Just call me NuNu

New everything!

New job as beauty advisor for Carols Daughter~ the product I use to do my natural hair thing...specifically "Hair Milk" :) http://www.carolsdaughter.com/



I've recently reached out to www.voxrox.org   which is where I began my journalism career at the age of 16, and have joined the planning committee for TEDx-Youth Day...which is a big deal if you know anything about the TED brand.


New dating column entitled "Dating While Black"... I feel like the black Carries Bradshaw ( Sex In the City for the giys)
http://blackloveforum.com/category/dwb/


Also new connects in the music scene, that inlcude Miykal Snoddy, Ricardo Spicer, and Moetown Lee...if you're in music...you should know these guys...period and if you don't...google them...like now... or just kill yourself :)

Here's a video ofAnthony David from the http://www.onemusicfest.com/ panel held last week, he's India Arie's songwriting partner in crime...he's awesome! This panel is where I met my new contacts...it's not about what you know, but who you luv! I also have the Q & A portion but got to edit that...so maybe next week...maybe

Big ups to THE MAN UPSTAIRS for continually putting me in the right place at the right time with the right people  and also helping me to balance it all :)

Finally got my footage uploaded from the Savoy Women's Leadership Conference...Check it out!

Although the last couple of days have been bittersweet, as my Grandma Dena suffered a stroke over this past weekend, so please keep her in your prays as she recovers.

I know she would've love to be at something like this...check it out :)

Good News...

I've really been meaning to post up all the wonderful things going on, but it's funny how the bad ones can over power that.

Like the fact that I was laid off a couple of weeks ago from that " easiest money I ever made" job, and found myself in line at the unemployement office ( cracking up btw at the sights that are in that building, while simultaneously smdh at the piss poor formula the U.S. Gov't has decided to use to manage our country's unemployment inniative...) only to be told that I didn't make enough while I was there to have a claim...to make matters worse, I think I was only like $200 away from qualifying.

This was a blow, yes, because I was funding my other projects with that job, but not detrimental enough seeing that I've also landed my very first column shortly after that "blow" :)

That's right! With www.TheCelebrityCafe.com...I'm crazy excited for this opportunity ! Unfortuanately, I will not be covering music, which is fine, because I believe in diversification...(I'm also well versed in other subject matters as well.) I will be covering NBC's "The Marriage Ref".

I know some people are like "what the hell do I know about marriage?" And I think the more proper question is "What the hell does ANYBODY know about marriage?"

Well I'm going to dive right into it with this column by really studying the institution that is marriage. Is it really just a business arrangement? Was love ever really a factor? And if it is, why is the divorce rate so high? You know stuff like that... and although my biological clock hasn't begun ticking technically and finding "the one" isn't really top priority, I still think 25 is a great age to get a full unbiased opinion on the subject. Here's a clip from season 1





I'll also be taking bets on couples longevity potential...lol j/k...maybe...

This is a no brainer...

N*E*R*D Giveaway & Concert footage

Hope you guys enjoy this as much as I did!


N.E.R.D Giveaway from Jonathan Cooke on Vimeo.

So this was awesome

I love that Atlanta isn't afraid to show off their successful female counterparts! I was really inspired by all these women once I heard their endless list of accomplishments and achievements. These are the premier taste makers of ATL and I was so elated to be in the same room with them!

My phone decided to die right as the event began, so I couldn’t tweet about all of the faboulous-ness that surrounded me. Especially the venue itself, The Glam Bar, owned by Sabrina Peterson, if you haven't been already, this is somewhere every woman in Atlanta should go to at least once to get all done up and sexy before they hit the town. They were also filiming a reality show (yes another one) during the event entitled "Fash-Lane on Peters St." So be on the look out for that!

I interviewed Rashan Ali (formerly of V-103 again..such a doll), Terri Vaugn (I have such a funny story about that, but maybe another day ) and also Nicole Garner of the Garner Circle PR Firm, who I really think is just an all around powerhouse. I made a lot of connections of course, one in particular that I can’t wait to sit down have lunch with…hopefully she’ll want to be my mentor as I’m actively seeking for one . ..*fingers crossed*. Another thing that I loved about this event because it completed deaded the common stereotyoe that women can't work together. There was no cattiness, no funny looks, or hating...just a celebration of greatness...I dig that...

