren, auntie, mentor and friend Una Morgan of Morgan Heritage. Her brother Gramps Morgan (whose first solo album ’2 Sides of My Heart Vol. 1′ I am wearing out), also of MH, attended as well. Thank you again.

First, let me say some positive. It was so wonderful to be in a room full of celebrities and everyone I smiled at or spoke to returned the greetings with blessed energy. Some of them even initiated the smiles and greetings. It was very enlightening.

As we entered the first celebrities we saw were Kandi Burress, previously from Xscape and currently with the Real Housewives of Atlanta and her co-star NeNe Leakes (the pure definition of ghetto).  They entered separately. I will say this for both of them: they know how to rock those short hair-dos, their hair was on point. And I am not mad at NeNe’s diva walk, she was strutting like she was on the runway, get it girl. Just don’t start talking cause the lack of class is apparent from the first syllable.

I like Kandi’s story line on the show. She seems to have the most interesting mix of dynamics. It was a smart move to add her to the show. I loved the show when she was in her momma’s kitchen having a round table discussion with the elders in her family about her relationship. Now we all know that we will choose to do what we want to do, but I like the fact that she was strong enough to hear them out and allow them to state their disapproval and support.  Now all she needs is a husband, so she can actually attempt to be a housewife. (ok, I’m letting it go, I could go on and on about this crazy ass show – get rid of the white girl with the bad wigs…)

As we waited to walk the red carpet we stood next to actor Terry Crew who was chatting it up with Bootsy Collins. Bootsy and his wife were expectedly loud: dressed HEAD TO TOE in silver sequins. Even Bootsy’s top hat was covered in sequins. And as if one Bootsy is not enough, Tommy Davidson’s simple ass comes in dressed as Bootsy. He got a few laughs out of the gimmick. So I suppose he accomplished his goal since he is a comedian. However, he needs to leave his shirt on, no one wants to see your bony stick figure.

Speaking of stick figures, OMG I did not know that Robin Thicke was so thin. He was very nice and polite. But, eat a hamburger sometimes, or some potatoes, rice, carbs, dude. Monica has always been super slim so that was no shock, she looked good and something about her aura seems very ‘I take no mess, from nobody.’ I like that.

Keri Hilson and Toni Braxton are also members of the ‘don’t let the wind blow too hard or I might topple over club.’ Keri Hilson’s performance left much to be desired. Toni Braxton opened the show with Trey Songz singing ‘Yesterday’. Everyone is talking about them kissing. It’s a performance people, they are performing, had they done it on the red carpet and not on stage we may have had to think twice about it. They both have great stage presence and strong voices. I think Trey Songz is trying to show me his grown man. I need to watch this video all the ladies are talking about.

Hosts Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard were great. I like their dynamic together. The skits were funny and entertaining. Taraji, has some serious comedic ability that I hope she has the opportunity to tap into in her future work. She reminds me of Carol Burnett. She seems very willing to stretch herself for the sake of the artistry. Thumbs up sister. Terrence, is very easy on the eyes and he can sing a little something, too. The album he released would get NO play in the black community. It was not R&B or Hip Hop; it was very alternative eclectic, I like it. His performances at this ceremony where on point, I enjoyed him. I hope that them hosting together becomes a tradition.

Okay, I have been as nice as I know how to be: what is wrong with these event coordinators??? The show started over a half an hour late. It was three+ hours long. In between the taping they had some loud screaming comedian whose name I can’t remember poorly entertaining the crowd. The sound folks need to be slapped, the mics kept going out. They had to do re-takes. It seemed so slow sitting in the audience, we became chatty with one another because there was nothing else to do. No one knew what was going, how long the show would be, why it was taking so long in between filming. Whew. One of these days…CP time is not cute. The benefits of organization and efficiency are incredible. Professionalism = more work = more $!!! If this show was live it would have been a DISASTER.

