Full...But I Keep on Eating

Imitation is not the new black

busybrowngirl — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:48:32 +0000

Um, so…I watched The Fashion Show, Bravo Network’s attempt to replace Project Runway, the tour de force reality show about fashion designers that they lost to the Lifetime Network in a poker game.

Here is what I officially think of the show: Eh. I found it to be overdoing it and underwhelming. Oh Kelly, Kelly, Kelly! We’re gonna find you a successful single, girl! I liked “Like This”! Sigh….

There were a bunch of characters who are just trying to be remembered for something with (from what I saw) mediocre talent. I will not feed into that by actually remembering their names. Oh, and they were sewing things that weren’t that interesting. Here’s an official review by The New York Times because this is as deep as mine is going to go.

For those of you who aren’t interested in the Times article, enjoy today’s video presentation courtesy of YouTube. It pretty much sums up my opinion of the cast and tickles my fancy at the same time.

be nice to your booty…

busy. b. g.

One Simple Rule

busybrowngirl — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:54:06 +0000

I vowed to never eat fried chicken in the workplace…for obvious reasons. There are, however, some exceptions to the rule. A chicken sandwich, chicken fingers, those are okay, but a leg, breast, wing or thigh? Nope, I won’t be cleaning any bones at my desk.

Today, for about the third time, I broke that vow by purchasing and eating a Popeyes chicken wrap at my desk. No, it’s not a leg, breast, wing, or thigh, but it is Popeyes – home of ‘Annie the Chicken Queen’. It’s unacceptable. Frankly, I feel dirty. I have nothing left but the smell of french fries on my finger tips and cholesterol on my breath.

Here’s a tip: Plan your lunch, keep your dignity.

This brings me to how treacherous it can be to be Black in the workplace. My current workplace isn’t too bad, but being one of two Black women in the whole company (the other is the receptionist), can get uncomfortable. It’s a good thing there’s Thembi’s Guide to Bringing Black Hair to Work to help with one of the major challenges.

Enjoy.

be nice to your booty…

busy. b. g.

Quality trumps quantity

busybrowngirl — Thu, 07 May 2009 06:40:31 +0000

No, this is isn’t new. It’s right up there in the clichés with “less is more,” I admit. But, as we all know, clichés are clichés for a reason…they’re true. Anywho, I started thinking about this because once again, I’m about to embark on a revamp of my wardrobe. I’m focusing on fewer pieces that are more versatile and of better quality. That’s generally now I try to live my life.

I have few friends, but they’re top of the line, Grade A. I get paid less than I did at my last job, but I enjoy my new job more and it’s certainly more valuable to me professionally. I’ve had few romantic partners, but I’ve found it more satisfying to be selective – granted, not all those choices were good choices, but I can say I learned a lot from each situation.

The question is this, in pretty much any situation – fashion, food, friends, work, love – you want the good stuff, right?

I know I do.

be nice to your booty….

busy b. g.

What am I’m salivating over for my wardrobe right now? Glad you asked. I do have a keep a running list and I do accept gifts. Peep the wish list here.

F the ‘if’

busybrowngirl — Wed, 06 May 2009 03:48:32 +0000

‘F the if’, just a nice way to say fuck the ‘if’. Yes, ‘if’ is an important word of the English language…why where would we be without the word ‘if’? I’m sure we’d have some other word to use, but this is what we’re used to so whatever…

To the point…

When I was nine years old, I started my first weight loss/fitness regimen. I’ve always been cute in the face and extra thick in the waist, something that has plagued me since the third grade, and I’d had enough. I took a photo with my Polaroid camera of myself from the side with my shirt up exposing my belly. Once it developed, I wrote the word ‘before’ , the date, my name and age in that white area where I guess you’re supposed to fill in the necessary facts of all your precious memories. My plan was simple. I was to do 50 crunches a day, each day to finally be rid of what I saw as my biggest flaw…the barrier to my happiness as a freewheeling fifth grader.

If my stomach was flat, then people wouldn’t think the rest of me was so big, and they wouldn’t call me fat. If I didn’t have such a big belly, I wouldn’t be so embarrassed when it was time try on my dance costumes with the rest of my class. If I had a flat stomach, I wouldn’t feel so bad about myself…I wouldn’t be ugly.

Needless to say that ‘after’ still hasn’t been taken. Admittedly, sometimes I still regard my body as my biggest obstacle. I still find myself assaulting my very life with if’s. If I lose just another 20 lbs, I’ll be right where I want to be…you know a little less hideous. Yeah, whatever.

Let’s be clear here, I am not hideous…at least not to me. And not to too many other people either. I was a model goddammit! That’s a whole other post that I promise will come later.

The point is, the ‘ifs’ in life are mere excuses to procrastinate. At some point I have to let go. I’m not at all insinuating that I’m all the way there because that is so not true, but I try. If I’d held on to the ‘ifs’, there are so many things I wouldn’t have experienced – moving to a new city, leaving the job I hated, taking my first trip out of the county, modeling, falling in love, taking yoga, wearing purple… the list goes on!

And the ‘ifs’ don’t always have to do with weight. It could be anything. One of my most nagging ‘if’s has to do with my financial situation (I’m gonna leave it at that, I can’t tell you all my business). The bottom line – I pledge from this moment forward to let loose my goose and release one ‘if’ every day.

What ‘if’ is standing in your way?

be nice to your booty…
-Busy B. G.