A Day in the Life: Home Is...

Hurricane Sandy came through NY and completely destroyed the city of Long Beach that we love so much. My hubby and I are safe, but our home is not. Cue this song, which has become my mantra "home is wherever I'm with you." Thanks to family and friends that are keeping us optimistic. Not sure when we will be back with steady content here on MavenFresh, but you can keep in touch via Instagram and Twitter. Sending love and prayer to everyone else affected by this disaster. xoxo Becca

PFMs on the Town: AfroPunk Fest 2012

i had a great time this past weekend enjoying the beautiful weather and beautiful people all out celebrating this year's AfroPunk Festival 8/25-26 in Brooklyn.  i actually made it out to both days.  i love people watching and this was the event for it.  everyone was out showing off their afropunk styling; from clothing and accessories to hair styles, i saw it all!

the first day, i had a wonderful time catching up and hanging with an old friend plus running into many others. i specifically wanted to see Alice Smith perform but i didn't make it out in time.  i did make it out in time to check out the vendors.  i saw my fellow jewelry designer and college buddy, Melody of Melody's Addiction repping her wares.  i also saw a few other designers that i plan to check out (grabbed their cards for website shopping).  i couldn't resist taking home a necklace by Kelly Horrigan Handmade because it called my name when i saw it.  i hung around to see Ms. Erykah Badu perform but was really disappointed by the sound - so much so that i ended the night early.

i headed back out on Sunday, this time with the whole family to meet up with some of my besties and their children.  we were prepared with sheets and snacks and tp (for the port-a-potties, ewww lol).  the kids played ball and ran around while we enjoyed the music.  i really enjoyed Reggie Watts performance.  it was my first time experiencing his sound.  my girl and i ventured away from our perfect spot to see Janelle Monae but the sea of people made it hard to enjoy her set.  we quickly headed back before TV On The Radio went on because i was really excited to see their performance.  luckily, they figured out what the sound issue was that ruined Erykah's set.  TV On The Radio was everything i hoped for- great sound, great vibe and a great end to a great day.  i can't wait for next year when we can do it all over again! xo Sesheta

A Day in the Life: Staycation Week

Relaxing in a vintage printed wrap skirt. I hit the local thrift store to sell off some vintage clothing and accessories...glad I kept this colorful piece! This look will be the next daily outfit!

Spending time with special house guests...our besties from Cali came to visit us for the week with a new member of the family who was all smiles. Sweet baby D we miss you!

Admiring the view from my beach chair...almost daily.

Enjoying the evening in the plaza at Lincoln Center. The fountain brings back lots of magical memories from my childhood, and this night marked a very special new one...we saw my brother perform onstage in a Curtis Mayfield tribute with some other amazing musicians. 

With my bro and my hubs...my two loves. Decked out for my brother's gig. Can you see the pride just radiating off me?

Cuddling with Stewie. 

Eating dinner outside with friends! We enjoyed a yummy kale salad (picked fresh from the yard) and topped it with a tahini dressing...healthy and delicious. 

Stay-cations are quite wonderful. I should take them more often! Hope your week was a good one...cheers to the weekend. xoxo Becca

PFMs Music Corner: Donna Summer - Queen of the Dance

Donna Summer - Queen of the Disco (photo  courtesy of MTV)

unbelievably, today we lost another great in music.  Donna Summer lost her battle with cancer today at age 63. it truly caught me off guard when i heard the news, via twitter feed.  what??! Donna Summer dead??! most people i know had the same reaction.  we didn't even know she was battling cancer.  reports i've read say she died specifically of breast cancer.  knowing full well that cancer is cancer, but, of all the cancers, i thought doctors and science had made leaps and bounds as far as breast cancer goes -- with early detection and treatments.  i didn't think dying of breast cancer was something that happened nowadays.  obviously, i was wrong.  she had such swag - an original disco diva who had the hits to match.  i was truly sorry to hear that she had passed.  

though i'm familiar with many of her popular hits (Bad Girls, Last Dance, She Works Hard for The Money, Love to Love You Baby, Hot Stuff), i am looking forward to really discovering all of her music.  it's time to play her songs and honor her spirit for all the joy and dance she has brought to us all.  i'm going to start by watching Thank God It's Friday on BounceTV this Friday night at 8pm (Donna starred in the movie!! check your cable listings for the channel - it's 476 for FIOS customers).   it will be an excuse to watch some good fashion as well as honor a legacy.  RIP Donna Summer.

