How to Spa on a Budget

photo cred

I don't know about you ladies, but I like to be pampered every now and then. My type of pampering consists of shopping and food, but I'm talking about the complete spa package. The weekly/monthly routine where some ladies are fortunate enough to receive the entire sensation of getting a message, nails and toes treated, along with a therapeutic bath is currently out of my reach.

Good thing I like to ball on a budget. 

In the past couple of weeks, I've learned that you don't have to go a spa to receive these special treatments. I've turned it to a DIY type of thing. I've learned to use ingredients in the kitchen and everyday items my family keeps in our home to get myself rejuvenated for the following week.

Here's a list of things I like to get into on my at home spa day:

1. Paint my nails:

• I'm the least girly of the ladies in my family, but I've managed to curate two hands full of simple, calm colors. 
• Not good at painting your nails? Invite your girlfriend over to join your spa day. While you paint each others nails, put on your favorite jams or play a movie.

2. Draw a bath:

• I like to use Epsom salt and apple cider vinegar in my baths. These ingredients are good for releasing toxins from your body, relieving stress and pain, and helping your muscles and nerves function properly.  
• During this time I advise you to play your tunes or grab a book to keep you from drowning in your thoughts. Remember, you're there to relax. Do this for 30 minutes.

3. Create all natural facials (my favorite):

• I like to do two. For the first one, it's just sugar -it doesn't matter if it's brown or white- and you can use either a lemon or lime. Since we never go a day without them I used a lime. I like to use these two to exfoliate my skin. It's always good to do this treatment 1-2 times a week. All you need to do is cut a slice of your preferred lemon or lime, dip it in the sugar, and scrub. This leaves you with a nice and clean, smooth feeling face.

• The second one calls for one teaspoon of honey, 1/4 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and one egg. These ingredients are good for tightening your pores along with lightening and eventually removing dark spots if done consistently. Kandee Johnson shows you how here.

4. Put your cute puppy dog face on and cross your fingers that your significant other falls into a trance and gives you that awesome back rub until you fall asleep.

It's an awesome thing that most, if not all of these ingredients are at your local grocery store. But even more than that being awesome is that it's important to treat and take care yourself. You work hard and you deserve it. Stay beautiful! 

Instagram Poets You Should Be Double Tapping

Maya Angelou, Sylvia Plath, Langston Hughes, Audre Lorde, Robert Frost, Shel Silverstein, Rumi, Nikki Giovanni and Warsan Shirethe are the popular favorites amongst my selections.
Poetry is a timeless form of expression and connection.

I’ve read a lot of articles and blogposts saying that poetry is dead. Now, this is just my opinion, but I don’t understand how poetry can be “dead” if there are weekly slam poetry nights hosted not only by local businesses, but by schools & universities almost everywhere; how an organization like Button Poetry could be flourishing, how powerhouses, Zariya Allen, Rhiannon McGavin, and Belissa Escobedo have brought their words across the country, etc. You can study the greats all day, but there is definitely greatness amongst us too.

We can see that clearly now because of social media. Social networks like Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter allow us to follow some of our favorite artists and receive their work almost daily. Because of these networks, poets have a bigger voice and can easily reach an audience in the most efficient way. They can also gather a large following and by doing so, are able to make a living off of their art.

Here is a list of some of my favorite poets on Instagram that you should check out:

Rupi Kaur (@rupikaur_) is a Toronto-based poet whose work speaks on womanhood, being a woman of color, abuse, empowering yourself, empowering others, and love. She released her book Milk and Honey in late 2014.

Lang Leav (@langleav) is a New-Zealand based poet who speaks on a broad range of topics such as jealousy, reclusiveness, love, and friendship. Her books are Love and Misadventure, Lullabies, and Memories were best-sellers and are out now!

Cleo Wade (@cleowade) is a New York-based poet and artist. I found her account after my fave, Lauren Jauregui re-posted a poem of hers. Her words are almost exclusively about empowerment and spreading love.

Tony Ciampa is the face behind the creative account, emolabs. While his account resembles what the youth call “very tumblr”, his poetry itself speaks on living life to the fullest, travel, and love. Ah, yes. Very tumblr.

Robert Macias (@rmdrake) is a poet from Miami. He has over 1.4 million followers and has been re-posted by A-listers like Khloe Kardashian. My mom bought his bestselling book Beautiful Chaos for me last fall and I recommend it 10/10. It sits by my bed and is full of my doodles & reactions/responses to each poem.

Quarter Life Poetry (@quarterlifepoetry) is ran by Samantha Jayne, a 25-year old illustrator, writer, and actress who is documenting her “wild” life. Entertaining & honest, Jayne’s poems will have you scrolling down her account saying “truuuuue”.

