Ok… I love lipstick. I mean I really love lipstick.

I could probably blame my mother and aunt for my obsession. I remember they would wear beautiful reds and plums when I was a little girl, so now I’ve taken on my own passion for lip color. You’ve probably even seen me in a few on Instagram and Snapchat, so imagine my excitement when I heard about this sweet new beauty brand – Mented.

Started by two very fabulous Harvard Business School grads and bffs, KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson, Mented gives a girl like me hope. They’re keeping women of color at the forefront of their beauty industry domination and I’m here for it. I’m always looking for something new that makes sense for my skin tone, especially rich nude colors and I couldn’t be more excited to support two brown girls who make other brown girls look even more beautiful.

I think I’m leaning towards purchasing their Capsule Collection. I’ll make sure to keep you all posted but just know they have lipstick  and nail colors to die for, ok that was kinda dark– to live for. I’m looking forward to see how they expand their brand and it looks like the rest of the country is too. <3

-D.Wright

Strength, love, unity. Those three words define the ethos of my city – Houston. There has been so much destruction, loss, fatalities and everything else heartbreakingly devastating under the sun but the spirit of the city has remained as persevering as the people fighting through every inch of water.

Hurricane Harvey touched down in northeast of Corpus Christi, Texas as a category 4 hurricane and ripped through Rockport in just a matter of hours. What Houstonians didn’t anticipate were categorically catastrophic storms ripping through every inch of the 4th largest city in the US. We’ve had several major floods over the last 3 years and endured Tropical Storm Allison, that has haunted us for 16 years, but this was something we never experienced.

Rockport, Texas photo courtesy of Jeff Piotrowski.

Late into Saturday evening, waters began to rise on the streets and within minutes, homes. Many reported rescue calls began increasing around 1am/2am. The water continued to rise, neighborhoods became lakes, and streets commonly traveled became rivers. Though the storm bore reminiscent to Allison, we all knew it was 100 times worse. Neighborhood after neighborhood, rescue call after rescue call – the pot began to boil over. Homes were evacuated and destroyed, families separated, people were literally lost in the rising waters within their homes and on the streets trying to escape…but we witnessed the resilience of our first responders and civilians risking their lives to come the aide of others.

Photo courtesy of AP / David J. Phillip.

The news of Harvey has broken the hearts of those living in Texas and all over America but the people of Houston were built to take on giants.

Photo courtesy of AP / Charlie Riedel.

Houstonians are united and volunteering their services. People have opened their hearts, homes, and wallets – all while in the midst of the storm. Keep in mind, we’re in day 3 of a 5 day tropical storm. I’ve witnessed social media act as a tool to report people in need of rescue and resources. I’ve seen messages of love and support. So yes…Houston is greater than Harvey. Houston has proven to be greater than the politics, religions, races, and financial classes that have separated the country. Houston is the America our country strives to be.

I live in a small apartment compound in a neighborhood called The Heights…

Streets surrounding me are flooded, bayous surrounding me are flooded. My family is not here but I feel loved and safe just if they were. The anxiety of rising waters kicked in last night after nearly 24 hours of no sleep and I reached out to my landlord who told me I was welcome to “hunker-down” with him and his family next door. My other neighbors texted with me throughout the day and made plans for any emergency situations that might arise. I knew that even though I was afraid, I was blessed to be in an environment where neighbors took care of neighbors. I imagine it’s what my parents and grandparents grew up with, knowing their neighbors. And the crazy-amazing thing is that this little family of misfits is made up of incredibly unique and extremely different people. We vary in race, age, financial disposition, and likely religious practice but we are united by our humanity. We’re neighbors.

Photo courtesy of AP / David J. Phillip.

I know I get a little crazy and sometimes have all the jokes on Facebook but I truly love people. That frame of mind came from my family and the city I call home – Houston, Texas. At the core we are good. Food, music, and culture unite us. We’re brave and bold. We’re creative and athletic. We want the best. We work for the best and for that reason, Houstonians, I love you. You’re an amazing people. This storm is another challenge that we will overcome. While some of us might not fully embody the the true spirit of Houston, there are so many of use that continue push this city forward. We are a world class example of what Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Asians, Africans, Indians, Muslims, Christians, Atheists, LGBTQ, Cowboys, and other randoms can do unified under the fight to preserve life.

