GORGEOUS SPICE

The Problems With the Oscars

2014-01-19T16:05:00.001+00:00

Hello Beautiful People,

The Oscar nominations come out last Thursday and each year, I find myself caring less and less about who is nominated and who actually wins. The Oscars used to inspire not only would be actors and actresses, but everyone in their living room used to feel connected to the event.

Below is an example of how Oscar Speeches used to be:

I love beautiful clothes but that is not what the Oscars are about. Its about the meeting of artistic minds in one room and stars remembering about their audiences who turn to the movies to be moved, to be inspired, to laugh, cry, learn and enjoy themselves. 2013 was a great year but please, lets hope that this year's Oscars doesn't look like like your annual end of year conference - where people are overdressed and are only there because of the promise of free drinks. I like whoever wins, whether its Lupita, Fassbender, Streep- anyone to remember that the movies are about the dreams we all share.

Adulthood Awaits

2014-01-19T14:49:00.001+00:00

Hi Beautiful People,

I am 24 years old and can no longer pretend not to be an adult. I look good but I don't look like Naomi because of stress,stress and even more STRESS because of bad money management!

I AM £13000 IN DEBT. I have a bad social life, a job I don't love and leave in a city that I like but don't find inspiring. I get paid a decent salary but WASTE it on clothes.

New year means new resolutions and this year, I have no choice but to be financial responsible. I am going to get a part time job and use use the Envelope system to ensure that money is allocated for each activity or need and over spending is a definite NO. Join me on this journey as I attempt to be debt free by January 2015. I am going to be very honest with my finances.

Each month, my income is £1900 (i have a very stressful job that pays OK for my age).

Save each month: £800
Invest each month: £200
Rent: £460
Mobile and gym: £80
Loans repayment: £310
Emergency Fund: £50

I am going to then get a part time job that should hopefully pay me between £200-£300 each month and this part time money will be used for my monthly personal expenses i.e. food, entertainment, clothes, transport etc.

Welcome to 2014

2014-01-19T14:23:00.000+00:00

God Help the Girl

2011-11-08T23:27:00.001+00:00

I am in love with the city...I am in love with a boy. This song describes my life, with respect to my city and the boy:

My City

I am true to my city, If I never see another city in all my years to come, I will die happy. My city is busy, dirty, noisy and easily misunderstood. I love London more than Carrie loves New york and ten times more than lovers love Paris. I love tea, I love Oxford street and I love the friendly man on the underground.

I love Nottinghill with all its splendour. I love Woolwich for all my lost memories and for its library right opposite Sainsburys. I have dreams bigger than Blackheath because my heart belongs to Greenwich. I know where the 51, 53, 274, 992 422 and 486 take me. My heart is aching to go on a big red bus and explore my city. I want to go further; see what is happening in Hackney and see the beauty hidden in the Tate.

I love the style. In this small town, nobody dresses to impress. Nobody makes a fuss about the fact that Zara can't be found and the only colours they recognise is blue and grey. I want the colour back, I miss the smell of fish and chips and seeing the school kids carrying their chicken boxes. I am too young to live in a town, I need to conquer the big City. Maybe it is because I am a londoner, but I am not home until I have LBC, Heart, Kiss and Choice on the FM. I am forever greatful for this small town because it has taught me so much about life and made me into a woman. But this town is too small for someone with a heart as big as mine.

The Boy

I am in love with the city and I want to return but but I seem unable to because I am in love with a boy whose heart belongs to this small town. God help this girl because it is a love that doesn't love back but whether right or wrong it is as big as Mr Big. God help me because I am boring myself; preachers say a prayer for me because there is no way around it, he is in love with another girl...

"I am a wreck"

"I am tired and nervous"

I keep "the company of just myself"

"I laugh at my own jokes"

"He is in with his lifelong girl"

I am in love with the city I can't be in and in love with the boy I can't have. God help this girl

A Guide to Recognising Your Angels and Saints

2011-11-08T01:07:00.001+00:00

In this life, we spend so much time concentrating on the bad that happens to us that we could end thing that life is unfair, that we are helpless against the cruel laws of nature. The truth and nothing but the truth is that LIFE JUST IS. It is not fair, nor cruel nor out of your control. The universe is larger than you, the individual. The universe is not fair but it is balanced. Yes, you have your haters but you must not be so myopic that you fail to see the amazing strangers and beautiful friends hat show you great kindness. This is a guide to recognising the angels and saints in your life.

Angels

We are all encouraged to show kindness to strangers because we do not know when we could be entertaining angels. In this guide, angels doesn't necessary just refer to spirit beings but rather individuals who enter your life for a brief period of time and guide you during your most difficult periods. You can meet these strangers anywhere, I have lost count of how many times I have meet kind strangers on long train trips.

