Dear College Town....I hate you so much right now.

I completely forgot the hell that is trying to find suitable living arrangements in a college town---until today.

Property Management Company A

•  Requires a $50.00 application fee PER PERSON, despite the fact that I'm married for a "credit check." Warren and I are paying from the SAME checking account. We are MARRIEEEEEDDDD!!!!!!!! Duh.
• $50.00 application fee is non refundable, so they could charge me $50.00, rent all three apartments and keep my $50.00---wait, make that $100.00 since Warren is apparently considered my roommate.
• We can't even apply until Friday because Warren is out of town at a conference. Apparently the fact that we're MARRIED and not roommates is irrelavant to them. We both have to fill out their little application.

Property Management Company B

• Has not credit check, but requires a "Parental Guarantor" form.
• Desk attendant couldn't seem to figure out, despite me telling her, that two VERY GROWN, married people are not going to put mommy's financial information on a sheet of paper. Especially not a $450.00 apartment.

So you can rent an apartment and be treated like a child OR you can rent a house and get screwed every month because you KNOW you're being overcharged because everything is priced as if 3-4 unrelated people are living their (i.e., your typical college student living arrangement). OR OR OR...you can try to BUY something and realize the fact that everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING is overpriced. Why the crap do you think your 1,125 sq. ft. home, built in 1974 with floral wall paper, dark wood walls, original carpet and low ceilings is worth $120,000. Kill yourself. Immediately. Only HERE in this good old college town would you have the balls to utter $120,000 as a listing price for that house.

Why is it that property managers can't seem to fathom the idea that there are people who live here who AREN'T college students? Who do they think teaches the courses? Cleans the buildings? Handles administrative issues/duties? People man. Adults. Not college students. The ones who stay and will more than likely make a home here, you screw them. Why is this? ARGHHHHHH!

Vent over.

6/29/10 Ramble

1. Packing is coming along. Hope the property managers don't want to show this house though. Messssy!
2. We liked the house we saw yesterday. Something has me anxious though. Either the number of bedrooms or the location. Might be a sign that we need to pass on it.
3. I need to do a blog about my birthday. Shouts to the hubby, J. Nicole, her Pandora stations and "April" for making it great.
4. Speaking of Goos, he's cutting his hair off today! Eh well. Looks good either way.
5. We play Savannah State for our home opener. Love it! This will be the first time in two years that I attend a home opener. Yay!
6. 2 year anniversary in about 3 weeks. Feels longer than that...in a good way...
7. Used cold wave rollers in Monica's hair last week. Came out cute and lasted for a few days. Woop woop!
8. Found a camcorder on Facebook for $600.00. The kid is a SCADian and therefore, probably just trying to get rid of it. Hmmmm...We'll see.
9. We've been walking the dogs in the mornings. Relaxing and healthful.
10. Been slacking on our Dave Ramsey. We're back on it though...

Paused?

Much ado is being made of the latest victim of Aaron McGruder's Boondocks--Tyler Perry. Don't believe me? Google "Boondocks Tyler Perry" and read the listings. From blogs to newspapers, everyone's talking.

I can blog on this topic from many angles. My poison? The concept that McGruder is mocking Christianity in this episode. I'm actually chuckling right now. Anyone who can watch this episode and see mockery of Christ is missing the point by about a mile and a half.

The truth is this--Tyler Perry throws in a bit of Christianese for his fanbase. This suits him in two ways: 1) His fans think he's keeping it Christ. 2) His casual viewers regard his movies as "positive" because he mentions God. The only problem is that his attempts at being positive by including a few "God is good" lines is that he is mocking God. At least that's the way I see it. Some of his attempts are down right blasphemous. Sorry. Well, no...I'm not sorry.

The episode is on point in so many ways that it's ridiculous. It is what it is.

Other thoughts on Tyler Perry can be found here.
Peep the Atlanta Journal Constitution article here. Be sure to read the 18 pages of comments.

More on TP later.

Hit 'Em With that Flex...

