We all know inspiration can come from a myriad of sources. One that has been of particular importance to me recently has been my music. I've always relied heavily on my ipod to get me from point A to point B or even simply from waking up to making coffee. It is my elixir of life (behind coffee of course) and in New York that has never been more true. Riding the subway can be fun and you can people watch and eavesdrop on random but sometimes ever so interesting conversations but sometimes when it's early and your body is screaming at you to go back to sleep because it's cold and human beings weren't mean to survive this kind of weather (otherwise we would have fur everywhere) music is that source to influence our mind and souls in ways that only sound waves can.

As you regular readers know by now Queen B has been a powerful inspiration source for me especially upon my move to the big apple. After seeing her performance at the opening of the Grammy's I felt the need to create a playlist that would make me feel like a bad ass, powerful, sexy, dominating, ready-to-take-over-this-city bitch. Please note that when I say bitch I don't mean it as an insulting slur but as an empowering, strong independent woman. Some feminists may disagree with this use of the word but I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. That said below you will find my Bitch playlist and hopefully it will give you the empowering confidence it gives me and may it make your commute to work transform from a drudge into an exhilarating adventure. The outfit is from a day last week I was feeling especially bitchy; fox mask because why the hell not ;)

I know, I know, we're all probably tired of hearing about Queen B but damn it I can't help myself. If this is a blog about the things and people that inspire and influence me and my personal style Beyonce is definitely at the top of that list. The night of my graduation we all gathered around the computer to watch all of the videos from her new self titled album and to my surprise everyone (including the boys) were extremely impressed. Not to my surprise I was in awe because I have always had such high respect and admiration for the woman. In the decades of her being in the spotlight she has never had a bad scandal, lost her temper, made a fool of herself or made an album that disappointed her unfaltering fans. To say the least I would take Beyonce over Rihanna any day. She has a mind of her own and though I've never met her in person I have little doubt that she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. In this upcoming year I hope that more young girls look to Beyonce as a role model over any current or past pop star as she has been nothing but a positive force on the image of the modern woman. Smart, powerful, healthy, sexy, talented, ambitious and best of all she has the dopest swag. One of the things that I find most inspiring about B is how she can be sexy as hell and is empowered by it instead of being demeaned as slutty. To me that is one of the biggest issues with female pop stars today – getting put down for embracing their body or doing it in a manner that is not strengthening them.

That said this new album blew me away. I'm sure we all probably know this by now but just in case you don't Beyonce not only just had a baby but is on a world tour, secretly made 17 videos filmed in all different locations with different directors and then dropped the album with no press, no leaking, and it is now the #1 album in over 70 countries in less than a week. WTF. If that isn't a butt load of motivating inspiration then damn, I really don't know what to say. For me I feel more motivated and inspired than ever and in this new year I WILL slam dance in an alley way while singing Bow Down, strut down the street like I am a queen, learn how to twist and turn my body like Beyonce despite my lack of curves and most importantly Own. This. Shit. Happy New Years ladies and gentleman and may we all find our inner Beyonce in 2014.