Ananda Leeke

Happy Creativity Thursday – 4/18

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 18, 2013April 15, 2013in Creativity ThursdayLeave a comment

Happy Creativity Thursday!

Last weekend, I attended Filmfest DC’s screening of Ballin’ at the Graveyard, a documentary written and produced by Basil Anastassiou and Paul Kentoffio that tells the story of what happens when men come together to play pickup basketball at Washington Park aka the “Graveyard” in Albany, New York. Click here to watch the film trailer.

Photo Credit: http://ballinatthegraveyard.com

In the midst of watching Ballin’ at the Graveyard and listening to the men’s trash talking, I learned their weekend warrior basketball adventures are much more than fun and games. They are fueled by a passionate energy that expresses itself through hours of exchanges on and off-the-court. Their emotions and experiences paint a tapestry of brotherhood, commitment, community, family, friendship, history, intergenerational bonds, leadership, legacy, mentoring, nurturing, and sharing I hadn’t expected to see. The relationships they have formed and continue to build are soulful, life affirming, and rooted in a deep love for one another, their community, and pick-up basketball. This movie has stolen my heart and become one of my favorite films. Please go see it when it comes to your city. Also, tell others about it.

PS: Be sure to LIKE Ballin’ at the Graveyard on Facebook and follow it on Twitter!

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday! 4/16

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 16, 2013April 16, 2013in Internet Geek TuesdayLeave a comment

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

Talkshoe.com is a podcast tool that makes my life easy. It’s free to use and requires very little technical know-how. I have been using Talkshoe to host Internet radio shows since 2008. Currently, I host the Digital Sisterhood Radio show which will begin its 2013 season later this year.

Do you listen to or host podcasts?

What are your favorite podcasts?

If you are thinking about launching a podcast, click here to read my 14 tips. Also, I encourage you to read my blog post that discusses the nine benefits of podcasting. Click here to check out my Podcasting 101 Pinterest board. I created it last year for a Podcasting 101 panel I moderated during the BlogHer conference in New York City.

Happy Yoga Monday! 4/15

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 15, 2013March 4, 2013in Yoga, Yoga Mondays2 Comments

Happy Yoga Monday!

I started practicing yoga to support my running practice in 1995. Right after I turned 40, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a yoga teacher at Flow Yoga Center in 2005. Click here to watch a video about my personal yoga journey. Enjoy!

Why did you start practicing yoga?

OM #YogaMonday OM!

PS: If you would like to read about my yoga journey, check out my memoir That Which Awakens Me on Amazon.com. It is available on Kindle

My debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One features a main character who works as a yoga teacher in Washington, D.C. Click here to visit the Love’s Troubadours’ Pinterest board which contains some great information about the novel. You can purchase it on Amazon.com.

Happy Creativity Thursday – 4/11

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 11, 2013in Creativity ThursdayLeave a comment

Happy Creativity Thursday!

Today, I am celebrating the work of Sonya Clark, a textile artist extraordinaire who also serves as Chair of the Department of Craft/Material Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Clark’s work focuses on her individual and collective identity as an African American woman with Caribbean roots from her Jamaican mother and Trinidadian father.

Madame C.J. Walker tapestry by Sonya Clark - Photo Credit: http://sonyaclark.com/gallery/madam-cj-walker/ — Madame C.J. Walker tapestry by Sonya Clark – Photo Credit: http://sonyaclark.com/gallery/madam-cj-walker/

I discovered Clark’s work and featured her Madame C.J. Walker, a tapestry made from black plastic combs, on my Black American Princess (BAP) Living social networking site in 2008. Since then, her work has been an inspiration for my own creative expression. Visit www.sonyaclark.com to learn more about her.

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday! 4/9

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 9, 2013February 5, 2013in Internet, Internet Geek TuesdayLeave a comment

Photo Credit: January O'Neil — Photo Credit: January O’Neil

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

When I started blogging about my poetry, January Gill O’Neil a/k/a The Poet Mom was one of the first people I met online. Her Poet Mom blog inspired me to take risks with my poems. She made blogging about poetry COOL.

Watch a video of her reading her poem, “What Mommy Wants.”

Check out her debut poetry collection, Underlife.

Follow her on Twitter @januaryoneil.

Do you have a favorite poetry blogger?

Happy Yoga Monday! 4/8

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 8, 2013March 4, 2013in Yoga, Yoga MondaysLeave a comment

Happy Yoga Monday!

Today, I want to share the Uttarabodhia mudra, a yoga hand movement you use to remind yourself of your oneness with everyone and everything in the universe. It’s a perfect way to practice yoga on the go! Click here to watch my short video. Enjoy!

Healing Mudras by Sabrina Mesko is a great book for understanding mudras.

OM #YogaMonday OM!

PS: If you would like to read about my yoga journey, check out my memoir That Which Awakens Me on Amazon.com. It is available on Kindle

My debut novel Love’s Troubadours – Karma: Book One features a main character who works as a yoga teacher in Washington, D.C. Click here to visit the Love’s Troubadours’ Pinterest board which contains some great information about the novel. You can purchase it on Amazon.com.

