Gilbert Bécaud
Everly Brothers
Nina Simone
It has been too long,
jukebox
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
We interrupt our regular scheduled programming to bring you...
Ever since I started reading Newdressaday, I've been obsessed with the idea of refashioning my old clothes or cheap clothes into something more wearable. Unfortunately, the thrift store/charity shop and vintage market here has been ruined and the prices have been driven up to ridiculous proportions. I couldn't justify spending £10 on a so-so dress that I was going to end up hacking into pieces to make it more current.
After a couple of undocumented failed attempts I finally hit jack pot! I found this old maternity dress that my mother used to wear. It is a size 14 (UK size) but, I really loved the print and I loved the lower half so I thought I would try and make something of it. Here are the results.
BEFORE
BEFORE (back view)
INSIDE
lining and shoulder pads..."oh my, you spoil me!"
AFTER:
I didn't take it in so, it is still a size 14 (UK size), but I don't mind.
HOW I WORE IT
I cinched it with a belt because of the size, but I took the belt off after lunch (lol). And yes, I took the picture in the toilet.
WHAT I DID:...I considered a few ideas including keeping it as a dress, but the elastic at the bottom was over stretched. I started off only wanting to preserve the skirt half of it, but when I cut it I fell in love in love with the top and I immediately tried it on, hemmed the edges and decided I had to wear it to work today.
I kept the skirt and I will be sharing how I wore it soon!
Till then.
After a couple of undocumented failed attempts I finally hit jack pot! I found this old maternity dress that my mother used to wear. It is a size 14 (UK size) but, I really loved the print and I loved the lower half so I thought I would try and make something of it. Here are the results.
BEFORE
BEFORE (back view)
INSIDE
lining and shoulder pads..."oh my, you spoil me!"
AFTER:
I didn't take it in so, it is still a size 14 (UK size), but I don't mind.
HOW I WORE IT
Top: refashion
Blazer: vintage Betsy Johnson from ebay
Denim Leggings: Primark.
Shoes: Boohoo (last summer)
Belt: ebay
I cinched it with a belt because of the size, but I took the belt off after lunch (lol). And yes, I took the picture in the toilet.
WHAT I DID:...I considered a few ideas including keeping it as a dress, but the elastic at the bottom was over stretched. I started off only wanting to preserve the skirt half of it, but when I cut it I fell in love in love with the top and I immediately tried it on, hemmed the edges and decided I had to wear it to work today.
I kept the skirt and I will be sharing how I wore it soon!
Till then.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Skin Care Journey: Treating, and Dealing with Hyper-pigmentation and Acne (part 2 - progress pictures)
So, I'm 4 weeks into using Retin-A and I've been talking so much about fine tuning my routine and skin irratations. It was gettign a bit reptitive. So I thought it wa high-time I showed my progress in pictures. Unfortunately, my memory card failed, and I had to format it so I lost some pictures, but I managed to salvage some and put together an half decent progress report.
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
notice the dry patch and scabby patch on my cheek bone.
WEEK 4
getting better still small break out.No more dry scabby patch.
WEEK 4b
WEEK 4c
Major forehead breakout.
Seeing it this way makes me want to get better at taking pictures. I'm not sure if the changes I'm seeing is a result of the treatment, placebo effect or time. I'll be back to normal blogging and talking about my regimen and new products I'm trying out next week. There may also be a foundation post/how to cover up bad skin post in the near future...once I get a new memory card for my camera.
Till next week.
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
notice the dry patch and scabby patch on my cheek bone.
WEEK 4
getting better still small break out.No more dry scabby patch.
WEEK 4b
WEEK 4c
Major forehead breakout.
Seeing it this way makes me want to get better at taking pictures. I'm not sure if the changes I'm seeing is a result of the treatment, placebo effect or time. I'll be back to normal blogging and talking about my regimen and new products I'm trying out next week. There may also be a foundation post/how to cover up bad skin post in the near future...once I get a new memory card for my camera.
