happy first day of summer...

I bounced out of work at 8.30pish tonight. Truth be told, that's actually relatively early for a week that we're closing an issue. The reason? Nothing fab, I assure you. Nope. Try a damn tornado watch on for size.

Mind you, it's not like I've never lived through tropical storm and hurricane alerts back in NYC. But I gotta tell you, this Midwest weather nonsense is FORREAL. I'm talking thick ass streaks of lightening, sideways rain, u-shaped trees and winds to whip your clothes off.

So err-um yeah, f--k the Quiet Storm, I don't care what slow jam you wanna put on. This right here is NOT sexy.

*drags blanket, pillows, flashlight & cell phone to the bathtub*

flashing back...

It seems like everywhere I turn, folks want to know how I like living in Chicago.

Unfortunately, I still haven't had an opportunity to do much living- unless you count the 7 min walk from my apt to the office. And yes, I do mean exactly 7 minutes. 'Cause if I learned nothing else in NYC, I certainly learned how to speed walk my ass off when I oversleep in the morning. Werd.

*kanye shrug*

But on an upnote, I just learned that New Kids On the Block and the Backstreet Boys are slated to perform next week. So if I can still get tickets, I may just have to bite the bullet and leave work at a decent hour. O, o, o, o O! Just hanging TOUGH!

Don't judge me.

AND, starting tom morning I will be working out with a trainer again. So Lord willing, I can find the waistline I left in Washington Heights before I head back home to visit my peeps in July.

*crosses fingers, toes, legs & arms*

But before I I completely crash for the night, definitely want to encourage everyone to log onto JETmag.com and enter yourself or a fantastic Dad that you know in our Sexiest Real Dad Contest. Because sexy is as sexy does and it takes more than movie star looks to be a father to these kids nowadays. So don't wait because the contest ends soon. And I want to see what you guys think makes a man sexy.

Enter HERE.

shortest three day weekend eva...

So my very 1st issue officially hits the streets at the end of this week- WOO HOO!!

READ: Don't walk, RUN to your local supermarket, magazine stand, wherever you can find it and cop a copy of the issue with Garcelle Beauvais on the cover IMMEDIATELY.

And please don't think I put Garcelle on the cover just because she has flawless skin and a new show coming out. Eh, not so much. Actually, your girl landed an EXCLUSIVE! For the first time and ONLY in JET, she's dishing on all the messy details from her recent divorce.

*brushes off shoulders*

So hurry up, cause I am DYING to know what you guys think!!

Oh and after you hit me back, log on to the JET website and enter to win a pair of kicks from the exclusive new Swizz Beatz/ Reebok Classic collection. HERE.

This is the very first giveaway JET has ever done. My goal is to make it a regular part of the issues. But you know how it goes- the higher the number of entrants, the bigger and more interesting the prizes will become down the road. *hint, hint*

On a more personal note, just finished up my very first holiday weekend in the new city.... Um yeah. Can't really say I'm loving the temperamental Chicago weather. It was literally 50 degrees and pouring rain all day on Saturday and Sunday. Then I woke up to freaking 90 degree weather on Memorial Day Monday.

Ree-damn-diculous.

I did however manage to make the most of the one sunny day and attend my very first "Chi-Town BBQ." (Mind you, I've been hearing about these infamous gathering of black people, good music and free food/ drink for as long as folks have known that I was moving to the city.) And I'm happy to report that it was def fun times to be had by all. Held out by Lake Michigan, there were at least 100 people at all times and the food, drink & eye candy were on point.

So three cheers for that- Hip, hip hooray! Hip,hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!

Anyhoo, that's about it for now. Gotta do a little bit of work before I go to sleep so I can be prepared to hit the ground running tomorrow. Have a great week party people!

xoxox

BTW, this ssue doesn't "officially hit stands until next week. So Moment readers are actually getting a "sneak peak" before everybody else! Don't say I never do anything for you.

oh yeah, remember me...

Has it really been a month since my last post? Good grief, life is FLYING.

To quickly bring you guys up to speed on what's happened since I last checked in:

1) I cut my hair- yes, even shorter.

2) I packed up and moved my entire life to Chicago.

3) I purchased my first flat screen TV. Don't judge me.

4) I closed my very first issue of JET Magazine. It hits newsstands nationwide on June 6th.

5) One of my BFFs gave birth to her first son!

As I'm sure you can imagine, it's been A LOT.

Yet nowhere on that list does it say I've been out gallivanting in Chicago, meeting cute Chicago Bulls basketball players, getting the very much need daily workouts in, shopping for cute shoes or even enjoying the springtime sunshine.

Le sigh.

On the bright side, I am still super excited to be here. The work is extremely fulfilling and my co-workers are cool. Not to mention, I've only officially been in the city for two weeks, and my actual apartment for two days. READ: There's still hope for lots of shenanigans (at the very least, some sun).

So don't give up on the blog so fast. I have every intention of posting more regularly. But until I'm settled *looks at the piles of unopened boxes sitting in the middle of middle living room & cringes* it'll probably just be once-a-week recaps on the weekends.

I miss you guys.

start spreading the news...

So as you may have noticed, I've been a little M.I.A from the blog lately.... my bad. BUT as you may have heard by now, it was for a very, very, very good reason.

*clears throat and stands up to every inch of my five feet*

I am so excited to announce that after five WONDERFUL years of self-employment... (insert drum roll, flashing lights & smoke machine, please)

I have accepted the offer to join the Johnson Publishing family as the new Editor-In-Chief of JET Magazine!

*slight pause to allow all those who know how much I love working in my pajamas to recover from the shock*

Obviously, it was a huge decision that did not come easily for many reasons- all of them starting & ending with my love of my very blessed life in New York City.

*adjusts my lucky Yankees cap*

However, the opportunity to lead the change that's going to re-energize & re-introduce such an iconic brand to new generations of readers was one that any journalist that loves her career as much as I do could not pass up. I am humbled to have been chosen for this important mission. And I look forward to rising to the challenge. (Oh and did I mention, the uber fabulous Desiree Rogers is my boss? BLANK STARE. Exaaactly.)

So naturally, I want to express my sincerest gratitude to each and everyone who has supported me and my career over the past 10 years. Whether you've been rocking with me since my insane Road Tripping days at HONEY, while I was pretending to be a 'Privileged White Woman at JANE, spent the money and purchased one of my books or simply forward my blog posts every once in a while, your energy has helped me reach THIS moment.

Thank you, thank you, thank YOU.

It's going to be an adventure. I certainly expect you to stick around for the ride.