Atticus Davis (@atticuspoetry) is a New York poet and fiction writer. A lot of his work is about love, adventure, and the longing to live an extraordinary life.

Favorite Apps: Phhhoto

Phhhoto, created by Champ Bennett, Omar Elsayed, and Russell Armand, launched in July 2014 and allows users to make moving photos (or gifs) that they can post on their other social media accounts. 

The app uses your camera to take 4 photos and strings them along to make a gif. The app features a “Wow” page where Phhhoto staff pick their favorite phhhotos and display them. Several times a week, a user is picked and gets to host the “Wow” page for a day and pick out their favorite phhhotos (which are tracked using #wow). Phhhoto also gives you the option of using a filter on your newly created gifs. It’s basically Instagram’s cooler, artsier younger sibling. Some celebrities that have the app are: Skrillex, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Joe Jonas, Cole Sprouse, and even Mark Zuckerberg.

Despite having over 200,000 users, the Phhhoto community is still relatively small so this could be the social break you’re looking for. Maybe this is just me & my introversion, but following friends on social networks is cool & all, but after a while, I start to feel a little suffocated & restricted. Not a lot of people are on Phhhoto, which means you can be as weird & unapologetic as possible.

Phhhoto is a way to document your life in a cool artsy way. It’s an app full of artists & creators, and is yet another great way to establish connections and collaborate with others. Plus it’s just a really cool fucking app.

VLOG #1: Visting Hong Kong

Hi, guys!
It's Makena here! This video below is an introduction to the culture and atmosphere I've been getting to know so far about this awesome city, Hong Kong! This is just a brief overview of what I've learned during my first month studying abroad in China!

I hope you enjoy the video!

IG & Snap: 

@makenamambo

5 House Plants for the Supremely Neglectful

image credit

I'm still not sure whether it's an acquired skill or not, but I am endlessly jealous of people with green thumbs. I grew up around plants because my mother is an avid gardener, but I still have managed to kill more than one cactus plant in my life, and those are notoriously low maintenance. However, my desire to live in a veritable indoor jungle has not lessened one bit. 

Who doesn't want to be surrounded by overflowing vines and leafy pots in every window? 

Not to mention that some plants purify the air around you, thereby making you more radiant and successful in basically every way possible. So in the spirit of New Year's resolutions, I've decided that I will turn my thumb into a green one. As it turns out, you can't just buy a low-maintenance plant and then never do anything again. It seems obvious, but even low-maintenance plants need a few things every now and then. Once I realized that, I've been doing pretty well. I'm no expert yet, but I've learned a few things in the process. If you, like me, struggle with taking care of house plants, I've put together a list of a few of the easiest ones, and what you need to do to not kill them. Click through to find out what they are!

Last Minute Valentines Day Ideas in Asheville, NC

It happens every year the same way. A few days before Valentine's Day and .... nothing. No ideas come to mind, every fancy schmancy restaurant downtown Asheville is all booked up, and here you are, scrambling to tell your boo thing not to fear. This town has a way with the people I know, where we love to linger around with time until time is all up. Classmates file in with seconds to spare before the starting time, the hipsters in coffee shops talk slow and deep, and everyone's in sort of a time lapse with the mountain-scape's sunset. That's not a legit excuse when it comes to your love-friend, though. I'm sorry to tell ya. But alas, it is the city of romance. Here are some quick, lovely ideas for the latecomers to the love parade. It's okay, breathe, I got you covered.

Snow in the City

Even as a born and bred Southerner I've seen my fair share of snow. Living in Italy during the worst snowstorm Europe had seen in 70 years and spending winter breaks in upstate New York has given me a good idea of how it goes when there's a lot of snow. Generally, thermal underwear and snow tires are key.

But until a few weeks ago I had no idea what it was like to experience snow in the big city. Or more specifically, a blizzard in NYC.





For better or for worse, my neighborhood missed the brunt of the storm with an accumulation of about 8 or 10 inches (as opposed to central parks impressive 30). But, because of the overall severity of the storm, the whole city shut down. I'm talking cigarette shops, pizza places, the stoplights were out, and even the subways stopped running.

And that's where the fun began.

Having luckily dodged a nasty hangover, I got to see the whole thing unfold starting at around 7am. Between then and when most of my cohorts woke up around 2pm, I smoked some cigarettes, had some heavy handed Irish coffees, and watched it come down. Keep in mind that it was not just snowing, it was literally a blizzard, with winds so high they were ripping down flyers and tearing off scarves. And it was beautiful.


Once more people were up and about, i gathered a crew and went out in search of food, liquor, or anything that might be open. We managed instead to get thoroughly frozen, start a couple of snowball fights, and to convince my friend from LA that perhaps snow isn't so bad after all.

