Monday, October 22, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Work, Work and FASHION
I finished all my summer vacas including:
Wilson, NC
Chicago, IL
Louisville, KY
Indiana, PA
Orlando, FL
Port Canaveral, FL
Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas
I am now preparing for the Fall 2012 Legislative Session.
I am looking for some new fashions for the fall. Here is what I put together so far
Hairstyle I like:
I figured out that I love wearing dresses. I pair them with some pearls and go from there. Im going to buy this dress this weekend:
Ill be searching for deals this weekend but this will be me this year!!!!!!
Wilson, NC
Chicago, IL
Louisville, KY
Indiana, PA
Orlando, FL
Port Canaveral, FL
Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas
I am now preparing for the Fall 2012 Legislative Session.
I am looking for some new fashions for the fall. Here is what I put together so far
Hairstyle I like:
I figured out that I love wearing dresses. I pair them with some pearls and go from there. Im going to buy this dress this weekend:
Ill be searching for deals this weekend but this will be me this year!!!!!!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Zumba
So excited that I survived my 1st ZUMBA class on Monday and I will be going back today!!!!
What an awesome dance party and fun way to exercise! I go to Zumba at Tustin Recreation Center near my house.
To find a ZUMBA class near you visit: www.zumba.com
I hope to keep going because I love it!
Cruisin.....
I had the privilege to take my first cruise last week.
I was happy to get a true break without cell phones, email and text messages. What a different world we would be without them!
I cruised with Carnival Cruises on the ship Carnival Sensation (pictured below).
I cruised from Port Canaveral, FL to Freeport and Nassau Bahamas!
I had a great time cruising but I did not like the aesthetics of the boat. The boat reminded me of the 70s-90s with the outdated decor in the common areas. The food was EXCELLENT and the room service was great. Our room steward Buddy made sure we had everything we needed and cleaned our room to perfection.
From the time, we entered the ship until we left, they offered you drinks all day long lol. I stuck with water and juice they provided so I would not incur soda fees of couse I had specialty beverages during meals.
Although, I truly enjoyed the food, I dreaded dinner because the waiter was always slow. I did not suffer from any motion sickness and would love to cruise again.
I completely enjoyed the water works area on the top deck. I had a blast on the slide and felt like a kid again.
When we stopped in Freepory, my girlfriends and I rode ATVs as our shore excursion and it was the BEST.
We also visited the club which was a lot of fun!
Overall, I would rate the cruise an 8. Pics coming soon!
After my return, a friend told me to check out Royal Caribbean for my next cruise
I was happy to get a true break without cell phones, email and text messages. What a different world we would be without them!
I cruised with Carnival Cruises on the ship Carnival Sensation (pictured below).
I cruised from Port Canaveral, FL to Freeport and Nassau Bahamas!
I had a great time cruising but I did not like the aesthetics of the boat. The boat reminded me of the 70s-90s with the outdated decor in the common areas. The food was EXCELLENT and the room service was great. Our room steward Buddy made sure we had everything we needed and cleaned our room to perfection.
From the time, we entered the ship until we left, they offered you drinks all day long lol. I stuck with water and juice they provided so I would not incur soda fees of couse I had specialty beverages during meals.
Although, I truly enjoyed the food, I dreaded dinner because the waiter was always slow. I did not suffer from any motion sickness and would love to cruise again.
I completely enjoyed the water works area on the top deck. I had a blast on the slide and felt like a kid again.
When we stopped in Freepory, my girlfriends and I rode ATVs as our shore excursion and it was the BEST.
We also visited the club which was a lot of fun!
Overall, I would rate the cruise an 8. Pics coming soon!
After my return, a friend told me to check out Royal Caribbean for my next cruise
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Beyonce's Nails
I was watching TV a little while ago and saw Beyonce's newest manicure filled with photos of her hubby.....cute or over the top? What do you think?
Anyway, I think this has inspired me to try different colors and styles!
For my upcoming cruise, I stepped outside of the box although it is still french manicure inspired.
What do you think?
Anyway, I think this has inspired me to try different colors and styles!
For my upcoming cruise, I stepped outside of the box although it is still french manicure inspired.
What do you think?
Monday, July 30, 2012
Why You're Not Married.....Thoughts????
I loooooove the article below and wanted to share it with you. It was originally published in February 2011. Please share your thoughts!!!!!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-mcmillan/why-youre-not-married_b_822088.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tracy-mcmillan/why-youre-not-married_b_822088.html
You want to get married. It's taken a while to admit it. Saying it out loud -- even in your mind -- feels kind of desperate, kind of unfeminist, kind of definitely not you, or at least not any you that you recognize. Because you're hardly like those girls on TLC saying yes to the dress and you would never compete for a man like those poor actress-wannabes on The Bachelor.
You've never dreamt of an aqua-blue ring box.
Then, something happened. Another birthday, maybe. A breakup. Your brother's wedding. His wife-elect asked you to be a bridesmaid, and suddenly there you were, wondering how in hell you came to be 36-years-old, walking down the aisle wearing something halfway decent from J. Crew that you could totally repurpose with a cute pair of boots and a jean jacket. You started to hate the bride -- she was so effing happy -- and for the first time ever you began to have feelings about the fact that you're not married. You never really cared that much before. But suddenly (it was so sudden) you found yourself wondering... Deep, deep breath... Why you're not married.
Well, I know why.
How? It basically comes down to this: I've been married three times. Yes, three. To a very nice MBA at 19; a very nice minister's son at 32 (and pregnant); and at 40, to a very nice liar and cheater who was just like my dad, if my dad had gone to Harvard instead of doing multiple stints in federal prison.
I was, for some reason, born knowing how to get married. Growing up in foster care is a big part of it. The need for security made me look for very specific traits in the men I dated -- traits it turns out lead to marriage a surprisingly high percentage of the time. Without really trying to, I've become a sort of jailhouse lawyer of relationships -- someone who's had to do so much work on her own case that I can now help you with yours.
But I won't lie. The problem is not men, it's you. Sure, there are lame men out there, but they're not really standing in your way. Because the fact is -- if whatever you're doing right now was going to get you married, you'd already have a ring on. So without further ado, let's look at the top six reasons why you're not married.
1. You're a Bitch.
Here's what I mean by bitch. I mean you're angry. You probably don't think you're angry. You think you're super smart, or if you've been to a lot of therapy, that you're setting boundaries. But the truth is you're pissed. At your mom. At the military-industrial complex. At Sarah Palin. And it's scaring men off.
The deal is: most men just want to marry someone who is nice to them. I am the mother of a 13-year-old boy, which is like living with the single-cell protozoa version of a husband. Here's what my son wants out of life: macaroni and cheese, a video game, and Kim Kardashian. Have you ever seen Kim Kardashian angry? I didn't think so. You've seen Kim Kardashian smile, wiggle, and make a sex tape. Female anger terrifies men. I know it seems unfair that you have to work around a man's fear and insecurity in order to get married -- but actually, it's perfect, since working around a man's fear and insecurity is big part of what you'll be doing as a wife.
2. You're Shallow.
When it comes to choosing a husband, only one thing really, truly matters: character. So it stands to reason that a man's character should be at the top of the list of things you are looking for, right? But if you're not married, I already know it isn't. Because if you were looking for a man of character, you would have found one by now. Men of character are, by definition, willing to commit.
Instead, you are looking for someone tall. Or rich. Or someone who knows what an Eames chair is. Unfortunately, this is not the thinking of a wife. This is the thinking of a teenaged girl. And men of character do not want to marry teenaged girls. Because teenage girls are never happy. And they never feel like cooking, either.
3. You're a Slut.
Hooking up with some guy in a hot tub on a rooftop is fine for the ladies of Jersey Shore -- but they're not trying to get married. You are. Which means, unfortunately, that if you're having sex outside committed relationships, you will have to stop. Why? Because past a certain age, casual sex is like recreational heroin -- it doesn't stay recreational for long.
That's due in part to this thing called oxytocin -- a bonding hormone that is released when a woman a) nurses her baby and b) has an orgasm -- that will totally mess up your casual-sex game. It's why you can be f**k-buddying with some dude who isn't even all that great and the next thing you know, you're totally strung out on him. And you have no idea how it happened. Oxytocin, that's how it happened. And since nature can't discriminate between marriage material and Charlie Sheen, you're going to have to start being way more selective than you are right now.
