When I Grow Up...

Steve Jobs, one of “the crazy ones”

katnoel — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:55:19 +0000

When I grow up…I want to make my dent in the universe and inspire others to live by living

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. “

- Steve Jobs, Stanford University commencement, 2005.

Rest in our admiration, Mr. Jobs.

Kinposts:

Living on Dreams: Issa Rae

katnoel — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:00:41 +0000

I’ve met, I know and I’m learning about some incredible folks. Inspired by all of them, I’ve decided to create a “Living On Dreams” category to share who they are, what they’re doing and how they’re able to turn their dreams into a reality.

Meet Issa Rae. Clutch Magazine introduced me to her online series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl”, and I’ve been hooked and cracking up ever since.

Name: Issa Rae

Home: Los Angeles, CA

The dream I’m working on: I want to be a producer for film and television; for me, that includes writing and directing. I want to expand the concept of “Black film & TV” to include more than, what I feel, is a limited range of content. I love quirky humor and coming-of-age stories and I want to contribute my own voice to “Black Entertainment”. And that’s NOT to say that I just want to produce content for black people. I don’t. I just want to be responsible for creating more diverse roles for us.

My biggest projects right now are a web series called, “FLY GUYS present The ‘F’ Word”, a mockumentary about an independent hip-hop trio, and “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl”, a semi-autobiographical but exaggerated account of my own awkward experiences in life. I’m writing and coming up with new ideas all of the time, but those are my current dream projects.

Inspired by: Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball), Donald Glover (Community) and Mindy Khaling (The Office) all inspire me for different reasons, and for the same reason: each of them writes and produces his/her own content.

I’m also super inspired by my family. There are seven of us in my immediate family and we all pretty much have the same humor. I find them all hilarious and if I ever needed an understudy for “Awkward Black Girl”, any of my four siblings could easily replace me … and probably be funnier.

Recommended resource for other dream believers: I find all my inspiration in the stories of others. I’m a people watcher. I love talking to random people to hear about their successes, their failures, their lives. And the great thing is, I don’t even have to seek out people. EVERY SINGLE DAMN DAY, someone random will just start talking to me, no matter what I’m doing (working, eating, sitting in silence, reading). I don’t know what it is. It used to annoy me because I’m too polite to say, “Oh, I’m sorry I’m trying to work” or, “Hey, I don’t want to listen to you. Thanks.” But now, I welcome it, because it gives me characters, story ideas … and I actually genuinely enjoy hearing about other people’s exciting/dramatic lives.

So, my resource for other dream believers is other people, I guess. Sorry, if that doesn’t help you, dreamers.

Mantra: “The only thing stopping me is ME.”/”Things could always be worse.”

Check out what dreams I’m breathing life into via: Twitter and my website

Kinposts:

Throwback Thursdays: Save PBS!

katnoel — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 06:00:56 +0000

[click on the image to enlarge it]

Having parents that worked a lot of hours, television played a large part in keeping us occupied. In 4th and 5th grade, I would let myself in from school, fix a snack and watch my shows until my Mom or Dad came home. Back then, PBS was the most watched channel in our household.

With programming that included Shining Time Station, Ghostwriter, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and Square One, PBS offered hours of educational and entertaining parental approved television. People like Bob Villa, Julia Childs, Bob Ross and Mister Rogers became part of our family.

I’m shocked to find out about the House of Representatives passing a bill that eliminates funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a non-profit organization that financially supports both PBS and NPR. The Senate is now working on their version of the bill. Without this funding, many public radio and television stations across the country will be forced to go off the air.

To take action and let Congress know how much public broadcasting is needed, click here.

Kinposts:

Mind Sex

katnoel — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:00:16 +0000

“You know one of the reasons why I love you?”

“Why?”

“You’re a critical thinker.”

I don’t remember what we were talking about- probably a song/film/current event. Whatever it was, conversation was flowing and we were building off of each other.

*Cue the nerd in me swooning*

Kinposts:

Let’s talk about sex, Mom.

katnoel — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:00:44 +0000

“You know about sex?”

It was a weekday morning and my younger sister and I were eating breakfast before school, when our mother came into the kitchen with her loaded random question. I must have been no more than 9 and Flo was about 7. I remember us looking at each other, with spoons halfway to our mouths, and our eyes wondering what in the world did Mom’s question really mean and how should we answer it.

“Ye..Yes..Yeeeeessss, Mommy,” we answered nervously in unison.

‘Good,” Mom replied and exited the room.

And that was our sex talk. Nothing more. And I wanted more.

Mom had the same approach when my first period came. And again, I wanted to know more. I wanted to have a mother-daughter talk about first times, kissing, and liking the way boys stared whenever my girlfriends and I walked by.

Mom wasn’t having it.

I understand now that she was embarrassed and uncomfortable. What Mom was taught about sex and sexuality she learned in a conservative religious context that emphasized abstinence until marriage. My mother wasn’t withholding information from me- she just didn’t know what to say. She was never given the language to have “the talk” with her 10-year-old daughter who was already developing curves and crushing on boys.

