The List Of Buckets

I REALLY hope a bucket is next to me right before I hit the stairway to heaven. I'mma be official.

Yes, I said, “The List of Buckets.” I’d like my Bucket List to be a tad more legendary than the average Jane, thanks.

For those of you that live under a rock’s pet rock, a Bucket List is a list of things you want and/or plan to experience before you kick the (proverbial) bucket. WHY a bucket was ever likened to death is beyond me (and I’m too lazy to Wikipedia it; knowing this information is obviously NOT on my bucket list), but it is what it is. Because I’m a dramatic creature, I’d wager that I’d crane-kick my bucket. And yes, Mr. Miyagi, (RIP) will give a wise head-nod, expressing his approval.

Discussing death has never been nor will ever be an easy task. But, the concept of bucket lists has always fascinated me because even though it does acknowledge the thing we don’t wanna acknowledge, the fact that it is immersed with hope makes it okay. It gives us something to strive toward. To be our most adventurous and lively self. Basically, it gives us a nudge to actually live the life that mortality tells us isn’t forever.

So, what’s on my bucket list? I cannot eeeeeeeem share my entire list here because it’s so long (much like my infamous t-shirt idea list), but I’ll definitely share some of the highlights. Well, firstly, lemme be honest. I don’t actually have one. Written down, that is. Also like the aforementioned (and parenthesized) t-shirt list. I need to change that ASAPtually because I firmly believe in writing down the things you want to manifest in life. Maybe this will be a great start…

– Travel Internationally. I’mma wait while all ya’lls “O_O” faces adjust for a moment. Ok. That’s right, I’ve NEVER been out of the country.  Nope, not even Canada. In fact, I had never been on a plane until my early twenties. I JUST recently got my passport and I’ll tell ya why in a hot minute. First, a bit of backstory. My family was never big on travel. We never really had the means to take epic family vacations, especially since most of the time, my mother was struggling as a single parent. We pretty much did the basic Wisconsin Dells trip every now and then. Which, don’t get it twisted, we did it UP at the Dells. Anyhow. While I surely appreciate Mama Cheeks 24/7, I’m not gonna lie and say that I didn’t envy my peers who went to Florida or California. As any kid with big dreams would. However, that has changed. At the end of this month, the fam is descending upon Cancun to celebrate my niece’s high school graduation. And though it’s not THAT far away from the States, I am amped. Ya’ll don’t understand how surreal it was to get my passport in the mail a couple weeks ago. I actually kissed it. Yup, my passport went to first base. And of course, once I start traveling more, I’m gonna get hooked. The travel bug, if you will. Already planning a trip to Toronto for my born day. I have bigger and better destinations on the bucket list as well. I wanna see the world!

– Skydiving. Cliché? Sure. Give two rat’s asses that it is? Not at all. This one is near the top of my list. And I’ve already declared that I’m going to do it before I turn 30. I’ve witnessed many accounts of the skydiving experience, including a detailed play-by-play from MsEsquire as well as an actual self-taped video from Mr. Sanks. My adrenaline is doing the Tootsie Roll just thinking about it. I’ve even drafted a few folks to do it with me should I decide to for a birthday or something. Yes, Mama Cheeks is one of those people. She wild. This WILL happen.

– Disneyworld. You read that right. ME, Disney stan extraordinaire has never stepped foot in the land of Sir Mickey Mouse (Yes, I knighted him. I’m a Leo, thus a queen.). I know! I’m (figuratively) kicking myself in the face just thinking about it. But, yeah, see previous backstory about not traveling. Now ya’ll KNOW I must rectify this sooner than later. Which, I plan to do in the next year, at least. I just want to know the pure bliss of wearing a pair of Mickey Ears. I will surely do a heel-click, a Leiomy-drop, and a Rafiki goon call.

– Win an Oscar. For obvious reasons. I’m a fake starving artist screenwriter. And nothing will please me more than standing on the Kodak Theatre’s stage thanking God, my mama, my family, my friends, the Academy and my 50-lem Hollywood peers… WELL into the wrap-it up music stage while grasping a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award. And if you’re wondering, no, I don’t have my speech written down, but I DO have my opening line locked. Can’t tell ya that one because it’ll lose its sizzle. You’ll hear it on TV, though.

– Pinch Idris Elba’s Cheeks. And. You. Know. This. Mayne.

Well, it’s that time, Pinchers! What is on your bucket list? I’m intrigued! Leggo!

Love ya like Ty loves rollin’ with the homies,

Cheekie

Au Naturale

Nooooo, I’m not talkin’ NSFW au naturale*, I’m talmbout this:

 

Big hair to
match these big cheeks.

