Adobe Photoshop CS5

I always express creativity. In my E-Commerce class I had the privilege to work with Adobe Photoshop CS5. It is editing software that allows you to manipulate pictures and text. This software allows me to be creative. Creativity comes in all forms from poetry, drawing, writing songs, and many more.

I was surprised to learn that celebrity photographers use Photoshop. They take a picture of a celebrity and edit the photos. The majority of the pictures you see on the cover of a magazine are Photoshop.

It took me awhile to comprehend the basics and workstation. I was use to GIMP, which is free software editing. GIMP is a substitution for Photoshop. I was impressed that Adobe have Photoshop tutorials and podcasts of different topics pertaining to Photoshop.I totally recommend this software. Photoshop is an excellent tool to learn. This skill looks awesome on a resume. 

From my experience, Photoshop allowed me to:

1.      Create a background with text

2.      Have a black and white photo with a splash of color

 

3.      Cartoon Myself



T-Boz: Thoughts

“The poems cover a whole range of topics: Love, relationships, heartbreak, body image, family, society, abortion, and many other things. They each mean a lot to me, and I hope they inspire you and give you a different perspective on what’s going on around you. You’ll find a little bit of yourself or someone you know”.

T-Boz

In 1999 T-Boz from the group TLC published a book called, “Thoughts.” The book reflected information about her life. Her topics included growing up without her father, her mother, loss of her grandmother, and her battle with Sickle Cell Anemia. Several chapters included her biography and other chapters included her personal poems.

Her book is for her diehard fans. It covered everyday situations teens go through. I was disappointed in the book. I expected more from her poems and the lack of expression disappointed me. I couldn’t believe she released her poems being that horrible.

As an artist she is talented. She has excellent songwriting capabilities and she’s creative in the music industry. As a poetic she needs a lot of work. She did an excellent job discussing issues and situations she goes through daily. If she omitted the poems I think her book might of made the New York Times Best Sellers List.

I would not recommend this book!

Guest Post: My Interview with Tasha

Guest Post by: Loco Parenthood with Mama-B

I had a chance to interview Tasha from the blog Classy with a Twist. This is a must read interview, because she gives advice to women who want to understand poetry better. Her fabulous blog gives women a chance to learn the true meanings behind poems, songs, and book quotes. You can view her blog at classy with a twist.

1) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: Why did you start your blog Classy with a twist?

Tasha: I started my blog to inspire women to be creative and be open to different forms of creativity.

2) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: Why did you name your blog Classy with a twist?

Tasha: I am a classy young lady that puts a twist on everything I say or do. I wanted my blog to reflect my personality.

3) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: What gives you your inspiration behind your thoughts you bring out in your blog?

Tasha: My inspiration comes from my passion of poetry.

4) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: What are your personal interest in life that readers don't no about you?

Tasha: I love to research. If I’m uncertain about a topic or anything I will spend hours online researching the material. I thrive on knowledge.

5) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: Where do you want this blog to go in future?

Tasha: I want my blog to be successful. My future goal is 200 followers.

6) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: What was one of your favorite post so far that you have published?

Tasha: I love the Alicia Keys: Tears for Water blog. I got a chance to share with my readers the creative and poetic side of A Keys.

7) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: Do you personally write poems in your free time? If you do will one be on a future post?

Tasha: I write poems all the time. I’m nervous about posting my own material, because I hate criticism on material that I create from my heart.

8) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: How do you take a poem, song, or book and interpret it so the readers of your blog can understand it through your eyes?

Tasha: I read the material to understand what is being said. Then I interpret the words from a different viewpoint. The special twist comes from a connection that most people don’t see when they read or hear the material.

9) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: How do you choose a new topic to write about for the week?

Tasha: It’s hard to choose a new topic. I write down a list of topics I want to talk about. The topic that stays on my mind for ten mins is the topic I write about.

10) Loco Parenthood with Mama-B: Do you have any advice for future women who want to understand poetry better?

Tasha: I want women to understand that poetry is an expression. There’s creativity in every woman, because were creative human beings. I want women to be open and embrace all forms of creativity.

Steve Harvey: Act Like a Lady Think Like a Man

There is a lot of buzz about Steve Harvey’s new book Act Like a Lady Think Like a Man. Everybody and their mother was talking about this book. I never had interest in reading this book, because I assumed it was a pointless book with limited humor. What could Steve Harvey possibly say that I don’t already know. I didn’t understand how this book made the New York Times Best Selling List.

Being the curious person that I am, I brought the book to see for myself what’s all the buzz about. It was hard to read the book, because my sister kept stealing it and telling me about upcoming material I haven’t read yet. Trust me that’s a good sign if she reads the book!

To my surprise, Steve Harvey offered insight on a man’s perspective and how they think and react. This book provides knowledge that every woman's father should share with her. Steve Harvey stresses that it’s important for a woman to maintain their standards and requirements in their relationships with men. Throughout the book, he keeps his readers attention by using humor and being truthful.

Some of his topics:

1.      "Three P's" (Profess, Provide and Protect)

2.      A Keeper or Sportfish

3.      MaMa boys

4.      90 Day Rule

Here’s an excerpt:

"We Need to Talk," and Other Words That Make Men Run for Cover

"We need to talk."

For a man, few words are as menacing as those four—especially when a woman is the one saying them and he's on the receiving end. Those four words can mean only two things to men: either we did something wrong or, worse, you really literally just want to talk. Now, we understand that we're not the essence of perfection and there are going to be times when you're mad at us and need to let us know it; we get that, though we don't necessarily want to have to concentrate on an hourlong angry lecture about how we screwed up. But even more? No man wants to sit around gabbing with you like we're one of your girlfriends. Ever. It's just not in our DNA to lounge around, sip coffee, and dab at our eyes with tissue as if we're in an AA meeting or on some psychologist's couch trying to get things off our chest. When men are talking, and especially when they're listening, it's with purpose.

