I hope someone, someday, utters a similar phrase about me, but at times this book made me consider that I might be more complacent than I'd like. Gay discusses things I love (or so I thought) and finds many flaws with them, it might just be a few Hollywood films but still, the angles at which she views things is so critical and admirable. Sometimes she writes about other writing, some of it I have read, some of it I haven't but I do appreciate her words on all of the subjects she tackles. The standard that Gay holds writers to is awesome and it inspires me. At times she is harsh, I mean come on' these are books, movies, 'pop culture propaganda,' but it reinforced how all too often audiences blindly accept subpar story lines or offensive characters. 

I honestly think just listing the chapters. tell you what topics she dares discuss could sell you on reading it, so basically that is all I am going to do in this "review." Enjoy... haha. #lazyblogger

And since some of you probably read this because you think that I have something to bring to the table here are some of my words about Gay's words:



Towards the beginning of the book, in the section GENDER & SEXUALITY Gay discusses likability and I agree with most of her points BUT I think her saying that she likes Nellie Olsen more than Laura Ingalls-Wilder is ludicrous and doesn't prove her point because Laura does not conform to societal norms at all. I have had a deep love for LIW since my mother and I read the books when I was a little girl; I will be reviewing her newly published autobiography ASAP.

Both movies I've seen, and I cried my eyes out during both. I definitely thought both movies were good, until now. 

Gay smartly pointed out some things that I never would have thought about and that I am glad my brain has considered now. I'm not sure I will ever have the energy to hold Hollywood or the media to the same standard that Gay does but I wish I did. 

Here is where the book gets really good! She explains in ways I wouldn't have been able to touch why it sucks to be a woman in America. More specifically, how much it sucks to have a bunch of white, old, men trying to control my reproductive system. She does much more than that in this chapter but I'll leave it there.

Also Gay's final take on Sandberg's 'Lean In' is, " just one more reminder that the rules are always different for girls, no matter who they, and no matter what they do."

+ I also listen to gansta - rap on my way to work in my car, at insanely loud volumes, EVEN though the lyrics sometimes offend me to the deepest parts of my lady parts.

+ I also KNOW NOTHING about cars and I definitely don't want to be good at cars.

+ I also think that "We need to be able to argue beyond the thread of privilege."

Gay ends the book by stating I would rather be a bad feminist, than no feminist at all. Gay is the kind of articulate I aspire to, she is self aware, she possesses a level of intelligence I only dream of and the ability to pick things apart to expose where the weakness lies. 

This book is not just for women, not just for girls, it will enlighten whomever reads it. This book has a message for everyone. And I strongly encourage my male readers to pick it up. Read it without shame on the bus, in spite of it's pink cover and feminine content there is nothing you need to know more about than the female experience. Until you really start to try and understand what your sisters, your girlfriends and mothers experience you will never be able to help. You have to learn the language, listen to all versions of the struggle before you can start to challenge your brothers, your bowling buddies and your father in-laws to start speaking, acting and thinking differently.


xoxox, kp

This weekend you will inevitably spend some screen time, spend some of it on this stuff...

Friday morning Beyoncé published this video on her Youtube channel and I am stupidly proud that I was one of the first 10,000 to view it. Now I have watched it at least three more times and each time I fall more in love, I notice some new thing that takes my breathe away or I take away a new sound bite of truth that speaks to me.

I was lucky enough to meet Rebecca McDonald a few years ago when I styled her for an early installment of I AM MPLS (An event I enjoyed working on for about three years, but I have since distanced myself from because of it's inability to fully encompass the beauty and diversity of my home, which I love more than anything!) 

Any way Rebecca is amazing, I'm so glad I met her and she owns a company called bfreshproductions and they made this video. As I may have mentioned before I have Hochunk or Winnebago blood in my heritage and I truly love everything about the Native American culture and their sacred traditions. This short film exposes a tragic thing that is all too widely experienced on reservations and in the homes of Minnesota's Native people. This film also shows triumphs and a solution, watch it! Support these women by giving your time to their stories. 

