A Fitting Tribute

Today the incomparable King of Pop, Michael Jackson, was given a truly beautiful, stunning, wonderful tribute to his life at his memorial.  I was wondering how it would turn out and if it would be truly befitting a legend like that, who will only come around once in a lifetime, and it actually lived up to and exceeded expectations.  Rev. Al Sharpton was poignant, Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy were endearing, and the soft instrumental of “Man in the Mirror” while his casket was being wheeled out was one of the saddest moments in my life.  I cried through the whole thing and was so appreciative that they did such an amazing final farewell for Michael’s and the fans’ sakes.  It was exactly as a memorial should be.

What saddens me the most about everything is that everyone seems to have forgotten his humanitarian efforts; everyone in the mainstream media that is.  Even though he’s made some of the best music and tours, broken all types of records, and had a career that will never be beat, his charitable works are what’s truly amazing.  He’s in the Guiness book of world records as most charitable pop star since he supported 39 charities (those are whats known, he also donated proceeds from many of his concerts or gave anonymously.  it’s thought that he’s given around $500 MILLION in charitable contributions over his lifetime.)  Here he talks about his time spent visiting hospitals and when he met a boy who needed a liver so he found him one and paid for everything:

As well, he broke down racial barriers.  MTV didn’t want to play him because they felt that black music wouldn’t sell or translate well and then lo and behold, Billie Jean took them from some random basement operation into the stratosphere.  Rolling Stones didnt want him on their cover and then he became iconic and they had to have him.  No star, black or white, had gotten an endorsement deal like the one Pepsi gave him for $10 million in the early 80s.  But, no no, let’s ONLY focus on the one thing that is completely unfounded about him. Not the things that we have confirmed proof of…oh no, that would be unamerican! “We Are The World” raised 50 million for famine in africa…ONE song! Let alone all of the other charitable works he did…but let’s just talk about the crappy case from a money hungry sleazeball who tried to kill his kid later and was caught on tape saying he wanted to milk Michael for all he was worth and ruin his life. Read this link for some insight: http://kingofpopmichael.info/the-false-abuse/

Michael was odd, sure, but a lot of it was something to remain in the news and the rest was his coping with a life none of us can understand from starting work at age 5, having no real childhood, shielding his vitiligo skin from sunlight by odd “costumes”, and having body dysmorphic disorder.  I really wish that none of the weird or bad things had happened, so that his legacy could have stood on it’s own as one of the best selling recording artists ever with over 750 million copies sold, world records galore, awards galore, loyal fans, unparalled charity work,  amazingly unique music/videos/tours, and a professionalism mixed with creative drive that is remarkable.  It also seems like he never got to have any great love of his life, which is really quite sad seeing as to how he set so many hearts aflutter and made so many happy.  He deserved better than 2 sham marriages.  Hopefully his children will be happy in life and well adjusted; it was heartbreaking to see Paris break down at the funeral.

I know that I never even met the man, but there is something about him and his childlike smile that makes me want to hug him.  His sensitive and giving spirit speak to me at some deep level, and then there is the tragic aspect of his life with the tabloid nightmare scandals and lack of one great love that makes me wish that I could turn back time and completely change things for his benefit.  I can be a big sap sometimes and the story of Michael Jackson brings out that sap in me because it just seems like so much went wrong when it should have all been right right right.  I cry for the cute little boy he was who had such dreams and at the same time I cry for the sexy gorgeous man he became and didn’t even know just how beautiful he was.  I cry for the painfully shy part of him that was at such a disconnect with the uber confident, crotch grabbing performer side.  I cry that he was surrounded by leeches who didn’t have his best interest in mind and I cry that he turned to plastic surgery and prescriptive drugs for his pain.  I just hope that somewhere in there he had fun and had happiness.  I’ll always “Remember the Times” Michael, and thank you for making them GOOD times.

Never Can Say Goodbye

RIP Michael Jackson

Yesterday we lost a musical ICON/LEGEND/MEGASTAR when we lost Michael Jackson.  I was shocked into a stupor and into denial, as were many people, because honestly he seemed incapable of death, if that makes any sense.  I just never even thought about him dying.  How do you say goodbye to someone who has decades of music that was the soundtrack to your life?  How do you say goodbye to an era?  From the days of being a cutie pie in the Jackson 5 to being  a revolutionary solo artist, Michael Jackson forever changed music and videos.  Share some of your favorite songs/thoughts/memories of the King of Pop.

