A Diva State of Mind

I know the older we get the faster time goes by, but this year seemed to go by extremely fast! It feels like I was just partying in DC celebrating the arrival of 2011 and now 2012 is only 4 days away!

As 2011 comes to an end, I want to take a moment and reflect on this year.  It has been an amazing one for me personally and for the blog. The blog hosted its first give away for tickets to see the Broadway hit THE MOUNTAINTOP.  I attended elite fashion events like the House of KAS One Year Anniversary Fashion Show and Pink Rocks The Runway Fashion Show which included the Spring 2012 presentation by Christian Siriano.

I attended the Style for Hire workshop in March, learning styling techniques from one of the best personal stylist in the industry, Stacy London. The workshop was great and becoming an apprentice really verified for me that I do have what it takes to be a personal stylist.

This year, I, like so many others, joined the Capital Area Fashion & Beauty Bloggers (CapFABB) group, attended some great events and met some amazing women.  They are creative, fly and working hard to change the way society views fashion in DC. What I love about the women I have met is that they are very supportive. We are all working hard on our own projects but also working to help each other not only become better bloggers, but break into the fields we all eagerly want to have a career in (designer, public relationships, stylist, professional photographer, etc).  I can’t wait to see what everyone has in store for 2012!

Last but not least, my greatest blog accomplishment is winning the award for the 2011 Black Weblog Awards Best Lifestyle Blog.  Honestly, I did not expect to win, especially considering the competition!! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post each week, share the blog with friends and vote for the blog.  I am truly humbled by your readership and support. I know there are a plethora of blogs out there to read and I’m so glad mine is one on your list.

As you all know, not only is A Diva State of Mind a blog but it’s also a personal styling business.  While I don’t have any major changes coming to A Diva State of Mind (not planned at the moment anyway), I will try to include more “Ask Keri” and style related post on the site.  I hope you’ll continue with me on this journey as I continue to work to make A Diva State of Mind the best lifestyle blog and styling business it can be!

If there are any topics, styling questions, etc you’d like to see on the blog in the New Year, please let me know at [email protected] 

I hope you all have a fabulous and safe weekend celebrating the New Year!  New posts will be up next week!!

On last night’s episode of “Love & Hip Hop”, Chrissy struggles with what she wants to do next in terms of her relationships with Jim Jones. Last year, she proposed to him in front of family and friends.  However, they haven’t really moved forward in their relationships since (meaning he hasn’t bought her a ring and they haven’t made any plans for a wedding).  Chrissy is now trying to decide whether or not she wants to move on from the relationship because she is ready for marriage but Jim Jones doesn’t appear to be moving in that direction any time soon.

Ladies, if you were in a relationship, had been together for years and felt marriage was the next step, how long would you wait around until your man was ready for marriage?  I’m not talking about both of you deciding after a certain number of years that you’re ready for marriage.  I’m talking about if you were in Chrissy’s situation. You have had been there for your man through thick and thin, supported him in all his endeavors, showed him unconditional love, and felt that it was time for marriage (and expressed that to him) but he hasn’t shown the same eagerness in return, how long would you wait?

In Chrissy’s case, there is nothing more she can do. She has literally done it all to prove she loves Jim Jones and is ready to become his wife.  On the preview for next week’s episode, we see Chrissy take a break and travel to Miami. I guess she leaves Jim Jones at home to “think about their situation.” According to blog sites, while in Miami, Jones does propose, but you can’t help but wonder: did he do so because he really wanted to or did he do so because he felt pressure from Chrissy?

It’s not secret; if a man is getting the milk for free, many times (not all), he isn’t going to be in a rush for marriage. Why should Jim Jones be in a hurry to get married? He loves her. They have been together for seven years and live together.  She has already proposed, he wears the ring she gave him and acknowledges her as his partner by “default” (his words, not mine).

Personally, I don’t know if I could stay. I don’t believe that a woman should have to “beg” for a man’s hand in marriage. After awhile I’d get tired of wanting something my significant other doesn’t appear to want for the relationship. I know I know, some men are scared. Others love the woman they are with but think things will change once the marriage title is added to the relationships.  While I commend Chrissy for going after what she wants by proposing to Jim Jones last year, that’s not something I would’ve done; call me old fashion!  A man who loves a woman unconditionally and wants to spend the rest of his life with her will put aside his fears and step up.

I also think that if I have done all I can to express my love for a man and desire to want to spend the rest of my life with him and that is not reciprocated, it’s probably time to take a step back and re-evaluate if that’s really a situation we need to be in. Especially if both parties’ expectation for the relationship are not the same.

Ladies, if you’re ready for marriage and he isn’t, how long do you stay until he is?

Thank you all for entering A Diva State of Mind’s Broadway ticket giveaway!!! All entries were assigned a number and chosen at random using random.org.  Based on the random generator, the winner is Margarita Viera!

Please check your email today for ticket vouchers from adivastateofmind {at} gmail.com.   The vouchers are for any Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday performance January 10th through February 2nd.  If you are no longer able to attend, please let me know as soon as possible and another winner will be chosen.   Thank you all again for entering the giveaway.

