In my most recent article with Manik Mag, I addressed the topic of 'Brand Bullying' and how we as a society need to be a tad more open minded about what it means to be stylish. Below are a few of my favorite excerpts:

"I don’t know about you, but I'm tired of the whole "Mean Girl" mentality and way of being. I'm tired of people mistreating, disrespecting, and ostracizing each other based on "Who" each other is wearing."

"By no means am I trying to downplay anyone’s existence, I'm just trying to let people know that Humble Pie is on the menu and they shouldn't be afraid to have a slice."

"News flash: Just because you paid $1000 on a pair of socks...doesn't make you stylish; it also most certainty doesn't make you too school for cool. (In that order)"

"Style is so many things to me, but the best explanation I could come up with is; style’s a creative minds pantomime, or like Morris code with Shoes & Clothes & Accessories , Oh My!!! "

"Like I've said so many times before, young Assholes end up being old Assholes. If you teach your kid to judge others through foolishness then they will take those lessons with them into adulthood. If you judge your child and make them feel inadequate, this too is a lesson they will take with them into adulthood."

"If style is something you care about, I'm asking you to please take a moment and really think about what style really means, I'm asking you to think about being unique and what not following the crowd means, I need for you to think about how you plan to express yourself from here on out..."

"I'm addressing this not just in hopes of improving your style perspective, but to create awareness and improve your overall perspective on human interaction."

And an excerpt from me on our twitter chat #Hautiestalk: "

" It's sad and frustrating because I feel as though people are having less fun with their clothes and who they are as a person, I feel they're too caught up, and I feel that it just perpetuates the cycle of not feeling worthy. People need to understand that you may not be able to afford certain things and that doesn't define you, but if someone judges you based on that, then the shoe is on the other foot for they can't afford what you're worth, in this case however, it does define them."

If I could compare relationships, we would closely resemble Doug and Carrie from King Of Queens. When we first saw the show we couldn't believe the resemblance, it quickly became "OUR" show, and I have to admit that watching that show made me love "US" that much more.

And as much as we love each other, we still have our times where we could just murder each other. I'm usually the RAH RAH one between the two of us, but surprisingly though, my husband accepts this about me too even though it's unpleasant and he wishes that I was able to control my anger a little better.

Through out my life I have had my share of relationships and have made my share of mistakes within those relationships. Though there were trying occurrences within those relationships, I managed to leave them with a deeper understanding of myself and people, thankfully with little to no regrets.

As I went through each passing relationship, I tried to make sure I didn't enter a new one with the baggage of the ones I was leaving in the past and tried to improve myself as well, with that I feel my relationships and the caliber of men improved as I mosied on through life.

This brings us to the MAN I currently have in my life.

He, like most males, has a tendency to revert back to that prepubescent boy, who's annoying, needs to be told what to do and when to do it, and losses sight of anything other than themselves, from time to time...but do not get it twisted... he is very much so a MAN.

He treats me well and with respect, he makes valiant efforts to right his wrongs and fix his mistakes, he loves me with every inch of himself and shows it, he appreciates me for who I am and what I look like when I'm steppin' it out and when I just rolled out of bed looking and smelling like the seventh layer of hell, he gets my humor and he has the ability to make me laugh (sometimes even in the middle of an argument), he knows my body and worships it, he makes me feel beautiful when he looks at me, makes me feel comfortable to be myself at all times, and he let's me be free to be me. He supports everything I do, he takes care of his castle, he cleans, he cooks ( I do the majority of that, but he does do it), he's ambitious, he's educated, he's accomplished, he's not afraid to check me and tell me that I'm wrong or if I'm being a bitch, brat, or ungrateful, he's honest, he's respectful, he respects my family, he's sexy as all FUCK, and we share an inside world that no one can come near or touch. This to me makes a MAN, he's MY MAN, and I am so grateful and blessed to have a person like this at this stage in my life.

We've been together for just about 11yrs and through all the ups and downs, I can honestly say he is the best thing that has happened to me and my life.

I have always wanted to have a person I could grow OLD and GRUMPY with, and I feel like I've found that person. I can't tell what will happen in the future, but I do hope to God that he is in it and we're happy together and just as in love, if not more, as we are now.

Today marks our four year wedding anniversary, our eleventh year of being together will be marked in October, and I'm feeling blessed and have high hopes for the many more years that are to come.

-CHEERS-

You Can't Sit With Us.