I hope they have hired some fabulous editors. They will need them. I cannot wait to see the final cut broadcast.

Notable exception to all things: CHRISETTE MICHELE, this sister can sing. No gimmicks, no flashing lights, no dancers. She and her microphone: Hell YES!!! This woman has pipes. She makes it look easy. She SANG ‘Blame it on Me’ from her current album ‘Epiphany.’ I was so impressed by her.

The tribute to Charlie Wilson was nice. (His wife is another bad wig white woman – what’s wrong with a quality wig?) Brian McNight (who was so super cool with his hellos) saved Kandi at the opening of the tribute and Charlie did it best closing the tribute.

I also rubbed shoulders with 2 of the members of Boyz II Men, Nathan & Wanya Morris, Ray J, Angie Stone (who had a big tacky wad of blue gum in her mouth), Keith Sweat (who introduced the Charlie Wilson tribute), Estelle, K-Ci & JoJo, the cast of ‘Meet the Browns’ ~including Lamman Rucker – who I could not resist snapping a photo of, those dimples and that smile – yes, yes, yes ~, Mario (whose single I love but his performance sucked), reggae artist: Serani,  some others who I recognized by sight but couldn’t call their names if you offered me money and Chaka Khan.

I missed the finale, which I hate cause I’m a total Chaka Khan fan (I guess I will have to be happy with her hello!) So I will be viewing that portion of the show with everyone else when it airs November 29, 2009.

Hopefully, there will be many more red carpets to walk in the future. I had so much fun getting dressed up and taking photos! And next time I will have something to compare it to, many thanks for new experiences. Enjoy the show!

A girl friend of mine and I worked on a project together a few years back. We we were compensated quite nicely for the project. So we tried to be responsible and come up with a budget for how we would spend this lump sum of money. We put most of it in the bank but we couldn’t resist the urge to blow a little bit of it.

We each set aside $500 as our we can have whatever we like with this money. Hooray for shopping.  After the mall we decided to hit this wholesale district in Miami. We found our parking spot and hit the first couple of stores. As we made our way down the street this lady caught our attention. Come, come she said in her broken english. ‘I’m gonna make a deal for you.’ Like fools we followed her into her small cozy shop.

Then she proceeds to tell us about this miracle bra. It fits you so well it will make you feel small. Just try it on, here I have your size. It looks great with your clothes…Without it don’t you feel fatter? We both tried one on and blindly agreed, yeah, yours looks good, now look at me.

She showed the special way that it fit. You strap one part on the other you clip. Here, here I have them in every color. Buy one right now, get one for you mother.  We settle on one each, the ‘deal’ was two for $80. We looked like torpedos or rockets, ready to launch. We brought some more shoes and we headed to dinner.

So we are all excited about our day of shopping. We stopped by another friends just so she could see all of our great finds. When we got to the bras, she looked at us like we had lost our rabbit ass minds.

We are repeating to her all the lady’s sales pitches. Here we are thinking we had something revolutionary. Her face was perplexed. She said, ‘you crazy b*tches, let me see, those are maternity bras, that’s not new to me.’ 

We stared back at her cause we were dumbfounded. Then we burst out in laughter. That shit had us in stiches. We knew the lady had got us. Neither of us needed a maternity bra. 

When we speak of it now, we use it as an example of how money can make you act stupidly. We were so ready to let go of it, I’m sure that lady could see dollar signs in our eyes.  Makes me think twice before those impulse buys.

Of course the obvious is that it is a communication tool. But as we think more deeply we can see that our language is also often used as weapons and shields. Word daggers and silent force fields.

If only our actions could keep up with the things that we say.

Cause boy, oh boy, do some of us know how to talk a good game.

We outline grand hopes, dreams and schemes. So convicted to our platform our audience simply believes. But, as the speech is heard over and over it becomes idle chatter. Until, one day the things you say, they no longer matter. These words that should bond start to batter and shatter.