Don't Die Afraid on YouTube

Today marks the one year birthday of Don't Die Afraid and 24th year of my life! I am so thankful to all those who have helped me along this journey. Especially YOU! Yes YOU! You- the reader, the supporter, the person who leaves comments! You are the reason I keep going. So with that being said, I would love to introduce y'all to the next level of Don't Die Afraid which is my new YouTube channel, yay!!!!!! I would love your support for this channel, just as you have supported this blog. Both of these are a part of my vision for Don't Die Afraid and it only goes higher from here.

This is something I have been contemplating for a long time and decided to just go and do it! Why? Because I am living fearless! For y'all who haven't ever seen me in person- this video is a clear view of me---I am a walking Tangent so I apologize in advance for any distractions haha.

I LOVE birthdays so tell me all about yours!  When is your birthday? Why or why don't you like to celebrate birthdays? What is the most enjoyable thing you've done for your birthday?

Missy Lynn's Palette

This is NOT a beauty blog for many reasons, but it is a place where I showcase inspiration. Last night I saw beauty and inspiration collide when I heard about Missy Lynn's palette with BH Cosmetics. Who is addicted to YouTube videos? *looks around the internet, raises hand shyly* ME! ME! ME! I love the aesthetics of a good YouTube video, thinking about how the editing process was, and of course the content. I low key love editing- my bachelor's degree is in Broadcast Journalism so I edited videos and audio for daysssss. It wasn't even on this fancy Final Cut Pro everyone has, I was using Avid. Only my old school editors know about that ancient thing! So back to the point, I was getting my nightly fix of YouTube and stumbled across this announcement.

I'm not a devoted fan of Missy Lynn's because I've never had the time to research her and see if I like her style and personality. In order for me to consistently follow a blogger or vlogger, I have to feel connected to him or her. I am subscribed to Missy Lynn so when I see interesting videos of hers, of course I check them out. Last night when I saw her reveal video, I was ecstatic! Her genuine gratitude is evident from the way she talks about her partnership giving an opportunity for more black women, choosing colors for all skin tones, designing it with her military dog tag in mind, making it affordable, and of course the strong pigments so it is worth our money. I was in awe of this woman! I am now officially a fan! For real, for real!

This one video made me a fan of Missy Lynn. This young woman is doing her thang! If you look in the comment section, many women share how this has pushed them to greater heights in there makeup artist journey. However, I believe Missy Lynn's new development can inspire us all regardless of what our purpose is. She is embodying my motto of, "Don't Die Afraid."

Missy Lynn, "Go On Girl!", support a sister by purchasing the palette here!

Are you a Missy Lynn fan? If so, what do you like about her? What do you think of the palette? I am not a makeup guru so I am bad at envisioning different looks but what can you see yourself using this for? Date night, job interview, everyday makeup?

National Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day

Today I have been trapped in my apartment working on a paper. The grad school life struggle. However, I didn't want this day to go by without acknowledging the importance of February 7th, National Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. The few times I checked my Instagram and Facebook I only saw ONE post about it. Are people not informed about it? Or do they not care? Being the buoyant individual I am, I told myself-people just don't know about it. You can celebrate the day in many ways: talk with friends about how disproportionately African-Americans are affected by HIV & AIDS, get tested, volunteer to help with HIV & AIDS prevention/treatment outreach, educate yourself about how preventable HIV is, and share on social media so your followers will know as well!

When it comes to health issues, there aren't a lot that we can prevent-some just happen. However, HIV & AIDS isn't one that just happens. It is 100% preventable! Take your sexual health into your own hands, get tested. The OraQuick test literally takes 20 minutes just a quick swab of the mouth. Don't worry if you don't have health insurance there are tons of locations that perform FREE testing and you can even purchase them at pharmacies. I advise you do it at a center with a tester who is well equipped to assist you if the test comes back positive. I work at a place that performs testing and the testers are extremely knowledgeable and supportive.

This day of commemoration has been going on for 15 years. Add it to your calendar so you won't ever forget and also share it with friends!  There are numerous HIV & AIDS Awareness days, become familiar with them. This is an issue that affects ALL OF US!

Do you know about the awareness days? How can we spread knowledge about these days so they are common knowledge like any other holiday?

New Semester

New year, new semester, new start.

