Sunday Love Things

Some beautiful things from across the web to breath life into your Sunday afternoon. May these things bring a smile to your face and a little light into your life!

Insta Life

Since getting an iphone last month (yes, I was in fact living under a rock and had no notion of the glory that is the iphone) I've discovered the wonder that is Instagram. How wonderful that I can upload every shameless, Valencia hued, moment of my life onto the internet at all hours of the day and night! Its great! I am totally serious. Want to see my breakfast, my lunch, my jogging shorts, the many shameless self portraits I have? It's all there, and not a Kelvin filter in sight because, who uses Kelvin anyway? No one.

Anyway, on to the pictures. This is what my life looks like on Instagram lately...

On the Radar

One thing that I've developed a deep appreciation for recently is exploring black and African culture through video and film. One of the best avenues for this that I have seen are online web-series. And man, there is some really great stuff out there. It's amazing to see such a wealth of knowledge and expression through these various shows. Series like Akward Black Girl (ABG), The Couple, and Unwritten Rules are taking black entertainment to new heights and it is so refreshing. Each time I discover something new is like finding a well in the dessert. So I've gotta share my latest finds with you. Here is one web series that I am super excited to share. The second video is a preview/promo video for a great stage piece coming out soon by Liz Femi. Check them both out below!

African Time 

African Time is a series of interviews examining what its like to be African in America. There're really interesting and a couple of them definitely had me laughing in agreement. A simple yet brilliant way to capture the very shared experiences of Africans in the U.S.of A.

Take Me To the Poor House

Nigerian actress, Liz Femi, is the creative mastermind being this upcoming one-woman show. Based on her experiences as a young girl, Take Me To the Poor House, tells the story of a young girl who longs to connect to her Nigerian roots through poverty. I love a great stage piece, so I am really excited to follow Liz Femi's work in this piece.

Much Love,
D.

Throwback Thursday

 My brothers looking surprisingly cool; me looking unsurprisingly like a hot mess.

This was one of the first things I saw when I came home last weekend. Not much to say except I've never seen my brother look so cool. Look at him being all smug with his shades and aviator jacket...too much to handle. Clearly this stage of his life lasted all five seconds it took to take the picture! Kidding, he's still cool to me. 

Being home has definitely been an adjustment. There are so many memories of my young life in this house, games we used to play, old furniture we would climb on and eventually tear to pieces, neighborhood friends. Now coming back, those things have changed. Neighbors have moved away and things look a little different in our house. But the memories are still there. Its weird being the growing up version of yourself in the house you grew up in. It's kind of like wearing you favorite pajamas from when you were a kid. You know, the thermal ones. Except now with the sleeves coming up about 6 inches too short and the pants looking like you stole them from Steve Urkel. (Not like I've been re-wearing my childhood pajamas or anything.) Despite my terrible pajama analogy, the fact of the matter is the fit might no longer be the same but the comfort and the memories - they still are. And while I am adjusting to life at home, I must say that there's something great about being in the comfort of this old home, aaand the full on access I have to all my brothers' shockingly embarrassing pictures! Internet, get ready. Heyoo!

D.

Listening to Now - Somi

all pictures from Google images

So excited about my latest musical discovery. Such an incredible voice. Somi is a Ugandan-Rwandan American musician hailing from Champagne Illinois. A true multicultural woman, who spent part of her early life growing up in  Zambia, Somi's music traverses many cultural styles. I love that she refers to her style as New African Soul. I'm loving what I've heard so far and will be on the look out for more from her. If you're a fan of Rokia or Laura Mvula, you'll definitely love Somi. Check out her video below.

Lift Off

Too many bags!! My TSA dreams come true.

Yup. My journey in the San Francisco Bay Area has come to an end. I'm excited to be moving back home (I honestly, never thought I'd hear those words come out of my mouth.) But I actually am. I'm ready for this next chapter of my life, and I am realizing more and more each day that I have little control over where and what this journey looks like. I'm looking forward to spending time at home with my mom and family in Louisiana. Since I spent my last 2 years of high school in boarding school, I realized that I haven't lived at home in about six years. It's definitely bound to be an adventure, one in which my independence will most likely disintegrate into ashes.  But that's okay. I'm sure I'll make up for that in more than enough ways later on! While at home, I'll mostly be studying for the MCAT which I will be taking this Spring. Apart from that, I am looking forward to exploring my home city of New Orleans. Especially now that I'm old enough to learn about it on my own. There is so much depth to the city of New Orleans. I'm so excited to discover that through the people, the music, and most definitely,the food. There'll be lots of pictures for sure. It's strange leaving. San Francisco has been fun, and I'll always appreciate this city by the bay. Right now though, I have other things ahead of me, and I can't wait. So, right now I'm just going to make like a baby and head out! (some future OB/GYN humor for ya!)

Much Love,
D.