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.

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.

So I’m sitting here writing on my book and thought that it would be very fun to plot out which celebrities would be perfect for each role.  As I get it finished, I’ll tell more about it plot wise and you guys definitely will be first to know when it’s published!  I can’t wait to have a hard copy in my hands.   Don’t you always read and say “hmm, if this were a movie, such and such would be PERFECT!”  I know that I always do that and hey, if my book is ever turned into a movie (fingers crossed!) here’s who I’d love to play the characters:

Jasmyn Precor:  main character, wardrobe stylist, pretty and creative, nicknamed Black Barbie, lives in LA

-Kelly Rowland would be Jasmyn come to life, honestly.  She looks just like I imagine Jasmyn.  Now can she act well enough?

If Kelly happens to be busy or *gasp* doesn’t want the role, Gabrielle Union is a close second

Jesse Knight:  Jasmyn’s love interest, actor

-Cam Gigandet would be a great Jesse.  As long as he’s blonde, he’d be a hot, good actor to play him.  Mmm, mm

Kimber DeMarco: Jasmyn’s best friend from college, Sexy model/designer/vixen, half Italian half Cuban, lives in Miami

-Eva Mendes allll the way embodies Kimber.

if Eva couldn’t do it, then looks wise I wouldn’t mind Megan Fox because she’s like the most beautiful girl in Hollywood right now and has a saucy sexy look.  However, I want someone with more of latin vibe, who has an accent.  But if she can convincingly do it, i’m all for it!

Natalie Monroe: Jasmyn’s hard working good friend in LA.  Has the best intentions but ends up betraying Jasmyn

-i’ve switched so much on the look of Natalie that I still don’t solidly have “her” in mind like I do with the other characters.   Right now, Jada Pinkett could be a good match as mentor/know it all older friend

and last but not least, Laura Lisle.  She’s Jesse’s current girlfriend, pretty hollywood perfect golden girl.

-Hayden Panattiere would be perfect for this role.  She has just the right look

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

I’m doing the Special K diet for 2 weeks, just bought my cereal yesterday.  The vanilla almond cereal is soooo yummy!  I want to try the cinnamon pecan as well.  I need to get back out there and be a contender, so it’s time to get my self in shape, narrow this waist, and tone up.

I have a couple of workout dvds to do and will hopefully join the gym with my daddy.  I’m going to visit LA for 8 days in november, then hopefully moving there within the next 6 months, so it’s ON for getting lovely.  I also have apple cider vinegar pills too for weight maintenance and slim diet tea.  All of that should regulate my system and get me on the right track.  Oh I can’t wait for my waist to be in the 20’s.

In other fashion news, I am REALLY digging Jessica Simpson’s shoes/handbag lines!  I bought the most fab purse from her called the Limelight in color pine and it looks like it cost no less than $300.  It’s so luxe, I may have to rock that purse tonight to dinner with my girly Ashley.

it’s like this, but a deep teal color that is so chic for fall/winter and you know that jewel tones are in.

My daddy bought me a new ring/necklace set from Swarvoski that I wanted for months now.  It was a surprise and I am so in love with it and appreciative that he got it from me.  The thing is MAJOR blingage for my Hollywood life.

it’s called the Chic ring, and I must agree!  The necklace is small and has a couple of gems so as not to compete or overpower.  Ahh, I love it!  What do you think?

This post is inspired by Afrobella’s post concerning the hype around Carol’s Daughter products. We all have favorite products, often times purchased because we heard our favorite celebrity has it or know bloggers who rave about it, or the company just has a strong following *cough* MAC *cough*.

Then, once purchased, even if it doesn’t live up to what it should, we often overlook it because we have it so ingrained that it works! Some products that I used to buy, just because I convinced myself that they worked fabulously, are MAC lipglosses…They can be quite sticky and annoying, but just because they were my first introduction to something other than drugstore makeup, I stuck to them for years without even trying other brands. Then, there’s the Great Lash by Maybelline that always wins as consumer choice and makeup artists rave about it, etc etc. That stuff is WHACK. I mean, it’s nothing special, nothing to win accolades. I like the pink and green packaging, but that product is #1 in my book as having completely benefitted from WAY too much hype.

