Flowers are the earth's way of laughing

Since the state of April I have been all psyched up over the fact that Spring is here. My favorite season, hands down its so spectacular. Yesterday I was looking out my window and in the sea of brown I have become used to looking at, I saw a patch of purple. I instantly jumped up ran outside and marveled at the first patch of flowers to bloom in my yard. I am always in shock that upon any moment with no assistance flowers bloom. I know it sounds silly but its so fascinating and cool to me. The flowers were purple Iris, that had glistening rain drops on them. Seeing the flowers made me even more ready and excited to finally start my garden for the season.

Last year, I had a small garden in my backyard of kale, strawberries, basil, tomatoes and lettuce. Its a lot of work keeping up a garden and I definitely failed on taking care of some of my crops. But this year I am ready to give it another shot and grow more then last year. I am also really excited to turn my tepee int a giant trellis for climber flowers and food. I love the idea of seeing my tepee all green with Peas, Morning Glories, Beans and Cardinal Climbers.

Today I decided to start an egg crate garden. I got the idea from Free People's Blog DIY section. I love their DIYs they are so creative and easy. I purchased an 18 crate of eggs, different seeds (flowers, food, herbs) I wanted to grow and seed starting mix. You can see my process below. It was a fun project that made me feel like I was in a third grade science class again. I also love the idea of starting seeds in egg shells I am really excited to see them grow!

The purple iris that started it all.

I decided to get a little bit of everything. Some flowers for beauty like the Wildflower Perennials, a couple of climbers for the tepee such as the Morning Glories, Asian Beans and Black-Eyed Susan Vines and some herbs like the True Lavender and Cilantro.

 Free People explains how to do everything pretty well already but since your here... All you do is use a knife to crack off the top of the eggs, empty out the yoke then wash out the shell. Once you have finished doing them all, you put a spoon full of seedling starting mix in each egg, then sprinkle some seeds and cover with more soil mix.

                               See look how cute they are!

Then make sure to make a chart of which seeds are in which egg shell! I decided to get a little extra crafty and break out the color pencils and do a drawling of each of my future plants. Don't mind my glass of white wine no shame in keeping things classy while doing crafts.

Viola! My egg shell garden is complete. Now just have to give these babies sun, keep moist and time to grow. Go out and make your own its so fun, easy and therapeutic, I promise! 

P.S. If you get the reference to the title of this post give yourself a pat on the back. 

EQUINOX

The Spring Equinox represents the change in season from the cold ice-capped Winter to the blossoming  Spring. It represents growth, new life and fresh beginnings. Whenever the seasons change a celebration is always necessary! On Saturday, March 23 was the Equinox Benefit Festival for Wassaic Community Farm (WCF). As the WCF official DJ I co-hosted the event with the farm as well as being the DJ/MC for the night. The Festival was a way to celebrate a new season for farmers. To make the festival extra special there was local and not-so-local musicians who donated their time to perform. It was the first time we had a party and was able to collaborate with musicians, it was such a wonderful experience. The farm also made Sappies a speciality drink with the maple syrup they tap for sale. See for yourself below.

The festival began with 15-year-old Country Singer/Song Writer and Farmer Jennifer Grace. She came all the way from upstate New York to sing for the event. Grace sang songs by Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and a few of her own original songs.

Wassaic Community Farm's best and only female farmer Erika Brenner used her artistic talents to make this photobooth. 

Josh Driver is a musician currently living in Millerton, NY. I first met Josh at Oakhurst Dinner where he was my waitor and then at Irving Farm Open Mic where he was the host. During the Equinox Benefit Driver played his electric guitar, keyboard and sang soulful songs like No Diggity by Blackstreet.

Last live performer was Stefan Fink. Fink is a banjo playing Folk artist who is apart Brooklyn-based band Oh Great North.

After all the wonderful live musicians performed it was time for a DJ Doctor late night dance party. I was so excited to play some new jams.

Thank you to everyone who came out on Saturday! We raised some money for a good cause to support local, young, hard-working farmers and encourage people to support their farmers. 

Things I like this week

Miss Moss post on calligraphy foul mouth Seb Lester.

[Wit + Delight] post on Easiest way to pack for ten day traveling in Europe?. Mostly because I am having a black clothes obsession right now due to my new part time job at the a restaurant. 

Tomboy Style post on the PBS Documentary Makers: Women who make up America . Watch the film online here. 