Spring 2015 began on Monday for some college students (next Tuesday for lucky me).  I am an absolute nerd and LOVE the first day of classes. It is refreshing to have a clean slate and the opportunity to receive an abundance of knowledge. My preparation for the new semester goes a little something like this:

1. Review the syllabus before class if it is available on Blackboard. I make sure the textbook will actually be used before purchasing it (those expensive things). Gauge how much time I will need to dedicate to the course based on the listed expectations.
2. Get a lot of rest the night before. I take three hour evening classes after I get off work so I need to make sure I have enough energy to last until 8pm.
3. Wear brand new or lucky undergarments and a professional (and cute) outfit of course!
4. During the first day of class in the margins of the syllabus or my notebook, I take little notes about the professor. First impressions are everything to me, so I write down characteristics like: seems like a tough grader, makes corny jokes, has an interesting background, awww has two children, good dresser.

My first class of my grad school career, my professor shook each student's hand and introduced himself. That left a lasting impression. Those types of genuine interactions with professors display how much they care about their profession and students.

Congrats to all those entering their last semester (especially my logo designer Kenish) ! Graduation is right around the corner, stay strong! Also congrats to those entering their first semester of a program (Mr. Fearless). Adjusting to being back in school can be a challenge but remember it is a new step in life that will allow you to be supreme!

What were your thoughts going back to school? Did you have any rituals? Am I the only one obsessed with buying under garments? haha! - Just checking to see who reads these =)

Global Health Fellows Program II Internship

When you know of an opportunity, you should share it with others! Want to know a little secret? I haven't always thought this way...I used to suffer from a disease called jealousy. Yes, you read correctly, I called it a disease. I will go into an explanation of that during my next #BeSureSundays. Just wait for it! Jealousy prevented me from sharing with others because in the past I thought I wasn't good enough. I was fearful that if I told others about an opportunity, it would decrease my chances. According to probability it will because the selection pool is now larger (duhhh), but if I am really confident in myself that shouldn't bother me. Thanks to my fearless journey so I Don't Die Afraid, I have gained faith in my abilities.

Now don't get me wrong! If you are applying for your dream job, don't share the link to the opening with your 800+ Facebook friends. However, if there are multiple positions open and you know someone who is unemployed and really wants to get back on his or her feet, then of course spread the wealth!

If you know anyone passionate about public health like myself, please share this internship with USAID for the Global Health Fellows Program II. The deadline is Thursday January 8, 5pm EST, so get those applications in! I applied because obviously it will look outstanding on my resume to work with a well respected organization such as USAID, but it also seems like a positive environment that will foster my personal & professional growth. Listening to previous interns reminisce on their experiences made me believe this internship is really how I should spend my summer. The application process is no skip through a flower bed, wish me luck!

Are you a student? If so, how will you spend your Summer 2015? If you aren't a student, do you plan on traveling? If so where to? Let me know in the comments below!

#BeSureSundays- Rebirth

Christmas is this week! Yay!!!! I absolutely LOVE Christmas! The music, decorations, gift giving, joyful spirits, food, activities, gatherings, sweaters, scented candles...literally anything that has to do with the season, I am all for it! Christmas signifies the birth of Jesus and usually we associate New Year's Day with the "rebirth" of ourselves. People make New Year's Resolutions and claim that the new year will be better than the last. Some individuals like to broadcast their goals so others can hold them accountable. I'm already seeing posts on social media outlets about people wanting to improve for the new year. My only question to those individuals is, do you really keep the same momentum for these goals throughout the full course of the 12 months? Or is this excitement over by the 1st of February?

I am not one who shares my goals publicly because I am not looking for the approval of others. I AM my biggest critic so I don't need anyone to hold me accountable. I don't want to depend on outside forces to check me when I am not living up to the standards I have set for myself. I have a small collection of mentors who I approach for advice, but they are the only group I trust with the responsibility of having a large hand in my growth. I don't expect everyone to agree with my mentality and that is fine because we have different paths.

So my suggestion to all you fearless people out there is instead of just looking at New Year's Day as this time of rebirth, use the whole Christmas season!

1. Relax-  the days you have off work/school just have "me time"--do those mindless things you are always too busy to do...that can include watching your favorite sports game, playing games, leisure reading, or a Netflix binge 2. Recharge- pamper yourself 3. Renew- make a list of improvements you want to work on in the new year and set dates to have them done by 4. Restored- throughout the year rebuild your plan as you find necessary, always keep your goals fresh

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Do you set goals throughout the year for personal development? If so, how do you evaluate yourself? What is your favorite step in this 4 step process?

Great American Smokeout

The third Thursday in November has been deemed, the "Great American Smokeout" by The American Cancer Society. It is nationally recognized as a day to encourage smokers to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. 

So today at George Mason University we celebrated it with a great three hour program targeting both smokers and non-smokers. I was lucky enough to help with planning and executing the event. We had stations with different activities that allowed participants to learn about the stages of quitting and tips on how to help a love one quit. 

