My Thoughts Go Out To All Those Affected

I can't do a post about clothes or makeup while the people in Japan are dealing with so much hurt and sadness; it doesn't seem fitting. Instead, my heart goes out to all those affected by this terrible tragedy. For those that can, you can donate with the red cross or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Lady Gaga is turing to her "little monsters" to help raise funds for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief. The pop singer is selling newly created bracelets that say "Pray for Japan" in English and Japanese characters. Gaga's website is selling the bracelets for $5 each with the promise that "all proceeds go directly to Japan relief efforts." Additional donations may be added to the cost of the item as well.

J Dilla Tribute

The boys over at Dearly Departed have done it again. They have teamed up with the J Dilla Foundation (thanks Ma Dukes), Rhyme & Reason Radio, and others to bring you what is going to be one memorable night. All proceeds go to the J Dilla Foundation, in addition Dearly Departed will also be releasing an exclusive DD x J Dilla Foundation t-shirt. Don't sleep on this one!!!! It's going to be major! Come out and support a great cause all while hearing the dopest Dilla beats!  TURN IT UP! 

"The Mission of The J Dilla Foundation is to help fund inner-city music programs, and provide scholarships to students attending schools that have progressive music curricula.

The foundation was started by Maureen Yancey, mother of acclaimed producer James “Jay Dee aka J Dilla” Yancey. J Dilla was a Grammy award winning record producer and artist who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. According to NPR.org, he was one of the music industry’s most influential hip-hop artists, working for big-name acts such as Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, Common and Janet Jackson.

J Dilla passed away in 2006 after long suffering with Lupus and the rare blood disease TTP. “Dilla was about love in many formats,” Maureen states. “One of the things he wanted me to do with his legacy was to use it to help others… kids who were musically gifted but had little hope due to poverty.” It is the foundation’s hope that by funding and encouraging such progressive music curricula, young prodigies, and music enthusiast alike will have the tools and support they need to flourish and become successful within the entertainment industry. The importance of urban music in academia is also heavily stressed." 

Mi Casa Es Su Casa

If you’ve noticed a sudden influx of eerily immaculate portrait tattoos in the Phoenix Metro area, there’s a good chance they’re the work of Andrick Aviles. Soft spoken with a worldly charm, Andrick is only 19 years old, with only three years of experience under his belt.Yes, THREE, but don’t let that number fool you. With a client roster that includes Amare Stoudemire and Arizona Cardinals star safety, Adrian Wilson, Andrick’s love for his craft and steadfast determination has led him to ultmately become Phoenix’s youngest and most sought after ink slinger. With influences ranging from Jun Cha and Jose Lopez, to The Doors and Etta James, Andrick found themes of past eras consistently catching his attention; he is an old soul and true artist.

Hailing from Mexico City, Andrick and his family moved to Arizona when he was two years old. After 14 years of enduring the battle of gaining permanent residency in the states, the Aviles family finally had their chance at opportunity. But like most people today, they struggled to raise the necessary funds, leaving the family in crisis. Enter Scottsdale Arizona’s most reputable menswear boutique, Highpoint Shoes. Besides offering an exceptional selection of shoes and clothing, Highpoint is well known for its “Family First” mantra and widespread philanthropic efforts. After working on several of its staff, Andrick became Highpoint’s official tattoo artist and “adopted baby brother”. The hometown heroes, (in conjunction with booming brand, Dearly Departed and The Adrian Wilson Foundation), decided to band together to do the right thing and support their friend.

On Friday, January 28th, Highpoint Shoes will host “Mi Casa, Su Casa” to benefit the Aviles family and their ultimate goal of becoming LEGAL U.S. citizens. From 9 to 11 pm, there will be clothing raffles, open bar, and an auction featuring artwork from local legends, Dumperfoo, Joshua Rhodes, Isse Maloi, and many more. ALL proceeds will be donated to the family to turn their dreams into reality. To learn more about Andrick, visit www.andrickaviles.tumblr.com.

Words by Dearly Departed

Kiss The Ring

Ron Artest must be seriously insane! Dude has worked for 11 years to get an NBA championship ring, which he finally won last season with the Lakers. But now, Artest is auctioning off his championship ring for charity. He is either really a saint, or he's fricken insane! Artest will begin auctioning off the ring Oct. 27th, when fans can purchase a minimum of five raffle tickets for $2 each through Artest's website. The proceed will benefit Xcel University, a charity Artest supports, with funds directed towards two as-yet-determined mental health causes. One lucky fan on Christmas will then keep Artest's 2010 championship ring. 

Taco Festival

While everyone is at Phoenix Fashion Week, tomorrow I will be at the Arizona Taco Festival.... Holler!

The event will take place at the Scottsdale Waterfront (7025 E. Via Soleri – lot across from Olive & Ivy) on Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (free for kids under 12); a VIP ticket is available for $50, food samples will be $2 each, while tequila samples, margaritas and Mexican beers will be available for $4-$12. Select proceeds from all profits will benefit Waste Not.

Milk Munny

I'm lazy today, so this is straight from the Dearly Departed website! I'm allowed to steal from them...the co-owner is my boyfriend. LOL

"Come join us Friday, October 1st as we kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Milk Munny: A Vinyl Toy Exhibit. Featuring the works of renowned artists (including AZ legends Dumper Foo, Alyisse Tramel, and Joshua Rhodes), the showcase also boasts a Munny designed by the staff of LA’s High Voltage Tattoo. Proceeds from each toy sold will benefit The Keep A Breast Foundation, an organization that is well known for promoting awareness through art events. With sounds by the illustrious DJ M2, the exhibit takes place at Downtown Phoenix’s Monorchid Gallery. For more information on the event, visit www.milkmunny.org."