Google these women…there are definitely some individuals you need to know if you want to progress through anything from entertainment to charity foundations in ATL...or anywhere for that matter

Congratulations to all the Fearless Females...who knows..that could be us soon! :)

Soooo somebody thinks I have pretty hair .... Hair Model Call today.... Are you going? :)

Coors Light and N.E.R.D link up to "Search for the coldest" MC...

Atlanta Residents ONLY!!!

Yup that's right people!

I got a pair of tickets to give away to this exclusive INVITATION ONLY concert headlined by the N.E.R.D.S with special guest Pac Div

WHEN: Wednesday, May 25, 2011, 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Mansion Elan, 3595 Clairmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30319

How: Go to Twitter.com/My_beautiful_B and follow me..it's

that easy!

 And if your'e already following me...Congrats and Good

 Luck!

You're already registered!

Now these tickets WILL NOT be sold and can ONLY be acquired via radio, on premise promotions, and/or my blog...

Winners will be notified Sunday night and annouced Monday Morning

Also make sure you cast your vote for the "Coldest MC" here>>> www.searchforthecoldest.com

because 5 lucky voters will be chosen to recieve a trip to the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2011 in

New Orleans!

courtesy of

are you in?

Couple of things...yeah the giveaway too!

Yes...giveaway...

you know how I'm always at these different events and concerts...and you know how I'm usually NOT able to take anyone else with me...well I got a crazy giveaway that I'm announcing later this afternoon that could have you and friend front row at a very exclusive concert taking place next Wednesday here in Atlanta...so  make sure you check back in later to find who, what, when,where, and how! ;) 

And now back to our regulary scheduled ...errr...uhhh ...well... the rest is below...

So I'm elated to report that I don't have to throw my cute little orange Fuji camera out the window...(at least not yet)... after prevailing over my technical difficulties without the help of expensive ass Geek Squad. And now I can show the footage I gathered while trekking on the Atlanta music scene these past two weeks...

Sean (The Pen) Garrett's "In Da Box" Networking Event, got that interview along with Future ("Racks on Racks on Racks"), which by the way was like pulling teeth, especially after getting through his pint size security guard/auntie/promotions/dusty/....ok ok you get the idea, anyway that's on the PRO footage being edited...and also some dope indie artists that you could being hearing about real soon. Anyway, Mr. Garrett dropped a great load of gems on how to better maneuver your music career, whether you're a songwriter (me), a dj (maybe you), or an artist (just about everybody...). Check it out! Yeah, he's long winded, but helpful  nonetheless :)

Mint Condition Concert at Centerstage...need I say more?

My homie Phene's Listening party...Great talent here man! You may have remember him from that cypher I posted a couple months ago...if not...here's a fresh reminder, his latest mixtap "God on a Greyhound" : Listen Here.

......

Lastnight...Later...

 Just when I was losing all faith in R&B, I saw some of the true seasoned  acts that we've all been missing lately, as well as some promising new comers...and 1 group in particular that I just know will have EXACTLY 15 mins of fame...nothing more, nothing less....smh.

Anoop Desai from season 8's American Idol performed, surprising the hell out of me when he sang BlackStreets "Don't Leave"...he killed it! Where that Indian boy got all that soul...IDK...but I know Andre' Harrell was thinking he should've signed him instead of his Day 26/Dru Hill reincarnates who call themselves Hamilton Park. Great voices...but staying power is questionable...especially with that gimmicky r&b rendition of "going hard in the paint" they sang ...not the look dude...not the look.

Anthony David, Kelly Price, and Q from 112 took me back to when R&B was great! When the voices were real, and the runs and riffs were truly skill and not autotune.

 "I'm not 100%, but I'll give you everything I got." said Kelly Price as she took the stage...and that she did...sending all kinds chills throughout my body with her voice. Yea last night was a good night...and it kind of motivated me to want to get back into the grind of the media world again...I mean I know I have to, but I just needed a little push...and I think last night was it. :)

.... Oh yeah and this is where i'll be later...