Happy Holidays!!

If you don’t have the Talk That Talk album by now, I’d suggest you get it. I have listened to it non-stop for the past three weeks! So of course I was excited to find out this morning that Rihanna dropped a new video for her second single “You Da One.”

In the black and white video, Rihanna shows off her sex appeal (which isn’t heard for her to do) in a blonde wig, fishnets and a body suit.  It’s definitely more simplistic than her “We Found Love” video but artistic none the less.

Check it out!

The Rachel Zoe’s new collection is AMAZING!!  The pre-fall 2012 collection pays homage to the 60s and 70s; full of structured pieces, flared pants, faux fur, maxi dresses and military inspired jackets. The collection is a full of neutrals with splashed of red, fushia, sky blue and fabulous prints.

Seriously, I would wear EVER SINGLE piece in her collection (a girl can dream right??)! This is what you call a ready to wear collection.  It’s so me; classic, chic with a little edge. Love it!

The Dareen Hakim Handbag Collection came across my inbox earlier this year and I fell in love!  The bags are chic, bold and unique.  Inspired by designer Dareen Hakim’s travel and heritage, the collection is best known for “sumptuous leathers, unique contrasting effects, handcrafted metalwork, and dramatic hues.”

There are a few clutches that come in a variety of colors and plaque options, allowing you to create a handbag that is uniquely your own.  Here are some of my favorites:

Between now and December 31st, Dareek Hakim is offering 10% off any collection handbag. Enter code DH10Holiday at checkout. To view the entire collection, click HERE.

Stay tuned for an interview with Dareen Hakim and preview of the new Spring Collection in January 2012!

It’s no secret. Christian Louboutin shoes are AMAZING!!! And the shoes are no different!

I first saw the Panama Geometrico Daffodil pump on Bravo TV Watch What Happens Live when Tracee Ellis Ross wore them. I thought they were fabulous but didn’t pay too much attention to them. Until I saw them posted on Instagram by Saks Fifth Avenue. After taking another look, I must confess, these shoes are HAUTE!

These 6.3 inch pump “is an ode to the eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s. Panama Geometrico is a work of art.”  The Panama Gemetrico retails for $1,075. *Swoon*

I was catching up on my favorite blogs and websites this morning and came across this foolishness.  The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Sheree Whitfield has released a new single called “Who Gon Check Me Boo?” throwing shade at Nene Leakes.  I couldn’t make this up even if I tried…

For those of you not familiar with The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Sheree yelled the infamous phrase “Who Gon Check Me Boo?” during a dispute with a party planner during Season 2. And since then, that phrase has stuck with her.

I literally laughed out loud when I heard this. There is no way this is a real single; or so I thought! For $.99, you can download “Who Gon Check Me Boo?” on iTunes. I guess we can’t knock the hustle….

Get into the holiday spirit with your favorite hip-hop artists and give back while supporting sick children in your area. Kicks for Kids is holding its 5th Annual Shoe Drive and Concert to raise money to benefit children at the National Children’s Medical Center and other area charities.

Every $10 raised is tax-deductible and covers one pair of new shoes for our less fortunate youth this winter. For each pair of shoes your contribution provides, you will receive one FREE ticket to the 5th annual “Kicks for Kids” Shoe Drive and Concert, plus, you will also receive a Reebok gift bag, free swag and a discount at Shoe City.

Click HERE to make a donation.  $10 tax-deductible donation = one (1) pair of new sneakers for charity when you donate $10 you receive:

• One (1) free ticket to the Kicks For Kids v5 concert
• Reebok Gift Bag
• Young & Reckless Collabo T-Shirt
• Shoe City Discount
• Inclusion in Team Harmony Muzik Promotional Materials (optional)

The 5th Annual Kicks For Kids Charity Shoe Drive & Concert is on Sunday, December 18th from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the 9:30 Club (815 V ST. N.W. Washington DC.)

Last year’s Kicks for Kids event garnered enough donations for over 400 pairs of new shoes that were donated to the Children’s National Medical Center (200 pairs), So Others Might Eat (100 pairs), and R&B Star Mya’s Arts & Tech Foundation (100 pairs). This year’s goal is to provide 800 pairs of shoes to sick children in need!

I’m not able to attend the concert, but I am definitely making a donation to give back to my community. You should too!!

In response to this week’s post, What Should I Wear With A Fur Vest, blogger Jennifer of Comme Coco commented “I’m dying to wear a fur vest soon but I can’t find the perfect one. I want one I can wear with black and every one I find is brown based.”

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a brown vest with black, after all they are both neutrals, trying to find a black or black/grey vest can be challenging but not impossible! Below are some vests (other than brown) to wear with black this Fall/Winter season.

More LOFT…

Along with the stores listed above, others include Kohls, QVC, JC Penny, New York & Company, H&M, Victoria’s Secret and Fabulous Furs.

If you have style questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected]