I have been kinda under the weather, so please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Nothing major (Don’t worry too much!)
Here are some of my favorite gospel songs. I like these songs because they give me the extra hope and faith I need to make it through the day, that “Yes I can” feeling.
Ricky Dillard & The New G – “The Light” I like this song because it reminds that even when we do not realize it (at times) , God is always with us. The song has a great melody. This choir is quite hip and incorporates a lot of current dance moves. (I am surprised that they did not “Walk It Out.”
Marvin Sapp – “Never Would Have A Made It” Marvin Sapp is a powerful singer. His songs tug at the heartstrings and engage the listeners to reflect on the goodness of God. He is one of my all-time favorites singers.
DeWayne Woods – “Let Go and Let God” I love, love, love this song. When we are stressing about the cares of the world, we need let go and let God have his way. A great testimony.
What are some of your favorite gospel/inspirational songs?
1In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Matthew 28:1-10
Take time today (and everyday) to reflect on the love of Jesus Christ for humanity.
Ray J. is back with “Sexy Can I.” Gotta give it to Ray – he has been coming out with jams in recent times (“One Wish,” “What I Need“). While T-Pain caught flack for commenting on Ray’s “meat,” we have to agree with T-Pain 100%! LOL! Ray can get it at minute 2:45, getting his D’Angelo on! Yum!
FRIDAY FLASHBACK
Speaking D’Angelo, let’s go back and peep one of my fave videos of all time for very obvious reasons. Whenever I watch “How Does It Feel,” I have this overwhelming feeling of wanting to bump the camera down! Big ups to D’Angelo for giving us Ladies some eye candy!
I heard this on a Russ Parr “Wrong Song” mix last week and wow, it took me back. Here’s Oaktown 357 with “Juicy.” If you want to see it in color, click here.
SEXY SHOE PICK
Decisions, decisions!
You will be killing them softly in these Jessica Simpsons. The “Jacie” has the shine, the style and the 4.5 inch stilleto heel to turn heads. I couldn’t decide which color is the hottest – tell us which color you would rock! 🙂 I would definitely invest in the black pair, but the other two colors are simply dazzling. I would love to see Jess do a chain of shoe stores.
SWIM SUIT SEASON
Are you longing for summer like I am? This has got to the be coldest and longest winter ever! SIDEBAR – If you haven’t read “The Coldest Winter Ever” by Sister Soulja, please believe it is a great read. An urban tale of life’s ups and downs, I could not put it down when I read it a few years ago. Ok, sorry, back to the matter at hand….I plan on dragging Mix and Sen to the beach as soon as it gets hot. Here is a darling ensemble I plan on getting from Old Navy:
How cute! Green is my fave color, so I’m too thrilled! LOL!
Or step out on the beach like a Top Model in this tank with matching bottom – that’s Dani from ANTM btw. I love it paired with the bracelets.
Think you don’t have the body for a swim suit? Then get a plain one piece suit and pair it with a cute cover up – it will look like you have on a dress:
I love breezy black and white prints for the summer.
How cute is this one!
I would wear this one as a cover up and later on, pair it with some jeans. Old Navy has cover ups that go up to a size 3X. No need to be ashamed to go to the beach this year Ladies – you do you! 🙂
AEROBIC STRIP TEASE
If you have been with us from the beginning, you know Sensual Element’sfirst post was about Carmen Electra’s strip tease. Here is a clip of the routine that you can use for exercise and for turning things up with your lover.
Women, as you know, need time to get revved up. Although your man may be more than willing to pull out all the stops to get you hot, he wouldn’t mind if you gave yourself a running start. “A number of women still believe that it’s solely a man’s job to arouse them,” says Georgia sex therapist Gloria Brame, PhD. “To have a really fulfilling sexual experience though, you have to put some effort into getting yourself into a sexual state of mind.”To give your libido a boost, draw on the same sources of inspiration you use during solo self-pleasuring missions. Once his seduction scheme begins, close your eyes and fantasize about a hot encounter you had with your man…or even some other dude. “It’s totally okay to think about another sexual partner when you’re trying to turn yourself on,” reassures Brame. “You just might not want to tell your boyfriend about it.”
