Song of the Moment – Thinking Bout You, Frank Ocean

I adore gut wrenching emotional music (who doesn’t, right?).  I love it when you can actually feel the pain, the passion and the intensity of emotion in an artist’s voice.  It shakes me to my core.

I’ve heard a lot about Frank Ocean all year long.  I heard his music played on my fave web series - Awkward Black Girl, and I read about his music on blogs and magazines.  He was touted as being one of the best new artist and singlehandedly changing up the hip hop game. 

Unfortunately it wasn’t always about his musical talent that got him noticed.  This summer he rose to notoriety when he came out via his tmblr account and shared that his first love was with a man.  In the ultra macho world of hip hop, this was a HUGE announcement. He subsequently became noted as the first openly gay/bisexual hip hop artist.  As his announcement hit the airwaves he received a lot of love and support from fans and celebrities.  Big up to you, Frank!

Even though I was fully aware of the accolades that he was receiving, I wanted to make up my own mind about him and appreciate his music my own terms (yes, I am stubborn!). It was his performance on the 2012 MTV Video Awards that made me in awe of him.

As he sat on stage and delivered his stripped down, vulnerable performance of Thinking Bout You, I sat in amazement.  He finally got me.  He was able to add humility and vulnerability to a genre that is normally full of bravado and machismo.  Damn, it was genius.  

Soooo, because of my adoration for him musically and creatively, I am now obsessed with all his music.  I love Novacane and Pyramids, but my go-to Frank Ocean song is “Thinking Bout You.” 

Anyone who has been in love can relate to this song.  Anyone who has had their heart broken can relate to this song.  It’s not even the lyrics that affect me; it’s how he sings it.  Soo much emotion.

There is nothing else I need to say. I heart this song!  Check it out here.

Michelle

 

Are you a starving artist? Not for long!

Trey Anthony

I am such a fan of Trey Anthony (psst..she’s an incredible playwright, creative mind and considered to be the Canadian version of Oprah!). 

I have supported her projects – (Da Kink in My Hair- play and television series, I Am Not A Dinner Mint - play), read her blog and attended a few of her comedy shows.

Due to all of her success, she would like to reach out to all the artists and let them know, you don’t have to be a “starving artist” to be considered a legit artist. You should be paid what you’re worth.  Being artistic and creative is a business!

Trey is sharing her insight by presenting the Millionaire Artist Workshop that will help creative types understand that they have a skill and they need to embrace it.  

There will be panelists speaking on how you can:

Immediately double your income!

Stop doing your art for free, and how to get paid!

Effectively network!

Get the media's attention!

Increase your social media presence.

 I love that she is unselfishly paying it forward and helping others.  Very inspiring.  I am definitely interested in attending this workshop and I am hoping to go.  

I think this would be a good opportunity for anyone who is creative and would like to build their business and free their minds!

Here are the details.

Date: October 20, 2012

Time: 10am - 3pm

Place: Loft 404, The Ambrosia Hub,

262 Adelaide Street West, 4th floor

Michelle

Beauty 411- eyes, lips and hair

After years of using and reviewing Lush products, I had the pleasure of meeting 2 of my fave Lush PR reps – Perry Sun and Courtney McGeever about 3 weeks ago.  (BTW, they are insanely cool and had me laughing like crazy.  Thanks, girls!)

While I was meeting them, I was given some information about new products that will be launched soon, and given a few products to try.  Here’s what I thought about the beauty items.

Eyes Right Mascara

I refuse to leave my house without wearing mascara. I NEED it.

Okay, I’m sooo not as high maintenance as I appear; it’s just that I love the way my eyes pop when I wear mascara. It’s the only beauty product that instantly awakens my face.

Lush’s Eyes Right mascara is from the Emotional Brilliance line that was released about a couple of  months ago.  The innovative line matches cosmetic colours with your current state of mind.  Sounds deep, no?

Eye’s Right is a subtle mascara that gives your lashes a bit of definition, but if you desire a little more pizzazz in your life, you can apply about 4-5 coats (I did). 

I like that I can use this mascara every day as it’s not too thick and not clumpy at all.  The bottle is see through so you know exactly when you need to run to the store and buy a new bottle.  But the coolest thing about this mascara is that the bottle is totally recyclable!  So you can look great and be good to the environment.

R&B Hair moisturizer

I’m sure you’ve read numerous times on my blog that I am a curly girl and my hair is perpetually dry.  I have to use tons of products to get my hair looking healthy and hydrated (psst....sometimes I forget and my hair looks like a hot mess!).  I have my staples (Shea Moisture CurlEnhancing Smoothie, Oyin Handmade Greg Juice and good old coconut oil), but sometimes I need more products!

I was curious about Lush’s R&B moisturizer and Perry was nice enough to send it to me (Thanks, Perry.  You’re sooo my new BFF!).  I read about it in a beauty mag which said it would work miracles for those with dry hair and I wondered if it would work on my parched locks.

I applied it to freshly styled hair.  It wasn’t too greasy or oily.  It had a pleasant earthy/ floral scent that stayed on my hair for a VERY long time—which I didn’t mind.  I liked how it felt (for some reason it felt tingly).  I plan on using it a couple more times to get a better feel for the product.  But all in all, I liked how it felt on my hair.

Popcorn Lip Scrub

Okay, this product isn’t as crazy as it sounds -  you are not scrubbing your lips with a kernel.  The Popcorn lip scrub  smells like caramel corn and tastes like salty popcorn. Yummy, eh?

It is super simple to use. Just dap some of the scrub on your lips, then you can either lick it off (don’t worry, the product is natural), or you can wipe it off with a damp towel.

I used this product, and just like Lush’s Sweet Lips (a lip scrub that tastes like chocolate that I used a while ago), it worked like a charm.

 Have you tried any new products?  Be sure to let me know what you've tried.  Email me at: michelle[at]happygrrls.com

 

Michelle