Happy Creativity Thursday 4/4

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 4, 2013March 11, 2013in Creativity ThursdayLeave a comment

Happy Creativity Thursday and National Poetry Month!

Today, I am celebrating the poetry of Derrick Weston Brown, an educator and a “people’s poet.” He is also the author of Wisdom Teeth. Derrick is a dear friend and an extraordinarily gifted wordsmith.

His poetry gets underneath my skin and travels to the depths of my soul. When I hear him read his work, I am stopped in my tracks. Click here to watch his Wisdom Teeth trailer. Be sure to check his book out on Amazon.com. Go on and buy a copy! His poetry will expand your mind! Enjoy!

Who are your favorite poets?

Blog Recap: Ananda’s Lifestylista Field Trip to Macy’s DC Spring Essentials Fashion Show

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 3, 2013April 3, 2013in Ananda's EventsLeave a comment

Ananda at Macy's Spring Fashion Show on March 28 — Ananda at Macy’s Spring Fashion Show on March 28

Happy Digital Sisterhood Wednesday!

Since it’s Digital Sisterhood Wednesday, I thought I would share my lifestylista field trip highlights from the Spring Fashion Show I attended last week at Macy’s Metro Center in Washington, D.C. The Fashion Show featured style expert and author Daisy Lewellyn .

Ananda, Xina Eiland, Jazzy Jones, and Macy's Staff at Spring Fashion Show on March 28 — Ananda, Xina Eiland, Jazzy Jones, and Macy’s Staff at Spring Fashion Show on March 28

Before the show, I met up with my Blogalicious digital sisters, Xina Eiland and Jazzy Jones. We had a chance to reconnect and talk about our plans for the spring season.

During the show, Daisy, the “Queen of Effortless Chic,” shared that she was a Howard University graduate (love that we are HU Bisons!) and gave five tips for Spring wardrobe essentials. Check out the photos and tips below.

Tip #1 – Peplum: Daisy recommended that women add a peplum top or dress to their wardrobe. The top could be paired with a skirt or pants. I love peplums. I wore them a lot during the late 1980s!

Tip #2 – Lace: Daisy encouraged women to wear colorful lace. I fell in love with the yellow lace dress. It reminded me of my Aunt Paulyne’s vintage 1960s peach lace dress I wore to my law school graduation at Howard University in the late 1980s.

Pullover sweaters are key to a woman's spring wardrobe this year! — Pullover sweaters are key to a woman’s spring wardrobe this year!

Tip #3 – Pullover Sweaters: Daisy suggested women incorporate pullover sweaters in their spring wardrobe. She used First Lady Michelle Obama’s sweater style as an example. I ADORE pullover sweaters especially the ones you can wear with a belt.

Tip #4 – Printed Pants: Daisy shared how women can add more color to their Spring wardrobe with printed pants.

Tip #5 – Dresses: Daisy talked about how dresses like the ones worn by First Lady Michelle Obama create a total look. I agree!

What are your five Spring wardrobe essentials?

DISCLAIMER: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about the Macy’s event. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

BlerdNation.com Features Ananda Leeke

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 3, 2013in Ananda's MediaLeave a comment

Hi All! Happy #DigitalSisterhood Wednesday!

I have some great news to share. Today, BlerdNation.com, an online destination that was launched in 2013 to celebrate Black Nerds, featured my profile on its web site. I enjoyed answering the profile questions because it gave me a chance to shine my “Blerdy” personality for all to see. Click here to read the profile. Be sure to LIKE BlerdNation on Facebook and follow on Pinterest, Twitter, and Tumblr.

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday! 4/2

Posted by Ananda Leekeon April 2, 2013April 2, 2013in Internet Geek Tuesday, PoetryLeave a comment

Happy Internet Geek Tuesday!

It’s National Poetry Month! One of the places I like to visit during the month is Poets.org. It offers a new poem each day. You can even have it emailed to you. Click here to sign up.

Are you a poetry lover? Who are your favorite poets? Where do you go online to read poetry?

Photo Credit: Tim'm T. West, www.reddirt.biz — Photo Credit: Tim’m T. West, http://www.reddirt.biz

I love reading the poetry of Tim’m T. West, an amazing activist,author, educator, feminist, hip hop artist, poet, scholar, and singer. I met Tim’m while he was hosting The Front Porch, a monthly poetry reading series at Mocha Hut, a cafe located on U Street in Washington, D.C (closed in 2009). He encouraged me to participate in The Front Porch monthly readings.

His creative energy, friendship, music, poetry, and poetical memoir, Red Dirt Revival: A Poetic Memoir In Six Breaths, inspired me to write and publish my own poetical memoir, That Which Awakens Me. Take a moment and click here to watch a video of Tim’m performing his creative work at the Front Porch in 2007. Also, click here to watch a 2009 video of my poem dedicated to him. Enjoy!