like freckles, like tiny stars at night; they glitter and gleam.

As the sun warms up the glass, the starry show shapes melt

dripping back to Earth like cold tear drops when he cried.

Jack Frost returns at sundown

and new ice flakes form

Happiness and joy for a winter wonderland.

The crystals dance across the window in merriment; celebrating winter solstice

Decemberland.

They parade on moving panes ’til Spring’s beauty blossoms

and breaks the heart of Mr. Frost and his creation.

The flakes cry in lamentation

melting, dripping; Spring’s invasion

it’s reincarnation.

The flakes turn to water that cultivate floral decor

cycle the life

the nature’s accessories.

Frost to bloom; sun to moon

it’s the cycle of life…

…life renewed.

twenty-ten was a huge year for me.

here are some highlights from the past year. i: studied some amazing queer lit at GVSU, took up swimming, took a random trip with an (almost) stranger to chicago and shared a bed with german girls, (wait, that sounds sexual. i swear it’s not! what i mean is, i stayed with strangers and slept with them too. i know, huge risk taker) made several late night beach excursions with some of the most genuine, kind and fun friends, got a sweet pair of bongos to add to my percussion set, visited the dominican republic, went cliff diving, enjoyed late night jam sessions with my band, got yelled at from an interviewee for revealing the truth about a non-effective weight loss product, graduated from GVSU where i earned my bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism, got turned down by nearly 50 news reporting jobs across the country, started my own video production & writing solutions company, ended a LTR that was super-long distance, made new friends that introduced me to new love, fell (am still falling) in love, repped (still reppin) the buick regal & lacrosse for the auto show, modeled in some amazing shoots and live events, was mentored by a few motivating, smart and humble grand rapidians, helped launch a successful lounge AND vacationed in california with my best friend and amazing partner.

so what did i learn? well, let’s just say SELF-DISCOVERY. holy smokes, it’s amazing what you learn about yourself in one short year. i also learned a TON of practical and character-shaping points from mentors and friends. i learned to be OKAY with the unknown and to trust God in His plans. i also learned that God blesses situations even when you go into them not fully understanding what is going on. i learned….to fall in love, to trust, hope and believe. my mentors taught me to be more positive and harness positive energy that surrounded me. i learned how to mend a broken heart. i learned how to beat the ‘bad economy’. i figured out how to buy an LCC. i mended friendships and made new ones. i took risks and enjoyed uncertainty. listening; i learned to actively LISTEN and apply the knowledge i heard to my life. honestly, i could go on with at least a hundred more things…

so what now? i won’t just ring in 2011, i’ll crash it with an intense amount of positive energy, LOVE and gratefulness. my resolution? apply all the things i learned in 2010 to grow more, learn to be more rational, and try not to be such a planning-mcgee because hey, although the mayans say the word will end in 2012, who knows if our last day will be tomorrow? (i’m sort of kidding..i realize that was kind of morbid, sorry).

if you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. if you know me personally, thanks for shaping me into the woman i am today. i love you and appreciate your friendship.

cheers to love and a fruitful new year,

nadira

What’d you put in? Probably not rape, right? Probably not sexual harassment…Probably not even “being taken advantage of”.

Halloween weekend is here and if you’re a 20-something socialite like myself, I’m sure you’ll be seeing some rather scandalous costumes and/or activity. I believe it was the movie ‘Mean Girls’ that made this phrase famous: “It’s the one time of year that every girl dresses like a slut and gets away with it.” At any rate, I want to remind people that ‘NO’ MEANS NO.

NO! It doesn’t matter if someone is dressed “like a slut” or is intoxicated. NO! It doesn’t matter if you know him but don’t want him.

1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed rape; 2.8% attempted rape).

shocking? check this out:

Approximately 62% of female rape victims knew their assailant.

Maybe you’ve heard or seen these statistics somewhere, but it’s never really been an issue “close to home.” But let me ask you this, why must it be close to home for you to be proactive and aware of your surroundings?

The numbers increase when drinking is involved, but that’s NO excuse for anyone to touch you or verbally harass you.  26% of men who acknowledged committing sexual assault admitted that they were intoxicated at the time of the assault, and an additional 29% reported being mildly buzzed.