Over the next few hours people came and went, and a few of us decided that if the snow wasn't stopping, we would have to get our hands on something to drink. This foolhardy quest for liquor ended in us trying to sprint seven blocks through the blizzard to a store that was closing in five minutes.

Don't worry, we made it.

The day may have been cold and at times treacherous, but it did remind me that no matter where you are, snow seems to bring out the children inside of us and bring us together.



Here's to finding beauty in the storm... And to trudging through slush for the next week.

Sweater Weather: Guide to Winter in NYC

This is my first winter in New York and while I was bracing myself for glacial temperatures sometime soon after I moved here in November, it has proved to be perfectly balmy and unseasonably warm for the past few months.

But, it is starting to get seriously cold here and I’ve had to figure out how to stay warm through some trial and error. 

Conclusions:

• Layering is key. The subway will be the death of you if you can’t shed a few layers, or at least shed your hat, scarf and gloves. I usually have at least a sweater and a long sleeve shirt on under my coat, but sometimes you may need to bulk up even more.

• Gloves: Get gloves. Get big gloves. Get gloves that you feel slightly silly wearing because maybe you’re going to have to spark a cigarette or check your phone. Do not be led astray by the smart phone gloves, do not opt for the cute knit gloves, go straight for the waterproof exterior - lined interior ones that have a cold rating (often the good ones will have a tag that shows the weather they’re meant for) of cold to icy. The cigarette can wait - you’ll thank me later.
• Coats: I personally have an aversion to the “puffer jackets” that are ubiquitous here, but to be honest they’re probably your best bet. I have a friend who has an ankle length one and she just spent the weekend in Iowa where the high was -2 degrees fahrenheit and she was perfectly snuggly. If you don’t opt for the puffer (I didn’t), you still probably want to get a long coat, at least thigh-knee length. The reason? While you’re probably going to have a sweater or two under your coat, your legs are only going to have one layer of cloth between them and the freezing cold, and you want to protect them. A long coat will do this, and you will be grateful. Coats with hoods are also great. Basically the more of your body you can cover the better. (You can also go hard core and wear long johns under your jeans, I used to do this sometimes when I lived in Asheville, and I may have to break them out soon.)
• Hats/Scarves: Even if you have a hood on your coat you’re probably going to want a hat. There are a lot of cute hats out there to be had, but at a certain point even the best of us have to abandon fashion for practicality, and thick knit hats and ear flaps and some things to look for. Big scarves are great, but make sure you can tuck them into your coat - the wind here gets so strong that it will fly away/whip up and totally cover your face. You do not want this to happen in the middle of an intersection.
• Shoes: Get yourself some waterproof shoes, preferably with ankle coverage and excellent traction. Being the person to totally wipe out on the sidewalk is not ideal.
  
  

So remember: Cover up, layer up, and watch where you’re walking. You should be fine.

Cool People: Jam Session with Lucianna Ania

              

Lucianna Ania is a lovechild between Luci Davis, singer/rapper extraordinaire, and three talented guy friends of hers: Sebastian, Guthrie and Jack. The band is new, but already has a strikingly unique sound. Incorporating electronic tones with smooth base and sharp drums, Luci leads the sound with harsh yet beautiful notes gliding on top of the harmonies. Picture a garage rock collaboration with Odd Future, or a Janis Joplin post-rock lovechild. You'll get Lucianna Ania. I had the pleasure of listening to their practice and run of their current set, an eclectic mix of all the styles that inspired Lucianna Ania. One minute she'll be rapping about club drugs, and the next minute they'll have a full blown break-down. Here are some visuals, edited in inspiration of their music from my night with these very, very cool people. Listen to their recordings on Soundcloud.

             

              

10 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Freshman Year At A Liberal Arts College

Actual photo I took during the first of week of my freshman year

Sometimes, I still can't believe I graduated college. It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting in the backseat of my parents' Honda van, surrounded by plastic drawer units and trash bags full of clothes that I hoped would convince my soon-to-be college peers that I was worth befriending. It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in my first literature class, wide-eyed and excited for the new worlds I was about to discover. And it seems like just yesterday I was lying on a Mexican blanket in the university's botanical gardens with my friends only to suddenly realize, in horror, that a few feet away, a girl I knew was in the process of stripping down to her underwear in full view of students and families alike.

My roommate must have seen the expression of panicked confusion on my face. "Oh, don't worry about Rachel," she said. "It must be the acid. She's never taken twelve hits at once before, but she'll be fine!"

Meanwhile, Rachel had started what can only be described as "frolicking intently" through the gardens, simultaneously yelling, "The police are coming! They're going to make me famous!"

Welcome to the liberal arts experience. 

It's just not like other colleges. If other universities are marked by football rivalries and fraternity parties, liberal arts universities are marked by face paint, Marxism, and a quiet yet pervasive understanding that shoes are a social construct. My school was more akin to some weird, sexually liberated summer camp than anything else, especially during the first year.