What are some of the products that you think have succeeded from too much hype? What are some that you brainwashed yourself into thinking was awesome, even with all signs pointing to “Oh hell no!”?

What are some beauty must haves you want for this summer? I want to rehaul all of my makeup, I really do. Not that I don’t like my stuff, just that I want to buy more things and wherever would I put it? Lol. And I need the right tools to boost perfect skin and perfect makeup application..so let’s do it

To start, I need a fab makeup case:

this thing should house my stuff and keep it organized. And it’s a cool metallic pink, fine by me!

I’m practically chomping at the bit to have this Clarisonic skincare brush set. Not only is it supposed to make skin tremendously improved, the proceeds from the pink set goes towards Breast Cancer Awareness. I can haz please?? Does anyone have one? I’d love to know opinions on it and the cleansers that come with it or what you’ve found to be the best cleansers to use with it. It can be bought at Sephora.

Anyone who loves makeup needs a good kit of brushes. I could use a new brush set and this one looks pretty cool. (everything in this post is pink…i did NOT try to do that, lol)

This Daisy by Marc Jacobs kit would be awesome too. Both would be handy additions to any girls repertoire. Includes a powder brush, blush brush, eyeshadow brush, brow brush and smudge brush.

This MAC 239 Brush was recommended as one of the best brushes to use for eyeshadow application and blending by Temptalia in her “how-to” post on eye makeup application. She always does a beautiful job, so I may have to check that brush out! Anyone have it? What do you think of it?

I’ve been rocking out to the album “One of the Boys” by the coyishly cool Katy Perry.

I’m really feeling her fun style, and find myself in songs like “If You Can Afford Me”, which boasts such lyrics as:

If you want me, it takes more than a wink,
And more than a drink and more than you think.
If you want me you’re gonna have to break the bank, tonight.
Cuz some don’t have the patience, some call me high-maintenance
But you pay the bill, cuz, that’s the deal.

If you want me, then stop begging I don’t put out for charity
If you want me there’s no discount price tonight

Come on, those lyrics are AWESOME, and would have been my theme song in South Beach Miami if she’d come out 4 years ago. Then there are the more love songs of “Mannequin” where she wants the guy to feel how she feels and stop being so uptight and cold to her, and the great song “I Think I’m Ready” where she feels the need to grow up and get out of “friend” territory with the bad boys and into being appreciated and loved by a good man. I really really like that song.

I’m used to opening my own doors and splitting the checks
He introduced me, was always just a friend
I bought a new dress, he never noticed
Always falling for these bad boys, such a challenge

You were such a surprise
An unexpected gift
Told myself I don’t deserve you
And this is just a phase
Could I get used to being loved the right way?
I wanna argue, but there is nothing to say

Okay, I can’t write a post about Katy Perry and not mention everyone’s favorite song, “I Kissed a Girl”. That song is pretty badass, I like the beat and sound so much. May even get ring tone status And look at her, if i were in an experimental phase, I’d kiss her too!

We’ve been having some crazy rain episodes here in Chicago that take me back to my wonderful times of blowing in the wind and facing imminent doom during a Miami Hurricane. With all of the annoying rain, a girl has to stay cute! With that said, I need some summer rain gear. Hmm, what’s a chica to do?

this Coach coat is so cute to me, but i prefer the trench coat version, with the double gold buttons and belt. SO what i need in my life to keep nice and dry

I’ve never owned any, but these kick ass Ed Hardy boots made me want to run out and grab a pair of galoshes!

how could you not feel like a total bad ass in those? So cute!

Went out to a bar tonite to have drinks with a friend. Here’s the Makeup look

L’oreal H.I.P. duo in Showy, Berry Daring blush by Revlon, Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes in white on lower lids, and Too Faced Lash Injection.