Till next week.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Can't Believe I wrote this two years ago...
So I am currently fighting this “battle” with cultural appropriation (see ***quote below for explanation) and because of it, I am finding it hard to warm to Vampire Weekend. It is hard to ignore the African influences on the album -particularly on “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” .
I decided to research how they got their African influences, I came across and an article in The Telegraph and one of the band members mentions listening to Brenda Fassie, they also say their African influences come naturally to them. But, it all sounds like a party line supplied to them by their record company. For starters, I think it is funny that they have decided to build career on their “African Influences” yet, none of them have been to an African country. I doubt money is an issue for a bunch of (upper)-middle class boys, which raises the question – if the continent inspires them so much why have they never been there?!
Also, they are getting famous by taking on a culture that would never be accepted in its own right by western society. African people . . . black people are rarely “allowed” to present Africa by themselves and the way they see it.
Most of Vampire Weekend’s fans have never listened to Congolese music, Brenda Fassie, KSA or Yvonne Chaka-Chaka and if those women (or anyone like them) release albums now, they wouldn’t make the charts. Yet, Vampire Weekend have successfully taken their sound, their style, their rhythm, packaged it and sold it back to a willing public who want to appear cool and think they are cool because they have discovered a new “different” band.
Their record company seems to have decided to market them as an alternative to African music. I guess it is a fitting strategy for their audience, the gap year taking types who want to travel to third world countries just so they can clog up facebook with their pictures of them and malnourished children. But, they never truly engage with the culture. They listen to Vampire Weekend so they can appear enlightened and pretend to have an appreciation of African music. They wax lyrical about how different Vampire Weekend is. Anyone with a decent knowledge of music would know that Paul Simon and Talking Heads did it first so it isn't that different.
On the 11th and 12th of august 2007, two parks in New York had a music festival dedicated to African music. Prospect Park had Congolese music and Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars, Central park had Angelique kidjo. On the same day, at the Lower East Side, Vampire Weekend was giving a free performance as part of the East River Music Project. Their timing could not be more appalling(or genius) if they had tried harder.
I can’t remember the last time and African band made it to the mainstream, it was probably in the 1980s when Paul Simon released Graceland and everyone discovered LadySmith Black Mambazo.
Very few admit to this, but the reason why Vampire Weekend is so “special” is because they are white. I’ve read reviewers talk about how “edgy”, “different” and “post-punk” they are, but the fact is they are middle class white boys producing music that is stereotypically African. And their middle class whiteness is what makes them different. We’ve had artists like Shingai Shoniwa, Asa and Angelique kidjo try to do that same thing with varying degrees of success. If Vampire Weekend was made up of middleclass black people, no one would have bat an eyelid. Although some might be surprised to discover that middleclass black people exist.
****Quote: "There is a long history of white musicians being inspired by black music and finding fame with an “exotic” but safer sound, while their black muses languished in obscurity. Without diminishing the impact of artists like Elvis and The Rolling Stones on the popular music scene, surely it is clear that they benefited from a culture that would never allow a bluesman like Robert Johnson to gain mainstream prominence. The fresh sounds that electrified rock audiences weren’t really so fresh, just appropriated from an artist and culture made invisible by racism."
I decided to research how they got their African influences, I came across and an article in The Telegraph and one of the band members mentions listening to Brenda Fassie, they also say their African influences come naturally to them. But, it all sounds like a party line supplied to them by their record company. For starters, I think it is funny that they have decided to build career on their “African Influences” yet, none of them have been to an African country. I doubt money is an issue for a bunch of (upper)-middle class boys, which raises the question – if the continent inspires them so much why have they never been there?!
Also, they are getting famous by taking on a culture that would never be accepted in its own right by western society. African people . . . black people are rarely “allowed” to present Africa by themselves and the way they see it.
