kerry washington x los angeles times

one of my favourite actresses, kerry washington, covers the los angeles times magazine. kerry can be seen this month in the political feature, night catches us.

p.s. who designed this stunning red gown?

if its love

While everybody else is getting out of bed
I'm usually getting in it
I'm not in it to win it
And there's a thousand ways you can skin it

My feet have been on the floor
Flat like an idle singer
Remember winger
I digress
I confess you are the best thing in my life

But I'm afraid when I hear stories
About a husband and wife
There's no happy endings
No Henry Lee
But you are the greatest thing about me

[Chorus]
If it's love
And we decide that it's forever
No one else could do it better
If it's love
And we're two birds of a feather
Then the rest is just whenever
And if I'm addicted to loving you
And you're addicted to my love too
We can be them two birds of a feather
That flock together
Love, love
Got to have something to keep us together
Love, Love
That's enough for me

Took a loan on a house I own
Can't be a queen bee without a bee throne
I wanna buy ya everything
Except cologne
'cause it's poison
We can travel to Spain where the rain falls
Mainly on the plain side and sing
'cause it is we can laugh we can sing
Have ten kids and give them everything
Hold our cell phones up in the air
And just be glad we made it here alive
On a spinning ball in the middle of space
I love you from your toes to your face

You can move in
I won't ask where you've been
'cause everybody has a past
When we're older
We'll do it all over again

When everybody else is getting out of bed
I'm usually getting in it
I'm not in it to win it
I'm in it for you

If it's love
And we're two birds of a feather
Then the rest is just whenever
Then the rest is just whenever

If it's love
And we decide that it's forever
No one else could do it better
And if I'm addicted to loving you
And you're addicted to my love too
We can be them two birds of a feather
That flock together
Love, love
Got to have something to keep us together
Love, love
Got to have something to keep us together
Love, love
That's enough for me

some men

this was really super duper funny. hence why i posted anything from worldstar.

mehserle's two years

There isnt quite a word...or maybe im not just not as eloquent as I previously thought. But seeing the NY Times headline, 2 Year Sentence, speaks volumes. That is the amount of time, minus the 146 days served that former BART officer, Johannes Mehserle, will receive for executing and yes that is the verbage I will use, an unarmed Oscar Grant on an Oakland train platform. So he will be out in a year's time. One single year. New Years Eve 2009 a man's life was taken by the carelessness of an officer, whether careless because he meant to pull his "taser "(bullsh..sneeze) or just because he didn't care. It was reported that Grant said after being shot, 'You shot me! I have a 4 year old daughter". He died seven hours later. From a single shot to the back as he was laying face down. Countless videos and images were uploaded to various social sites, sent in to local news stations and of course countless was seized as 'evidence' by the BART officers. Being black in America, or any country for that matter, this scenario isn't new nor surprising. But one would hope that in 2010 we would have reached a new place. One not so scary. So you mean to tell me, justice for the the life of a human being is two years, while Michael Vick got a steeper sentence for his dog-fighting ring and Plaxico Burrus for shooting his own damn self. Ok, America. Thanks.

jerk chicken and the miami heat.

"i love a good conversation with an attractive indidividual" - @toiramala

boycott!

The luxury beauty & perfume brand, Guerlain, found themselves in a bit of trouble when , Jean Paul Guerlain, made a racial slur (insert the *n-word) during an interview on a French television station:
“I put myself to work like a [n-word]. I don’t know if the [n-words] have always worked hard, but…” ["Je me suis mis à travailler comme un nègre. Je ne sais pas si les Nègres ont toujours tellement travaillé mais enfin..."]"

Translated the word, negré, means anything from coon to negro to the n-word. Black Parisians didnt take too kindly to the master perfumer's remarks and called for a silent boycott of the LVMH-owned brand at their store on the Champes Elysses. "...He's denying the value of the work ofthe black man. We're fighting for a post-racial society..." was the remarks listed on the invitation to take part in the boycott. Guerlain closed their doors on Saturday, the day of the boycott, many people brought back their Guerlain products and the closing of the business caused them to lose money on an usuallybusy sales day. There was no violence in the large turnout and many promise to return next week to conintue their silent boycott of the brand. "It’s a real opportunity for a Black movement…because for many years Black people [in France] have been insulted and were pretty passive about it..."
LVMH has denounced all of Guerlain's statlements stating that they were “intolerable” and contradicted the “culture, values, and ethics practiced by the enterprise, which promotes the diversity of talents of all origins.”