Crying as I watched the tribute shows and videos, it really hit me as to how many of this man’s songs were ingrained in me.  It’d be nearly impossible to pick a favorite, as they were so diverse and spaced out.  I’d have to go by age/era or at least by Michael look(young black boy, black teen, hispanic young adult, white man, etc…).   This is  a tribute to my LOVE and admiration for the guy who made music worth listening to for decades.  Not to mention, have you seen that smile? He deserves accolades just for that beautiful smile.

Favorites:

young Michael/Jackson Five era

When Ben came on the radio today as I was driving, I seriously almost had an accident since I was crying so much.  This beautiful song already was a tear-jerker to the inner sap in me, and then with the circumstances?  I was practically inconsolable.  This, with Who’s Loving You; Music and Me; and I’ll Be There have always been my favorites from a young Michael.  They are songs that I can hear 1000000000 times and still perk up in excitement and cherish.  I still can’t believe that he’s gone…that angelic voice of his youth is the stuff that dreams are made of.

Thriller Era Michael

Human Nature is a BEAUTIFUL song on that Cd.  Honestly, I thought it was from one of his later cds, it sounds so mature and wonderful.  Thriller is fun, Beat It is hot,PYT is my FAVORITE and Billie Jean….iconic!  And with 109  million copies sold to date, obviously I’m not the only one who loved that cd.  And the way that the media is now, I don’t think that anyone will ever top his record.

BAD era/young adult hispanic look

My Favorite

My very first foray into Michael Jackson Mania was with my cousin who was in her late teens/early 20s around the time of the BAD and then DANGEROUS cds.  When I say that she was obsessed, it’s an understatement.  It was so bad that as a child (around 4-6), I actually thought that she was dating him because his was the only male name that I heard from her, she had his face plastered all over her walls and dressers, his music was the only thing that she listened to and she called him her boyfriend.  So of course young me really thought he was and I was so happy for her.  BAD still remains my favorite cd of his, from the simple fact of it was the soundtrack of my young years and I saw the videos on total repeat (you know she had every video and his little movies like Moonwalker on vhs).  My favorite song has always been BAD and that video along with him in SPEED DEMON (I can only describe him as beautiful in that video.  His smile was on a whole different level, and this was where the surgery was perfect and where he should have stopped.  Face still moved naturally, everything was gorgeous) set me on my path to being infatuated with light skinned/long haired men all through my teen days years later.  I hadn’t even made the connection until I thought about how many of my exes looked similar to that style.  God, I still want to lick the screen whenever BAD comes on; the clothes, the confidence/swagger, the dances….mmm, he could have SO got it back then.    My other  favorite song from that CD would have to be THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL.  I always get a smile when it comes on.  DIRTY DIANA and ANOTHER PART OF ME are also great hits from that cd.  I like the BAD cd even better than the record breaking THRILLER.

If nothing else, Michael Jackson was distinctive and will never be duplicated (as hard as most try…I’m looking at you, Chris Brown, Usher, and Ne-yo, among others).  His reputation may have been tarnished in the last 15 years, but his music and cultural impact speaks for itself.  He was the first black artist “allowed” on MTV, revolutionized the way music videos were done, spawned fashion trends that defined a decade, and set many a heart afire (well, you know, until a certain point where his appearance became quite…bad).  I wish that his personal life could have been as rewarding as the professional life, but with a rough childhood and what seems to have been body dysmorphic disorder, that goal of peace in life was sadly never to be reached and it saddens me that he was never truly happy even though he made so many happy.

What really saddens me and makes me want to hug him is how misunderstood I feel that he was.  Everything personal conspired against the poor man.  First his dad was an abusive psycho jerk and he was deprived a childhood which made him fascinated with being a kid later in life.  Then came the issues that made him so unhappy with his physical.  Being called “big nose” by his dad, a broken nose and botched surgery to fix it, hair catching on fire  and needing reconstructive surgery, vitiligo….how much can one person take?    So no wonder he liked being around kids, as they were probably the only ones who didn’t judge him or expect something in return for friendship.  Interesting how molestation charges only came up once the kid’s dad and Michael fell out and the dad said “I will ruin his life, it will be a win win for me” meaning he’d get money and destroy Michael’s life.  http://kingofpopmichael.info/the-false-abuse/ Because as we all saw, even if falsly accused of something like that, you never bounce back.  Then that opened the door for other leeches to come forward with the same type of bs.  For a man who is in the guiness book of world records for charitable work, a known patron for children, and a shy sweetheart, I just don’t  see him having touched those kids inappropriately.  I hate that it ruined his life and wish that so many things could have been different.  Such talent and such musical genius and all some can talk about is the weirdness that happened later.  No wonder he felt so alone.