1. I'll be 28 on Sunday. How did this happen?
2. Used a different Valana shade yesterday and made it liquid/tinted moisturizer by adding some moisturizer to it. Still washed right off and was still intact for the most part end of the day.
3. If it's over, then it's over. Break it off completely. It's not helping you and it's only encouraging him. Just sayin'.
4. 3-2. Celtics up! Let's do it ;-)
5. Speaking of the Finals....who should be MVP when the Celtics win? (hehe) Everyone has been pretty spotty...thinking Rondo, though.
6. I don't want to see the Karate Kid reboot. I know I'm hating. I kinda see Jaden Smith as a pint-sized Will Smith. The question is, "Glo, do you want to see 2+ hours of Jaden delivering witticisms, while smirking and making "funny" faces ala Will Smith?" Answer--no. Redbox.
7. Warren and I are acting like we don't have about a month to get out of this house. LOL...ehhh....we need to PACK! I hate moving.
8. Speaking of Team Goos. We win.
9. Visited Strong Tower Fellowship in Macon Sunday. It was like a cool breeze on a sweltering day.
10. I feel a political rant blog coming on.
11. One of my hair/loc idols is picking out her locs. Looking forward to the picks.
12. Speaking of locs, I couldn't believe how long my locs looked in that Valana Minerals review blog. Craziness...
13. I have two weddings to go to this year. Should be super fun!
14. *poof*

Review: Valana Minerals (Update/Edit at the end)

My Valana Minerals (VM) order arrived today.

This is the first post I'm doing that will have lots of pictures....You've been warned.

So, a little about VM:

• Mineral foundations, shadows, lipsticks, etc.
• Made specifically for women of color
• 20+ foundation colors

Erin of MakeUp Fiend suggested I try it out. I want to move away from liquid foundation, MAC SFF specifically, because I know it's contributing to my breakouts. My addiction stems from the outstanding coverage MAC provides. I tried Bare Escentuals (or Bare Minerals) in the past. I didn't appreciate (yes, I was kind of offended) by the ONE "black girl" color option provided by the company (at the time...don't know if they've stepped their game up or not). It was ashy looking and provided very light coverage of my dark spots and problem areas. In other words, it was a "no-go."

I've been wary of mineral make-up since then but was a little impressed by how well VM was demonstrated to cover spots (see the left side of the photo gallery under "concealor"). Honestly, the color selection and this picture sold me on trying it out.

So...let's get to the review. I purchased 3 samples--Gentle Amber, Amber Blaze and Mahogany Fire. I chose my colors by looking at pictures from the photo gallery and by using the foundation descriptions. I suggest doing a combination of both to choose probable matches.

I received the following in the mail:

<-------packaging

<------color chart with other information

<--------actual size of the three samples. 5 grams of foundation in 3 stackable jars

Skepticism set in when I swatched my hand...see why below:

I thought I'd missed the mark on the foundation colors by a mile. I picked three different shades to avoid this! *side note* The foundation looks very shimmery in the container but looks less shimmery on the skin.

***Tangent/FYI***

I love make-up vlogs and blogs. I'm subbed to several. Something I've noticed is that none...and I do mean, NONE of the girls really have "problem" skin and most of the "oily" girls aren't "oily". Most of the women I sub to on Youtube have near perfect skin. I'm not sure why any of them bother with foundation at all.

With that being said, I'm going to go out on a limb and post a picture of myself on the www of my face with no make-up. I'm doing it for all the women like me, who appreciate these women, but just can't relate. Shouts out to the sistas with jacked up complexions! Everyone else proceed at your own risk and #dontjudgeme (Yes, I'm talking to you!!!!).

Below are two before pictures.

As you can see, I have extreme problems with hyperpigmention due to my never ending battle with acne. These pictures are of both sides of my face with absolutely no make-up on. I would put these pictures side by side but Blogger won't let me! GRRRR....moving on.

I washed my face with the Mary Kay face wash I purchased about a month ago. Not because it's so wonderful, but because I spent good money on it. I followed the directions on the sheet to apply moisturizer and allow it to fully absorb into the skin. I then chose the color I thought best matched my face (Gentle Amber) and went to work. I covered my problem areas by using my Posh brush because the "bristles" are soft and compact. It seemed perfect for applying the minerals as a concealor.

Here are the afters:

I'm not going to lie. I am impressed by the coverage. It's better than the Make Up Forever HD Foundation coverage and honestly the same as the MAC SFF coverage I get on a lazy application day. Not bad for mineral make-up. Not bad for make-up at all when you have as much to hide as me. I was a bit nervous about potential shine problems (every oily girls enemy) so I applied a little MAC Blot in Dark over it with the MAC 150 brush.

And the front.

Review wouldn't be complete without outside pictures...

Below is a picture of me outside on a completely different day wearing MAC SFF NC50 so you can see the difference.

Lastly, here is a picture of me at the end of the day with approximately 6 hours of wear. ***sidenote*** I'm sick, so I look tired and...yeah...just look at the make up.