2. HE WANTS SEX TO BE FUN
Unfortunately, real-life romps aren’t as seamless as they are in the movies. “Things don’t always go smoothly during sex — some positions don’t work, and odd noises happen,” says Gardos. “If you get hung up on a mishap, it will ruin the mood. But if you can both laugh, it becomes a light bonding moment.”Chas,* 28, agrees. “One night I tried a new move that wasn’t executed properly, and my girl hit her head on the nightstand! She didn’t hurt herself, so we could joke about it, and then we got back to what we were doing.”Frisky fun is about more than damage control though. Make a silly bet to be paid off in sexual favors or play a board game naked in bed and agree that the loser has to grant the winner one lusty request. Names have been changed.
3. HE WANTS YOU TO DROP HINTS
When it comes to pleasing the women in their lives, every man wishes he had ESP (extrasexual perception). But the truth is, your libidinous longings can be baffling. “That’s why a guy loves it when you’re able to guide him without barking out orders,” says Gardos.So when giving erotic instruction, throw in some positive reinforcement. “Tell him how good it feels when he does something right, or remind him of a technique that always gets you off,” suggests Brame. “If he’s not giving you enough foreplay, ask him to use his hand or mouth to warm you up, saying that you want to draw out the experience.”
4. HE WANTS TO WATCH
For men, what they see is almost as good as what they get, so make sure to give him an eyeful. “One time during sex, my girlfriend led me over to a mirror so we could see ourselves in action,” remembers Tyler, 21. “I found it really sexy, but what made it hotter was how into it she was.”Another way to turn him on with sight: Keep some clothes on. Sometimes men prefer when you leave a little to the imagination. “Sexy lingerie can be as arousing — or more so — as being nude, because it builds anticipation,” says Bob Berkowitz, PhD, coauthor of When Men Stop Having Sex.More great views: you in girl-on-top position or, if you’re feeling brave, touching yourself in front of him.
5. HE WANTS YOU TO BE NAUGHTY
Even if you’re a bad girl at heart, you might hold back with your guy. “Women are often afraid to get naughty in a relationship, because they don’t want to shatter any ‘good girlfriend’ image he has or they don’t want him to think they’re weird,” explains Brame. “But men want to see that no-holds-barred side of you — they just don’t want to offend you by asking for it.”What dirty-girl tricks fit the bill? Pretty much anything that shows him how much you like sex and how much you want it with him, says Gardos. To let him know you’re into him, grab his butt hard when he’s climaxing or gently nip his shoulder.You may also want to do something unexpected, like initiating a new position or trying a passion prop. “My girlfriend and I were out shopping when she suggested we check out this sex-toy shop,” Nick, 27, says. “We ended up buying this thing called a penis sleeve, which is basically a thick, bumpy condom. Not only was it fun to use, but I loved how eager she was to try it.”
6. HE WANTS A “WOW, WHAT WAS THAT?” EXPERIENCE
To separate yourself from the pack, you’ll need to pull a move so wild, he won’t be able to stop thinking about it the next day. “If you’ve mastered one particular technique that’s really hot and different, the entire erotic experience will stand out in his mind,” explains psychologist Joel Block, PhD, author of The Art of the Quickie.Now, you don’t have to bust out a complicated trick best used by yoga instructors — just tweak an old standby, say, switching between oral sex and intercourse…with him blindfolded.You may also want to come up with your own signature mouth move. “When my ex-girlfriend would go down on me, she took her time exploring the whole area with her tongue,” remembers Peter, 32. “And she did cool stuff with it, like alternating between using the flat part and then covering the same territory with just the tip. It was an entirely different sensation!”
