Love’s Alright: What’s Your Six-Word Love Story?

Six words to describe a great love life…hmmm…let’s see:

"Thank You" by Mihaela Muntean

“Never explain love, nor regret it.”

Think your love life has always been epic? Well, Smith Magazine wants you to sum it up in six words and add it to their collection of very short love stories. Similar to one of my favorite books from few years back, “Not quite what I was planning: six-word memoirs from writers famous and obscure”, these diddies run the gamut from thoughtful, to sweet, to rueful — and all things in between. Click here to add your own!

Web Quickies: What’s Your Six-Word Love Story?

Six words to describe a great love life…hmmm…let’s see:

"Thank You" by Mihaela Muntean

“Never explain love, nor regret it.”

“Love me just as I am.”

“Who cares what color we are…”

“It worked until it didn’t.”

“My cat never liked YOU either!”

“You weren’t my first choice anyway.”

Ahhh… I think those quibbles will hold me over for now. Think your love life has always been epic? Well, Smith Magazine wants you to sum it up in six words and add it to their collection of very short love stories. Similar to one of my favorite books from few years back, “Not quite what I was planning: six-word memoirs from writers famous and obscure”, these diddies run the gamut from thoughtful, to sweet, to rueful — and all things in between. Click here to add your own!

Eye Candy for the Soul: The Gorgeous Michael Ealy

The Naturally Gifted Michael Ealy

Wondering who that lusciously handsome ‘eye candy for the soul’ actor is on “The Good Wife”? No, I don’t mean Chris Noth, I mean the multi-talented Michael Ealy. African-American audiences have long been acquainted with this underrated hunk in films such as “Barbershop” and “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, but now wider audiences are finally getting to see him shine.  The Oscars may have overlooked Ealy’s complex portrayal of an unstable, deeply wounded war vet in Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls Only” but anyone who saw the film walked away knowing that Ealy had delivered one of the best performances of any actor of 2010. Much to the chagrin of many women viewers, Ealy’s 10-episode stint on “The Good Wife” has come to an end. But I’m sure we’ll see him turn up somewhere else soon because he’s definitely one of the most talented actors in the business. Stay tuned!

Celebri-quickie: Spain’s on Fire – Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem Finally Wed!

Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem

Disclaimer: The fact that Spain just won its first World Cup in Soccer has nothing to do with this post about two Oscar-award winning actors (as well, from Spain) who also just sealed the deal.

Normally, I don’t write about celebrity gossip (if you’ve ever lived and played in the New York City area, then you understand…). But this particular wedding announcement that’s been confirmed by the Los Angeles Times caught my eye for a couple of reasons. First, it includes Javier Bardem, who along with Viggo Mortensen and just a handful of others, I consider to be one of the finest actors on this planet. While he’s had some blockbuster popular movies like “No Country for Old Men“, it’s his independent work in biopics like “Before Night Falls” and “The Sea Inside” that earn him tops on my list of actors today.

And then there are his physical looks (Ladies, just Google his photo’s).

Ms. Cruz on the other hand is more of a mystery to me, a woman whose personal life I’ve heard more about than her acting chops. But that said, what do I know? Ms. Cruz has garnered her own share of top awards and critical acclaim for her work, most recently winning the 2009 best supporting actress Oscar in  “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” a film in which she stars opposite – you guessed it – Javier Bardem.

Reportedly, theirs is a love that blossomed from a twenty-year friendship.  We can all root for that kind of love story. All the best to them – Love and Happiness.

ps – in re-reading my disclaimer, I am starting to wonder what’s in that Spanish water?

The Joys of Destination Weddings in the Caribbean

Picture courtesy of Tropical Imaging Turks & Caicos (c) All right reserved.

One of my best girlfriends called me today, all smiles with the finalized plans for her destination wedding on a lovely Caribbean island. I am SO excited for her and her hubby-to-be because they’re two of the nicest people I know, plus they’re just plain in love with that ‘look’– the one that conveys, ‘yes, they’ll be in it together for the long haul!’

Surrounded by tropical flora and sprawling beaches with lovely white sand and glassy-clear water everywhere, what’s not to like? I’m very joyous for them because this is going to be wonderful.

At the same time I’ve got this little pang in my own financial house these days that’s got me wondering how I’m going to make it happen on my end? On the one hand, this is perfect for me – what a GREAT way to spend a cherished moment in life with a BFF while also enjoying one of my main past-times, taking an excursion to a lovely Caribbean island (this will be yet another one that I haven’t visited so far). In this case, I can even probably hop over to one of the BVI gems, Virgin Gorda, for a day. Of course, I’m going to find a way to make this happen because she’s one of the best friends I have, but I have to be frugal too, so some questions have come to mind as I work this through:

Who do I invite as my + 1? Do I have to?