Final thoughts:

Overall, I'd say give it a try. I give it a B-. I like it and plan to use it at least 3 times a week to give my skin a break from MAC SFF. I hope I see some changes in my breakout cycle. Unlike MUFE, my face didn't look like I'd painted it with orange, oily clay after wearing it for 30 minutes. We visited a friend and I expected my face to look like an oil slick by the end of the visit (as it does with MUFE and MAC) and it didn't. I was really impressed by this. I'm not saying it cut down on all the oil, but my skin definitely wasn't as oily.

I need play with the other colors to see if i can get a better match, but the Gentle Amber was pretty close, reiterating the fact that the photos and foundation color descriptions can give you a pretty accurate read of which samples to order. I also need to play around with application because I think I can get slightly better coverage. The thing I loved best about it was it washes off very easily. I had no film or extra make up packed in my pores. Great! Great! Great!

I only had two real issues with my Valana Minerals make up:

• 
  
  The slight shimmer of the foundation. It's most noticeable in the sunlight.
• 
  
  My face also itched a bit for the first 30 minutes of wear.

Have you used Valana Minerals? What was your take?

Hope this review was helpful.

Love!

EDIT (6/15/10)

Okay, I realized the itchiing was coming from one of my brushes, not from Valana...didn't use a brush (made liquid foundation) yesterday and there was no itching.

I might be noticing some skin changes but it's really too early to tell. I can say I haven't had as many new pimples, blackheads or whiteheads (which usually develop daily wearing MAC) since Saturday night. The only difference is that I've worn Valana for the past three days. I can also say that Valana didn't seem to exascerbate the two "issues" I was already dealing with (see the pictures).

Lastly, I woke up with no oiliness this morning, again....I think there is a connection between the fact that VM washes off CLEAN. We'll see....I'll update in about a month. Three days without a breakout is kinda ground breaking though. Hmmmmmm.

UPDATE (11/24/10)

Hey mineral makeup enthusiasts!

Just want to make good on the update I was supposed to do in July. *haha* I've been using Valana for 5 months now. I eventually ordered went with Mahogany Fire instead of Gentle Amber. I've purchased two full sized jars/containers since then. 

Final synopsis:

I was originally very satisfied with the coverage but am growing to dislike the look of it on my face. It could be my switch from Gentle Amber to Mahogany Fire. Additionally, I have to admit that the foundation has the best coverage for my severe hyperpigmentation when mixed with moisturizer (a suggested method of application given in the directions, "tinted moisturizer"). Only problem is that most moisturizers, even Neutrogena's Oil Free with SPF 35, exacerbate my skin issues. Also, the oiliness is back! I wake in the morning to sheets of oil on my face...so much for that change. 

In short, I'm stopping by the MAC counter this weekend. LOL...The purpose is to NOT break out. That was my original quest. I might as well go back to MAC if I'm going to have breakouts. I'll use Valana from time to time to give my skin a rest...

In all fairness, Valerie provides GREAT customer service and there are many who have had lasting results with this product. I say TRY it out...just my own experiences.

Love.

Doobie, doobie, doooooo

1. The countdown is on. We're moving in a little over a month. We've got tons of packing to do.
2. I've been on Realtor and Weichert like crazy, trying to figure out if we should buy or rent...still moving.
3. Gave Monica some practice on my hair. She did a good job. I haven't had another person's hands in my hair since 2006. Relaxing!
4. Speaking of Monica, she was a raw foodie for 6 months. Said she would think about revisiting it in 3 months if I want to try it. *pondering*
5. Chuckling over people who were born in raised in Southeast GA putting places in the midwest or north as their "hometowns." How does this work? You were born here, attended elementary, middle and high school here...then you went to college an hour away...BUT you are from (insert a different place)? C'mon son.
6. Can't decide which camcorder to buy...
7. I'm going to order Valana Minerals as soon as I hit the post button. We'll see how it works out. I want to "liberate my face!"
8. People come and people go and then they come back again...'tis life...I'm cool with it.
9. I'm actually getting nervous/anxious about going to this reunion thing. Almost to the point of not going. I need to grow up. I know.
10. J. Nicole is supposed to be coming down on June 18. I'll believe it when I see it....yes, JB...I'm talking to you.
11. *yawn*

Romans 4:17---->Stop half quoting. A much needed repost.

I saw the following on FB yesterday:

"As long as you....speak it into existance you wil receive it?" No...smh.

This made me think of something I wrote a few years ago. The following is a repost of a repost of a repost, originally posted at my myspace blog on 2007 on the butchering of Romans 4:17.
_______________________________________________________________
Gotta write this, because I keep seeing people who are building an entire doctrine from a paraphrased HALF QUOTE.

People often say "Speak those things that are not as though they were." People often use this paraphrased half quote as a means of promoting positive speech and the believer's ability to speak things into existence.

