Musical Weekend (Part One): Mayer Hawthorne (Catch Up Post #5)

The weekend I went to Wahlburgers was a busy one. A dear friend from Detroit, Kristopher Lamont came to town to spend time with myself & my girl Ann Marie/SoulAfrodisiac and check out a couple of shows.

First up was Mayer Hawthorne. I’m a fairly new fan of his. I heard a song of his while I was in North Carolina at a Cookout in August and liked it. Shortly after I got home from vacation, I got his album ‘Where Does This Door Go?’ and fell in love with it! Then I found out that he had a show the same weekend that Kris was visiting.

The show took place on a Friday night at The Danforth Music Hall and we were treated to an amazing show! Mayer Hawthorne is a pretty awesome performer and he kept the crowd’s energy up.
I only took a few pics and tiny bit of video that I will post here. Mayer also loves to take pictures with the crowd while onstage and posts them on his Instagram account.

4 Years....

I cannot believe 4 years have passed since I lost you...I'm at a loss for words but I couldn't let this day go without showing how much I love and miss you. While it gets a tiny bit easier to deal with as time passes, I still miss you like it was yesterday.

I love you so much, Mama. Continue to rest in peace. Please keep watching over me and visiting me in my dreams.

Wahlburgers In Toronto (Catch Up Post #4)

Okay, so if you've gotten to know me through my blog or on twitter... you'd know that I love Donnie Wahlberg, met him for the 1st time June, had an awesome 'hallway moment' before the M&G then but no pic. Went to the AP at the 2nd Toronto show, thought I was guaranteed to get a pic with him since I had a photo group and even had a bracelet to give to him that was identical to mine and matched his skull belt buckle BUT he had to leave right after the show to go to NYC for Blue Bloods...

In the beginning of September, I find out that Donnie with his brother Paul were going to be in town for an event to celebrate the announcement of their restaurant, Wahlburgers expanding to Toronto. They are hoping to open early 2014. The first 200 people were going to get free burgers. My sister, my cousin Jojo and I went not knowing to expect.
It was raining pretty hard at times and I started hearing girls were leaving to get to the place at 9am! The event didn't even start until 3! We decided we were going to drive by and see how nuts it was; we were expecting the worst. At a little after 1:30, we got to the Metropolitan Soho Hotel downtown and to our surprise, it wasn't bad at all. It was very well organized and security was very nice. The line up outside was very small and partly covered by a tent because of the rain. We were inside within the hour of getting there. I met a bunch of really nice BHs there and traded twitter names so we could keep in touch. Donnie and Paul took pictures with EVERYONE there. When it was my turn, I went up and Donnie pulled me in for a big hug, asking how I was. I said fine, asked how he was then said hi to Paul and hugged him as well then we took our picture. Paul handed me a bag which had a burger (which was pretty fantastic btw!) and a bottle of Aqua Hydrate. I also managed to give Donnie my bracelet! I know I didn't have much time so after we took our pic, I quickly turned to him and said...

Me: Hey, I have something for you...

Donnie: Really?

Me: Yeah, it's a bracelet (giving it to him)

Donnie: Oh wow! Aww, I coulda really used this on tour!

Me: I know! I had it to give to you at the last after party here but you weren't there! (as he put the bracelet on)

Donnie: Aww, don't say that! I still feel bad about that. We're here now though and that's all that matters. Thank you so much! I love you! (hugging me and kissing my cheek)

Twitter Stories (Catch Up Post #3): Jon Made My Knight!!

Ok, cheesy title... I admit it! Sorry!

To tell you about this story, I have to admit something that not a lot of people knew. I didn’t really want people to know but now that I’m done with it, I can say it. I WAS a smoker. I averaged about 5/day; nothing heavy like a pack a day or anything like that but this had been going on and off for years. Back around before Easter I was hit with the worst lung infection... I get them once in awhile and when I do, they are pretty extreme. It usually last for weeks and then it takes more weeks for me to recuperate. It took me almost took me a month to get better and no, I don’t smoke while I’m sick. Every time I’m sick, I’d stop because I couldn’t handle it but as soon as I start to get better, the cravings would be so bad, I’d start. Anyway, when I was finally on the mend, I happened to go on Instagram and saw Jonathan Knight of NKOTB post about an app that keeps track of your progress as you quit smoking.

Twitter Stories (Catch Up Post #2): ‘Ali Shaheed Muhammad got me doing calisthenics’ – Phife, ATCQ – The Chase Pt. II

My most favorite hip hop group EVER is A Tribe Called Quest. Back in January I was in North Carolina for 9th Wonder’s birthday party (If you want to read about that, click here). There were a number of special guests there that night including Jill Scott, Young Guru & my favorite member of A Tribe Called Quest, Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Meeting him at the end of the night meant EVERYTHING to me. I was also quite proud that I managed to actually speak to him after getting extremely shy when I first went up to him. Lol!