Everyone knows I like to travel solo anyway @ girlsflyingsolo.com so I have to make sure it’s okay if I decide to make the trip alone.

How do I budget, especially if I’m on a tight budget?

Book and confirm early to get the best values! Make sure you know the cancellation policies just in case. Hopefully, the wedding planner has blocked rooms and flights for the party to help keep everyone’s stress to a minimum in this process but don’t assume – ask!

How do guests tactfully balance the cost of the wedding gift with travel expenses?

Courtesy of Tropical Imaging Turks & Caicos (c) All rights reserved.

There are many schools of thought on this but I’m going to follow my own notion and go with a more sentimental gift. It may not cost as much as some of the others but I hope it will have lasting value for my newlywed friends. I’m thinking of a hand-picked jazz collector’s set.

Will it be tactful to want to spend some of the time just sunning all day (wedding day not included of course!)

This part gets tricky for me because I do want to have some alone time with just me and the ocean, but, again, this trip isn’t about ME, it’s about my girlfriend. So I’ll carefully have to figure out how to manage this one so that it’s a win-win for all of us, especially if I break my cardinal rule and allow a +1 to join me.

If all else fails, how much time is customary to let your friend know if you’re going to have to bail?

As soon as possible! It’s not fair to wait until the last minute (less than a month out is really pushing it!)

All this said, I’m very excited for this wonderful couple and as the bride’s girlfriend, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that this is happily ever after HER day forever! When my day comes, I’m sure it too will have a destination, Caribbean wedding to some secluded island.

Want more tips on how on having a dreamy, destination wedding? Read this article. Have a last-minute change of bridesmaids dress ideas? Quick! Check out the New York Magazine’s galleria of reasonably priced bridesmaids’ beauties that you can probably get quickly!

Kismet

Gardenias

Kismet.

Fate.

Destiny.

It’s that familiar feeling that warms your heart at the very thought of a certain someone.
It’s that handsome profile from afar, the one that can’t be, though you most surely hope it is.

It’s the face of truth and fidelity, the one that always brings joy to your heart.

It’s that smell, that familiar fragrance that your soul instantly recognizes as belonging to him.

Chris Rock’s “Good Hair”: Don’t Have It? Buy It! (opens 10/09)

Chris Rock’s new documentary, “Good Hair” opens nationwide on Friday, 10/9/09. The film explores a long ‘family’ secret among black women: the definition and attainment of ‘good hair.’ Rock has been promoting the film all Summer with one of the funniest moments coming last week when he visited Oprah and literally ran his hands through her hair to see if she’d actually grown it, bought it or had some sort of sophisticated combination. Oprah proudly proclaimed that hers was naturally grown.

But what Oprah did NOT address, is the other aspect of that ‘bouncing and behaving’ naturally grown hair that she and I both share: just how do we get it THAT way?  The Washington Post, The New York Times, and many others have written pieces on Rock’s “Good Hair“, as this is a most fascinating part of life mostly for Black women (and secretly, some Black men too).

Just what is ‘good hair’ anyway?  In the Black community, ‘good hair’ is often described as being silky-smooth, kink-free. At the very least, it doesn’t require a straightening comb (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, ask somebody!) Thing is, once again, ‘good hair’ is not just a ‘black thang.’  I have Jewish and other non-Black girlfriends who have had to use ‘straighteners’ in order to manage their tresses too. And of course, everyone from Brittany Spears to Madonna wears extensions. But I must admit that Black women do take the award for being most creating with the ‘weave.’

Of course, many will argue vehemently with the definition of ‘good hair’ and hence this funny and at times painful–literally and figuratively– tale of what women will go through to seek beauty and perfection will undoubtedly hit as many sensitive nerves as it does funny bones.

Men We Love: Actor/Model Darryl Stephens

Compliments of Darryl’s Myspace page

Anytime Favorites: Sophie Milman’s So Long You Fool

Doesn’t everyone want to exclaim these words — Goodbye, farewell, so long you fool! – at one time or another?

Great song in a traditional jazz vein. Going to be singing this one all day now…

Out of the Closet – My Delman Roxanne’s

Every time swing open my closet and take these for a twirl, I just adore them more and more…