Most of Vampire Weekend’s fans have never listened to Congolese music, Brenda Fassie, KSA or Yvonne Chaka-Chaka and if those women (or anyone like them) release albums now, they wouldn’t make the charts. Yet, Vampire Weekend have successfully taken their sound, their style, their rhythm, packaged it and sold it back to a willing public who want to appear cool and think they are cool because they have discovered a new “different” band.
Their record company seems to have decided to market them as an alternative to African music. I guess it is a fitting strategy for their audience, the gap year taking types who want to travel to third world countries just so they can clog up facebook with their pictures of them and malnourished children. But, they never truly engage with the culture. They listen to Vampire Weekend so they can appear enlightened and pretend to have an appreciation of African music. They wax lyrical about how different Vampire Weekend is. Anyone with a decent knowledge of music would know that Paul Simon and Talking Heads did it first so it isn't that different.
On the 11th and 12th of august 2007, two parks in New York had a music festival dedicated to African music. Prospect Park had Congolese music and Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars, Central park had Angelique kidjo. On the same day, at the Lower East Side, Vampire Weekend was giving a free performance as part of the East River Music Project. Their timing could not be more appalling(or genius) if they had tried harder.
I can’t remember the last time and African band made it to the mainstream, it was probably in the 1980s when Paul Simon released Graceland and everyone discovered LadySmith Black Mambazo.
Very few admit to this, but the reason why Vampire Weekend is so “special” is because they are white. I’ve read reviewers talk about how “edgy”, “different” and “post-punk” they are, but the fact is they are middle class white boys producing music that is stereotypically African. And their middle class whiteness is what makes them different. We’ve had artists like Shingai Shoniwa, Asa and Angelique kidjo try to do that same thing with varying degrees of success. If Vampire Weekend was made up of middleclass black people, no one would have bat an eyelid. Although some might be surprised to discover that middleclass black people exist.
****Quote: "There is a long history of white musicians being inspired by black music and finding fame with an “exotic” but safer sound, while their black muses languished in obscurity. Without diminishing the impact of artists like Elvis and The Rolling Stones on the popular music scene, surely it is clear that they benefited from a culture that would never allow a bluesman like Robert Johnson to gain mainstream prominence. The fresh sounds that electrified rock audiences weren’t really so fresh, just appropriated from an artist and culture made invisible by racism."
Monday, April 11, 2011
Skin Care Journey: Treating, and Dealing with Hyper-pigmentation and Acne (week 3)
I probably should have written this in week three because now I'm finding it hard to remember what my skin was like. Week 3 was the week before my period, I had a tiny post period break out that I was not too happy about. I burst one and picked at it, but managed to fight the urge to burst the other ones - progress!.
I'm really unimpressed with the texture of my skin. My foundation which used to look good now looks cakey and emphasizes my large pores. I have no idea what to do about this other than stick with the treatment like I'm supposed to. Again there isn't a wealth of information from black women using Retin-A treatment so, it's hard to know what to expect. I came across one on acne.org, but there was only a picture and no details about her course of treatment. I have fine tuned my regimen a little bit, now I'm using....
MORNING
Cleanse: Good things stay clear face wash.
Exfoliate: Boots scrubbing pads and sulphur soap ( I need to get a new bar)
tone: burts bees toner.
NIGHT
Cleanse: Good things stay clear face wash.
Exfoliate: Neutrogean black head clearing scrubs and Boots scrubbing pads.
Retin - A
I know I have an aggressive scrubbing regimen , that is because I read that Retin-A increases cell renewal in addition to causing dry patches so the scrubbing is meant to help with that.
Till next week.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Skin Care Journey: Treating, and Dealing with Hyper-pigmentation and Acne (products I use)
Some of the products I'm using at the moment. I'm fine tuning my routine and I'll post more details about them and how I use them very soon.