I once meet a kind stranger and she didn't know it but at that particular time, she acted as a guardian angel to me. I had just turned twenty one and I was scared of everything. I had just got a job and was afraid of leaving my beloved London to go and leave in a town I thought to be boring and dull. I was in Woolwich getting my nails done when a pretty blond woman struck a conversation with me. Apprehensive at first, I stared at the petit blond woman. I simply did not undersand why she would even want to speak to me; could she not tell we had nothing in common, could she not tell that I was as far away from Leafy Blackheath as one could get. I was being a dramatic, emotional confused black girl...I was waiting for lightening to strike me and leave me out of my misery.

Misery was written on my face but the lady continued speaking to me in a kind voice. She told me her whole life story and I opened up little by little. 'I am twenty one and scared.' I felt alone and the term self pity cannot right describe my emotions I was feeling. The little lady made me feel comfortable, she talked about her family, her job and her years in educations. To this day, I can't remember her name but her words still resinate with me. 'Move, move from your parents. Move and start your job as soon as possible. You are scare because this is a new experience but this experience will teach you more in the first year than all your years in education.' I was advised to leave my family, leave London for a job I didn't even know I liked. To not only go but to go and do a job i felt was below me with cheerfulness because at twenty one the most important thing I should be chasing should be 'EXPERIENCE.' Ladies and gentleman, a year ago, two roads diverged and I took the one that scared me, and that had made all the difference.

Kind strangers have entered my life to help me continue on my path. How encouraging when a stranger tells you: 'You are where you should be,' when you feel like you may have already ruined your life. Strangers have told me within thirty of meeting me that I am worth worth and are more qualified than what my heart and brain lead me to believe. They have encouraged me to invest in myself and reminded me that 90% of the things we worry about never happen. They have said kind, encouraging words and meant it. They can give life changing advice in thirty seconds. What more can you expect from kind strangers.

Saints

My saints are more than kind strangers. I have known some of my saints all my life. They are my parents, my siblings, my amazing friends and the beautiful men who enter your life and remain always.

One day you are going to realise just how much your parents love and you are going to be so overwhelmed with emotion that you are going to cry. You are going to realise that your siblings are the greatest support network you have ever had and that they have taught you more about love than anyone else. You are going to open your eyes and see the difference between friends and associates. You are going to know who your saints are and who you are a saint to.

Staying Hungry and Staying Foolish Stops the Drowning Sensation

2011-11-04T20:18:00.001+00:00

In recent months I have developed a habit of watching commencement speeches, reading self help books and watching a lot of Oprah clips. I am getting to know myself, working on believing in myself and dreaming amazing dreams that sometimes scare me. When i get scared, I remember that I should feel the feel the fear and do it anywhere.

One of my favourites commencement speech was the one given by Steve Jobs to Stanford graduates:

The line 'stay hungry, stay foolish' really intrigued me. Until a few months ago, I considered myself a very REALISTIC person. I never dreamed for myself anything too ambitious. Life was simple and very BORING. Out of boredom and a feeling of emptiness, I started watching commencement speeches for motivation reasons; to stop the dreaded and constant feeling of drowning in this empty world.

The reason for the constant drowning sensation was caused by being 21/22 and not knowing what to do with my life. I have a job I kinda hate, a non existent love life and no calling in life. I still have the same job but I now know this is just my first job; it is supposed to be a learning experience. I have learned to 'stay hungry' in my quest for knowledge. I go to work to learn. At this early course of my career, I need to acquire the skills that will help me make money. Every lesson you learn from a shitty job will one day be useful to you.

In one of the so many inspirational clips I have watched on Inside The Actors Studio, George Carlin tells the students at Pace University to look after and cultivate their dreams. I am starting to look after my dream as if it is my first born child. The problem with dreaming big, it takes a lot of faith on your part and you have to remain foolish in the face of those that seek to discourage you. To be honest, sometimes you discourage yourself. You have to stay foolish to those that discourage you. If you are a poor London girl and you dream a big so dream that even uttering it scares those around you into foolishness, you have to develop self belief, determination and be fearless to the nth degree. whenever you feel overwhelmed; like you are drowning, it is because you lack the hunger and the guts to stay foolish and follow a dream most would consider impossible.

I have written this for anyone out who feels like their are drowning and have no direction in this life. More importantly, I have written this for myself.

LIANNA LA HAVAS

2011-10-30T21:35:00.001+00:00

You will thank me later.

AMY

2011-07-26T19:55:00.001+01:00

Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Young and Stupid

2011-07-17T22:43:00.001+01:00

I Tried and I Failed....Will Thefore Try Again...After I Listen to a Sad Song and Cry

2011-07-13T22:10:00.002+01:00

Nothing ever prepares you for failure. Once you were young and you imagined that everything your heart earned for would one day become yours. Belief was all it took. FAILURE is a scary word and you only know the true meaning of it when you are older.