Second Time Was A Blast!!! (Catch Up Post #1)

I didn’t plan to go to the 2^nd Package Tour show (July 28th) in Toronto initially. This was sort of a ‘make up’ show. I’ll try to make a long story short…I grew up with my cousin Jojo and we were BHs (BlockHeads) together from the start. After a few unexpected turn of events, when the tour was announced, Jojo bought tix with another cousin because that cousin didn’t want to spend money on VIPs. I ended up getting 5* with 2 of my friends who weren’t really BHs but wanted to go to the show and didn’t mind forking out the money to do VIP. It was the only 2^nd show that Jojo & I didn’t go together. The 1^st one was when we were kids and she was out of town. We got tix the day after the 1^st Toronto show, no VIP cuz they were all gone but I scored AP tix and told Jojo it was my early bday present to her. Her birthday is in September! LOL!

I didn’t think it was possible but I think I enjoyed the 2^nd show more than the 1^st one!
Although I was closer the 1^st time (I was on the floor at the stairs to center stage), I felt like I had a better view of everything. We were seated just off the floor seats, 2^nd row aisle close to the center stage. Jordan was stood right in front of us during Tonight! I only took a few pics & a bit of video but I kept stopping just to enjoy the show. It was amazing!!

The Complications Of The Creative Mind

Hmm, perhaps I should’ve specified in the title that I’m writing about MY creative mind. ;-)

Yes, here I am yet again writing after a few months absence. I hate that my posts have become ‘sometimey’ (yes, I made that word up…you get what I mean though!). What can I say, life gets in the way and let’s be honest procrastination does too. Sometimes I feel like I ‘just don’t have it in me’. Forcing myself to write never turns out well for me which is why I’m always hesitant when offered writing jobs. I’m weary of making something I love to do into something I HAVE to do. I have to be really believe in something to be able to write about it. Trying to make myself write just makes it worse!

Lady’s Faves ~ Watch & Listen Edition

Just thought I’d make a post of what I’ve been listening to for the last little while. Some you may know, some you may not and some are videos to watch and some are just for your listening pleasure. My faves have one thing in common though, it’s all musical greatness in my opinion and I feel YOU should check them out!

(Friendly reminder for music/video links: Don't forget to pause the mp3 player at the bottom left of your screen before pressing play!)

pHoenix Pagliacci and Sean Armstrong – Face of a Phoenix

Face of a Phoenix is a 9 track collaboration EP from pHoenix Pagliacci and Sean Armstrong aka DJ Face whom I’ve both featured in my Talented Friends segment before. Sean does all the production and raps a few verses while pHoenix laces the tracks with both rapping and singing!

Inner Child Awakening/The Package Tour With Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees & New Kids On The Block

There is something to be said about reliving good childhood memories. It keeps you young at heart, it can rejuvenate you and definitely make you smile. All those things and then some happened to me last Friday when I saw The Package Tour. The tour consists of 3 'boy bands' Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees and New Kids On The Block.

I was maybe 11 or 12 when I first started to love New Kids On The Block. Donnie Wahlberg has always been my favourite. I never realized how long it had been, perhaps it's my mind denying how old I really am but I never thought about it until this tour was announced. Their last album is called 10 to commemorate the number of releases they have. Really? They've been together for 25 years? Geez, where has the time gone??
Back in the day, my cousins and I had the music, posters, shirts, dolls, bed sheets etc. We went to all the concerts too. Years later, the group broke up and we grew up. We weren't as crazy about them and there was a time I was actually embarrassed to admit I liked them despite keeping tabs on Donnie's blossoming acting career. NKOTB reunited in 2008 with a new album and tour and of course, I went. I was a little low key about it too. I think I mentioned I went after the fact on here but was still a little embarrassed. LOL!

Fast forward to now, here I am with a well respected blog and known for having a strong love for music in particular for Hip Hop and Soul. NKOTB announces a huge tour with 98 Degrees and another group that I loved growing up, Boyz II Men. I just HAD to go and this time after all these years, I decided to splurge a little (the show was a week after my birthday) and get the VIP package which consisted of premium floor seats, pre show party, gift bag and a meet and greet with NKOTB.

Blessed!

On my ??th birthday (lol!) I wanted to share a bit of me here. I've been receiving so much love since midnight struck today, May 27th. I'm overwhelmed, overjoyed, exretemely grateful and so blessed! xo

Who Am I?

• I'm a child of God, a daughter, sister, cousin, auntie and friend. My family and friends are everything to me.
• I'm also a lover of good music, good food and good company. I'm constantly listening to music and listen to a lot of different genres. Who doesn't love good food? If I had to state a favourite, I'd probably say Japanese. What's good music or food without company? I love to be surrounded by great people, spread love and shares laughs.