The movie follows the journey of Noni, played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, with a dream to become a singer. Throughout her career she deals with the pressures of the music industry and her mother Macy, played by Minnie Driver. Noni battles with the persona that she is supposed to be to the public and who she truly is at her core. As the story develops Noni has a brush with death and is saved by officer Kaz, played by Nate Parker and the story takes off from there.

Top 4 Reasons To Watch Beyond The Lights

1. Great Love Story: Who doesn’t enjoy a great love story. The film is great in that it captures intimate tights shots. I got a dash of “The Notebook” when Noni and Kaz were at the beach, but that wasn’t a bad thing! 

2. Music/Soundtrack: All the music greatly compliments the movie. The song Blackbird by Nina Simone is a running theme throughout that helps tie the story. The movie’s soundtrack, released on November 10, 2014, features a mélange of ballads, R&B and pop tunes.

3. Nate Parker: From his smile to his amazing body, ladies you should be on your way to theaters right now! His character in the film is very honest which is refreshing to see juxtapose amidst the chaotic and often toxic scenarios that Noni encounters.

4. Take Away Message: Noni’s rollercoaster of self-discovery is a relatable one. Remove the paparazzi, the fame and the tabloids and at its core it is the journey of self-love, growth and acceptance.

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood did a great job. Have you seen the movie yet? What are your thoughts?

Chicken Pad Thai

Chicken Pad Thai

My visit to Sri Thai in Snellville, GA was full of friendly staff, good service and delicious food! The exterior of the restaurant is very unassuming and the interior very small, quaint and casual. I am a huge fan of chicken pad thai, so I was sure to order it. The portion was very generous, surprisingly I had to take the rest home. My dish had great flavor and spice.

Tempura Cheesecake

For dessert my boyfriend and I shared the Tempura Cheesecake. I was stuffed from my meal but since I absolutely love tempura cheesecake I had to get it. The size of the cheesecake was massive! By far this was the biggest tempura cheesecake I have come across. Unfortunately I wish the flavors were as big as its size. The cheesecake didn't have the best after taste for me, but then again I am picky with my cheesecake. My boyfriend ate every last bite, so I guess that tells you where he stands.

For affordability, generous portions and flavorful thai dishes I vote Sri Thai. They also have sushi specials so I will definitely be back!

Do you have an old twist out? Didn’t re-twist your hair? Or maybe you forgot to sleep with your bonnet on. Whatever the reason, sometimes the struggle is real when it comes to natural hair. This is my quick go to style when I’m getting ready for work and I don’t have time to get fancy with my hair. A doughnut bun is a very easy style to achieve.

You will need the following:

• Brush
• Gel
• Leave-In Conditioner
• Bobby Pins
• Ouchless Headband
• Spray Bottle With Water
• Scarf or Mesh Hair Wrap

Check out my video as I go step by step on how I achieved this look.

Below are some more close up pictures of the doughnut bun. What do you think of this style? Let me know your thoughts below.

Wet n Wild released their Fall 2014 Megalast Limited Edition Matte Collection. This brand is always extremely affordable; each polish is $1.99. I thought it was a nice touch that Wet n Wild made the bottle cap matte to tie back to the collection theme. The polish is fast drying, which is always a win with me!

And another one! That’s right, ABC with out a doubt has another hit on their hands. How to Get Away with Murder, created by Peter Nowalk and executively produced by Shonda Rhimes, immediately draws you in from the opening scene. The premiere episode takes you on a flashback / flash-forward roller coaster of anticipation, deception and of course murder!

Naturally there is sex, lies and scandal, key elements for a good show. How to Get Away with Murder skillfully wraps dark twisted story lines of deception with cunning client cases.

Strong female lead, professor and lawyer Annalise Keating demands nothing but respect from her students and colleagues. I’m in love with Viola Davis’ performance as no nonsense Annalise. With high expectations, she teaches her students to go to extreme lengths to win their cases, even if it’s through ruthless means. On day one of class Professor Keating quickly enlightens her law students on how to save a client, “Discredit the witness, find another suspect and make it plausible that he may be the real perpetrator of the crime and finally bury the evidence…that’s how you get away with murder.”

A new fall favorite for sure, How To Get Away With Murder rounds off Shonda’s Thursday take over as I’m calling it, airing at 10 PM EST right after Scandal. Will you be watching?

ABC’s new show Blackish premiered and it’s off to a great start in my opinion. The show stars Anthony Anderson as the father Andre, Tracee Ellis Ross as the wife Rainbow and Laurence Fishburne as the grandfather. The lovable Johnson family has four entertaining and charming children that add to the great cast ensemble. Each character is comical and witty and after watching episode 1, I think they will quickly draw in audiences.

Andre, a successful advertising executive, struggles to find the balance of being an upper middle class man living comfortably in suburbia, while trying to hold on to his “black culture.”

I think what makes `black·ish so exciting is that it addresses cultural stereotypes and awkward truths while still being quirky and entertaining. I don’t think the show will solely focus on stereotypes, as that may feel like a one-note, so I am excited for more and to see how the characters and stories develop. I am also excited to see a sitcom on ABC that centers on an African American family.

Are you excited for this hump day treat?! I am. Check out the trailer below. `black·ish comes on Wednesdays at 9:30PM EST

Cheers to getting your foot in the door and making some noise! I can’t wait for more next week. #blackishABC