You struggle and struggle, yet you fall down on your knees and there never seem to be someone there to help you. You work hard but go home and cry in your bed. Someone once told me to fake it until I made it but I don't even have the energy to pretend.

Please do not see this as a self pity rant. I am just acknowledging that I am sad. I know I will get over it but the truth is always true and right now all is not well.

P.S I am going to be 22 and I may get myself a life changing present. You see, even when I am down, I still know that I have to treat myself. I Still believe in myself.

How Not to be Afraid

2011-07-12T21:10:00.003+01:00

If you know how to obtain courage, please let me know asap.

Thanks.

Superstar in the Making

2011-07-09T10:41:00.000+01:00

College Dropout and The Miseducation

2011-06-29T21:26:00.001+01:00

I hate Kanye the diva but I am in love with Kanye the musician.

All Falls Down, Never Let Me Down, Family Business...these are all songs that talk to me at this particular moment. The trilogy composed of College Dropout, Late Registration and Graduation is a masterpiece, but like all great trilogies, the first part, the first album is definitely the best and introduces Kanye West brilliantly.

Kanye West is a bit melancholic. The album covers the bittersweetness of adult life. Like Kanye, the album is vulnerable, vain, but on occasions, it is just pure genius. It is a thinking's woman album. It tells you that life is hard and sometimes things don't work out for you. Kanye comes across to me as a great observe of the human condition, all his songs are about characters we can relate to and probably know in real life. Who doesn't know a high maintenance woman who is hiding behind a wall of loneliness but looking fantastic in her Louboutins. Who hasn't given the following advice to their friends or had it given to them:

We are all here for a reason on a particular path
You don't need a curriculum to know that you are part of the math

We are all trying our best to make the best out of life and everyday, we are simply surviving. We are all:

Trying to make it better for these little boys and girls

Because, as Oprah kindly taught us, when we know better we do better. We all wish se had just a bit of Kanye's swagger, his self confidence...Damn I just wish I could dedicate myself to my work the same way he works hard and always puts his heart and soul into his music.

Kanye has taught me that determination, dedication and motivation need to be my motto. Maybe then, I will be able to graduate from the school of life.

He has also taught me never to interrupt anyone while they are giving their acceptance speech. That is just plain RUDE. Lol..but I still love him. A true fan never understand the foolishness their favourite artist does, but always says thank you for the great music.

Now we come to Miss Lauryn Hill.

Lauryn is beautiful, talented and the greatedt female artists I have ever come across! I love Nicki, I am too smart to show Britney any love, Beyonce is just the best dancer and I sometimes tolerate Kate Perry. However, Lauryn Hill is the queen. F..k King B, Lauryn Hill is the master of the musical universe. The king of all.

P.S Lady Gaga has no soul. Sorry to break it to you. Really, she has no soul. Your brain is humming to her music but you know at the back of your mind that it is just rubbish.

Now back to Lauryn. Beautiful, talented Lauryn Hill has taught me that SMART GIRLS MAKE STUPID DECISION but it is NOT UP TO US TO DECIDE HOW OUR HEROINES LIVE THEIR LIVES.

Lauryn, You can go and have as many babies as you want. I just want to say Thank You for 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.' It is is a masterpiece and I couldn't have asked you for anymore that you gave.

Life is not like a box of chocolate, life is like a game of CHESS.

2011-06-25T01:30:00.001+01:00

I play chess like the Italians play football (soccer for those not in the know). I am ridiculously good at defending. Defence, Defence, Defence seem to me my motto. Playing chess with me is always interesting. If I win, you know I deserved to win. When I lose, you walk away knowing you beat a worthy opponent. The problem is, the game seem to last way too long and I sometimes just delay the inevitable loss.

Being defensive in life and in Chess gets long and boring and sometimes you just lose energy and simply don't have the energy to care. I confess that I worry about my pawns like a mother worries about a newly born baby. I never want to lose any soldiers in chess and in life.

"Life is a kind of Chess, with struggle, competition, good and ill events.” I spend so much time just trying to prevent the ill events from occurring that I can't see the big picture. I can't see that the point of the game/competition is check mate. Chess is above all a fight but it seems like I spend the majority of the time not attacking but looking at myself to see if I have been hurt or if I am about to be hurt. it is not enough to be a good player. You have to be tactfully and play WELL. Every more should always be about the all important check mate. Never have a passive attitude, because then you are just playing to stick around, you are just avoiding the inevitable checkmate. Please be active and always have victory in mind.

