10 years ago. After trying life according to "the rules." Imagine that. đ [insert Eartha kitt laugh] đž @KeonGreen (at Somewhere In The Woods) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPTpBChb8_/?igshid=2779tlepdlmr
RMH
d e v o n
noise dept.

Janaina Medeiros
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her

titsay

shark vs the universe

pixel skylines
occasionally subtle
we're not kids anymore.

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ellievsbear

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DEAR READER
Stranger Things

Discoholic đȘ©
h

JBB: An Artblog!
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda

Andulka

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@tastelifewithglee
10 years ago. After trying life according to "the rules." Imagine that. đ [insert Eartha kitt laugh] đž @KeonGreen (at Somewhere In The Woods) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPTpBChb8_/?igshid=2779tlepdlmr
Ever wake up from a dream so vivid that you look around to see if what you just felt really happened or not? Did it bring you PEACE? This morning's episode made me remember visiting East Tennessee as a child and being told of the sacred tradition of dreamcatchers. Using dreams for healing and guidance. And, respecting what you feel. Embrace your dreams, family. All of them. Then, #justLIVE â G Lee . . . . #Friday #FriYAY #dreaming #BeADreamcatcher #LiveLifeWithGLee https://www.instagram.com/p/CE_rlkBBl2A/?igshid=5lhr9u1q45k1
Get some rest today. It's ok. . . . . . #ThisIsHowYouLIVE https://www.instagram.com/p/CEelpLBBZrA/?igshid=1bbqupeb3uly8
Sisters. Storms. & Conversations
The sky broke.
Raindrops smacked our skin with the sting of a thousand ice pellets. A river of water rushed the Avenue; together, we splashed through it. Itâs springtime. Itâs pouring outside.
We didnât even care.
Elated and tired from my first experience as a customer service consultant at Busboys and Poets, I felt accomplished. Then I faced the uncomfortable reality of stepping into a storm to get home. I felt apprehensive. But my frienemy (at the time) NarâDya, snatched my hand as we exited the restaurant, and rushed me up the street, through the driving rain to make sure that I got on my bus safely.
 *flashback with me for a minute*Â
A few hours before during my customer service class, I had a project review with my teacher, Ms. Lee. We were deep into discussion of how to observe restaurant service and *BOOM* in walks Daya. She barged into our space like a happy wet cat! (It was raining earlier in the day, too).
Daya was sooooooo excited to see us, hear our plan and was ready to join in the experience. Hold up, though -- understand this: NarâDya had to do the same project BUUUUTTTT she was on another team! Why was she here, in my space, talking about my project with all of her excitement? At the moment, I was slightly annoyed with a competing group member infringing on my project but I didnât fight against her eagerness to join. In the end, Iâm glad that I didnât.
*letâs go back to Busboys*
 On that otherwise dreary springtime afternoon, I spent my time not only enjoying the feel-good finest of Shallalâs newest eatery, but also observing the liveliness of the girl I almost hated. Kinda funny. I had my first taste of super cheesy fusilli while seeing a new side of my super silly sister.
While we were eating and observing, talking and vibing with each other and Busboysâ staff, I noticed the back of the shirt of our young waitress and the other employees:
Tribe /trÄ«b/ - a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect.Â
Our server explained the culture of the restaurant I was observing for my school project is rooted in a belief that we are of a shared Tribe, even if we havenât met yet. That made me think:Â who is in MY tribe? What friends do I have? Who do I reeeaaally share a bond with?
As we left the restaurant, I felt a much deeper connection with Daya than when she plopped down at the table and into the conversation with my teacher and me. NarâDya is sweet. Sheâs funny. Sheâs VERY similar to me. We like and hate many of the same things. Sheâs protective. Thinks big. And, has a bigger heart. Sheâs now my absolute best friend and we continue to splash through life together. I wouldnât trade her for the world.
Who knows what could have happened if she didnât leave Busboys with me. Or, if we separated and ran through that storm on our own.
 The twists of our relationship with her made me realize that, in the end, women -- specifically Black women -- should spend more time vibing, talking and working TOGETHER, looking out for each other, and holding each otherâs hand through lifeâs storms.
This is why I am elated to work with Courtney Wright at Blissfully You Wellness, producer of a virtual wellness event for women of color called #IncludeHER.
#IncludeHER is a four day event that was created in response to âincidences throughout history where women of color have not been included in the conversation.â #IncludeHER will run from July 28th - 31st with each day open topics of conversation that we feel are needed in our âTribe:â
Mental Health
Healthy Relationships
Skincare Nutrition
Reproductive Health
Personal Branding
Entrepreneurship
Self-Love (Writing Workshop and Sound Bath)
#IncludeHER is open for women 14 years old and over, as each day includes facilitated intergenerational conversations for ALL women of color.
#IncludeHER includes you. The way I included Daya. And the way she included me.
Click here to register. Join the conversation.
Restless travel lover: This is Why We Wander
We, travel junkies, are NOT ok.
[insert hand claps for emphasis here]
Self-quarantine and social distancing restrictions have extroverts, socialites and travel mavens going NUTS. What were considered normal daily activities -- flights to exotic destinations, fun backyard travel, pool partying, or simply being around people, hugging people, YOUR PEOPLE, every day -- have been closed off to us abruptly, indefinitely. Naturally, not experiencing life outside has posed a huge problem. Seemingly nomadic groups just can't seem to sit still to save our lives. We post last year's travel pix with overly melancholic timbre in our captions.