....What? You didn't think I forgot it was 420 did you? :)

Jobs, Ciphers, and goofing off for the cameras

I know I was on some lovey dovey mess before, but it’s back to business as usual…like ALL the way…like I buckled down and got a regular job kind of way. I used to cringed at the idea of having one of those punch the clock thingy’s, but it’s doing a couple of things for me right now… supplementing my income and giving me some kind of structure…which is something I’m JUST now realizing I need, cause’ freelance means exactly that and it kind of resembles “free spirit” which I already am, and a double dose of that looks a lot like laziness…so here’s to all the dreamers out there who have to sit behind a desk…I feel your pain…but I thank God cause’ with employment rates staggering at 10%, me getting a job was an act of divine intervention…so I’m going with it.

But while I’m not there…

I did this cipher about a month ago with my cuz Jon over at Charles David Productions at the M Bar off Peter St. in ATL…great spot …(especially when I was able to do a food review on their new menu... which is coming soon since I’ve decided to have a separate blog for my food endeavors…thinking I’m going to call it “My inner Chubby Kid”…#nodaysoff)

Shout out to Damien Gordon and Marvin Blackwell too, the owners of M Bar. THANK YOU for your generous hospitality! … the crazy part was I wasn’t even supposed to be in the video, I helped Jon organize it came up with the concept…and that was it, but by default I did my thing…a “thing” that I’m embracing more and more each day.

And before that…

I also did a mock interview with my friend DJ Clean ( whose organizing the DC cipher…THANK YOU!) when he stopped through ATL. He hung out with me at OJ da Juiceman’s video shoot …thank God again cause’ if he wasn’t there, I imagine my evening being a tad more difficult to stomach. That interview is coming soon as well…got some technical difficulties with the audio 



 
Got stuff coming up this month too, an interview with Izzy Israel, Atlanta’s go to guy for jewelry. My Pops happens to be friends with him so I figure why not… New York’s got Jacob, L.A. has De Beers…and ATL has …Izzy.


Also, my girlfriend hired me to write her business plan for her modeling agency Belleza, and if you’ve ever written one, you know that it’s no joke, but I’m managing…hell I don’t have a choice.

“Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”



Saint Francis of Assisi

Could the story of Cupid and Psyche be the “blueprint” for REAL love?

So Valentine’s Day is upon us….and believe it or not…I’m single (In my Drake voice). Yup… my relationship ended as soon and abrupt as it began. But I’m not sad, nor are me and the ex on bad terms of any kind. It really goes back to the “tailoring” my life to fit me kinda’ thing, and well…baby boy didn’t fit. And I’m ok with that…and he is too…I think…


But for all the other love birds out there who are indulging in the sweets of Valentine euphoria, I’d like to present the story of Cupid and Psyche, found in the Roman Mythology of Lucius Apuleius, a North African philosopher and novelist. His most famous work is his bawdy novel, the Metamorphoses, otherwise known as The Golden Ass. It relates to the outlandish adventures of one Lucius, who experiments with magic and is accidentally turned into an ass. *hehe*

The common theme throughout the book is “transformation”, hence the name “The Metamorphoses”, but between the books of 4-6 there lies the origin of Cupid and Psyche. I came across this and was so taken aback by the name alone. I didn’t even know Cupid had a boo! Much less with the name Psyche, and they had a kid whom they named Pleasure ( or Bliss depending on what version you read) which in turn got me thinking… with Cupid being the God of desire, affection, and erotic love and Psyche, eventually ( see story) becoming the Goddess of the Soul, isn’t that emphasizing that when desire meets the mind, you’ve found your proverbial “match made in heaven”?

Because let’s be honest, we’ve all had some show stoppers in our dating history, but they never lasted. We need more than physical attraction and a great bed room stroke. If you can’t connect mentally with your significant other, I mean really… what IS the point?

And I pose another question: Could the story of Cupid and Psyche possibly be the blueprint of what REAL love looks like?

