By Katrice

2012 has been the best year of my life.
I admit, I say this about every year because I'm thankful to have seen it and triumphed. But, I'm ending this one a little bit differently on MVL. I usually dedicate a few posts to the "best style moments" of the year and I'll do at least one before we ring in 2013. But, first, my mind is on the many wonderful personal moments I celebrated over the last 12 months. It really has been a wonderful year.

In May, I read Lucy Dazilma's post about undertaking the 30 Days of Truth challenge and was inspired to do the same. It was a month of the most revelatory writing I've ever done. I think I experienced every emotion possible during that 30 days as themes I wrote about caused me to dig deep for my most honest and transparent responses. I forgave myself and some others, remembered some things and let some other things go during those days of introspection. Talk about feeling free; It was well worth it. In cased you missed it, you can read it here.


New York Fashion Week


Attending New York Fashion Week in September and getting to hang out in New York with friends Londyn and Tasha was easily one of the highlights of 2012 for me. Being in the city when the fashion world converges ... a-mazing! I intend for it to have been the first of many.

My birthday


I used to have a love hate relationship with birthdays. I think I only thought I hated getting older because I heard someone else say it. Today, I love the blessing of age. Each year is better than the last. 

Germany


I traveled to Germany the week after Thanksgiving and though I haven't posted on it yet, it was a fantastic time River Boating from Frankfurt to Regensburg and Nuremberg. I felt shrouded by all of the history I've studied of the beautifully picturesque country; Another page in my travel writing repertoire. 

By Katrice

This will be happening today: Family. Food. Gifts. Documentaries. And not in any certain order. I love a relaxing Christmas day with good movies and documentaries on deck. If you're the same, I've got a must-see list that will be perfect for the feet propped up position. 



1. The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
If you haven't seen this yet, go now! The Black Power Mixtape examines the evolution of the Black Power Movement in the black community and Diaspora from 1967 to 1975. The film combines music, startling 16mm footage (lying undiscovered in the cellar of Swedish Television for 30 years), and contemporary audio interviews from leading African-American artists, activists, musicians and scholars. Not only did I watch it the first time through without budging, I found myself rewinding portions because the content was so powerful. 

2. The Trials of Henry Kissinger
What led me to this documentary was a constant stream of American Experience docs on former presidents of the U.S. I have found that good docs always lead you to others. Based on a book by journalist Christopher Hitchens, the film includes interviews with historians, political analysts and journalists. It depicts former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as a warmonger responsible for military cover-ups in Vietnam, Cambodia and East Timor, as well as the assassination of a Chilean leader in 1970. You'll wish you'd majored in political science by the end of it.  

3. War Dance 
Set in civil war-ravaged Northern Uganda, this doc follows the lives of three youngsters who attend school in a refugee camp and find hope through a rich tradition of song and dance. It is a world in which children are abducted from their families and forced to fight in the rebel army ... So you feel the intensity of their dedication to something greater. The kids in this village give their all in preparation for travel to the capital city to take part in the prestigious Kampala Music Festival. Watch this with the young people in your circle. 



4. MARLEY, A film by Kevin MacDonald
MARLEY is the definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, legend, and the man, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. If you're a Bob Marley fan, you'll love it. If you're watching, like me, because you know little about him, you'll be intrigued. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, never before seen performances, previously unreleased music, and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best. The story behind the "greats" always causes you to recalibrate. 

5. American Experience: FDR

By Katrice


Who doesn't love a holiday party? Mix in a bit of fashion and the party could go on all night. Thanks to bloggers The Style & Beauty Doctor, The Fashionista Next Door, The Baby Shopaholic and Lexi with the Curls, I got a peak at JustFab's latest holiday offerings during an intimately festive mixer at Freddy O's Art Studio last weekend. 

Bloggers noshed on sweet treats and sipped sparkling drinks while browsing JustFab accessories that made it a little difficult to hold fast to my plan to avoid shopping for myself during the holidays this year. 

Here's what I'm loving.

The Miley | {The Allie in the backdrop}

After Glow Clutch

The Valencia

Eboni, The Fashionista Next Door, modeling the Jillian

JustFab is a monthly subscription service that affords you a personalized shopping experience via your own boutique of shoes,apparel, jewelry and handbags as well a site packed with other selections. You can choose an item each month for $39.95 and free shipping.  

By Katrice

I'm back with another android phone to fancy for the next couple of months; Thanks to Verizon Wireless and the Ambassador Program, I'll be seeing how well the Droid DNA integrates into my life. I've had it for about two weeks, and have been toggling between its settings and the Google Play Store to get everything just the way I want it. 

Aside from it's enormously fantastic screen, the obvious standout features thus far are the DNA's design, sound quality, camera and processor abilities (so necessary because I love to multitask on my phone).  At first experience with a screen this large, you immediately think everything has to be better on this device. But, we'll see.