We don't vent.

This book is well written and it’s an easy read. I highly recommend this book!

Tupac: The Rose That grew From Concrete

Tupac released his collection of poems in 1999 called “The Rose That grew From Concrete.” He wrote these poems around age 19. His poems are written in his own handwriting on the left side of the page and the translation without the symbols and pictures is the right side of the page.



Here's an excerpt from one of his poems:

Did you hear about the rose that grew
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared.

All of Tupac’s poems reflected how he viewed himself. His poems showed an unusual and softer side to him. The poems was unexpected, because of his gangsta reputation and big ego. I never knew he could be a gentleman at times as well as a good listener. You never would expect that and his poems showed a side of him that he portrayed so little of.

Tupac was creative with his words and thought process. His emotions were so real that you felt the emotion with him, literally. The odds were against him becoming successful when you look at his lifestyle, childhood, and environment.

I recommend this poem book, because it shows the side of a man we got to see so little of.

“Expect the best and prepare for the worst in any situation”

The title sounds enticing don’t it. Why would you prepare for the worst in a situation. You want the best outcome possible. Well, I look at situations expecting the worst outcome so I wouldn’t be shocked with the unexpected.

Reasons this quote works

1.      If you expect the worst and if it does happen you want be shocked, because you were prepared for the outcome.

2.      If you expect the worst and got the best outcome, then you know the situation could have been worst.

This quote is so true and take the time to prepare for the uncertainties.

Alicia Keys Tears for Water

“Everything I have ever written has stemmed from my tears of joy, of pain, of sorrow, of depression, even of question. All of my writing has come from some form of my tears. I use these tears as water to nourish me, to quench my thirst for understanding."

Alicia Keys

If you are interested in Alicia Keys creativity then you will be pleased with her poetic skills. In 2004, Alicia Keys published “Tears for Water: Songbook of Songs & Lyrics.” The first half of the book consists of her breathtaking poems. The second half is her lyrics from both albums Songs in a Minor and The Diary of Alicia Keys.

Alicia Keys poetry is incredible and full of meaning. She pulls every emotion out of you from beginning to the end of every poem. All of her poems is unique, diverse, and has a specific meaning. Her poems are personal, but you can relate to what she was going through at a particular time in her life.

It’s impossible not to take something valuable away from her message. It takes courage to put out your inner most thoughts for the world to judge you. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read poetry

Moment for Life

"I wish that I could have this moment for life".

I want to discuss a popular Rap song called, "Moment 4 Life". It's written and performed by Nicki Minaj and Drake. The song is powerful and has so much meaning. If you are a rap fan, I know you will be familiar with this song and the lyrics. If you are not a rap fan, I want you to listen to the clip below.

Just concentrate on the lyrics and message she is trying to convey, not the fact that it’s a rap song.

Nicki Minaj is expressing this incredible moment she had and desires to keep that unique feeling for the rest of her life. She says that:

I fly with the stars in the skies
I am no longer trying to survive
I believe that life is a prize
But to live doesn't mean you're alive

The lyrics are remarkable that it makes you open your eyes to see the truth in reality. Let me break down the concept of what she is saying.

I fly with the stars in the skies

She is not an ordinary woman that follows people. She is above what people think about her. She has high values and standards that she cherishes, which puts her in a class and category of her own. She knows where she is going in life and she doesn’t need reassurance from anybody.

I am no longer trying to survive

She is no longer trying to keep up with the image people want her to be.

I believe that life is a prize

She realizes that life should be cherished. You shouldn’t waste your time.

But to live doesn't mean you're alive

You have to live in the moment. Don’t worry about yesterday, because you can’t change the past. Don’t worry about tomorrow, because the future hasn’t been written yet. Don’t go through life dreaming and hoping things will turn out a certain way. Go through life achieving and living to your potential to enjoy your life. Just becuase your breathing doesn't mean your living.

Live to the fullest and have your moment for life!

Welcome

Welcome to my first blog. It is called Classy with a Twist, because I am a unique person that puts a twist on everything I say or do! If you are curious as to what this blog is about, I will not keep you waiting. This blog will give you insight on poetry, entertainment, and inspirational quotes from the viewpoint of a creative African American woman.

It was hard to narrow down a specific blog interests, because I have so many. It is strange for me to say that, because I am a shy person.

I love to take a quote and interpret it in my own clever way to add that special twist on it. The special twist I am always referring to will give you a “Wow” factor you never thought of or saw coming.

Being the creative person I am, I will occasionally share my own personal poems. The entertainment section will include topics and reviews that targeted towards African American women.

I hope you enjoy my blog and feel free to comment!

Love is a Melody

“Love is a melody that no one can resist. It becomes part of the rhythm of your soul.”

Love is a small word that has a powerful meaning. Love can heal or destroy you yet everybody aches for it and sometimes forgets what it truly means.

Sometimes love can hit you like a melody that you never saw coming. When a person is truly in love it is like their soul is in sync and connected as one. The chemistry is undeniable because love can overshadow your perspective.

 Always remember that love is blind and it is hard to resist that melody. Here's a poem I wrote to express my view of true love:

Unspoken Melody

The words came to me so vivid and clear

I heard this melody that nobody can hear

A melody that opened my heart with its key

I fell in love, because the melody was so sweet and perfect for me

The depth of my soul connected to yours

Now we become one like the moon and sun

I heard the melody that you had for me

It was soft spoken and very intelligently