thanks to claire @thefashionbomb for sharing this story

golddigger

alexander mcqueen floral-engraved leather boots

available @ net-a-porter

bryce dallas howard

saw hereafter last night and fell in love with bryce dallas howard's face. the whole time i was wondering, who is this girl? her acting wasnt bad either, a misconceived notion of children with industry parents (she is the daughter of actor turned director, ron howard) but i was mesmerized by just watching her. she has a presence on camera thats more than just her pretty features, the gorgeous red hair and piercing eyes. but the scenes with her were enchanting and i missed her when she didnt appear any more in the film. no spoilers here.

hereafter wasntbad, though i should have seen it when i wasnt so tired. (nodding off action) the "date" thought it was kind of "dry" and slow. the back and forth action could have been transitioned better. something about it wasnt quite as seamless as clint eastwood took you from location to location with the various characters and their stories. though the story with the twins had me in tears more than once throughout the film. actress cecil de france was a breath of fresh air. she was perfect for the role. hereafter is currently in theatres.

hello kitty meet reebok

reebok partners with every girl's favourite kitten, hello kitty for these furry releases.

pre-order here.

wrap up the black pair please.

nini

shorts:f21 pumps: ysl

currently stalking one of my fashion icons, nini nguyen of ninistyle.net. i love how she combines high end designer names like ysl and ann demeuleester with less expensive labels such as the popular go-to forever 21. she always looks effortlessly chic in a cleverely artistic edgy twist with her flowing capes and harem pants and sheer tulle and bloomers. i have to have a pair of bloomers now! she recently started a new venture as creative director of nha khanh. her beautiful photographs and six inch babies always have me clicking "older entries".

for colored girls (update w/poster)

the website, shadow & act, gives great dialoue for the impending "for colored girls who have considered suiced when the rainbow is enuf" film that has created quite the buzz moreso due to mr. tyler perry's attachment to the project. since my first mention of the film, there have been numerous attacks against mr.perry and even a rebuttal from the filmmaker regarding his association to the remake of the masterpiece, originally written by ntozake shanghe. the film is set for an earlier release november 5, 2o1o. here is tyler perry's reply he posted on his official website, along with trailer, movie poster and stills.

he says:
We are only a little more than 3 weeks out from FOR COLORED GIRLS, which opens on November 5th. Wow, time is flying! I wanted to talk to you for just a second about this film. There has been a lot of Internet chatter about me doing this film. I've heard everything from, "I'm glad he's doing it!", to "How dare he touch this!". Believe me, I know that this is sensitive material and I handled it that way. If you don't believe me see for yourself on November 5th.

If you know anything about the book or play, FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF, which is what my film is based on, then you know that it is one of the most powerful literary works of this century. But, if you know it, you are also thinking like I was, "How can I make this into a movie?"

After reading the play a thousand times and listening to these poems a million times, it hit me. There was only one way to approach it. So what I did was, I put these characters in the situations around the poems, so that they could speak the dialogue of the book without it sounding like a poem. And I have to tell you, I wasn't sure that it could be done. But, after listening to Phylicia Rashad, Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington, Macy Gray, Kimberly Elise, Tessa Thompson, Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine, Anika Noni Rose and Janet Jackson say these words it was awesomely seemless.

The stories are about eight women who live in NYC and we follow them through their lives; follow them through loving, losing, giving too much of themselves, being hurt and betrayed, but most of all, we follow each of these women as they find love for themselves.

This movie is powerful. It is incredible. The performances in it are astonishing, but most of all this film will leave you lifted.

I don't know if you know this either, but never in the history of a feature film has there been an ensemble of this many black women. That alone is worth celebrating. I hope you are planning to see it on November 5th.