This girl is epic, I am obsessed with the fact that my brother is cool enough to be dating her. Follow her on Twitter, watch her on Youtube, go see her when she performs. Jen is intelligent, hilarious, outspoken, thoughtful, she's a proud feminist, politically active, she has a healthy appetite for food and life. But lastly, this little mama can sing her ass off!!

Spend your screen time with the stories of ladies, spend time listening to, reading and digesting tough topics. Think hard, dream big and challenge everything. Don't be mindless with your screen time. But most of all don't spend all weekend with your screens. Talk to people, snuggle, read off of paper pages and eat green foods. LOVE YOU ALL.

xoxox, kp

My journey with Sol Inspirations started in 2010, I was hired as an intern whose job it was to write for the website. I did what I do and took over! haha jokes, but fo' reals I worked my way up to Associate Director of the organization before resigning that title in early 2013. I LOVE SOL. Love each and every person that the organization has given me the opportunity to meet, everything I've learned, all the memories I took with me. And now I have the pleasure of being on the Board of Directors. 

This epic idea started three years when Sol Inspirations was just a baby non-profit, President Detrick and I planned the NATION'S FIRST ECO-FASHION SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST. The first installment was graciously hosted at Bespoke in Edina, owner Lisa Williams is and was a member of our Executive Board. The first scholarship was a great success but world's smaller than the show we held at the University of Minnesota a few weeks ago, INNOVATION pics here. I wrote a post that includes a re-cap of that event and am now excited to talk product!

At Sol Inspiration's it's important to all os us that we walk the walk in as many aspects as we can. Aside from eco-conscious fashion, zero-waste event production we also pulled together some great beauty products that represent our mission.

The night before the show I made my way to ULTA in Roseville, I had numerous items to pick up. We were short a make-up artist and I had volunteered my services, I am not certified but I love doing my own make up and I rarely shy away from a job that needs doing. So aside from my stage management role I also did make up for several models. Not being a regular doer of this job I needed the essentials which I found with no trouble at all.

Make up is fun! If you don't agree then I really hope you don't bother putting any of it on your face because you are beautiful without it. But if you are like me, and you pretend you are a renaissance painter creating a masterpiece when you slap it on then try these products that I signed off on! Happy play.

xoxo, kp

Lately I've been a little sick, just snotty and unable to breathe. It's all in the sinuses, I say when I diagnose myself. haha I don't feel like slowing down because it's not as if I have the flu. I am not upchucking, I am capable of getting things accomplished. So I have found a few helpful products that get me feeling better, breathing out of at least one nostril and on with my life. 

Even going to the doctor is too time consuming at this point in my life, I also know what they are going to do. Tell me to sleep, drink more water and give me an antibiotic, charge me a co-pay and send me to the pharmacy. Well this whole assortment of goodies took about 5 minutes to purchase and about two minutes to put them into use. 

If you love the tiny pieces of paper joy in a fortune cookie then this tea is your new best friend. Each packet comes with a nugget of wisdom that will speak to your life, motivate you and sometimes just make you smile. I'll let the brand speak for it's self now...

These three particular kinds of tea are my favorites for when I am sick. The Immune Support kind is obviously amazing and jump starts your immune system, for when you know it's coming! The Soothing Caramel Bedtime is what I drink before sleepy time, delicious and relaxinggg. And obviously if your nose isn't letting you take deep breathes then you might need the last kind of tea I have shown above. 

And now I will show you some sweet shots of my tea tags!

Be good to your body, drink water like it's going out of style, rest when you have the chance, if you don't have the chance you might need to create it. Seriously, your body needs sleep, even if you are like me and hate slowing down YOU HAVE TO. But MOST IMPORTANTLY - LOVE YOURSELF


 U N C O N D I T I O N A L L Y, fo real,  it's the best remedy for all ailments. 

xoxo, kp