Photo courtesy of Reuters / Adrees Latif.

Houstonians, we gon’ be alright and remember, Houston > Harvey. <3

-D.Wright

I was excited to hear about Diddy’s Apple Music documentary Cant Stop Won’t Stop earlier this year. You guys know how much I love all things nostalgic and Bad Boy pretty much provided the soundtrack to my super awkward, yet somehow-cool-girlhood. I was a tween jamming out to Biggie, Lil Kim, MA$E, Faith Evans, 112, and Total on the school bus – it was especially my favorite thing in the summer time. I listened to practically everything Bad Boy put out. Shoot I thought I was going to Howard University so I could be a Baby Diddy and start my own Bad Boy!

As for the doc, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop is a fun piece where the viewer gets to really see a raw version of Diddy and his anxieties as he prepares for his biggest project to date – a 20-year anniversary tour. The film starts with the 2016 reunion of former and present Bad Boy artists for the preparation of the tour and interweaves the story of this young intern turned legendary CEO.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are a few moments of overdramatized situations that come up, but it wouldn’t be Diddy if you didn’t have at least a little bit of drama. I also kinda wish they had gone further into detail on a couple of artist’s stories. Aside from that, it’s pretty cool to see where he has managed to go in his career and this documentary is a good look into a big piece of hip-hop music history.

Check it out for yourself. <3

-D.Wright

Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has to be one of the most random, PG-rated comedies I’ve ever enjoyed.

The premise of the story is Kimmy Schmidt is 29 and newly rescued from a cult in Indiana where she and three other chicks were being held by a crazy “Reverend” for 15 years. That creeper Richard Wayne Gary Wayne couldn’t keep Kimmy, her high hopes and positive attitude down so she decided to step out and live her new life in New York. The Concrete Jungle is where she befriends her gentrification fighting landlady Lillian Kaushtupper, flamboyantly fantabulous actor and new roommate Titus Andromedon, and new boss/socialite Jacqueline Voorhees. It gets weird and definitely really funny as her story unfolds.

So let’s set some expectations – it’s corny, it’s quirky, and it’s over the top ridiculous. I feel as if  Tina Fey and Robert Carlock sat down one day and said “Hey, DeAndre needs something low-stress and goofy to watch to counter her Game of Thrones anxiety.” One could only dream right? But anyway…in this season of my Insecure, GOT and Law & Order addictions, I needed something to help mellow me out. All the cheating, dragons, and sex crimes were wearing me out! Enter, my little ray of sunshine, Elle Kemper aka Kimmy-mutha-effin-Schmidt!

But whatevs, check out the Season 3 trailer below. It’s fun and for the offbeat viewer. <3

-D.Wright

So what can I say that hasn’t already been said about the immensely talented Montina? I can barely collect my thoughts. I guess I’ll just start with the obvious… this girl can sang her face off! It’s no surprise why Beyoncé tapped Montina to join her team as a background vocalist over 13 years ago.

Montina has, since then, sang alongside Queen Bey and taken the world by storm with sold out tours and legendary performances a singer could only dream of. With all of her success and accomplishments, that didn’t seem to be enough. Montina released her 2016 project, simply titled, “Closer“ as a marker for where she was in womanhood and as testament to the life she lived. Shameless plug and humble brag: I was fortunate to write with her on two songs and she is more than freakishly talented, she’s a true sweetheart.

So now what is Ms. Montina up to? She’s taking no prisoners with her newly released, gut-punching ballad “Grass is Greener.” Montina is laying it out there for women who have experienced heartbreak and infidelity with a clear message…

[su_quote cite=”I made sure, my grass was greener next door.”][/su_quote]

You hear a rawness from Montina that breaks away from her legendary cool tone and smooth vocals. Montina is stepping out in more ways than one and I’m excited to hear what she reveals for her follow up. Click here to download the song on iTunes! <3

-D.Wright