Happy Birthday Fellow Virgos

September:
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Points out people's mistakes. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal and always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Positive Attitude. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate.Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves sports, leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic. sexy but has brains.


"you're a good catch don't pretend that you know that you are, know that you are" -GJ

Colette Becomes "Greener" + Liya Kebede

photo credit: taken by me

My favorite store in Paris was called Colette. It is one of the world's top trend-setting boutiques. Spread out on 5 five floors in the heart of the 1st arrondissement in Paris, Colette sells everything from home furnishings to music to high end couture.i

Recently they have hopped on the eco-friendly bandwagon. Honestly, Europeans in general are more conscience about the environment than we are, but they do it in more subtle ways. For instance they are sticklers for turning off lights and doing laundry in the evening to waste less water. This could have just been the family I lived with being cheap and trying to save money on their bills, but I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Colette "greens things" up article

My favorite model/icon/philanthropist, Liya Kebede, designs a collection of scarves from Ethiopia and they are sold there. More information on Liya Kebede. the model. the philanthropist.










~

t. childz©

Paris Street Style

rue Saint Honore, Paris



in the jardin du luxembourg


www.justglitterlust.blogspot.com






courtesy of: paris street style via thefashionspot.com


~

t. childz©

my [estranged] homeland

I became inspired to write more about Mauritania after a brown bag lunch at AED where we discussed technical assistance in Southern Sudan. Something that struck me was the fact that Southern Sudan is going to have its first presidential elections in 2010 and this will affect AED’s development projects in that country. Right now they have to deal with corruption and government bureaucracy so perhaps more democracy will mean better transparency better implementation for the projects.
With regard to Mauritania, they too have had a recent “electoral coup” is what they call it. It’s not quite an election because apparently it was rigged for the General (now president) Abdel Aziz to win. AED currently doesn’t have any development projects in Mauritania and it’s probably because of the extreme political instability there. Perhaps in due time AED will expand its portfolio to include Mauritania.

Country stats

Political concerns: poverty, inequality, lack of democracy- the majority of the population lives on less than $2 a day.
President Abdel Aziz’s platform: portrays himself as the “president of the poor”
US relations: it seems that the USG has endorsed his victory and be willing to work with him. This is a positive step. Although he may be corrupt (who isn’t) at least this opens the door for [hopefully] positive Mauritanian relations with other foreign countries.


Located in northern Africa, Mauritania sits on the North Atlantic Ocean between Senegal and the western Sahara.

please click on the label Mauritania in older posts


~

t. childz©

PYT

~

t. childz©

GENERATION TONI CHILDZ

We are

young, black, and politically conscious first and foremost. We care about the world around us and realize there is so much going on in the world that is bigger than us. We are opinionated and educated and want our voices to be heard.

fabulous. We love the finer things in life. We know that hard work and dedication to our career and personal goals will help us to give back to our communities as well as taking care of and pampering ourselves. Fashion and beauty are top priorities…

healthy and spiritually conscious. We believe in a Higher power who created us and can easily take life away. We are working toward peace of mind, body, and soul. We may do yoga or meditate- we like healthy foods (in the words of Chris Crocker).

young professionals in the corporate world. Beginning to climb the career ladder… or getting that second degree

Most importantly, we are individuals. We are unique and beautiful. Made in the likeness of the Creator to be exactly what He molded us to be.

~

t. childz©

rip Ethel +Ted Kennedy

Members of the Kennedy family chat during gathering at the Kennedy compound (in background) on July 12, 1980 in Hyannis port. LTR: Eunice Shriver, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Kara Kennedy, her father and Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, and Ethel Kennedy. (UPI Photo/Files)

1979-2001

cute couple.

I enjoy them as a couple. She may have gold digger tendencies- who knows what her motives are- but they are still adorable together.

"all up on [her] like shawty what's up..."
she's gettin' a little thicky thick... bun in the oven?

source: theybf

Doesn't her face bother you? I love her accent, though

Spotlight on Public Service

~t. childz

Haters by Maya Angelou

A hater is someone who is jealous and envious and spends all their
time trying to make you look small so they can look tall.
They are very negative people to say the least. Nothing is ever
good enough!

When you make your mark, you will always attract some haters...

That's why you have to be careful with whom you share your
blessings and your dreams, because some folk can't handle seeing
you blessed...

It's dangerous to be like somebody else... If God wanted you to be
like somebody else, He would have given you what He gave them! Right?

You never know what people have gone through to get what they
have...

The problem I have with haters is that they see my glory, but they
don't know my story...

If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you
can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too!

We've all got some haters among us


+++ thanks Claire

DipNotes

Dipnote is the official State Department blog and it documents all of Secretary Clinton's diplomatic travels around the globe as well as President Obama's messages to foreign countries. Pertaining to Muslims and Islamic nations, Obama wants to emphasize America’s commitment to engage Muslims and Muslim-majority nations on the premise of mutual respect and understanding. Sadly I think we still have a LONG way to go...

check out the video address Obama delievered last Friday at the White House.