I went to Rucola in Brooklyn on Tuesday for breakfast and it was super lovely. I had poached eggs, lentils, roasted carrots, dill and goat cheese, it was perfect.

Get your hair did

My hair is one of the most noticeable things about me. Or at least thats what I assume since literally every human being I have ever met in my life has at least one thing to say about my hair. Granted I do have long locs and I live in a town that is 95.77 percent white so I am a dime in a dozen. Either way despite the amount of attention my dreadlocks get I literally NEVER do my hair. I have been doing the half pony tail style since I learned to do my hair by myself. I know pathetic but so true. Luckily my sista and fellow fabulous hair shawty Nedjra sent me a video for an awesome loc friendly hair style called the Petaled Loc Fro. The hair tutorial video below provided by Franchesca Ramsey of Chescalocs YouTube .

Ramsey is seriously my savior her hair tutorials are so easy to follow with such great loc styles and she is funny and beautiful. Also I hate when I love a blog and they NEVER feature hair tutorials for black girls its always like showing white girls how to make a bun and I am like can I please get some love on here!! But Ramsey ended all that drama for me cause now I am officially have the courage to try a new hair styles by myself without going to the salon and paying the $$$.

I was psyched about doing the Petaled Lo Fro because I although I love my dreads, sometimes I dream about what it be like to have a fro once again like when I was a little one. Check out this little homie.

Poor Babar is like I'M OUT!

Anyway on Saturday I went to the drug store bought a bunch of black elastic rubber bands, washed my hair lathered it in Shea butter and gave the look a try. One hour later...

Low and behold the Petaled Loc Fro! It definitely came out different than I had expected. Less of a fro and more of a dreadlock bob cut. But I still love it. Mostly because I look like I have short hair even though I didn't cut anything. Thats always a challenge with dreads you want to keep the long locs you waited years to have but you also want to change it up every once in a while. Thats why I love this look I can have my cake and eat it too!
But the best thing about new hair style is you feel like a caterpillar that just got its wings. You want to flutter around with your new look leaving your old self behind. As a person who is a creature of habit its important for me to remember that change is good and necessary. Thank you Nedjra and Chescalocs!

6 Ways to survive the winter

I find winter to be one of the most interesting seasons. Its not that its awful it just puts your in such a different circumstance then the other seasons. Like all of a sudden there is snow all over the place and your like I guess I am bound to my house today. But what I love about winter is that I always get completely immersed in its presence. I love the way the mountains covered snow white with bare branches. Time slows down as you become more and more bound to your house. I find myself constantly trying to figure out new ways to enjoy and appreciate these cold months. I thought I would put together a list of what to do during the winter season to keep yourself happy and active during these cold times.

Drink tea constantly. Its like a bath for your insides and it helps fight colds. 

Redecorate your space. Every time I change around my room even if it is the smallest thing it changes my whole outlook. 

Baking it always fun. It heats up the house and makes everything smell so sweet. Also its always nice to have tasty treats around. The recipe for these super easy doughnuts above is here. 

Knitting can be so addicting once you start its hard to stop, and then you have a scarf! Winter is great for all indoors crafts such as sewing too. 

Tutorials on how to knit here.

See live music local and not so local. Above Chan Marshall aka Cat Power during a show I saw earlier this month (Thank you Nedjra!) at Terminal 5. The second is my musically talented shawty Jasmine Isham Smith performing at the Iguana Lounge. Sometimes I forget to see live music when its not the summer time and festival season, but this winter I have been lucky seeing some great shows by local musicians.  

Go for a walk outside. Here is a photo of my mom walking the morning after Nemo. 

Shawty Playlists

I have been wanting to make music playlists for the blog forever but never really got around to it. Kind of pathetic since I am a DJ. But I secretly make playlist all the time for parties, friends and now you! Introducing the first playlist of a compilation of music that I obsessed over in 2012 with hopes to enlighten those with these songs that they might have missed out on. I promise to try my very very hardest to post one playlist every month! We shall see how this goes, happy listening! 

Black Girl Mixes from arvolyn on 8tracks Radio.

playlist artwork taken by me. 

Winter Solstice Celebration

Here are some shots from my Winter Solstice Celebration I DJed at the Old Roxy with Wassaic Community Farm and Freedom Food Alliance. My camera got passed around a bit, a collection of shots through multiple attendees eyes!