I know it might seem unfathomable right now, but the time in which frolicking naked in a public space will be seen as remotely normal is extremely limited. But now, since I am a wise, graduated adult who can finally understand complex concepts like "student loan repayment plans" and "drinking excessively instead of applying to another unpaid internship," I am here now as your sage, to offer you the advice that I wish I had that day in the Honda van.

1. "What is your spirit animal?" is not a valid conversation starter past freshman year.

I know, it seems like a really great opener instead of asking what someone's major is. And I will concede, I made a lot of friends freshman year by saying things like, "Some days, I feel like I'm a squirrel, but at heart, I'm like, definitely a fox," and "human beings were never meant to wear shoes." These phrases are guaranteed to win you hippie cool points with your new friends, and maybe even free weed if you're lucky. However, it is equally guaranteed that if you ever go to a job interview with these babies in your pocket, you will not get the job. Unless the job is a head shop. And even then, you still might not get the job.

2. Stick and poke tattoos: proceed with caution.

These were all the rage for a brief period of time. It seemed like everyone  had a bottle of India ink, safety pins, and a butt tattoo. Because peer pressure is real, I decided I NEEDED a stick and poke and that it would be super edgy to do an upside down cross on my middle finger because Tyler the Creator has one. I only realized this was a dumb idea after I had already started, at which point I decided to just "freehand" a tree branch instead. The tree branch didn't work out, so I decided to turn it into an anchor, which (surprise) also did not work out, and that's why I have a weird light blue marking on my middle finger that looks like the letter R. It took me years to come to terms with this stupidity.

3. If you're really friends, you should be able to have fun in situations that do not involve alcohol.

This one isn't really exclusive to a liberal arts school, but it's important nonetheless. A little partying is absolutely a rite of passage, but at the end of the day, it's all the in-between moments that build lasting friendships. A real friend is someone who will not only take shots with you, but also learn the bus system with you, be your partner in crime, and lay in bed giggling and listening to Ella Fitzgerald on Friday night instead of going out.

4. Similarly, there is more to romantic compatibility than drinking in the same places on the weekend and having the same taste in music.

This is a tricky one. Because while you should want to spend quality time with a significant other, enjoy the tunes they have on their iPod, and also appreciate the types of clothes they choose to drape over their body, these things do not a good relationship make. Pants that make their butt look good can only take a relationship so far. Try evaluating other aspects of the relationship including but not limited to: "Am I embarrassed to be seen with you in public?," "Do you make me feel safe and present?,"  or "Do I actually hate you but haven't realized it yet because you're cute?" 

5. Don't sell drugs just because you "know a guy."

This happened to one of my roommates. Apparently she sold ecstasy for a month or so because she had a connection and thought it would be a good way to make extra money. It turned out that the ecstasy was terrible quality and she got no repeat customers. Also this comes with the possibility that you might get arrested in a dorm room drug raid. So don't do that. 

6. White people: do not dreadlock your hair.

In case you haven't been on the Internet in the last five years, click here for a refresher course on cultural appropriation.

7. College classes and therapy appointments are two different things.

If I had a dollar for every time someone overshared details from their life in class, I would be able to buy a lifetime supply of Trader Joe's wine. And not to be overly negative or whatever, but no one's paying $4,000+ per semester to listen to you dissect the psychological underpinnings of why you had a bad relationship with your parents in elementary school, or how you and your best friend Becky went to the national spelling bee contest and had to ride the D.C. metro alone and saw a homeless person and it was a totally traumatizing experience. Please. Tell this to your friends. Tell this to your roommates. Tell this to literally anyone in any setting besides class. 

8. Snorting melatonin will not make you fall asleep faster.

Not like I know this from personal experience or anything! 

9. Getting involved is the coolest thing you can do.

Don't fall for the popular cultural lie that apathy is cool! You know what's actually cool? Investing time and energy into your passions, and having something to show for it. Being interested in student government might not necessarily be glamorous freshman year, but by senior year, being in a position to increase the amount of locally grown, organic food in the school cafeteria will be. Spending all your time in your room painting might be seen as weird freshman year, but snagging a post-grad art residency after college is anything but weird. College is a unique time for fostering your interests with relatively few other responsibilities. Take advantage of that.

10. There is something very ironic about using your Macbook to post Facebook statuses about how much you "h8 #capitalism."

But you won't realize that until later.