I somehow never thought that this day would come, but goodbye to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.  You were one-in-a-million and I know that I’m not alone in saying that you will be missed.  We may have never understood you and it didn’t seem like you understood yourself, but the passion and dedication you put into your craft was undeniable and inspiring to all.  You “thrilled” us and indeed, are “gone too soon”.  RIP to the gloved one.

America’s Next Top Whiner

Whine whine

So Tahlia is one of the WHINIEST people i’ve ever watched on top model.  She claims to want to be a role model, but how?   okay, so she’s BURNED on 3/4th of her body.  That ALONE does not make you a role model; you have to be a person who people want to emulate, who they look up to, who is an amazing person.  Being burnt doesn’t automatically nominate you for sainthood, darling.  What a tart!

She was only on there for the burn factor anyway, she’s proving that she wasted her moment.  I mean goodness, get on there and be a strong beautiful woman who is burned and going to rock it.  Instead, she’s taken the opportunity to be a whiny loser.  Some role model

Classy Lunch for Two

Went to Chicago’s The Signature Room for a classy lunch with my best friend Kennedy today. Yum yum! I love the food offerings of Chicago, always something fabulous to try. We had steak, baked potatoes, vegetable medley and desserts. I tried a gooey molten chocolate cake (jealous? I would be!) and Kennedy had carrot cake with candied walnuts and caramel raisin sauce.

I wanted to get dolled up, and I’m going to show my look for today:

Stila slate all over lids, MAC Nocturnelle lower lid and middle of upper lids, and MAC Deep Truth on the corners. MAC carbon liner on bottom lash line and Too Faced Lash Injection on lashes

GO VOTE!!!

don’t forget to get out and vote today, if you’re over 18!!! Make it count.

 Yay for changes!

Holiday Fun & Trips

The holidays are rapidly approaching, can you believe it? I love Thanksgiving, but this will be the first one that I won’t be spending at home. I’m visiting my ex-roommate in Tampa. Good times, her grandma can cook So , while i’ll miss my mom’s home cooking, it won’t be an utter downgrade.

What are your thanksgiving traditions? The foods, who’s house do you go to, etc. Let me know!

If you need to travel for the holiday and need good prices for plane/cruise tickets or car rentals, or something like performance tickets and flowers for a gift, check out this site for good deals: http://www.ytbtravel.com/children

Happy Halloween!

Hello   Have fun out there tonight if you’re doing anything devilishly fun!  I’d love to see pics of great Halloween makeup. 

Sorry for the wait

Just watched top model…Bianca has come up leaps and bounds from when I last wrote about her.  She’s grown up some, mentally, and isn’t being a ghetto biotch anymore.  Go Bianca!  Heather was GORGEOUS this episode.  Seriously, she looked AMAZING once she got dressed up and done up.  Lovely.  I feel bad for Ambreal because she can’t seem to get her shit together and you can tell that she really wants it.  Poor baby!  I really don’t like the 2 blondes, Chantel (sp?) and that other weird looking ice-blonde chick….EBONY GO HOME PLEASE!

 So yeah, it’s been a very long time since I’ve written.  Just been busy and suffering writers-block.  Poor me.  I need to go buy some new make-up to jumpstart my desire to write   I’ll have a beauty/fashion related blog very soon.  Later my loves

Nars for cheeks

During the summer I fell in love with Nars blushes.  I was at the mall with my mom, got bored while she shopped, so I wandered over to the makeup counters as I always do.  Anyway, the first one that caught my eye was Taj Mahal.  It’s this bright orange, so I was like wow, who would look good in that??!  Well guess what, I do!  The makeup artist got me to test it out, and I couldn’t believe the warm beautiful glow it gave to my caramel skin.  I’m not sure how it would look for fair skinned people, but it’s FABULOUS for us girlies with darker tones.  Look at the post below for a pic of me with the blush on, in the purple sparkly top.

Now, I was perusing through http://bellasugar.com/640545 as I always do and happened upon the news that Nars now has a cream stick called the multiple in their cult hit color, Orgasm.  I mean, seriously, how can you go wrong with a blush/highlighter named ORGASM? lol…..I don’t know which is more funny, that or their color deep-throat.  They can be bought at: www.sephora.com

 

Have you tried any of their products?  Let me know all about it!  later, darlings….*MUAH*

1st Open Call

open call wasn’t as interesting as I’d hoped.  Oh well….nothing exciting to update, i’ll add more things later.  I’m soooooo tired right now, can’t think to write! But, I knew I said I’d update so I did.