By the way, you don't have to be a colored girl to be able to relate to and enjoy this movie.
(via: tylerperry.com)

karl lagerfield for atelier swarovski.

by now you should know im a loyal consumer of the Swarovski brand and am in love with their luxury line, Atelier Swarovski which features collabaorations with designers such as Jason Woo, Anthony Nak, Matthew Willamson, Giles, Christopher Kane, Doo.Ri among other. Their Autumn/Winter 2010 line features none other than Sir Karl Lagerfield himself.

click to see full images.

arnoldo & battois

from super sexy leather accessories label, arnoldo & battois

via highsnobiety.

on set.

i filmed my first short film in south florida on october 17. it was produced by the palm beach film school, from an open casting i attended where i actually was cast in two of the short films. this is the first of the two. the film is a segment of the story of former rock & roll star Dion DiMucci (Dion & the Belmonts) who is best known from his '60s hit, The Wanderer. his estranged son, Dion II., wrote and directed the piece which recalls a lunch meeting between father & son.

the day started at seven am with dunkin donuts and oj. afer only one rehearsal prior to the shoot, we ran through lines a couple times before the crew was ready for us. we shot mostly on dolly until we filmed the closeups later in the day. the two other actresses and myself did some voiceover work for our scenes last and we were a wrap. the cast and crew was fantastic and i was honored to be apart of bringing such an interesting story to life. stay tuned for clips....!

welcome back

http://ateliertoira.tumblr.com

http://facebook.com/deltoiya

@toiraMala

tumble me.

http://toiraMala.tumblr.com

http://toiraMala.tumblr.com

http://toiraMala.tumblr.com

http://toiraMala.tumblr.com

http://toiraMala.tumblr.com

thanks : )

have you ever seen anything so beautiful it made you want to cry.

sunday.snorkeling.singer island.

jonny walker presents: chemical food

warning: people who fear the truth should not ingest chemical food without supervision. chemical food welcomes you to the revolution where the truth is never disguised.

thanks to my favourite girl @NeoPopSicle, was introduced to @jonnywalker27 during the same event i was introduced to da bottom clothing.(Fusion, Sundays in Ft.Lauderdale). was one of the lucky few to be present for his first live stage show where his lyrics and natural stage presence made for a superb performance. now his mixtape project, chemical food, has been released and the buzz is saying great things about the south florida resident. so download and be graced with music "essential for normal development of healthy ear drums"


download chemical food via mediafire :here

karlas closet for coach

launch event invite

karla with karlas closet for coach clutch

started following the beautiful @karla_deras blog, karlas closet, a couple of years agoduring my fashion blog addiction phase. its inspiring seeing seemingly regular girls take the craft of blogging and capitalize off of the opportunity presented. such as how karla and a couple of fellow bloggers did by partnering with brand giant coach to create a line of bags. its awesome seeing ladies with vision turn their passions into full-fledged business. congrats to karla and the team.


p.s.i need this clutch in my life.now.

mixtape for dummies

if you do not have big boi's new album, sir lucious left foot...:son of chico dusty, kick yourself.in the shin. but while we wait, go ahead and download big boi's mixtape for dummies. and heres a bonus just because we feel really bad for you. daddy fat sacks. now tell me you lov me. ;)

download:
mixtape for dummies
daddy fat sacks

purchase:
sir lucious left foot...son of chico dusty

da bottom clothing

da bottom "cadillac funkin muzik" t-shirt

da bottom's "red tape" t-shirt front & back [click to enlarge]

da bottom clothing
shop da bottom clothing

janelle monae x bet awards 2010

kind of proud to say ive been hip on miss janelle monae, and her bringing back the oxford, prior to her break out performance at this year's black entertainment television awards in which she participated in a prince tribute. a performance that surely was to bring her name to the masses. she's been somewhat of an underground artist though with the quite following. she's a powerhouse talent with a style and a unique presence that she completely owns. so i present to you...janelle monae.

janelle was the first performer. but keep watching to see the ever so talented esperanza spalding and alicia keys.

eff yo red bottoms.

clear heels x back to the future x if mj. & prince could spawn a babygirl

arrivederci!

they rock skinny jeans and skinny ties. one member plays violin and sings, with another on keys and they have a hell of a drummer. their gigs make the kids bum rush their stage and indie cool chicks fist pump with the best of them. while most artists are trying to stay relevant by following the status quo and keeping up with jones', this unique force of musicians are shattering the box one gig at a time. with a style, they define as an "ingenius marriage of electro and pop", band members timothee lovelock, adam piccoli and zach gracius have created a sound that is boldly their own and begs to be blasted really loudly in your car. :)