When people discuss the harm caused by cigarettes, they usually focus on the connection between smoking and cancer. However, there are a list of other detrimental side effects that smoking cigarettes can lead to.  Did you know smoking could cause blindness? Yup, you read that correctly blindness! This includes cataracts, age related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and dry eye syndrome.

The most fulfilling part of the event was receiving the chance to interact with smokers. One guy quit three days ago and said he doesn't know how long he can go smoke free because he always feels the need to have something in his mouth. He has been a smoker for two years and has tried to quit in the past but wasn't able to last long. Luckily, we were prepared with some resourceful quit kits including silly putty, lollipops, tea, sudoku, and gum. I told him every time he thinks about smoking, go to his quit kit and reminisce on our conversation because my team is rooting for him to refrain from smoking.

If you are a smoker, I challenge you to not smoke for at least 24 hours.

If you aren't a smoker, I challenge you to be supportive of the smokers in your life, unless you used to smoke you have no idea how strong their addiction is. So just show them that you care about their health and are willing to stand by them every step of the way if they are ready to quit.

How would you approach someone to ask them to stop smoking?

Have you ever tried to convince a loved one to quit smoking?

The Limited 'Scandal' Collection

Where are my gladiator fashionistas? Oh yeah!!!

So how many of you were excited when you found out that The Limited Scandal Collection was coming out? Then you saw prices starting at $49 and thought, "Not bad, I can do that." You went to sleep Monday night dreaming of all the pieces you can buy to foster your inner Olivia Pope. Then you woke up eagerly on the morning of the 23rd, went to The Limited's website just to be heartbroken because your favorite pieces are out of your price range.

Maybe I was naive for thinking it would be affordable knowing it was coming from The Limited. Literally, "The limited people who can afford this store." I had hope though because I've purchased a couple of items from there before, with these cool scratch of discount cards I was handed when I walked in the store. Am I the only gladiator on a budget? I definitely looked at those prices like, "Que?"

Yes I have a job and a ton of money in my savings account but I also know what a smart purchase is and what isn't. Buying something from this collection definitely doesn't fall under smart. I'm a grad student living in my own apartment for the first time. (That should spell out S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E for you.)

Don't jump through the screen because of the comments that are about to follow but it is what it is. I'm not really blown away by anything in the collection.  Don't get me wrong, I would totally wear all of the outerwear if I was rich (or if Mr. Fearless bought it for me as a gift) but honestly, the majority of these looks could be recreated with cheaper clothing. We all believed these outfits would help us channel our inner Liv so we could be totally bad-ass! However, I am starting to believe that what us Olivia Pope inspired women needed was some fashion lessons from Kerry and her styling team so we can dress in a sophisticated manner but on our own budget.

"Sorry I'm not sorry." Now is when you throw rotten tomatoes at me, tell me I am crazy for criticizing the collection, and threaten to expel me from the Gladiator Society. But before you do that, check out my new friends on Twitter who empathize with me.

Although, I will never be able to admire these capes as they hang in my closet I must give Ms. Kerry Washington and Ms. Shonda Rhimes props for having such an impactful show that inspired a clothing line. Kerry also took over InStyle as the guest editor so my girl is just killing it right now! She is also an ambassador for Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse Program, bringing awareness to domestic violence against women which is a topic I am passionate about but it doesn't get enough attention. Kerry designed a trendy purple purse to raise money to supply women with the tools they need to escape abusive relationships.

Instead of spending money on her new Scandal clothing line, I'm going to donate to the Purple Purse and you can too!

Natural Hair Brunch Affair

Where are all my beautiful, strong, and empowered naturalistas? If you raised your hand then you need to join me in Conneticut for the Natural Hair Brunch Affair.  The sisters of Natural Hair Does Care and Casandra of Food Before Love have paired up again to bring us naturalistas good food, laughs, positive energy, and curls galore.

Oops I forgot to mention the unlimited mimosas! Below are some photos to get your mouth watering from the last Natural Hair Brunch Affair in DC.

The event is only $45 and will be heading to Atlanta next, so tri-state area you don't want to miss this! It's my first natural hair brunch so I'm really excited. I already have my outfit ready and now I'm working on which hairstyle I can perfect for the event because we all know deep down we will experience hair envy haha. It's like friendly competition on who has the most defined twist out!

I'd love to meet all you curly ladies so we can take cute pictures, eat, and leave with cool goodie bags. You can purchase your ticket by visiting www.FoodBeforeLove.com and I can't wait to see you!