That’s right Pinchers, I’ve decided to join #TeamNatural! I’ve actually been
thinking about this for a few months now, but now’s the time to take the plunge. And nothing shows I’m ready more than posting it on the internets for everyone (including Al Gore) to see!

For perspective purposes, lemme take you back. Way back… back into time.

I was born with naturally curly hair. I entered the world with a nice head of dark brown curliness, in fact. And as a kid, my grandma had my hair LAID every day for school. My hair wasn’t the easiest — for lack of a better word, then again, most fabulous things are challenging — thing to deal with. It was thick, it was a curly, it was a lot of it, but my grandma always had it braided up nicely. And yeah, because she was country, she had Royal Crown hair grease all up and through my hair. Well, at least it was shiny. o_O

Anyway, I was quite content with my hair until puberty happened. That’s when I got the perm bug. I wanted my hair straight and flowy just like the other gals. I whipped my straight hair back and forth before I knew there was a song to do it to. Fast forward to high school and I realized that my hair was getting more and more damaged due to my lax attitude toward it as well as my ignorance about hair, period. I was the youngest and I always had others doing my hair so I never felt the need to learn how to take care of my own. Read: I was spoilt.

So, I decided to grow out my perm and go natural starting from the latter part of high school and throughout college. From updos to cornrows to microbraids, I was cool with my hair, but one thing was missing: I didn’t truly know how to take care of natural hair, either. Not knowing what to do with my locks in its natural state led me to one decision as I was entering corporate America: Now that I’m older, maybe I can get a perm and not repeat the same mistakes from my
younger years!

Which, leads me to today. I’m back on the creamy crack. And yes, I have learned how to properly take care of relaxed hair and I’ve gotten my hair almost to the length that it was when I was in about eighth grade (when I first got a perm). With a little help from my sis, of course. Old habits die hard.

In the past year, I’ve been actively reading Afrobella’s site (and have even met
her before), admiring her hair and mentally telling myself that one day, I’ll make that leap. I knew there was so much information about natural hair blooming to the point where there was no excuse not to absorb it if I wanted to. And since the
natural hair community is so vibrant and supportive, that should take care of any frustrations I should encounter!

Since I’ve been on a serious “renewing myself” kick lately, my hair has been one of the aspects that I’ve thought of fully embracing. I’ve fully immersed myself in
other sites such as Curly Nikki and Motown Girl and I’ve already learned the mistakes I’ve made from my natural fail when I was younger (for one, curly and the sulfates of most shampoos don’t EEEEM mix). I don’t want to get too over-saturated with information until I’ve gotten some new growth and I am
actively in transition, but let’s just say I’m a little obsessed.

Yup, my Pinchers, I’ve decided. I actually told myself that my most recent creamy crack touchup (which I got about two weeks ago) was also my last. For good. Ok, let’s be real, the past few EXTREME scalp burns from the last couple of touchups made that decision easier, but in all seriousness, I am so giddy and excited about seeing my own hair (which, I’ve ALWAYS loved) to its full potential. It will be big, it will be curly, and it will beautiful. It will be challenging,
but I’m sure it’ll be worth it. I’m ready.

And I plan to take ya’ll along for the ride. I’ll make sure to post updates every now and then as I make this journey.

Pinchers, I want ya’ll to speak your piece on hair. Are you natural? What tips do you have for me? I may have joined the team, but I’m most definitely a rookie, so any tips to go along with my own research would be greatly appreciated! Have you recently decided to take the natural plunge? Tell me about it!

Oh, and yeah, I will STILL be whippin’ my hair bagginfoaf. Only in a curly manner.

 

Love ya like I love to scratch my head and creamy crack was stealing my swag,

Cheekie

 

P.S. For my creamy crack, texturized, weaved-up, or whatever Pinchers out there: Don’t eem trip. I have NEVER been the “holier-than-thou” type when it comes to hair and I won’t be when I crossover to the curl side. Please believe that I fully maintain the belief that your hair is your hair and you should choose what you want to do with it. I see it as an accessory (one to be loved, of course) and the bottom line is for it to be fab. There are many ways to work it. Just work it well.

 

 

 

*A lil’ birdie (named Google) told me it was actually “au naturel”, but um… I’mma rebel so I’mma spell it the wrong (yet cooler) way. *Bodie spit*

We Need A Resolution

I’m tired of arguin’ girl…

O_O

Oh, right… it’s time to start the post! Sowwy, got distracted there…

Exactly.