BOOTS SCRUBBING PADS
Dry
Wet
RETIN-A
TONERS CLEANSERS AND MOISTURISERS
- Burts Bees Toner, - Good thing miracle mattifier, - Jojoba Rich Cleanser
- Boots evening primrose, - Clinique take the day off
BOOTS SCRUBBING PADS
Dry
Wet
RETIN-A
TONERS CLEANSERS AND MOISTURISERS
- Burts Bees Toner, - Good thing miracle mattifier, - Jojoba Rich Cleanser
- Boots evening primrose, - Clinique take the day off
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Skin Care Journey: Treating, and Dealing with Hyper-pigmentation and Acne
So, I know my blog is usually devoted to music, but I haven't been feeing inspired to write or post anything for a while even though I have been collecting links and saving them. I even have posts drafted, but I don't post them.
At the moment, I'm inspired to do something for posterity. I'm a long time acne sufferer, I had my first break out in my late teens and it has been down hill since then. My skin has gotten better but, it is still lumpy and uneven. During my acne journey I realised there is not a wealth of info out there for people like me - black women, acne suffers, who have hyper pigmentation. Most people ignore hyper pigmentation all together or recommend things like cocoa butter that just doesn't work!
So, for the 6 - 9 weeks (according to what the Retin A box says), I'll be blogging about my skin care journey. I've put together a quick summary of where I am at the moment, I hope to expand this soon and add some pictures of my progress.
At the moment, I'm inspired to do something for posterity. I'm a long time acne sufferer, I had my first break out in my late teens and it has been down hill since then. My skin has gotten better but, it is still lumpy and uneven. During my acne journey I realised there is not a wealth of info out there for people like me - black women, acne suffers, who have hyper pigmentation. Most people ignore hyper pigmentation all together or recommend things like cocoa butter that just doesn't work!
So, for the 6 - 9 weeks (according to what the Retin A box says), I'll be blogging about my skin care journey. I've put together a quick summary of where I am at the moment, I hope to expand this soon and add some pictures of my progress.
Week 1
The first week was weird, I expected my skin to be dry, but instead it was oily and I broke out in tiny spots. I was using my primer (K by Beverly Knight) with my make up but by the end of the day my face looked like an oil spill and almost like I had no makeup on. My skin texture was terrible, I briefly considered not using this anymore, but I know bad skin is one of the first reactions so I decided to stick with it.
Products being used at the moment;
Morning
First wash: Sulphur soap used with scrubbing pads/poppy seed and goats milk soap
Second wash: Good things stay clear vegan face wash.
Toner: I was using Boots’ rose water, but it finished and I’m trying out Burt’s Bees’ Toner.
Face cream: Good things Matifying lotion – used to work brilliantly till I started Retin A.
Night
Neutrogena blackhead eliminating scrub.
Good things stay clear face wash.
Make up remover
Retin A
Week 2:
My skin has a weird prickly feeling; it makes me want to scratch my face off. My skin has also gotten dry and flaky. I stopped using my face scrubbing pads because I was mostly using the poppy seed soap and the seeds exfoliate the skin. But, I’m not getting the exfoliation I need so I’m going back to using only Sulphur soap and scrubbing pad for week 3 (note: my weeks start on Wednesday, I know it is weird, but that was the day my doctor gave me the retin A.) . I also bought some Monistat chaffing gel and used that as a primer under my make up, it seems to have helped with the staying power of my makeup and the greasiness.
Side note: I missed two days of application this week.
Products used this week are the same as week one.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Free Music Download - The Strokes!
Breaking my blogging hiatus to bring you this!
The Strokes have finally reunited after their solo endeavours to release their first single in five years. and it is available for free, simply sign up to their mailing list using the link below and the song will be sent directly to your inbox!
The Strokes have finally reunited after their solo endeavours to release their first single in five years. and it is available for free, simply sign up to their mailing list using the link below and the song will be sent directly to your inbox!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
FREE SONG DOWNLOAD: Noisettes - Kilimanjaro
The Noisettes cover Miriam Makeba's Kilimanjaro.
The Original....