Stress Relief Tips for the Psuedo-Spiritual

You know that awkward moment when someone asks you if you’re religious or spiritual, and you’re like ‘well… I went to a yoga class with my friend once, and I’m not too fond of organized religion, so I’ll go with spiritual!’ Let’s face it, boo. You forget to meditate, even though you tell yourself to and you don’t know the first thing about chakras. I’m here to tell you that’s okay. I live in a very spiritual little town, where it’s just as easy to find a tarot card reader than it is a Starbucks. I love to marvel at the beauty of spiritual practices, but I can’t seem to commit when it comes down to it. I dismiss my stress most days and meaninglessly tap-dance around the inter webs, and the closest thing in my daily routine to spiritually tackling my stress levels is binge drinking tea and rubbing my temples occasionally. So I’ve scoured the web and talked to friends to help folks like you and I, the ‘I think spirituality is attractive but I don’t care to make the first move’ inclined, to deal with stress under means that suit us a little more snug. Let me know if these work for you, and I’ll do the same. Here we go:

Hustle & Bustle in the Streets of Hong Kong

Hong Kong is the global city of Asia. The dense population describes it as the epitome of the city that never sleeps. From the street markets, malls, business areas, and the subway line know as the MTR, I always find myself squeezing my way through the crowd. I've spent a lot of time exploring the streets of Mong Kok so far. There's great food to try all over and amazing shopping deals to snag while trying not to get too lost in the exploration.  I've been documenting my travels as I go and always keep a smile at the friendly locals who constantly stare in curiosity. Although I have barley scraped the surface in my adventures, I'm excited to see where my travels throughout Hong Kong will take me.

Neighborhood Guide: Lower East Side (Ludlow - Centric) Part 1: Eats

As Vice writes in its guide to the neighborhoods of New York, “[Ludlow] used to be good and isn't really any more. But, stay the hell off of it and you can make LES work. Ludlow is now the sole purview of M.U.S.C.L.E.S.and human crepes”. I beg to differ.

While Ludlow may be the nucleus of the hard-partying, heavy-drinking, thai-mexican-southern-california fusion-eating crowd in the Lower East Side, it’s also home to some great restaurants and shops, and acts as a stepping stone to the rest of the wonderland that is the LES.

I live in a building that sits on the intersection of Ludlow and Delancey, the main street that continues over the Williamsburg Bridge into Brooklyn. From here, I’m within striking distance of Chinatown (it starts a mere four blocks away around Canal Street), the East Village (cross over East Houston and you’re in their territory), the West Village, and the amoeba that is Little Italy, Nolita, and shortly thereafter Soho. If you’re looking to get your kicks in any fashion, Ludlow and its surrounding playground of food, booze, art, and fashion, will rock your world.

EATS

Falafel

I’m a falafel fiend and if you aren’t, you need to reevaluate. If you’re in the LES and craving some crunchy, chickpea goodness, you’ve got a few options. The closest to Ludlow is The Falafel Shop, located just past the intersection of Essex and Rivington. This spot is not my favorite, but it serves up decent falafel and is open somewhat late (1am), catering to the bar crowd. I’ve only ever gotten the falafel salad, which is a slurry of greens, cucumbers, tomatoes and a little too much tahini dressing, topped with five falafel balls. It comes with hot pita, which is good for sopping up the overly-generous dose of dressing. The service can be somewhat spotty, but it’s super convenient and reasonably priced. The have the usual host of middle-eastern sandwich/platter options. If you’re up for a 10-15 minute walk, walk (if not run) over to spring street where Taim serves up some of the best falafel I’ve ever had. Run by the same owners as Balaboosta, the uber hip (and uber delicious) Mediteranean restaurant right around the corner. Taim is strictly vegetarian and markets itself as a “falafel and smoothie bar” and it delivers on both counts. It’s falafel, which come in three flavors: green (classic, cilantro), harissa (spicy), and red (bell peppers) are a revelation. Always super crispy with a fluffy flavorful center (and generously sized), they come served in a pita with hummus, israeli salad, pickled cabbage and tahini sauce, and it’s a serious sandwich. Their sabich is also amazing, and I’m working my way through the rest of their menu. My go-to is a green falafel sandwich on whole wheat pita with a strawberry-raspberry-thai basil smoothie (ah-may-zing), Take the walk. Do it.

Burgers

At the intersection of Ludlow and Rivington, you’ll come across Mikey’s Burgers. If you’re in the mood for a good burger and some always fresh fries, step right up. The small space can be a little confusing when you first walk in - do you sit at the counter? do you stand awkwardly and wait for someone to notice you? - but walk to the end of the counter and someone (hopefully) will be at the register to take your order. I’ve never been inside when it’s crazy busy, but since it’s open until 4am on the weekends, I bet it gets jammed when the booze starts flowing around town. They have a pretty standard menu of burgers, fries, and hot dogs, but their signature burger has corned beef (!) and they have some interesting options like a lamb burger and an avocado shake. Their burgers can tend towards the smaller side, but they’re tasty and the sweet potato fries and always super fresh (and you get three dipping sauces for free with your order). A couple blocks over on East Houston is Lucky’s Famous Burgers which also has killer fries, and a killer meal deal. Their burgers are slightly bigger, but it’s definitely more of a fastfood vibe than Mikey’s which feels more like a neighborhood joint. But, for only 11 dollars, you get one of their tasty sandwiches (burger, chicken sandwich, hot dogs, veggie burger), fries, and a 24oz fountain drink. Also open late night (5am) on the weekends, be assured you can get your burger fix any time of day.

Bodega

At the intersection of Ludlow and Broome you will find my favorite bodega/deli: Optimum Gourmet Deli. Ridiculous name? Yes. Delicious, pretty cheap food? Yes. The people who work here are good guys, the service is super quick, and they also have the usual host of drinks, snacks, ice cream, and toilet paper. Their menu is extensive (they always are) but I am a creature of habit and usually go for the lamb gyro or one of their huge create-your-own salads. You know a spot is good when you can’t even get in the door at breakfast, the line of students, people on their way to work, and hungover folks is so long. Ignore the tacky name and grungy exterior, this place is a gem.

Right across the intersection from my building is Green Star Foods, a sort of miniature Trader Joe’s combined with a run of the mill deli counter. One of my go-to spots for middle of the night groceries and on the go bagels, Green Star Foods is open 24/7 and the counter is usually pretty deserted. A little more pricey, and a little more health-oriented than Optimum, this spot is not my favorite but it serves its purpose.

Groceries

Again, Green Star Foods is a good option for (slightly nicer) stapes, and has some fresh fruits and veggies on offer. There’s a Whole Foods on East Houston that does a huge business (obviously) and if that’s your scene, it’s super convenient to Ludlow. But, it can easily be a wallet-buster and it gets extremely hectic most afternoons and weekend days. By far, my favorite grocery store/market is Essex Street Retail Market located one block over from Ludlow at the intersection of Essex and Delancey. An indoor open market of sorts, ESRM boasts a large main floor filled with fresh produce and an unlimited selection of dry goods, two seafood counters, and a butchery counter, along with a host of small specialty purveyors as well as two (tiny) restaurants. It’s cheap, the selection is enormous, and it’s a fun place to shop. Chances are you can find almost everything you were looking for at whole foods, and you can grab a bite and browse some specialty cheese and tasty sweet treats at the same time - all for much less. Long story short: go to Whole Foods if you want to, Green Star if it’s 3am, and ESRM from 8am - 7pm for whatever your heart and wallet desires.

Photo by Makeda Sandford

Life in Word Series 2/3: Love

Love

ləv/

noun

noun: love; plural: loves

1. an intense feeling of deep affection.
   “babies fill parents with intense feelings of love”

Out of three definitions with seven sub definitions when used as a noun and one definition with one sub definition when used as a verb, this is Googles number one pick for the definition of love.

Us as humans use the word “love” when it comes to our feelings towards multiple things. This word seems to be the only word that justifies the greatest capacity of feeling that takes ahold of us when something or someone holds substantial control. We all know what love can do... At least some of us to a certain extent, but yeah...we all know due to the fact that we've either experienced it personally or we have experienced it second hand.

I have recently learned of an incident that happened a few months ago where someone close to me was involved. And by close I mean a family member. Anyone that holds any trace of the same blood is, in my opinion, physically close but not exactly relatively. Although it's been on the news and all over the internet, I won't share any details. But this is just another episode of the craziest things that love can make you do. To this point is where you have to stop, focus and justify for yourself whether or not this love is real, worth the risk and if you're better off without. I'd say, if at this point you are not able to justify, that at this point you are being taken advantage of.

If a love fails, then it isn't real

That, my friend, is a fact.

So yeah, not only is this Googles number one pick for the definition of love, but it is also my favorite. Why? Well, it's the only definition that explains love in its truest form. But not because of the actual definition, it's because of the sentence that has been given as an example.

Examples are always the most accurate ways to help others understand what something really means.

Of course, I didn't experience love through Googles definition. I experienced love through my almost twenty-three years of life! It all started when I was conceived. I can't remember what it was like to be in my mothers womb, but I know for sure since that moment, that she nurtured me with the most natural parts of her body. Our love is more intimate than the love that she and my father share.

Some where along the way I forgot about that. It's a cycle a we all go through. Ya know, puberty. Sometimes, we find our way back and sometimes we don't. Although I had forgotten about the ways my mother had nurtured me, she never did. No matter how out of control I got, she always found a way to keep me in line. She remained strong and her faith is an undying faith. That has always been my mothers way of showing me that she loves me... She nagged me.