Obama's Ramadan Message

Dipnote blog

the black Holly Golightly

WHO is Genevieve Jones? She's another YBF, but she just came out of nowhere. Apparently she is a hop-on, gold-digger type. frequents the NYC social scene.
Regardless, her style is inspiring. i pass no judgements.

The month of Ramadan is the month in which the Qu'ran was sent down, a guidance for the people, and clear verses of guidance and criterion. [Quran: Chapter 2, 183]

Ramadan Kareem Blogspot
stories of Ramadan experiences around the globe...

where's Hollis?

Hollis Wakeema






Vogue, September 2009
source: The Fashion Spot

Smoking in Iraq: More Lethal than Terrorists?

As I embark on my new smoke-free journey, an article in the Economist caught my attention about a proposed new smoking ban inside Iraqi buildings. Anyone found lighting up will pay a fine of $4300. Local civilians wonder why the government is focusing its attention on smoking when there are more urgent matters to be addressed, such as terrorism and suicide bombings.

Smokers will be forced to loiter on street corners exposed to car bombs and the dog days of summer heat. The government argues that the smoking risk is greater than the risk of being killed from a terrorist shooting or bomb-- the government believes the ban is perfectly reasonable on public-health grounds.

About a day ago I would have said "um, get a life Baghdad government." But today I say, way to go. Smoke free is the way to be. I already feel physically better. Don't get me wrong I have crazy withdrawals and I know it will only get harder. But Nicorette is fast becoming my new vice, not Marlboros.

source: The Economist

Full story

Update from my motherland, Mauritania

"Electoral Coup d'Etat"



When I last updated you about Mauritania, this lesser known North African country was in the midst of a military coup, junta. (see older posts to find the story) In recent weeks General Muhammad Ould Abdelaziz got himself elected as Mauritania's civilian president. DEMOCRACY! "Various governments and international bodies, led by the African Union (AU), at first denounced his coup. Now they seem likely to welcome Mauritania fully back into the community of democracies."



Once Mauritania’s Constitutional Court approves, Mauritania can improve its relations with the African Union, the European Union (EU) and the United States, as well as the World Bank and the IMF. All these governments and bodies will argue that, thanks to the poll, they have not, in fact, endorsed a coup.

Brief History

Mauritania has had a chequered history. One of the world’s poorest countries, it has been plagued by drought, locusts, and a lot of military coups. Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya ran the show from 1984-2005. In 2007 the country held its first fully democratic presidential poll. But a year later its current leader seized power from Sidi Muhammad Ould Sheikh Abdellahi, who had been recognised as the country’s legitimate leader after a genuine election victory only a year before.

As a result, development aid and a number of trade deals had been frozen and Mauritania’s membership of the AU suspended. General Abdelaziz, as he then was, found himself facing threats of sanctions from the AU and the EU unless “constitutional order” returned. Despite Libya’s and Qatar’s mediating efforts, the main opposition rejected the general’s proposal for a fresh election. In the end, Senegal’s president, Abdoulaye Wade, brokered a deal. Mr Abdellahi formally resigned, a transitional unity government briefly took shape, and the coup-maker got his democratic mandate. But it is not yet clear if ordinary Mauritanians think they have got a decent deal.

source: The Economist



~t. childz

My favorite pieces from Etro this fall

style.com

T- 2

"There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord, then he will be pleased because of his fasting." Prophet Muhammad PBUH

back @ the Birchmere

I am so pumped to see her for the third time...
the recorded version is better where she has more control over her voice



Amel LIVE at The Birchmere, Alexandria VA - 9/10 - 11 7:30 PM

Anthropologie

my future part-time employer, more beautiful photos to come...




fall '09 catalog

Je lis...

Biographies
Condi Rice- The Path to Power
Donna Brazille- Cooking with Grease

Classics
Catcher in the Rye

the case of the underrateds

hollis wakeema

I'm not bill...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

male prototype

Try Your Wings

My calling? International Development. On va voir

I recently started a paid internship with the Academy Educational Development, in Washington DC. AED is a nonprofit organization working globally to improve education, health, civil society and economic development--the foundation of thriving societies.

I work in the Center for Global Education as a part of the Global Learning Group. I work specifically with development projects in Africa. The Center's portfolio is expanding and includes current projects in Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, and Senegal. I am drafting a brochure to highlight the Center's successful projects in Africa. I also review materials that they use out on the field and help them categorize these "tools" for knowledge management. I am also helping in the design and planning for the Africa team's Chief of Party conference that will be held in November.

So far, the internship has been a great learning experience. It's truly rewarding to be working with a group that strives to improve the access and quality of education to those less fortunate. I am hoping that soon enough AED expands its portfolio to Mauritania.

photo: Malawi school children, courtesy of Jonathan Mitchell

I'm hoping to start updating this blog more often. so please stay tuned...

t. childz©