Another ambassador asked which five apps each of us would download immediately. I've already watched a documentary and a movie via Netflix on it and of course instagrammed a few holiday gatherings. I also downloaded CNN and HDR FX. Since I've been around the house this week, I haven't used the Mobile Hotspot that I love so much. I'm on vacation ... I'll get to the productivity tools when it's time for me to return to work. (smile) 

Notable Specs: 
16 GB of memory
5-inch Super LCD3 screen
Front and back-facing 8 megapixel camera
Beats Audio built in

More to come. 

Do you have an Android? If so, what apps can you not live without.

by Katrice 

As I was driving to work one day last week, I realized that I do everything at a fast pace. Whenever I'm sitting still, I can barely relax for feeling as if I'm lazy; I generally operate between to paradigms: Movement and sleep. Have you noticed the ever-rising hype (bolstered by social media) that has developed around "being" (and appearing) super busy? Anyway, I've been absent from MVL over the past month or so ... I posted just twice in November, something that could only happen by force. 

What happened? Life. 

Some years ago, one of my younger cousins told me that she believed every day was sunny for me. I was surprised to hear it, but when I reflected on my presentation I realized that I generally conduct myself as such. Thank goodness, it is genuine; My good days really do outweigh the bad. There are times, however, when life stops me in my tracks. I believe those — moments of intense learning; the kind of lessons that change you. 

In October, as you know, I lost a dear friend and mentor. I tried to carry on celebrating his life as I have done with others who have passed away. This death, though, shook me to the point of emotional vertigo. I struggled to conclude the lesson, but have accepted that everything won't make sense immediately. As I was coming out of my haze, suddenly, I was faced with a major health scare and everything stopped. I stopped.

I have always taken pride in being healthy ... to the point of reacting to colds as if I'm under great attack. I survey every change I see on or feel in my body. I always have. And for the first time, something was happening that I could not control. Of course, there was a lesson in this. I went to Thanksgiving service at my church and the speaker that evening talked about being thankful in everything. He said, "be thankful, even, for your trials." Because how can you become strong if you are never tested under any measure of weight. It made perfect sense and caused me to take stock of my coming and going. As I heard someone say the other day, everyone has a moment in life that brings you to a complete standstill. And in those times, you — if willing to accept it — are faced with nothing but yourself ... Your good, your bad, weaknesses, strengths, highs and lows. For me, this reckoning had been brewing. More than "seeing" how I would go through this trial, I really had to see me.

All of the rushing around and checklists, and obligations and promises and projects: I was completely off balance. Last week, I was trying to catch up. And then I had to ask myself, what did it all mean. What good is "being" busy if all of your movement and all of who you are isn't making a difference in the world around you?

My project for the remainder of 2012 — Being.

Footnote: 
Being 
(v.) the quality or state of having existence.

By Katrice

I've been natural now for four years and thankfully have found a selection of products to help keep my hair healthy and happy. It was a long road, so when people stop me to ask what I'm using, I feel compelled to share as much as I can. I like to try a lot of new products, but truthfully there a few staples that I use without fail. Finding just the right mix helped me to recover from being a product junkie. So, I thought I'd update my product diary ... I haven't done it here in a while.
1. Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo: My go-to for an always-itchy scalp. I love that my scalp is refreshed without my hair being dried out by the formula. 

2. I bought a trial size bottle of MORROCANOIL at an event two years ago and I'm just half way through it. A little bit does the job. 

3. Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer changed the entire trajectory of my natural hair journey. I struggled with dry hair before trying it. Now, I use it once or twice a week for my twist outs. It's light and leaves no residue. 

4. I discovered Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Creme by chance when I needed something to smooth my edges and I was out of my usual product. It was a perfect stand-in. Like a lotion, it's heavy enough to lay my edges down without of getting hard.

5. While I'm always telling others to read the label of products and follow the directions for optimal results, the first time I used One 'N Only Argan Oil Curl Cream my best friend handed it to me to try. I put it in my hair hoping for moisturization before pulling it up. When I got home, I read the label and thought, oh, this is a leave-in conditioner ... and started using it as such. It's not, but my hair is so super soft after using it that I'll keep doing what I'm doing. 


What are you loving for your hair right now?

By Katrice


I'm back from Germany ... a little jetlagged but feeling good and raring to share pics I took during curlBOX's Black Friday Warehouse Sale. Friend Myleik, the founder and CEO of curlBOX, was brilliant for opening up the bounty for lovers of the natural hair to shop the overflow of products. The promise was 4 full-size products of your choice for $20; The reality: About 15 full-size products and 10 sample sizes. Ah-mazing! I mean, really.

The weather was perfect for us to take our time and browse, and get plenty of consult about what products would work best for our hair type. I picked up goodies from Clear, Doris New York, Design Essentials, Eden Bodyworks, Huetiful, African Pride, Carol's Daughter, Curls and Ouidad. 

If you're in Atlanta and you hear of another one, trust ... you don't miss it. And if, by the way, you're newly natural haven't figured out what works for your hair yet or just in a product slump, curlBOX {click} — a monthly subscription service that delivers samples and full-size natural hair products to your door — can help. 

Owner | Myleik Teele

Blogger Nikka Shae of Oh! Nikka & me