I never wanted to hear it. I never tried to understand. She wanted me to stay close, so I purposely decided to go to college away from home. I was finally all on my own ready to adult...haha. I experienced life for what it really is and people for who they really are.

In situations where love seemed apparent, time after time I had to stop and focus to analyze whether the pain I was feeling was worth my time or if it was for the birds. For years I was confused about love. It was always the phase of infacuation. I could never get past infacuation because I never understood what love really is.

Just as Rihanna, aka Bae, says in one of her hit singles, We Found Love, it was true. I found love in the most hopeless place. I found it in myself. And it turns out all I had to do was focus in order to find it. Who would've known it was so damn easy!

It was the song by Avicii, Wake Me Up, that literally woke me up! I was in my bathroom in an apartment that I had in Charlotte, North Carolina. I had my makeup done, all my jewlery and swore I was looking too cute about to head to class. All I know is that I was high as fuck, staring at myself in the mirror when I heard the lead singer say these words: All this time I was finding myself and I didn't know that I was lost. I couldn't help but break down and cry. All the things that I thought I was becoming, that I thought made me look good, all made me feel ugly. I immediately knew that I was in the midst of letting society conform me. So I never made it to class and through love I began the journey to finding my true self.

How I Live Now

A few years ago, the person sitting in front of this screen, writing words to brace for the moments of rapid fire life changes, was crying uncontrollably at the prospect of not accomplishing goals assigned by a lifetime of necessity and circumstance. Reminiscing on those times, allowing the soul to laugh, deeply, deriving immeasurable pleasure from the fantastic scale of naiveté. Dreading the minutest change, defined by social accessibility and need, perhaps these were the superficial moments, empty of any true motifs worth expanding upon.

It was the only way I knew how to live but to die with some kind of traction. Built on a lifetime of self perceived let-downs and endeavors, life's explanations weren’t meant to be explored. Droning along the river of existence, bumping into the shores of legitimate career opportunities. Knowing full well the things wanting to be changed would fulfill the necessities of moments, outside of a lifetime's reach. Maddening perpetuated in noise constantly dialed into subconscious, the silent agreements.

How I live now is based on day to day salutations of the life there once was. Through the trials of abdominal black holes, unseen spinal protrusions and uncontrollable addiction to sensory deception, the body and mind have been forced to slow down. Slow down so much so to be unrecognizable to a mind burdened by preconceived notions about who the person perceived, is supposed to be. Breathing slowly with the active moments, in the parts of the body creaking into consciousness.
Attaining daily meditation and paying attention to the force of air on morning commutes, as the train arrives in a gale force, reminding the soul that the adventure is still there, and this moments honor needs respect too.

How I live now,is a mystery to the person that came before. The notions of realistically attainable abilities no longer are overridden by the ever-present need to feel burnt out, to derive accomplishment from self destruction and sacrifice.

How I live now does not embarrass an image held too unsustainable standards, by plateaus and journeys with no end to imagine a world with a slightly warmer heart. Working in the service of wonders and space. The need to prove every doubt wrong for the sake of putting the perceived harm in its place is missing.

I choose to live, even with the mistakes.

How I live now: I choose to live even with the mistakes, the ones made constantly for they teach the wisdom of immunity. To listen to those around me for the cracks in hoping to help and love. To be available for the love to enter the soul once again, having so long sought to shield this life, for fear of returning to a place of vulnerability.

How I live now, amongst the infinite unknowns of everyday, warms the feet on a cold days. No longer forgoing that feeling that tells me to “go” from those places that aren’t working but fit the description of normal. The warring factions of who I am and what I do don’t hold me accountable for the time lost on figuring out ideal rights and wrongs.

How I live now isn’t something to brag about, but its impossible to not want to share.

'Cause how I live now teaches the me everyday that the feeling of cliche when putting a smile on any face, is enough, and so might I be.

Sounds of Asheville: Omnitat

Music plays a key role in Asheville's artistic scene. From the buskers in the streets to local bands performing in all the venues throughout the city, there is always a chance to experience new music.

The video below features a local Asheville jazz band, Omniat, who are an exceptional contribution in bringing people together with the use of their talent. They have performed in a number of venues, including Aloft and The National Lounge in downtown Asheville.

Since I am studying abroad this semester, I haven't had the chance to edit the video due to exploring the streets of Hong Kong, China. It's a solid shot, so I think that's fair enough! Be on the lookout!

Triumphs of Art Expression

Visual Arts has always been something close to me. Various ways to show thoughts, ideas and talents to the world, have given me endless opportunities to express how it makes me feel.

Asheville has provided opportunities to challenge myself.

Photography and film have given me the key to evoke parts of me that I've kept in the shadows. It's driven me to explore different creative processes, talk to new people, travel and most importantly, strengthen my character. Putting a team together in order to create a visual always gives me a feeling beyond satisfaction.