Recently, I came across the documentary “Silence: In Search of Black Female Sexuality in America“ by Mya. B. In the film, several women share stories of being raised in households where sex was only brought up when they were instructed to keep their panties up, dresses down and legs closed. Unfortunately, this all-too-common upbringing has caused Black and Brown women to be mute about and ashamed of our sexual wants, needs, and desires. Many of us grow up thinking that sex is something that happens to us, instead of an act that we can choose when, how and with who we want to do it. We allow boys/men to define what our sexuality feels and looks like, believing that they have more knowledge about our bodies than we do.

Settling into a place where my spirituality and sexuality are in harmony, I wonder what I’ll tell my children – especially my daughters. I’d love to spare them from the guilt, shame and misguided sexual liberation I experienced but My Love reminded me that embracing our sexuality is a personal journey. Not sure what I’ll say yet but I do know that I want to be there for them to ask and share anything.

Last year, Flo and I took Mom out on a lunch date and somehow the topic of her and Telly’s [our stepdad] sex life came up. We cracked up at her attempting to explain to us some sex position she heard about from a friend but couldn’t understand.

“I’m so happy I can talk to you girls now,” Mom said as we drove her home.

Guess everyone is need of some girl talk, including Mom.

What was your parent’s attempt at having “the talk” like? What will you tell your kids about sex?

Kinposts:

Life Link(s): House Cleaning Tips & Tricks

katnoel — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:00:24 +0000

With me and My Love sharing a space, I’ve been on ultra, hyper cleaning mode. Here are a few links that can help with keeping home tidy:

Interested in a natural and non-toxic cleanser? Consider vinegar! Click here.
Get your “stainless” steel cookware stainless again. Click here.
Say goodbye to soap scum. Click here.
Tips on how to clean a porcelain bathtub or sink [click here]/ toilet [click here]/ kitchen sink [click here].
Keep your dishcloths, brushes and sponges bacteria free. Click here.
All about DIY? Make your own green cleaning products. Click here.

Kinposts:

Throwback Thursdays: Suede + Honey

katnoel — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:33:35 +0000

Getting closer to the end of my decluttering and minimizing efforts, I’ve rediscovered my old issues of Honey and Suede. I’ve filled several trash bags with most of my magazine collection but I just can’t let them go.

As a teen, I remember feeling that Essence and Seventeen weren’t for me. Honey spoke to young black and brown girls and understood us. And when Honey folded, Suede came along to carry the torch and make it shine brighter.

In every single of it’s innovative and eye-catching pages, Suede unabashedly honored black and brown girls as the purveyors of fashion and style. I was in love with it all from the table of contents to the very last page. Suede was a publication before it’s time and sadly, it was shelved after only four issues.

Sending love + gratitude to Honey’s original founders, Joicelyn Dingle and Kierna Mayo and Suede’s founding editor-in-chief, Suzanne Boyd. Thank you for truly seeing girls like me and allowing us to see ourselves.

Kinposts:

Living on Dreams: DJ Brina Payne

katnoel — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:00:41 +0000

Name: DJ Brina Payne

Home: Born and raised in Chicago, IL; currently residing in Brooklyn, NY

The dream I’m working on: To be successful in everything I pursue with hard work and the focus of an eagle

Inspired by: My Mommy – She is an AMAZING woman. Everything that I am came from the lessons that she taught me. Loves her. Others are Sheila E., Miss Tasha (DJ from Chicago), Beverly Bond (My mentor), Neptunes and Prince.

Recommended resource for other dream believers: Whatever works for you whether it be prayer, meditation, silence, exercising. Do what will help you to focus and eliminate all unnecessary distractions (that includes people).

Mantra: “No fear in the pursuit of happiness, “Take the first step without seeing the staircase” and my favorite “Faith without works is dead”

When I grow up, I want to be: Successful!

Kinposts:

Life Link(s): MVMT I New Years Evaluation + Planning Workbook

katnoel — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 13:10:43 +0000

The wonderful folks at MVMT have created a New Years Evaluation + Planning Workbook to help us all create the 2011 we envision. Check out their MVMT Brunch video and download the guide here.

Kinposts:

Life Link(s): NYE Resolution Roundup

katnoel — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:19:05 +0000

I’m oh so serious about accomplishing my 2011 goals and I’ve found a few resources that can help:

In need some guidance and advice? Sounds like you can use a mentor, maybe even five. Click here.
Get started on visualizing what you want and create a dream board. Click here.
Tips on how to optimize your time. Click here + here.
Three experts give tips, mantras, books and website to help up productivity and do away with procrastination. Click here.
In the midst of all the hustling and grinding don’t forget to have some downtime to recharge your battery. Click here.
It may be time to go on a BS diet. Click here.
No more funny money in 2011. Click here.
New year, new job. Click here.
Addicted to social media? It may help you achieve your new year’s resolution. Click here + here.

Know of anyother motivation-inducing and task-prioritzing resources? Share!