Nothing wrong with speaking positive, but here's the problem. THAT IS NOT WHAT THE VERSE SAYS. Let's begin this examination by reading what the ENTIRE verse says in three different versions.

"...as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the GOD in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist." English Standard Version

"..As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations."[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the GOD who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were." New International Version

"...(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even GOD, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were." King James Version
Okay, now WHO is the subject of this verse? Who has the ability to "speak those things that aren't as if though they were"?

GOD. The answer is GOD. GOD has the ability to speak things into existence; not man (whether he be a believer or not).

I know it's a popular doctrine, but let's be clear...Romans 4:17 DOES NOT say that any creation of God, redeemed or otherwise, has the ability to speak things into existence. We are not little gods. God is holy and righteous. He tells us himself in Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Our God is altogether unique!!!

Now let's read Romans 4:17 in context. Let's check out verses 13 through 25, so we can get the full meaning:

13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." 23 But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

So in reading this, we see that there is no mention of ANYONE being able to speak things into existence but GOD. You will probably also notice that verse 17 and surrounding verses are discussing FAITH in Christ, not your ability to "speak things into existence." A small section of a verse has been brutally butchered and promoted as meaning something altogether different!

Still not convinced that God is the only one that can speak things into existence? Check out the parallel verses for Romans 4:17. (Hebrews 11:19, John 5:21, 1 Corinthians 1:28, Hebrews 11:3, etc.)

I want to close by saying there is nothing wrong with positive speaking, BUT please don't think that in saying you will get a BMW that God has to give you a BMW. Doctrines like these only serve to create a materialist world view among Christians that can only lead to destruction. We, myself included, have to examine ourselves to make sure we are after his heart and not after his hands. God will bless us materially, but if it's your main priority, please turn back to God.

So, if you are a professing Christian who needs material possessions as a sign that God is real or that you are blessed, I beg you to check out Hebrews 11. Here's verse 1, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things NOT seen." *side note: The "faith" here is referring to our faith in God's promise of salvation through Christ Jesus* Don't be like Thomas who needed to TOUCH the holes in the hands of our Savior to believe that he had resurrected (John 20:24-29). "Blessed are those who have NOT seen and yet have believed." (v 29). Instead rely on the word of God, which is our Father's self revelatory work, proclaiming both his existence and his plan to reconcile his people to himself.

Seventy times seven (Ramble in paragraph form)

You have not loved me. You haven't sought forgiveness and it's obvious that you don't think you've even sinned against me. What's worse is you call yourself a Christian, one who seeks to glorify God in your actions. I don't want to forgive you. You do not deserve forgiveness.

I'm struggling to forgive a few people. Really struggling. I have to admit that the mere sight of them bothers me. I avoid them intentionally. I am hardly civil towards them. What on earth do you do when you don't want to forgive someone. What do you do when it seems like you can't forgive someone?

If I give myself enought time to sit quietly and ponder the question, the word of God rushes over me like a stream. I'm reminded of how Christ died for me before I sought his forgiveness for my sins against him. How he showed his love for me by enduring the wrath of God in my place while I was still his enemy. How he knew no sin but took on my sin. How I didn't deserve his forgiveness.

Yet, I still feel like Peter who asked the Lord, "how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" The Lord answers the same way, every time..."I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." I don't like his answer. To keep it real, I hate his answer. Then I ask myself how I can who I am to withhold forgiveness when I've been forgiven so much? If the only wise God, creator and sustainer of all things, with whom I sin against daily, even sinning in my unwillingness to forgive someone, can bear with me and has already forgiven me, through Christ, in love, how can I withhold it? How can I say I love God and hate my brother?

So then, everytime I think someone doesn't deserve forgiveness, I'm reminded of how I don't deserve forgiveness either. I'm reminded of how I've failed to seek forgiveness. Everytime I think the italicized words in the beginning of this ramble about someone else, I should go look in the mirror and say them to myself. Afterall, I'm guilty of the same, aren't I? Calling myself a Christian, yet sinning against God and the brethren?

I'm sure my pride makes it difficult to obey and put his words into practice. The truth is I esteem myself too highly. I thank the Lord for bearing with me and bringing his loving kindness to my remembrance to convict me of my own sins (including unforgiveness). I'm not saying forgiving someone is easy once you remember all this. I'm saying it's necessary and reasonable based on the love Christ shows us. I pray the Lord helps me to forgive out of love and reverence for him.

Other stuff:

Colossians 3:12-14 (English Standard Version)

"Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."


1 John 3:14-16 (English Standard Version)
"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

Leviticus 19:17-18 (English Standard Version)

"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (English Standard Version)
"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

SDG.