"This album is truly representative of a shift in culture and clever musicianship. I was blown away by the drifting chord progressions and catchy melodies. Excellent album. Superb lyrics. I highly recommend it to all." -iTunes review by jahndy

in june 2009, arrivederci released, goodbye, a melting pot of sounds including heavy instrumentals, spoken word, a breathtaking violin solo, a tear jerker or two and lyrics written by the band members themselves further proving this is music. currently working on their next album, arrivederci continues to break the mold and gives this generation something original.

http://avdtheband.com
http://facebook.com/avdtheband
http://youtube.com/avdtheband
@avdtheband

kiss my fingr.

anthony nak for atelier swarovski.

gotta watch my back.'cuz im not just anybody.

04212010. ucf.orlando. :where ill be.
more tour dates here

wrap it up with a pretty red bow

dc designs "black ruby"rolls-royce coupe.
[1 of 1]

via.2bd.via.autoblog

and so i lost more than i had ever won

my current ringtone. b.o.b. :nothin' on you.

B.o.B - New Music - More Music Videos

via.mtv
bonus: b.o.b may 25 mixtape

jazzy belle

was put on this track last night. forget how amazing hip hop .used.to be. andre 3000 and big boi hve always done it for me. lyrically. like idlewild.the film. so underrated. remember seeing dre in a vintage shop in five points in atl once. was way young. preteen.before me and "music" became lovers. my stepdad was the one who pointed out the fact i was standing right next to the mc himself. took me a good 10 mins staring in his face and asking my stepdad, who. who r u talking about. then lightbulb.if only i knew then...

outkast.jazzybelle.

two for ones.

feat j.davey and kid cudi.

j.davey :get together directed by v-chip.



kid cudi ft. mgmt :pursuit of happiness directed by megaforce

via.her

what he shoulda got me

...if there was a he. er. dont usually like all the vday themed sneaks that pop up around the "holiday". but between the silhouette of the greek goddess nike & the poem. saw these and swooned :now.

big nike high womens vday edition '010

to lov is to breathe/with each inhale, i pause to experience/a state of pure bliss/with each exhale, i smile knowing that/my foundation is sound/with each step, i walk as if im on air/flying through time as a winged/angel i spread my wings/to experience freedom the freedom/to experience what is a divine/state of mind/the inexplicable nature of lov

via.nitrolicious

whuauryu

wittle update. back in school! hence y this blog still irks me. taking a full load of classes for the first time in.well.a very very long time. still working. learning that whole time management thing. but i can say i have finally "settled" here in south florida. at least im not running away just yet. now. time to make magic.

love146

lets share some numbers:

27 million people are enslaved around the world today
80% of them are children and women
every 30 seconds someone is sold
florida [my home state] is #2 in the nation in human trafficking

her number was 146

now what are you going to do about it?

human trafficking is something we dont talk about. yet we have heard. is it too uncomfortable, or is it that its only happening in these far away places. last week in palm beach county, a house was raided for being used as a brothel for women who were brought into the u.s. to work as sex slaves. one young woman was brought into the u.s. at the age of 14 and was transported from atlanta, to new york and various "hotspots in florida. girls as young as 7 are being sold on "menus" in cambodia and thailand as they watch cartoons in matching red dresses behind glass walls. this is happening in neighborhoods all across the united states. in our backyards. and we can not stay silent any longer. these are our sisters. and our brothers. our children. and when they have lost their voice. we must scream and fight. for justice.

educate, inform and act:
http://love146.org
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org

Diana's Love Story from LOVE146 on Vimeo.

21:
the number of human life sold as this post was written

nothing but creativity.

get yours here.

caressa cameron: miss america twentyten

congratulations to our newest miss america :caressa cameron, who represented virginia in this year's pageant. in talent, she performed "listen" from dreamgirls; and her platform is REAL TALK: Aids in America, an aids education outreach. she attended virginia commonwealth university and plans to receive her Master's in Mass Communication. cameron aspires to pursue journalism as a television anchor. as this year's winner, her prize package includes a 50000 scholarship to continue her education. i actually missed the pageant this year [and i NVR miss miss america] but i'm sure i would have rooted for her anyway. you go girl! enjoy your reign as miss america 2010!

photos: jim carpenter, jeanna beasley