7. HE WANTS TO MIX THINGS UP
Repetition can make once-hot sack sessions seem ho-hum. So be open to varying things in bed. Any change in speed, pressure, or position will make the act more interesting and pleasurable. “Variety keeps him in a heightened state of arousal because he never knows what to expect,” says Block.During foreplay, wrap your fist around his member (with lube!), moving it up and down with long, smooth strokes. Then add your other hand, and gently twist both hands in opposing directions. When you get to intercourse, start off slowly in missionary. Next, rest your feet on his shoulders for deeper thrusting. Finally, roll over, and let him enter you from behind.
8. HE WANTS NOOKY OUT OF NOWHERE
“You’ll win big sexual points with your guy if you spring sex on him out of the blue,” says Gardos. “It gives him a huge ego boost by reinforcing the fact that you’re really hot for him.”For a spontaneous seduction, ask him to pull over to a deserted spot for a roadside romp when you’re driving home one night. Or at a party, take him into a back bedroom or closet. Joe, 23, remembers a naughty surprise attack at a black-tie affair. “My date and I were sitting down at dinner, and she slid her hand under the table and began to pleasure me — right in the middle of the meal! It was so spontaneous and unexpected. I could barely sit still,” he recalls.
9. HE WANTS TO TAKE YOU
The best way to bring out the sexy beast in your guy? Initiate some take-me-I’m-yours action. “He’d love to be raw and animalistic with you, but he needs to know you want it too,” says Brame. “Kiss him seductively and then pull away, saying that if he wants more, he can come and get it.” During the act, you can also tell him “harder” or “faster” if you feel like he’s handling you with kid gloves.Dave, 24, was totally psyched when a woman asked to be ravaged. “An ex-girlfriend lay down on the bed and begged me to rip off her clothes, which I did. The sex was great, but letting me tear her shirt in half was the best part because it was passionate and intense.”
10. HE WANTS TO DO NOTHING SOMETIMES
On the flip side, occasionally men prefer it when you take over. Lying back while a chick has her way with him is an ultimate guy fantasy.Just ask Brian, 26: “I was dating a woman who was sort of a bookworm. But when I got her into bed for the first time, she was wild. Before I could even try to take off her clothes, she threw me back on the bed and blindfolded me with her bra,” he remembers. “Then she gave me the best oral sex ever. I didn’t have to lift a finger.”For a softer approach, Brame suggests treating your man to allover titillation: Have him lie on the bed naked. Then, starting at one foot, kiss and lick your way up his leg and along the crease where his thigh meets his torso. Next, move to his side, up to his neck, and down to his main event. When you’re ready for intercourse, treat him to reverse-cowgirl so he can’t help you, even if he wants to. Trust us: The payback will be awesome.
We realized that it has been awhile since we share our current favorite songs. Here we go!
“…In This Club” by Usher is number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts this week and Joyful Radiance can’t get enough of it. We are just patiently waiting to see how hot the official video will be.
Joy also loves how Lil Kim freaks the “Sensual Seduction”remix with Snoop Dogg.
Mix Maven loves the whimsical tune by Mariah Carey, “Touch My Body.” The song reminds her of Mariah circa 1995 (and that is a good thing!!)
An oldie, but goodie, Mix picks Janet Jackson’s “20 Foreplay.”In the video, she is channeling Dorothy Dandridge. The song is sweet and sexy, which is Ms. Jackson’s persona.
Speaking of Janet, Sensual Element loves the dance groove of “Feeback.”
Sen also loves “American Boy”by Estelle featuring Kanye West.
Sen just couldn’t leave out Raheem DeVaughn’s “Customer.”
Spring is nigh. I know you are looking at your winter wardrobe and you cannot wait to pack them up for storage.
Everyone needs a hip trench (all-weather) coat. I totally love the asymmetrical collar and masculine plaid that create a feminine look.
Polka-Dot is wonderful, which is why I love this shades of green polka dot dress. The colors are fresh and spring-like. Makes me more excited about the season.
Alexander McQueen’s Pink drape dress intrigues me. I like the dress because it is very bold and eye-catching. Not sure where I would wear this to, but I think I want this dress! 🙂
I do not wear much jewelry except for wedding rings and a miscellaneous bracelet here and there. Actually, I love bracelets, but I do not own many, but I definitely want this pave wide cuff bracelet. (Just delicious!!)