Women, empower yourself with some great tools: say NO, be around good FRIENDS, have your cell phone HANDY, know the AREA WELL, know how to DEFEND YOURSELF.

Men, misogynist jokes ARE NOT FUNNY. Not every woman wants to “hit it” with you. To the good men that are reading this: we look up to you strong, honorable men to lower these scary numbers and to help create a safe environment.

Friends, I don’t write this to scare you or to be your mother. I write this to empower you and to raise awareness. There’s a big difference between a drunken hookup (with consent) and being raped.

Have so much fun this weekend, be safe (!!!) and really take the time to be proactive. If you are in an uncomfortable situation and/or see someone struggling, know that you are strong enough to take a stand to do something.

Stats in bold are public information issued by the National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics (2000).

For more information on date rape prevention, click here.

Social Dragon Media, owned by Grand Rapids ambassador Jimmy Le, is an expansion on the service he’s been providing for the past two years: managing Facebook and Twitter accounts.

While social media is trendy for reaching an audience, few people know how to effectively use online platforms to their advantage. Le’s passion for advocacy, established reputation and skills in Social Media Management actively engage his audience. “It’s not enough for a business to create a Facebook page or Twitter account,” said Le. It’s about connecting with the audience while consciously upholding the brand integrity, Le said.

Le’s energy is seen throughout his posts. “He has a good sense of community and advocates for what Grand Rapids needs,” Cara Ontiveros said. When Ontiveros helped manage ‘Dancing with the “Make a Wish” Stars’ last May, she turned to Le for help with promotions. “One day, we sold 60 tickets, the next day, over 300 were sold. Jimmy really got our name out there.”
His enthusiasm is so contagious; it caught Google’s attention when they searched for cities to install the new, ultra fast Google Fiber last spring. Le’s advocacy helped generate awareness, which led to 29,000 fans joining the “Google Fiber for Grand Rapids” Fan page, the largest Facebook Fan page of its kind, in six weeks.

How does the Grand Rapids leader do it? Le says it’s his “passion to make a difference” that fuels him. It’s a passion that stemmed from his younger years. Le helped lead the Grandville Dawgs’ football team to the state championship in 1996. The passion continued throughout his professional career when he earned the position of Senior Field Technician in his second year for Macy’s retail stores in West Michigan. He also credits his mentors and peers for challenging him to always raise the bar.

It also helps that he’s always been social media savvy. Ever since MySpace was launched, Le has been using interactive Web platforms to spread the word. By the time Facebook and Twitter were created, Le had developed a good-hearted reputation, which has led and continues to lead thousands of fans and followers.

His success has followed him to earn local corporate partnerships. Le is an ambassador for the JW Marriott hotel, as well as its numerous events. “He is consistent in his posts, and most of all, he is genuinely enthusiastic about the things he supports, which helps generate business,” said George Aquino, general manager of the JW Marriott.

Both Le’s business and personal character coincide, which makes for a consistent and reliable partner. “You want to hang out with him whether he is representing a company or just chatting with him at an event. He has a loyal character and is true to his commitments,” Aquino said.

Le is currently managing several Facebook pages for charities such as the West Michigan chapter of the March of Dimes. Social Dragon Media is a sponsor for the March of Dimes’ Grand Rapids Signature Chefs Auction on November 8.

Le is one of the most followed on Twitter in Grand Rapids. He is also a member of the United Way Street Team, MI SuperFriendz, who won “Most Innovative 2010” from the West Michigan Business Review.

Social Dragon Media is set to launch November 2010.

sky, you were true. you were transparent. you were blue.
sky, now you’re black. filled with anger. you’re a deadly attack.

the dove delivered a message as a rainbow bloomed
a new promise has taken over
a deep love to heal and renew.

Last Saturday, after indulging in ArtPrize, a dear friend and I went to Reserve. Our experience at “the midwest’s newest premier wine destination,” started inside… the lobby. I was quick to grumble. “There’s a wait? Grrreat.” Truthfully, I was also pleased to see so many curious people, anxiously waiting to get in. A group of 40-somethings were ahead of us for awhile, until one of their friends came out from inside and declared, “Yeah, this place is cool. (sarcasm). Let’s go elsewhere.” I was a bit shocked. Wasn’t this the new place everyone was raving about?

