The List: 5 Things, 5 Years

Next week marks five years since I completed college. WHAT? When I think about these last five years, the most prevalent thought that comes to my mind is how much I wish I had known the day I was released graduated from college.

I probably would have traveled through these last five years much differently if I had taken a chill pill that May and realized that I would be robbing myself of some of the best moments of my life if I didn't. But I didn't and I did. Only within the last year has that completely hit me. I've always been a late bloomer, so I thought I'd share this bit of knowledge with others who may, like me, have forgotten the beauty in this moment called graduation. 

So, here are 5 things I wish I had known 5 years ago.

Can't see the images? Check out the reader view of The List here. 

No matter how you walk away from graduation – 4.0 or 2.5. Next move mapped or no clue – remember that these are some of the best moments of your life. You're growing up and it's a little scary, but it can be quite an adventure if you open up to it. 

Always in love, 

College Grad Week!

Join me this week as I talk about my time in college, advice I wish I had been given and tips for navigating the waters after graduation. Know someone that's graduating this year? Send them over! And even if you aren't exactly a "recent" graduate, you may find that these tips can help at any stage of life. Happy Graduation everyone! 

Always in love, 

Express Yourself: How to Start Vlogging

My friends are so used to seeing me running around with my little camera now that they even get excited to see me coming again. I'm a vlogger now (albeit, not a poster of said vlogs in recent weeks), but I wasn't always a huge fan of vlogs.

When I first saw that people were posting their daily lives or tutorials for various things on Youtube, I didn't get the excitement. Then I spent one day in with strep throat or some similar ailment and I was HOOKED.

Now, there are SO many vlogs out there that I watch. I'm currently obsessed with The Lavigne Life, BritPopLife and Life with the Logans for lifestyle vlogs. And then there's Shirley B. Eniang, Jenn from ClothesEncounters and Patricia Bright for beauty vlogs. I could go on forever.

Somehow after watching these awesome people vlog, I decided I wanted to start my own. That was crazy. And It wasn't as simple as being a fan, but I couldn't resist.

There's so much to know, but I'll try to share a bit below!

GETTING STARTED


Who are you vlogging for?

What I love so much about each of the vlogs I follow is that they know who they are vlogging for. They are authentic and they cater to their audience so well. And I think that's where a lot of vloggers fail. Including myself. May sound simple, but vlog what you know.

I tried, out of the gate, to launch a lifestyle vlog (as in a vlog that showcases what I do in my everyday life) without actually having a fan base. If your goal is to do this kind of vlog, I would suggest starting with tutorial videos; videos that teach people about something that you know a lot about or videos talking about a topic you're passionate about.

If your goal is to be a beauty vlogger, or DIY vlogger or anything similar, the advice I see all of the big time vloggers giving is this: PRODUCE A LOT OF CONTENT and then produce some more. Youtube is vast, but if you're consistent people will find you and slowly you will see those views climb.

What do you need? 

Never type into Google or Youtube or anything 'what kind of camera do I need for vlogging?"
NEVER. You will instantly become overwhelmed.

There is no magic answer. Everyone uses something different. And if people use the same thing, in a few short months they will all be using something else. When I first started researching, everyone was using the Canon Rebel T3i. Very soon after, everyone switched to the Sony Alpha series. I couldn't keep up, so I quit trying and I just decided to go with what I could afford and what seemed simple.

Here's what I use:

For lifestyle or behind the scenes vlogging

Camera:
NikonJ1 (pros: Interchangeable lens & 1080p HD video; cons: Records in 20 min. intervals)

Lighting:
Natural light (whatever is around me)

Editing software: 
Adobe Premiere Pro CC (I pay for it monthly in the Adobe Creative Cloud) or iMovie

Publish to:
Youtube (best place to upload and share these types of vlogs)


For stationary videos (tutorials,Youtube tags and other videos where I'm just sitting and talking) 

Camera: 
Nikon D3000

Lighting: 
Two umbrella lights or Two softboxes (depends on the outside lighting)

Editing Software: 
Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Publish to: 
Youtube


For all other video projects ( commercials, interviews, etc.) 

Camera: 
Nikon D810

Lighting: 
Natural light, reflectors, LED light attachment

Editing Software: 
Final Cut Pro 10

Publish to:
Vimeo (better for more professional videos that you wish to embed on a site)



I know this was a long post, but I hope it helps someone!


I'm not sure why I haven't thought about this topic as a blog post, but thanks to a fellow Bham Blogger over at CanUEmagine.com  for the question on Twitter today. I love our blogger community!


Always in love,

The List: Monday Morning Playlist

Today's list is probably my favorite one so far. The weekend was CRAZY busy with it being Resurrection Sunday and all that jazz. So, Monday just seemed like a rude interruption to my sleep plans. In an effort to cure myself of the grumpies, I made a killer playlist for my morning routine.

Wanna here it? Here it goes. 

1. Janelle Monae - Yoga 

2. Taylor Swift - Out of the Woods 

3. Meghan Trainor - Lips are Movin

4. Ari Lennox - Mumbles 

4. Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl 

5. Beyonce - 7/11

6. Wale - Lotus Flower Bomb

7. Superstition - Stevie Wonder

8. King - The Story 

Always in love,

TALKIN': Dating in the Modern Age

A few years ago, I thought about writing a book. Said book was to be called TALKIN'. It is one of my least favorite words to ever arise in the English language (in context of course).  I hate it more than bae and even more than fleek.

Some of you may not be aware of the definition in this context. So, let me break it down so it can forever and consistently be broke (sorry,had to). 