Living in Asheville has provided opportunities for me to challenge myself and improve my work. I conducted my first studio photo shoot at Studio27 in the Arts District of Asheville.

It was an amazing experience with great people who, along with myself, wanted the success of the project. For this project, I decided to use the combination of natural skin tones with neon colored makeup and pastel backdrops. During the editing process, I tweaked the color hues to create an abstract mood. 

Models: Jess Williamson and Miranda Lampke

Makeup Artist: Allie Pleper 

Photos By: Makena Mambo

On Visiting Toxic Places

I’ve moved around a lot in my life and it seems that almost every time I’ve left, I end up with a bad taste in my mouth. There are too many places and people out there that just leave me sour, and because of that, I have a lot of places I’ve dubbed “no fly zones.”

Overcoming a bad experience is one way to allow growth happen and as I grow as a person, a friend, a daughter, a student, etc., I’m able to look back on those experiences and heal. One of the biggest mistakes I made last fall was getting too comfortable with thinking about a past place & situation and somehow convincing myself that I was okay enough to physically go back there. I went alone and ended up in a bad place for a couple weeks. It affected my mental health, my friendships, and my academics. I had spent months “growing” and that all seemed to be ruined by two days in a place that I didn’t know was still toxic for me. As I look back on this situation, I’m thinking of ways it could have been avoided or handled better. And with these revelations, I can only offer a suggestion to those who find themselves entertaining the idea of going back:

Don’t visit a toxic place alone. 

At least not the first time. Have something, a person or an object, that centers you. Bring a friend that you’ve made since leaving or a book that helped you get out of the headspace you were in when you were there. Have something or someone that will be a constant reminder of who you are now and the progress you’ve made to get to where you are. Looking back and going back is okay and maybe sometimes even necessary for your growth & healing processes. Going back to a once toxic place can either boost your growth or prevent it. Go back when you believe you are ready, and even then, bring reinforcements.

Metropolitan Transitions

The people on the other side of the hallway always think their view is better, looking out over the intersection through windows that have never opened at a panorama of the whole avenue - the streets branching off like broken fingers.

When the midnight men strung up city-wide christmas lights, the people on the other side of the hallway told me they wished that I could see them - the way the sun sets behind the giant plastic snowflakes dangling above traffic. I agree, saying ‘it must be so nice to be able to see it all, the big picture.’

I want to tell them that they don’t have a clue, staring out through their frames and canvases. They won’t understand this city until they see it in snapshots. Until they spend entire nights sleepless - from the time the chinese bodega across the street pulls in the racks of toilet paper and locks its doors until the first thoughts of day break over the apartments that mirror mine - they won’t get it. Last night I watched a girl sit for hours in the laundry room with a broken light. I wondered what she was thinking about. I wondered if she was crying.

The girl down the hall tells me, mortified, about the horrible surprise last night. In the middle of having sex with her boyfriend she looked out the window to see two kids in the stairway of the building across the street staring in at them, frozen. She turned off the lights and pulled closed the blinds, pulled up the sheets.

I feign of shock, disgust, dismay, and tell her to always remember that she lives in one fishbowl in an aquarium.

I want to tell her that I’ve filled my tank with fake plants and pretty things, that I walk around my room in this spring’s fading underwear. I want to tell her that I’ve started stripping naked and sitting in the window at night, looking up at the airplanes and torturing myself with the breeze, wondering if anyone is looking at me.

Perched on peeling stools, the girls complain that their feet hurt from the standing, that they don’t know how they’ll do it again tomorrow. I nod as I lean against the counter with locked knees. Pointing down I tell them it’s all about sole in the end.

I want to tell them that every day I wake up on this broken bed frame and wonder if today is the day that I’ll have to wear my brace in the kitchen. I want to tell them about the first time I had to take it out of my otherwise empty suitcase. I want to tell them how it felt so familiar, how I cried ugly tears as the velcro held me up, held me in.

The girls in the locker room talk about the weight that they’re gaining. They talk with disgust about the butter, the salt, the oil that goes into everything here. They talk about going to the gym, how they should go, how maybe they shouldn’t worry. They say they’re going to eat salads for dinner. I tell them they look beautiful. I tell them not to worry. I tell them I don’t go to they gym either, let it be what it will be.

I want to tell them that I don’t go to the gym because the last time I got on a treadmill I stayed there until I burned the 500 calories I had ingested that day. I want to tell them that buying a full length mirror was the worst decision I made in the first weeks that I was here. I don’t want to admit to myself that I found myself turning a box over last Monday and lingering on the cold tile. It’s getting harder to think about getting on the plane.

They tell me I was meant to be here.
I tell them it’s going well.

I want to tell them that I’m almost strong enough, that it won’t ever feel like home.