New Years 2011 DMV Style

This was the first time I had ever spent a holiday away from my tight knit family but I can't say that I may be the last! Everyone says that their friends are amazing and they wouldn't have it any other wayl so I guess I'll stick to that saying and let it ride. Over this past few years I have lost friends gained friends and re-evaluated freindships from the ground up. I was always told that some of your greatest friends come from your college years and I am now a believer.

Ringing in the year 2011 with two of my amazing best friends Caramel, VanillaBean and Menzana along with Brother-from-another BEAR & his teammates from the Washington Redskins and crew was one of the best experiences of my life! Check out some of the pics from the weekend.

Brooklyn Girl 2011

Happy NEW YEAR!!!! Today I decided to take charge once again on this journey we call life. Not in the sense that I had ever lost myself but in the sense that I am going to do things my way to make sure I am the happiest me I could ever be! I've allowed many outside influences and people in who have not been for the better but it's time to purge of them and move forward. It's great to have great friends, amazing family and faith in the Lord nothing in this world is impossible! Take Charge and LIVE LARGE!

Changes

It's been about a year and a half since I walked across the stage at West Virginia University's Cultural Arts Centers and received my college diploma as the only African American student of the class and since then so many things have changed. I was never one for cliche's especially one's that pertained to friends, being that I had so many ups and downs with friends since I was young enough to know what a real friend was. Looking back on my life's turning point and the point where I began to fully understand who I am as a person I become more appreciative of the old antage "You meet your true friends in college"; yet again not taking anything away from the few friends that I have from elementary and high school whom I am still close with.
Thinking back, I left my mountaineer home with what seemed to be the best group of friends a college experience could have pumped out; three amazing best friends all of different upbringing, races and roles in my life... teammates who seem to this day to still be my everyday sisters, confidons and rocks and girls and guys who are more like sissie's and bro's. One year where are we all? All out living life doing our thing some moved on to be professionals, athletes, parents or continued studies. One thing I realized today was that no matter what, we all hone an experience that no matter the changes or directions our lives take can not be distorted.
I am forever thankful for the late night food runs to Sheetz, Working Womens Wednesday, 2am Food Fights that turn into winter spring cleaning and cop visits, snow fights and mattress rolls down the hills, random road trips, drunken stuppers or even 6am wieght lifting.

I can't wait to look back in 10 years and laugh at how amazing life has been to me! And even more appreciative of the people that I meet in that small West Virginia town who helped me grow into the person I am today and have a genuine acceptance of me for me....


Inspired by Tiffany Evans- Changes

Drake's Letter to Aaliyah...

Yesterday August 25th, marked the nineth year anniversary of the passing of songstress Aaliyah and in my opinion the best commemoration came from rapper/singer Drake. Although he never meet her, like many of us she touched his life with that ever lasting impact that she so delicately had. Check below for the letter! (Well put Drake!! I'm never dissapointed with your sincerity and openness to be mushy)

Drakes Love Letter

xoxo Brooklyn Girl xoxo

Top Ten Songs

Hey everyone in Blog world! I know I've been MIA for a while but I'm back to live action and ready to hit ya'll with a great post!

I'm a truely huge music fan; no matter what the genre or debut date. I see myself as a sort of afficianado but hey I'll settle with "Avid Music Lover" to be simple.
Lately I've been gathering music for my family's annual BBQ and in doing so I decided to share with everyone my Top 10 songs (in no particular order)!

• Boyz 2 Men- Motown Philly
• Jay-Z- Hard Knock Life
• Aly-Us- Follow Me
• Tony Toni Tone- Whatever You Want
• Common- I Used to Love H.E.R.
• Foxy Brown ft Blackstreet- Gotta Get You Home
• Notorious BIG- Sky's the Limit
• Jeff Redd- You Called and Told Me
• Kid 'N Play- Ain't Gone Hurt Nobody
• Jay-Z ft Alicia Keys- Empire State of Mind

Bonus: Keith Sweat- I Want Her (When I was growing up my whole family had me believing instead of him saying "I Want Her" he was saying "Ayana" and still to this day when this song comes oon the whole family sings "AYANA"! Amazing howmusic can bring a family together!

Bonus: Gil Scott-Heron- The Bottle (At the time I first heard this song I was too young to know exactly what it meant but I loved the song none the less. Great precussionist and a great voice singing what I now know is great lyrics! This is a song years after it's debut that it can still be relevant!)

Please always remember music can be a key to the soul and your favorite song speaks of you and to you! Happy listening everyone!!!!!

xoxo BrooklynGirl xoxo

GOOD NEWS

It's always great to hear good news no matter who it's about and today's news was no exception... My usual perusing of websites, top city newspaper sites, etc. brought me across a story that touched my heart at it's core; being from an environment of similar expectations. It was recently announced that Chicago's first all-male, all-African American charter high school Urban Prep Academy for Young Men had reached it's ultimate goal of attaining a 100% college acceptance rate within it's first senior class. Located in Chicago's Englewood section an area known for it's paroxysm and poverty, the outlook on life and it's possibilities don't stretch as far as the next neighborhood in which the schools director knows first hand being a native of the neighborhood and determined to make change.
During the March 5th ceremony of changing the mandatory uniform red school uniform tie to a gold and red stripped one to represent college acceptance a gift was given to these hard-working and well-deserving young men. Making the surprise announcement was Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and city school Chancellor Ron Huberman, granting this special class a free prom! A reward often overshadowed by costly tickets would now be covered, allowing each young man to enjoy the festivities no matter socio-economic stature; all because of hard work!!!!!

Congratulations to the brave Young Men of Urban Prep Academy... you have each defied the first road block! Continue on with determination and faith, letting nothing deter you from success.

♥Love LIVE Life♥
Brooklyn Girl