As my friend and I squeezed through the crowd to find bar seats, I was mesmerized by the decor. The textured, globe-shaped lights illuminated the scene perfectly. I felt like I was New York City. Everything was posh and modern. The warm blend of wood toned furniture, along with tasteful shades of red back lining on the bar/booth couches, made for a clean, chic ambiance. (I could go on and on about the decor, but I won’t keep you).

Okay, okay! I’m getting to the meat (Er, should I say cheese? Haha! Okay, too corny) of the review right now. Our wonderful server, Heather, suggested we try champagne with our cheese and charcuterie. Here’s what we ordered: Prosciutto Di Parma with the Comte Gruyere, and the Vino Tomme (a washed rind). Champagne: Gruet Blanc de noir and the Pierre Spar Cremant D’alsace.

Our favorite parings? The Gruet Blanc was amazing with the Gruyere. The subtle peachy taste really lifted the smoothness of the Gruyere, and added a sweet finish. And of course, the other wine; Pierre Spar brought out the tangy flavors of the Vino Tomme. Our small plates came with crackers, Hasselman’s Honeycomb, and Reserve Chutney…. all fun and wonderful flavors to “experiment” with making different combinations.

For dessert, we ordered a nice, mildly bold red: Marques de Riscal. My friend and I are huge Merlot and Chianti fans, so this was right up our alley.

Overall, we had a stellar experience. Those 40-somethings I mentioned earlier truly missed out. Because it was incredibly busy, we didn’t get a chance to explore the upstairs dining area. I can assume if it’s anything like the main floor, it’s probably amazing. I had a great time tasting the champagnes and trying out new flavors. Heather was a genuinely friendly and knowledgeable server who didn’t treat me like a “broke-and-fresh-out-of-college kid”.  If you want a fun and cultured night out, go to Reserve!

Reserve: 201 Monroe Ave. NW. Grand Rapids, MI

We feel as if we are left with no choice but to live a fake, heteronormative lifestyle to cater to others’ ignorance.

To whoever feels the same way as the stated in the (PostSecret) picture below: I feel your pain and I pray for you.

I live for the day when ignorance is banished and acceptance thrives, but for now…I live for the moments where I get to live freely and openly; without the fear of being judged.

One love.

WAKE UP!

There’s lots to do in this city!

This Friday, you can get your fashion fix with Fashion’s Night Out, sponsored by Vogue.

Celebration On The Grand is going on this weekend, too. It’s just another amazing event to kick off a series of ethnic and culture-based festivals that will happen almost every weekend from now until the end of October!

ArtPrize is almost here for its sophomore debut, as well as the grand opening of the Leopard Lounge Cocktail Boutique (I can’t disclose more details just yet, but it’ll be the best nighttime venue you’ll ever experience).

GO OUT AND ENJOY WHAT GRAND RAPIDS HAS TO OFFER!!

Now, I don’t want to go into detail with the production aspect of the music video just yet because I believe it would be a tangent on what I really came here to do. What’d I come here to do again? Oh yeah, tell you folks how emotional this song makes me feel. But let me just credit director Joseph Kahn for making a fine piece of art with the video. I can’t get over how sick the lighting, set design, characters and graphics (with the fire) are… I could analyze this video all day! Kudos, Mr. Kahn, I’m sure this video will receive a VMA award.

Okay, now onto spilling my heart out. First, I’d like to admit that I have a love/hate relationship with this song. There’s some serious anger and sadness in Eminem’s lyrics. His clever, heart wrenching rhymes always evoke the most intense emotions from my soul and for that, I dually love and hate this song. Since I can (kind of; I think everyone can in some way) relate to this song, and especially since I’m going through a break up, it’s easy for the lyrics to cloud my judgement. His words really put my head and heart through exaggerated emotions and for that, I hate this song. Overall, both this song and music video are beautiful in that it draws in its audience and speaks to them in a very personal way.

-NK