 Meanwhile, home habituĂ©s glare at us world wanderers liiiikeâŠ.
 Those eyes. Geez. So judgey!!
Relax and understand why we wander.
Studies show that when social bonds are interrupted, we suffer. In fact, scientist Scott Lieberman explains in his article Why We Are Wired to Connect that social pain is real pain. (SEE!? The pouting we might show is NOT us just being spoiled.)
Disconnection hurts.
 So how can such restless spirits satisfy deep social & travel cravings?
 Virtual connections help. But, virtual connections are FAR FROM A REPLACEMENT for the in-person vibes we feel when we travel. Zoom, Houseparty, WhatsApp and such apps certainly help. These digital applications do reveal a certain bit of intimacy. Seeing people at home, in their jammies, no makeup, and no filters can make our tribe feel kinda close. It is, however, a major difference from our pre-pandemic travel glam, glitz and glory.
 Hmm. Maybe thatâs what this time of social distancing is really about:
  Stripping our facades.
 Going beyond walls that separate.
 Connecting differently.
 TBH, nonstop travel can be as tiring as it is thrilling. Perhaps these covid-y times are here for restless wanderers to rest more. Reminisce. Appreciate where we've been. As our blogger R. Campbell writes, we can use our travel memories to "woosah" and calm from today's chaos. We can even create our own zen spaces with momentos from our fave travel experiences. That parade flag. Safari pix. Handmade jewelry. Locally distilled bevvies.Â
Maaaaayyyybe, travel friends, it's time for us to relax and understand our wanderlust just a little bit better. Take a moment. Be honest. Why do YOU wander?
Are you craving social and travel experiences? How are you remaining connected during pandemic times? Do you still travel but stay closer to home?Or, are you using technology to stay connected with friends & fam?
Tell us how you're connecting differently today.
Memories Can Calm the Chaos
4 am,
FINALLY drifting to sleep after cocooning from yesterdayâs stress.Â
8:50 am, Emerged.
Renewed.
And smiling, reminded of a few things in my room:
   The thrill of Sabirâs first rollercoaster ride.
Madridâs pride parade from my first trip out of the country.
That UGLY 5th grade ID photo.
Those cards of appreciation from the best summer of my life.
...a few things placed around my room to rejuvenate my spirit and help me feel...ALIVE.
Just yesterday though, my room felt more like a jail cell.
Face it. During quarantine and stay-at-home orders, itâs hard to NOT feel that way about home. Seeing the same space every day can be rather, blah. Itâs been proven that oneâs environment affects oneâs mood. So, have you considered how surrounding yourself with pleasant memories can make your space more enjoyable, even while the politics and social unrest arenât enjoyable at all?
That pic of my new friend screaming on Kings Dominionâs Dominator reminds me that in order to truly live, sometimes you need to take the scariest ride.
The PRIDE flag that I brought home reminded me of my first international travel experience to Madrid and the liberation I felt traveling out of my comfort zone.    Â
That squirrelly throwback pic reminds me that I am always changing.Â
The stack of thank you cards from last year's Summer Leadership Academy reminded me that...Iâm a good person, I do good things, Iâve done good things.
At some point not long ago, we went out into the world pretty fearlessly. Even though weâre currently limited by certain travel restrictions, we can calm the outside world's chaos by rearranging our physical space with meaning. Whatâs worked for me:
Declutter my space.
Open windows to let some light in. Open the blinds! Even if I didnât feel it immediately, I realized that Iâve âwoosahâdâ after feeling sunshine.
Aromatherapy! Burning or spraying my fave scent helps to lighten my mood.
Rearrange things in my room to fit my current aesthetic.
Make blah space useful by turning it into a niche for work, meditation, art or makeup.
Use my fave photos to preserve memories on the walls around me.
Play with mirrors and lights to make my room look bigger. Click here to find a few fun to add to your niche space.
Add reminders to Laugh. Smile. Reminisce on 1st times and favorite times.Â
Good or bad, we collect memories. Little things make us cringe, smile, or laugh. Some memories even help us to just breathe easier.Â
 In chaotic times, we deserve calm.Â
I needed calm at 4 am this morning. At 8:50 am when I looked around, I found a bit of it right at home.Â
I donât feel perfect again. But I feel way better than I did last night.Â
*woosah*
- R. Campbell Â
Sometimes I wonder what I would have done if I threw those things away. If I was unable to remember calmer times, would I have been overwhelmed by the chaos of yesterday? How are you calming the chaos in your life today? How are you keeping your good memories alive?Â
It's always good to bump into Ms. Grandiosity đ„° It's even GRANDER to experience caviar bumping whilst cruising the Potomac River with her. THANK YOU for another day in style! Swipe to #GetATaste of #CaviarLife https://www.instagram.com/p/CChPSuiBnm-/?igshid=1l6ejmc5j9tbm
Ummm, YEAH. Have you bumped before? Drop a đ„ if you have. Drop a đ if you want to see our champagne & caviar bumping experience with @GrandiosityEvents #LiveLifeGrand #GrandiosityEvents #TasteLifeWithGLee #liveWELL https://www.instagram.com/p/CCglmlcBU4w/?igshid=1xofkbbiysxxa
Psst. Hey girl. Remember all those things you said you were gonna do this year? How 2020 was gonna be YOUR YEAR? How you were going to see new places, try new things? Love your people? Be soooo good to your Self?? Let's get back to that. This time, hold on to that fire. â #yourfavelifestyler https://www.instagram.com/p/CCgVWEhhSX9/?igshid=7cpt5a0v14iy