Follow this link to download the Noisette's version free : http://en.shapewhatstocome.com/goodies/?sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4d2c4988c2d60028,0
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
New Music: The Go! Team featuring Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast
I'm a huge fan of the Go!Team, I think I posted a picture of one of their gigs that I attended. I'm on the fence about this song, I think it is going to take a couple of listens to get into. But, it would be perfect for a work out mix! The album is called 'Rolling Blackouts' and it is released on January 31 in the U.S. and January 30 in the UK. The lead single "Buy Nothing Day", is out January 24.
Monday, January 10, 2011
MTV Africa Music Awards 2010 Pictures
Barbara Kanam (Congo)
Mo'Cheddah (Nigeira)
Naeto C and some chick (Nigeria)
Genevieve Nnaji (Nigeria)
Tiwa Savage (xfaxtor 3 contestant)
Julius and Ibere Agwu (Nigeria)
Rick Ross
Nadia Buari (Ghana)
Oluchi Luca (Nigeria)
T-Pain
Helen Jennings (Editor, Arice Magazine)
Eve
Nneka (Nigeria)
Sasha (Nigeira)
Tuface (Nigeria)
ON STAGE
EVE
Genevieve Nnaji and D'Banj
Fally Ipupa (Congo)
Chucky D
EVE and Sasha
Rick Ross
Sasha
TPain
Tuface
Sources: http://www.bellanaija.com/2010/12/13/bn-red-carpet-fab-mtv-africa-music-awards-mamas-2010/, http://that1960chick.com/2010/12/11/2010-mtv-africa-music-awards-red-carpet-arrivals/
http://www.myweku.com/2010/12/mtv-africa-music-awards-winners-2010/
HAPPY MONDAY!
Mo'Cheddah (Nigeira)
Naeto C and some chick (Nigeria)
Genevieve Nnaji (Nigeria)
Tiwa Savage (xfaxtor 3 contestant)
Julius and Ibere Agwu (Nigeria)
Rick Ross
Nadia Buari (Ghana)
Oluchi Luca (Nigeria)
T-Pain
Helen Jennings (Editor, Arice Magazine)
Eve
Nneka (Nigeria)
Sasha (Nigeira)
Tuface (Nigeria)
ON STAGE
EVE
Genevieve Nnaji and D'Banj
Fally Ipupa (Congo)
Chucky D
EVE and Sasha
Rick Ross
Sasha
TPain
Tuface
Sources: http://www.bellanaija.com/2010/12/13/bn-red-carpet-fab-mtv-africa-music-awards-mamas-2010/, http://that1960chick.com/2010/12/11/2010-mtv-africa-music-awards-red-carpet-arrivals/
http://www.myweku.com/2010/12/mtv-africa-music-awards-winners-2010/
HAPPY MONDAY!
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Free Music Download: My Chemical Romance - Save Yourself Hold Them Back
Save Yourself Hold Them Back
I can't believe it has been 4 years since 'Black Parade' was realised. The new album is long over due for a release. I've liked all the songs I've heard from it so far, but I'll have to wait to see if it will surpass 'Black Parade'
I had black Parade on repeat for months!
My favourite songs from Black Parade
Teenagers
I Don't Love You
Finally if you like the sound of "Save Yourself Hold Them Back" just follow the link below and head over the the MCR website, enter your email and get a free download. http://www.mychemicalromance.com/splash/
MITNB
I can't believe it has been 4 years since 'Black Parade' was realised. The new album is long over due for a release. I've liked all the songs I've heard from it so far, but I'll have to wait to see if it will surpass 'Black Parade'
I had black Parade on repeat for months!
My favourite songs from Black Parade
Teenagers
I Don't Love You
Finally if you like the sound of "Save Yourself Hold Them Back" just follow the link below and head over the the MCR website, enter your email and get a free download. http://www.mychemicalromance.com/splash/
MITNB
Monday, November 08, 2010
New Music Post: Cee Lo Green - It's Ok
I'm so loving Cee-lo right now.I bought ticket to see him, but the show was cancelled! I guess I have to wait patiently till next year.