TALKIN' (verb. tahl - kin) - A dating stage that denotes that you and another person are together but it's not an actual relationship. Dating limbo. Dating purgatory. THE WORST. 

As a twenty-something living in America, I have experienced several degrees of "talkin". From the guy who just wants to text me ALL THE TIME to the guy who only wants to see me like once a month. I have even heard a few guys tell their "brilliant" friends that our year worth of love texts, cultural outings and weekend Netflix marathons equated to us "just talkin". In my simple mind, I was said genius' girlfriend. But upon hearing his declaration of us "just talkin", the just making it worse, I knew that this was a situation destined to go very few places. Speaking of situation, I've heard an actual guy refer to his long-time girlfriend as a situation. How Sway?

Now, some people believe that if you wait long enough that the "talkin" stage will end. Is this true? Sometimes. There are folks out there who have emerged from the talkin' stage victorious. I love those people, but I haven't met them. In my limited years and experience, every time I find myself in a "talkin" situation it never ends until I end it or someone "loses their phone and all of their contacts."

You may be saying, "You have to demand it", "You have to tell them you want to move things forward", "You can't wait on them to always make the first move". Did it. Tried it. Moved. Several times. I think "talkers" are just not interested in really dating. :insert quote about not talking about it but being about it here::

Listen, this is a real problem. I know women my age who say they've never had boyfriends. When I think about it, I haven't every really had BOYFRIEND. A guy who has said that I'm his girlfriend and has walked around holding my hand in public in front of his friends and introduced me to his parents. Nope. Never. Not once. I've dated a few guys and have gone on dates, but if I were to classify my relationships, they've all been a different degree of "talkin" or "just talkin".

Maybe it's me. Maybe not. I'm willing to accept either of these truths. Either way, I'm on a mission to obliterate this word and the accompanying actions.

And, no, there's no conclusion here. No, plot twist. I'm just talking.

Let me know if you have thoughts, however. The comments are open or you can tweet me @whitandlove! I'll even listen if you want to tell me about how you went from talkin' to married and now you're skipping around in Story Brooke hand in hand. ::eye roll::


Le sigh.

Always in love,

The List: Selma 50

If you haven't already guessed, I'm completely in love with African-American history. In fact, it was my minor in college and potentially what I plan to study in a post-graduate program. So, there was no way I was missing the Bridge Crossing Jubilee this weekend in Selma in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

I haven't tweeted or posted on Facebook about this experience and I've only posted on Instagram once. I couldn't find the words. I couldn't muster up the courage to speak on something so perfect. Words would just taint it.

But I think I'm ready to share a bit from these two days that forever changed me. Some of what I felt, I want to hold on to like a secret between two young friends. Some of it, I want to wait and tell my (potential) children. It was a sacred moment and I reminded myself periodically throughout those two days not to forget to take it all in. Remember what you smell. Remember who you see. Remember what the sky looked like. 

On Sunday, before we crossed the bridge, I put my phone on airplane mode and stuck it in my backpack. I didn't want to call anyone or text or be tempted to Tweet about it. I just wanted to experience it.

As we crossed the bridge singing, I thanked God for letting me live in this time. I thanked Him for letting me experience this with my brother and sister-in-law. And mostly I thanked him for all of those brave people who thought enough of others to risk life and limb for something we take for granted today. Yes, we were there to celebrate but we were also there to stand in solidarity and to remind the world that we are still fighting for voting rights. It was a sobering moment but also one that filled me with hope.

So, today's list, is a list of one (not sure if that's really a list, but it's my blog lol); dedicated to the person who moved me the most this weekend. I had the honor of meeting him once while in college and this weekend I was so honored to hear him speak again. I hope we never forget his service and sacrifice. He's one of the last living heroes from that era and I pray we fill the remainder of his life with gratitude and love.

1. Congressman John Lewis 

Congressman Lewis pictured here with Selma director Ava Duvernay and actor David Oyelowo

Always in love,

The List: Pride

I hate awards shows. I really do. After the red carpet is over, you're literally sitting there watching people sit in seats and walk up to accept trophies with a couple of strange performances in between. Blame it on every school awards day and cheerleading banquet I've had to sit through in my life.

Last night's Academy Awards were a bit different, however. I really enjoyed the entire night. I mean, did you hear Lady Gaga? I'm so glad that my arguments of how well trained of a signer she is have finally been validated. This woman sings!

But most significant for me, was the performance and subsequent acceptance speech by John Legend and Common.

Here's a fun fact about me: I ADORE John Legend. So much that I quit following him on Twitter when he married her. And no I don't just love him because he's adorably handsome or just because his velvety voice makes you want to shout hallelujah. I also love him because he is intelligent and cares so deeply about his community. But the universe has conspired to keep us away from one another (another post for another day). And yes I feel the same way about Common, I mean, c'mon, this man has been enlightening us for years. And he's not too hard on the eyes, either.

Last night, however, my love deepened to a place that can't be described. They proved to the world that they are more than entertainers; a fact that many in the community have known for years. I am so proud to call them some of the leaders of our generation. So proud that they are continuing the work of our ancestors and all who have fought for equality in this country and beyond. To use a moment where you are being given one of the world's highest honors to speak about justice for all, the prison industrial complex and the threatening of the Voting Rights Act is just awe inspiring. And worthy of every tear that was shed; tears of remembrance and appreciation. 

These men and the entire cast of Selma have done nothing but make me proud. They have walked in this moment with such poise and grace and I am grateful to them for the example they have set. 

So, I dedicate this list to them. 

1. John Legend 

2. Common

3. Ava DuVernay

4. Selma cast & crew 

always in love,