**Update** - the above paragraph may have been written by a friend over at Fresh Fiends...LOL... either or, just get your asses to the exhibit! 

Come Support Adrian Wilson

Best Friends Forever

Get the new BFF bracelet for a good cause. When you purchase one of these babies for only $10, go online and register it. A soldier will then receive an identical bracelet to wear which is engraved with a special number linking the two of you together.

25% of the purchase price will help support veterans through the American Freedom Foundation.

A few celebs have already started rocking it, so should you.

How To Wear The Same Dress For An Entire Year

"What should I wear?" Or "I have nothing to wear in my closet" as you stare at rows and rows of clothes even some of them unworn have come out of all our mouths at one time or another. 

Sheena Matheiken has taken away the guess work for the above questions. For one year, the New Yorker by way of India, pledged to wear the same little black dress - Every. Single. Day- as part of The Uniform Project. It's served as a way to raise awareness of The Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots nonprofit that brings education to children living in Indian slums. So far, Matheikens efforts have raised nearly $77,000 - enough to send over $200 kids to school. 

How'd she wear the dress for 365 days without getting bored? By accessorizing of course! Check out the slide show below. I think I'm gonna go out and buy a little black dress of my own. Am loving the outfits, not to mention the whole reasoning behind it. 

Uniform Project Picture Book from The Uniform Project on Vimeo.

Shoe Revolt

Check out their website here. A Mile in Her Shoes: You haven't walked a mile in her shoes but you can walk a mile in ours. Shop our boutique where it's more than a shoe, it's a stand. A stand against human trafficking- your opportunity to help us eradicate this injustice is coming soon. The Grand Opening is August 1, 2010 get excited and please spread the word.


Imagine combining something you love with a mission. In addition to buying a pair of shoes because you love them you have the satisfaction of knowing the proceeds are going to a good cause. This is every shoeista's fantasy - a real reason to shop till you drop. This fantasy is reality at ShoeRevolt.com.
ShoeRevolt.com is like no other online shoe boutique you have visited before; we are a family, a league of shoe styling girlfriends fighting together for one goal. The goal is simple, to kick human trafficking to the curb with every shoe purchase.
Why shoes? There is something about sliding your favorite pair of shoes on your feet that creates a sense of style, an air of liberation, and a confidence when you walk in them. The liberty, the feeling of a quality and stylish shoe is indescribable in words. Now imagine wearing the shoes and knowing that the purchase is attached to something positive and life changing for someone else; making the shopping experience more than a purchase, but a stand. ShoeRevolt.com is stand for those that can’t stand for themselves.

Suits & Sneakers Recap

Last night was the Suits and Sneakers party and all I know is I had a good time. It was dope seeing all the guys in their suits and sneakers on....way cute. And the ladies that rocked their dresses with sneakers too was killer. Good times all around except for the idiot men that kept trying to "Holla" at us....really guys, come on. It was cool though, we had Summer in our corner to put them in their place. Here are a few pics, more to come when I steal them from other peoples blogs and Facebook. LOL

Suits & Sneakers

Join Highpoint Shoes, Dearly Departed, The Fresh Fiends and me of course, this Friday night, March 19th at the W Hotel.

You Can Help

I am guilty of going to Starbucks almost every day to get some sort of $5 drink, so if I can do that, then I know I can donate to the Haiti relief fund. I did my part, will you do yours too? One of the most publicized way to donate to Haiti earthquake relief efforts is via text message. Texting "HAITI" to 90999 will charge a $10 donation to the Red Cross on your next phone bill.
Texting "yele" to 501 501 is also a way to donate $5 to relief efforts via Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.

Lady La...

The lovely Lady La is not only fighting for her little brother who suffers from autism, but all the other kids out there as well. Here she is featured on channel 3 this morning.





If you want to cop one her calendars that helps support a great cause, get yours here.

Vintage Kate Moss

These photos of Kate Moss were taken pre-coke days when she was 15. It's nice to see she still smoked back then (LOL). These pics were taken be renowned photographer, Corrine Day, who sadly is battling a tumor in her brain. Friends of Day has setup an auction to sell these pics of Moss to help raise money for Day's treatments.

Click here to check out the auction

Fresh Fiends Charity Event

On Friday night, the crew and I gathered in downtown Phoenix during First Friday's for a grand opening of one of the bf's friends stores who by the way is carrying the Dearly Departed clothing line. Then it was off to Hidden House for the Fresh Fiends charity . It was good times with good company.

Fresh Fiends Giving Back

Shouts out to the girls over at Fresh Fiends for putting on such a faboo benefit last night over at Hidden House. Not only was the event to raise money for charity, but it also showcased local artists. Dope time, great music, and lovely people. Oh, and you can't forget about the Dave sandwich.

You're Cordially Invited To...

An FF event... be there...I know I will

HighPoint Charity Party

After the BF's holiday party on Friday night, we ran over to HighPoint which was having a charity party. I didn't have my camera handy, so I stole these pics from Baby P and my ladies over at Fresh Fiends
I felt extremely ugly that night, so no pics of me!