PFMs Music Corner: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Endlessly

current lineup, a la Google Images

Oh hell yes. That was my first thought when I found out the Red Hot Chili Peppers were going to be performing in my neck of the woods for what could be their final tour. A bunch of us have tickets to see them this Friday at the Prudential Center in NJ, and I couldn't be more excited. Their infectious energy makes me feel like a kid again...who doesn't want to feel that, even if just for the night! The last time I saw them live was a good 10 years ago, but my love for this band hasn't changed a bit. Listening to their music is one of my joys in life. And it's not just me- about 28 years after their debut, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Anthony Kiedis and Flea are still holding it down, even after some serious drug problems and several changes in the band lineup (oh how I still miss John Frusciante being in the mix.) It's pretty amazing when I think back to hearing Knock Me Down for the first time...I was probably 12 years old, and just completely hooked. Of course Blood Sugar Sex Magic was the "it" album by the time I reached high school, and that's about when the crush on Anthony Kiedis began. Anyone else with me? Anyway, I felt superior knowing that my younger brother and I had been listening to them for years at that point; we were all about Freaky Styley because Jared was going through a George Clinton phase and I learned everything about punk and funk music from him. Nowadays, I'm still a Stadium Arcadium girl. So there you go, a little known fact about me...I am and always will be a RHCP fan! If there was a soundtrack to my life, they would have the most tunes on there for sure. 

Who else is going to Friday night's show? It's going to be so much fun!

PFMs Music Corner: R.I.P. Whitney Houston

my first introduction to Whitney

i loved every song on this album!

i still can't believe that Whitney is gone.  since saturday, i've heard just about every song she ever released.  two things occurred to me: 1) she really was a powerhouse singer and 2) she had tons of hits.  i knew this but it wasn't until i heard these songs back to back that it came to me just how much of an influence she had on my life - as a child of the late 80's/early 90's and as a musician.  we had her second album at home and i literally played it over and over again.  i practiced and later sang "The Greatest Love of All" in my school talent show in the 5th grade.  my rendition of the song was the reason i was invited back to perform again the following year (even though i hadn't planned on taking part).  when i think of the beginning of my love affair with music, Whitney was definitely there from the start. ...but instead of going out with grace,  her story ends as just another artist who couldn't keep the influence of drugs out of her life.  though i laugh at her worst days and some of the comedy skits about her, i am still really saddened at how she expired and that we will no longer be able to hear her amazing voice.  i am also saddened for her daughter, who is left to pick up the pieces.  

despite my sadness, i am happy that Whitney is free of her physical addictions.  she wasn't able to pull it together while still on earth but now she will no longer have to struggle.  just like Michael, regardless of how she died, she will always remain one of the greats of our times.

PFMs Music Corner: Mylo Xyloto - Coldplay

about two months ago, i was talking with a friend who mentioned that Coldplay had a new album out.  i was totally shocked because I hadn't heard anything about it.  while i wouldn't consider myself a die hard fan, i do really enjoy their music.  i was late to get on the bandwagon but, never-the-less, i consider myself a fan.  i really like their A Rush of Blood to the Head and X & Y albums, but this new album, Mylo Xyloto (pronounced my-lo zy-letoe) may be my new fave.  each of their albums have different vibes going on and, to me, this album exudes success.  it seems obvious that they are group with a lot of experience under their belt.  the more i listen to the album, i find a new favorite song.  first it was Paradise but now i really love Charlie Brown.  i'm so glad that my friend put me on to the new album!  i saw her the other day and she (a true blue fan) told me that, in an effort to get the best seat possible, ended up buying three sets of tickets to their August show at MSG.  she offered to sell me a pair... i am really considering taking her up on it!  

now i'm off to watch SNL because Becca just let me know that episode when Coldplay was the musical guest is about to replay!  

toodles!

PFMs Music Corner: Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

you can purchase this album at Amazon.com or download on iTunes

i have always had a love affair with music.  i really believe it flows through my veins just as much as blood does lol.  if you have ever been moved by music, i'm sure that you know just what i mean.  every so often, an album takes hold of me and i can't get a song (or songs) out of my head.  

over Thanksgiving, i rediscovered this timeless classic.  if you have never experienced the beauty that is Donny Hathaway's voice matched with the clear crispness of Roberta Flack's vocals, you have truly missed out.  i've had this album on repeat for the past two days and while i've enjoyed the music, it saddened me. though Donny Hathaway had such a gift, he left the world too soon.  the same with so many other artists...so tragic.  listening to this music, you can almost get that he may have understood something that many others didn't and that's what fueled his voice and his writing.  either way, i wanted to share what has been my soundtrack and give love to another lost musical genius.