I really cannot believe that 2011 is only a few days away. Time is flying like Superman on Speed. I love this time of year because it allows me to reflect on the year as well as look forward to a fresh start in the upcoming year. You know who else loves this time of year? Fitness centers/gyms. Their membership rates are about to SPIKE. *as it drops again in two months*

Which brings me to my point. Resolutions. It is an age-old concept that is as cliché as a needle chillin’ in a damn haystack. And yet, here I go about to make a list of them. With no apologies. Ay dios mio!

Truth be told, I’ve never actually written/typed a tangible New Year’s Resolutions list. I’ve always embraced the concept, but only in my head. And I’m certainly of the belief that if you write (or type since it’s the future*) something down, it becomes more powerful in terms of manifestation. Annnnnd, that was my Oprah moment of the day. Anyhoot. I’ll probably have more in my official list, but for you guys, I’mma share five. Because that’s a nice number. Or something…

1. To Spice It Up. You know when you get to that point where your life has gotten sorta… routine? That’s where I’ve found myself. And, uh, I wanna get lost again. I mean, certain things are good to keep a routine for like taking regular showers/baths. But for others? Well, your life can become boring and boredom in Cheekietopia is illegal. I am committing a crime. So in 2011, I want to do a few things I never would’ve thought of doing before. Or even things I’ve always wanted to do but never took the chance. First on that list? Take a pole-dancing class. I’ve been wanting to do that for THEE LONGEST and I declare that two-aught-one-one will be the year I drop it like it’s sizzling via skrippah pole.**

2. To Explore. One thing I didn’t get to experience that much earlier in life was traveling. My family wasn’t the type to go to Disney World*** or road trips because I had a struggling and hardworking single mom and we just never really had the funds to do that. However, as I’ve gotten older and maintained more of a sense of independence and comfort with my finances, I’ve been eager to travel more and more. For ONE, I’ve never been out of the country. Which will change in 2011 as we’re planning an EPIC cruise to [insert some Caribbean Island-y place that has yet to be fully determined here] in honor of my niece’s high school graduation. (Lawdt, they grow up so fast! *sniff*) And I also have other smaller trips in the works, so 2011 will feature me being a travelin’ fool.

3. To Expose The Heart. No, my resolution doesn’t involve performing open heart surgery or anything, I’m talkin’ in more of a figurative sense. Meaning, opening my heart to love. It’s been closed effectively for a while now (details on the why to come sometime in the near future) and I’m starting to learn how to really let love in. It’s funny because I often lament my lack of it (aside from family/friends, of course), but just as those who practice the art of Feng Shui believe, I have to make room for it. And I believe that in every sense of the phrase.

4. To Honor My Body. No, not in THAT way, you naughty minx. I do that just fine, merci beaucoup. I’m talmbout in terms of taking care of my body. I’ve realized that I’ve been dedicating my time to everyone and everything else but myself. And sure, it’s normal to gain that extra weight around the holidays (unless no one in yo family can cook, including you) but I’ve been lax in truly taking care of my body for a while now and that ain’t cool in my book. I want to get back to exercising regularly as well as NOT overindulging in every sweet thang (the sugary variety, not the man-meat variety) I see. And I can take cues from numero uno up there and take a cool dance class to enhance the cardio in a more fun way. And I know I’mma bout to sound like an annoyingly chipper testimonial character on a fitness commercial, but I seriously feel better when I do these things. And feeling better is dopeness.

5. To Do The Write Thing. Last, but certainly not least. I need to get on a writing grind. Sure, I’m writing NOW, but blog writing is easier than the writing that I want to do as a career: screenwriting. Man, as much as I LOVE it, it is A JOB. In addition to the day job that gives me shelter, food, and handbags! There is a lot of hard work involved, but I would be lying if I said that typing “FADE OUT” at the end of a script doesn’t make it all worth it and more. Because, lawdhamercy, it does. And I want that feeling again… steadily. So, back to true and disciplined hard work I go!

2011, I’m ready fo’ yo ass.

Pinchers, assuming that you seriously believe in making them, what are some of your New Year’s resolutions? For those who think they are hogwash, got any concrete plans for the New Year? Care Bear Share.

 

Love ya like 2010 loved when rappers taught the world some obscure dance routine,

Cheekie

P.S. Remember, Pincheeees, no post this Friday. This is my last post of 2010. I’ll be back next Monday to kick off the new year! *end of 2010-edition pinch*

*Um, I’m STILL trippin’ over the fact that we don’t all have flying cars right about nah…
**Of COURSE I will blog about it. *crosses fangers that something foolish happens.*
***Somewhere I HAVEN’T been, which is a MAJOR fail for a Disney Stan such as myself. Working on that doe… I haven’t given up.