Happy Monday,
MITNB
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Cover VS Original:My favourite covers of Bob Dylan songs
Jason Mraz - A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall
Nina Simone - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Metric - Don't Think Twice It's Alight
The Rolling Stones - Like A Rolling Stone
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower
Madeleine Peyroux - You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Johnny Cash & June Carter - It Ain't Me Babe
MITNB
Nina Simone - Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Metric - Don't Think Twice It's Alight
The Rolling Stones - Like A Rolling Stone
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower
Madeleine Peyroux - You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Johnny Cash & June Carter - It Ain't Me Babe
MITNB
Sunday, October 31, 2010
I think I fell for a song on TV/Free Music Download - Raising Hope/The Postelles - White Night
Heard this on "Raising Hope" and immediately fell in love with The Postelles!
They have received amazing reviews from magazines like 'rolling stone'. So, if you are the kind of person who likes to discover bands before they really start to make it big now is your chance.
Because The Postelles are so awesome, they are giving the single "White Night" away for FREE! simply follow enter your email to the box below and the song will be send to you. Or go to their website (http://www.thepostelles.com/) and download it from there.
Happy Monday!
MITNB
Monday, October 25, 2010
New Music Post: Ingrid Michaelson - Parachute
Some people have heard the Cheryl Cole version of this song, but it was originally written by Ingrid and she decided to record her own version. She said on twitter: "there are some angry people out there so i should clarify...i cowrote Parachute over a year ago and the lovely Cheryl Cole recorded it and in the beginning of this year. i am not trying to top her. her version is great. just doing my own version of my own song. live&love."
This version is more my style, so I'm loving it at the moment.
MITNB
Thursday, October 21, 2010
I'm Loving....Mad Men Theme Song (With a Twist)
It is remix... match up...mash up of RJD2′s 'A Beautiful Mine' (the 'Mad Men's' theme song) and 'Nature Boy' by Nat King Cole . The stunning girl in the video is Allison Williams, Brian Williams' daughter. I would love to hear more of her, she is had a stunning voice.
Peace + Love,
MITNB
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Free Music Download: Fistful of Mercy.
It's been too long mes amies!
I feel I should explain my slight absence. I started this blog when I desperately needed a creative outlet. I had a job I hated and needed to get out of. Over the past few months, I did just that. My job gives me the outlet I need and this blog is slowly becoming redundant. I don't have time to write the original content that I initially wanted to focus on.
That said, this is not the end of the blog, it just means that I won't update as much.
And to my dear readers because according to google analytics I have readers...shocking! I'll carry on updating this blog, but not on a daily basis. I still have stuff I want to post, new music to show you and of course the free music downloads (as long as Kanye's people don't come after me again!).
And while we are on the topic of free music. Fistful of Mercy, the new supergroup started by Dhani Harrison, Ben Herper and Joseph Arthur are giving away a free single. Simply click on the link below and sign up to their mailing list... easy peasy! Their album "As I call you down" was released on the 5th of October so if you like what you hear grab yourself a copy.
http://fistfulofmercy.com/download/
Peace + Love,
MITNB
I feel I should explain my slight absence. I started this blog when I desperately needed a creative outlet. I had a job I hated and needed to get out of. Over the past few months, I did just that. My job gives me the outlet I need and this blog is slowly becoming redundant. I don't have time to write the original content that I initially wanted to focus on.
That said, this is not the end of the blog, it just means that I won't update as much.
And to my dear readers because according to google analytics I have readers...shocking! I'll carry on updating this blog, but not on a daily basis. I still have stuff I want to post, new music to show you and of course the free music downloads (as long as Kanye's people don't come after me again!).
And while we are on the topic of free music. Fistful of Mercy, the new supergroup started by Dhani Harrison, Ben Herper and Joseph Arthur are giving away a free single. Simply click on the link below and sign up to their mailing list... easy peasy! Their album "As I call you down" was released on the 5th of October so if you like what you hear grab yourself a copy.
http://fistfulofmercy.com/download/
Peace + Love,
MITNB
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