Clutch purses are my favorite, especially from Banana Republic. BR has not sold an acceptable clutch since 2005, so I am loving the yellow lizard-embossed clutch…. a great accessory for spring/summer.
Ok, ok, so you know every woman needs a Christian Louboutin (any time of the year). Everyone knows I love a shimmer and sheen.
Honorable mention for Spring: Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. Darrel’s Black/Yellow/Green pumps. I gotta have this shoe because of the the wonderful island of Jamaica’s flag colors, the land of my birth. Would I wear them, probably not, but that does not mean I should not have them! 😉
Cherry Culture.com is having a sale. The March Madness (in time of the NCAA Basketball tourneys) sale gives a 20% discount on everything in the store. Woo Hooo!!!
This is the year of the Baby in my family. Four babies will be born in 2008. The current score is 2 out and 2 to go. 😉
I notice that the moms-to-be are all different and yet the same.
I have noticed that pregnant women like (not in any order):
Consuming food they would not normally eat. One of my cousins loves sweet desserts (sidebar: does not include any sweet vegetable, which she already found utterly disgusting), especially an occasional cookie or yellow cake with lemon frosting. Currently, she is totally disgusted by any sweet food or drink. She told me she is buying juice that with 17g-25g of sugar (no high fructose corn syrup.) Very cool to me! 😉 My favorite cousin was chowing down on soul food in her first trimester, which is funny because she does not normally eat soul food.
Banana Republic – Two of my cousins have been going to Banana Republic to purchase maternity clothes. (No, BR does not sell maternity clothes) The blouson tops and dresses allow them to hit up the clearance rack for cute clothes without having to spend the high price of maternity branded clothes.
Pregnancy websites and blogs. Books are great, but pregnant women love to read these websites and blogs because they get updated information and cool 3-D womb shots and fetal development e-mails. Check out Nymbler (a baby naming tool, quite innovative. Select your names that you like and the wizard will help you find other names that you might like) and BabyCenter.com
Guilt – This can be a valuable tool when asking husband to trek in the middle of the night to get food or get a glass of water downstairs in the kitchen. This should be used sparingly because you do not want to cause any feelings of resentment.
Looking at paint store websites. My favorite cousin’s latest obsession (again) is BenjaminMoore.com. She loves to decorate anyway and pregnancy has brought on a new project for her. She has been creating different color combos for me to check out. Oh fun times!!
Watching or recording the Baby Story on TLC. My cousin told me about how some of these women, the first-timers, want to have natural, drug-free delivery. I asked her would she do that and her answer is “HELL NOOOOO!!”
Shopping for nursery furniture. (see #5)
Shopping for baby clothes and accessories
Expensive diaper bags. On my cousin’s wish list: A Louis Vuitton Diaper bag (that is a no-go area) or a Coach (more acceptable)
Talking about their pregnancies. My fave cousin finds this conversation tends to be initiated by friends who already have kids and want to tell her about what they went through. She finds most of the information irrelevant to her situation.
I will update from time to time. Fun learning new things about motherhood.
Well, let me add Duffy to that list. She is a 23 year old* Welsh soul singer-songwriter. Duffy has been racking up number 1s on the UK charts. Many people are comparing her with Amy Winehouse, but they do not sound the same to me. (No one confuses Aretha Franklin with Mavis Staple!)
She sounds like she has been under the tutelage of Aretha Franklin (that is a lot of tutelage) and the Stax Records catalog. Her voice sounds like she has been honing the soul. She sings deeply, yet effortlessly.
It would be nice to see more young American artists singing in the Soul tradition. Unfortunately, these singers are not as popular as they should be. The music industry must realize the reason why sales are down because it keeps on pumping out mediocrity.
Anyway, check out Duffy, tell me what you think of her style and sound.
or a Coach (more acceptable) 
Pumps And Gloss 