A great friend of mine recently advised me to always look at the people I work, my family, school, etc, as Chess pieces.

In Business, My managing director is the King, my line manager is the Queen, the deputy manager who always smiles at you whether she means it not is the Rook, the the other deputy who sees all things and knows all things is the Bishop, and the geeky deputy manager who knows all things and is more capable than all of them but hard to bond with is the knight. Me, at the moment I am a mere pawn, but remember if I make it to the other side, I become a mighty Queen.

My favourite chess pieces are the Queen and the Rook. What are yours?

Aissa Maiga

2011-02-09T14:51:00.002+00:00

This girl maybe the most talented black actress in the world. Please google her if you have never heard of her. It is your responsibility to educate yourself!

It is very hard to find someone in the film industry that I can identify with. I love Julia Roberts, but she is too hollywood. Zoe Zaldana is just fabulous, but please don't tell me she represents me. I look at Aissa and I just smile like a fool...I am going to be egoistical and say I see a part of me in her and in her work. She just shines on screen and makes you want to smile too.

A star, is a start is a star. She could have been born on the moon but she would have stilled shone brightly.

Even when she looks sad and melancholic, she is still beautiful. She is remarkable and unforgettable. She reminds me that black can be beautiful no matter what any magazine may say. The truth is when someone is beautiful, regardless of their race, your eyes will not lie to you. People always complain that women lie about their beauty by wearing make-up, weaves etc.etc. The truth is ugly can't be hidden. If you are born hideous, no amount of surgery or make-up will make you look good.

Rant is over. Now I need to go and learn french so that I can understand her movies.

TWENTY-SOMETHINGS GIRLS

2010-12-16T22:57:00.002+00:00

Twenty-somethings girls are just fabulous.

Yesterday I was looking at old pictures of myself. I was twenty and out with my friends. For the first time in a really long time, I looked at myself and realised that in that one moment, I was just plain fabulous. I saw it as the beginning of the end of the dreadful teen years but so much was still unknown.

I am scared stiff of the future. On my 21st birthday. I spent all day crying. I cried about all the kind of things I did and didn't do and I cried because I was scared. I knew I wasn't brave enough to survive on my own and I didn't know if I COULD survive by myself. Months later, I now know I can cook, clean and look after myself but that doesn't mean the fear has gone away. I always feel like I should be constantly working on myself. Trying to get rid of all my flaws. I seem to be striving for perfection even though I know that battle is futile. I look at other twenty something girls and they seem to be taking over the world. I am still struggling to get my feet off the ground.

With my entry into my twenties, I have lost some of my beloved habits that were oncenatural to me. I NO LONGER READ. Correction, I no longer read with passion. I used to love my books. My bedroom in my parents house used to be a library. I don't know how to explain it. I know that when I was nineteen, I started travelling, I saw Paris, Naples, Florence, Vienna, Venice and Geneva. Maybe I have come to the realisation that I have to get my face out of the book and simply live. I need to make my own stories and make sure they are exciting. For better or worse, I have to confess that my free money no longer goes on buying novels by James Baldwin, Ms Morrison or Jane Austin. I have at times bought Vogue magazines, bought earrings and bags I loved, treated myself to a facial rather than lock myself in a room just to read. Perhaps I will make myself read. May read something easy and breezy like 'The Lost Girls.'

In the words of Coco Chanel, " A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous". I am off to try and be fabulous. It will be hard work but I promise to stop being scared.

Go and see the world (NYC one of these days I am coming to see you).
Bungee Jump
Own an amazing dress by Alaia
Have an amazing job that I love
Be fearless and go for what I want
Build a lovely home and family in London town
Write a screenplay
Takes loads of pictures

ALL ABOUT EVE

2010-11-14T15:00:00.002+00:00

There is a little Eve Harrington in all of us.

Who doesn't want to be The Golden Girl, The Cover Girl, The Girl Next Door, The Girl on the Moon. I want life to go where I go. I want to be profiled, covered, revealed, reported. Maybe its just my youth but I want to be noticed, I want people to know what I eat and what I wear and whom I know and where I am, and when and where I am going. I want to be Eve. I want all of you to l know All About Gorgeous Spice.

It will be naive to just look for "if nothing else...applause...like waves of love pouring in over the footlight." I don't want to be an attention whore! I want to stand champion to champion with all the amazing people out there. Even though the film revolved around Eve Harrington, the real star was Margo. I hope in this life I am more than just COMPETENT (like Eve). I want to be a STAR. I want to be the golden girl. I am going to do something to deserve the "applause."

But at the back of my mind, I always remember the last scene. In the end, Eve becomes the next Margo. Phoebe has arrived and is planning her way to the top. You can't be the golden girl forever. But you can dream and when your time, make the most of it.