With all the metaphors and themes in this story, they’re countless correlations in how we as human beings approach the subject of love even now. Some being relationships between Mother in Laws and Wives, mean girls, how we women will go through hell for the men we love, the maturing of the soul, sacrifice, when men are ready to settle down they do, and the age old adage “If it’s really Love, it will come back.” And I am a firm believer that there is nothing new under the sun, and that literature, especially the Bible, has an example of a problem and a solution, and a logical code of ethics to go about it. Besides, with society looking to social media, speed dates, and THE worse… blind dates trying to seek out love… would it really hurt to look at a little literature to attempt to understand a subject that confuses majority of the population. And if that doesn’t get you: it’s cost effective, time effective, and if you’re anything like me, you can quit asking your home girl to call with an “emergency” thirty minutes into all your dates.

But ultimately what I got from the story was this, and I’m sure you’ve heard it before: Let HIM find you ladies, and in the meantime make sure you’re are ready to receive him.

With that being said…Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Ladies here’s to receiving your Cupid, and men here’s to finding your Psyche. 

As for me, I suppose I’m still in the mirror… getting ready.

Read Full Story of Cupid and Psyche here.

Enlightenment anyone?

So I've revamped my blog...again. I don't know man but this thing is like a work in progress, much like my life, but I'm grateful for the evolution...really I am. So to answer your question...yeah, it's quite possible that I'm on some other ish right now.

Which is also why I changed the name and theme of this blog, because I felt like I had wayyyy too much going on in my previous one and I really couldn't get with the name either..."The Next B Thing"...it's kinda whack now that I think about it, but I felt the "Balancing Act" suited better for the simple fact that's exactly what I'm doing. And I also found out some other stuff along the way...like: 1) how much I actually dislike entertainment journalism and the personalities that that industry entails and in a perfect world I would rather do travel and/or food journalism. 2) That maybe a relationship isn't all what it's cracked up to be 3) I did a piss poor job of balancing everything before because either way something or someone was always being neglected. 4) I dig meditation now. 5) That I HAD to change ALOT if Knight Prodigy Publishing was ever going to see the light of day 6) Finding my focus was half the battle. 7) Ignore negativity...all of it.

I really had to sit down and figure out how I was wired too, which took longer than I expected because some of those wires I had were crossed and others just needed to be cut all together. And I'm proud  that I took out that time to be still and listen instead of always on the go. I can say at 25 I'm taking great joy and pride in tailoring my life like a fierce Prada suit...cause in life, in my opinion, it's really all about the right fit.

2011 = Launch Pad Year...are you on a plane or watching from the tower?

The answer is...I'm on a 747 and I'm bracing myself for takeoff!

So I know I have been out of the loop for sometime and the last thing you guys heard from me was "I have an audition for SESAC..." (http://www.sesac.com/). That was on October 8th...amd I'm pleased to announce that as of December 6th, 2010 I have officially signed with SESAC Performing Rights Organization.

This is a major step for me as I am in the beginning stages of my professional songwriting career...it's kind of cool...ok not "kind of"...but fantastic! :)

A year and and half ago I made the decision that I wanted to be with SESAC as opposed to BMI or ASCAP. Why? Well although SESAC has been around for 80 years, it is the smaller BUT more prestigous of the three, the process is selective and they pay more attention to molding the novice. Other songwriters/producers/artists on their roster include: Bryan Michael Cox, Swizz Beats, Rico Love ( There goes my baby-Usher), Lady Atebellum...amongst so many of our favorites in the music industry. It is a great honor to be on the same roster as these successful individuals. So far I've had the opportunity to submit songs for Kenny Latimore's new album "Back to Cool" and I got a chance to meet him, and he's so much MORE finer in person *heart flutters*


So what does this mean now?

It means that I am on a platform where I can get the songs that I write to actual artists, for them to record.
This also means that I am Owner and CEO of Knight Prodigy Publishing, which allows me to control all my publishing rights. SB: It was so funny when I was signing off on everything, there was a portion that asked what my title was...I was dumbfounded so I had to ask...and when I asked it seemed like the dumbest question ever, but the only dumb questions are the ones not asked, the end result Owner/CEO... at that point it clicked to me that this was serious and if I was going to be successful, it was up to no one else but yours truly.


So here goes...something! and oh yeah did I mention I got a new man too? :) 2011 is starting off pretty good...I hope it stays that way.

Happy Dreaming you guys!