4. You're a Liar.
It usually goes something like this: you meet a guy who is cute and likes you, but he's not really available for a relationship. He has some condition that absolutely precludes his availability, like he's married, or he gets around town on a skateboard. Or maybe he just comes right out and says something cryptic and open to interpretation like, "I'm not really available for a relationship right now."
You know if you tell him the truth -- that you're ready for marriage -- he will stop calling. Usually that day. And you don't want that. So you just tell him how perfect this is because you only want to have sex for fun! You love having fun sex! And you don't want to get in a relationship at all! You swear!
About ten minutes later, the oxytocin kicks in. You start wanting more. But you don't tell him that. That's your secret -- just between you and 22,000 of your closest girlfriends. Instead, you hang around, having sex with him, waiting for him to figure out that he can't live without you. I have news: he will never "figure" this out. He already knows he can live without you just fine. And so do you. Or you wouldn't be lying to him in the first place.
5. You're Selfish.
If you're not married, chances are you think a lot about you. You think about your thighs, your outfits, your naso-labial folds. You think about your career, or if you don't have one, you think about doing yoga teacher training. Sometimes you think about how marrying a wealthy guy -- or at least a guy with a really, really good job -- would solve all your problems.
Howevs, a good wife, even a halfway decent one, does not spend most of her day thinking about herself. She has too much s**t to do, especially after having kids. This is why you see a lot of celebrity women getting husbands after they adopt. The kids put the woman on notice: Bitch, hello! It's not all about you anymore! After a year or two of thinking about someone other than herself, suddenly, Brad Pitt or Harrison Ford comes along and decides to significantly other her. Which is also to say -- if what you really want is a baby, go get you one. Your husband will be along shortly. Motherhood has a way of weeding out the lotharios.
6. You're Not Good Enough.
Oh, I don't think that. You do. I can tell because you're not looking for a partner who is your equal. No, you want someone better than you are: better looking, better family, better job.
Here is what you need to know: You are enough right this minute. Period. Not understanding this is a major obstacle to getting married, since women who don't know their own worth make terrible wives. Why? You can fake it for a while, but ultimately you won't love your spouse any better than you love yourself. Smart men know this.
I see this at my son's artsy, progressive school. Of 183 kids, maybe six have moms who are as cute as you're trying to be. They're attractive, sure. They're just not objects. Their husbands (wisely) chose them for their character, not their cup size.
Alright, so that's the bad news. The good news is that I believe every woman who wants to can find a great partner. You're just going to need to get rid of the idea that marriage will make you happy. It won't. Once the initial high wears off, you'll just be you, except with twice as much laundry.
Because ultimately, marriage is not about getting something -- it's about giving it. Strangely, men understand this more than we do. Probably because for them marriage involves sacrificing their most treasured possession -- a free-agent penis -- and for us, it's the culmination of a princess fantasy so universal, it built Disneyland.
The bottom line is that marriage is just a long-term opportunity to practice loving someone even when they don't deserve it. Because most of the time, your messy, farting, macaroni-and-cheese eating man will not be doing what you want him to. But as you give him love anyway -- because you have made up your mind to transform yourself into a person who is practicing being kind, deep, virtuous, truthful, giving, and most of all, accepting of your own dear self -- you will find that you will experience the very thing you wanted all along:
Love.
Tracy McMillan is a TV writer whose credits include Mad Men and The United States of Tara. Her memoir I Love You and I'm Leaving You Anyway is now available in paperback from Harper Collins/It Books. She lives in Los Angeles with her 13-year-old son. Follow her on Twitter.
You've never dreamt of an aqua-blue ring box.
Then, something happened. Another birthday, maybe. A breakup. Your brother's wedding. His wife-elect asked you to be a bridesmaid, and suddenly there you were, wondering how in hell you came to be 36-years-old, walking down the aisle wearing something halfway decent from J. Crew that you could totally repurpose with a cute pair of boots and a jean jacket. You started to hate the bride -- she was so effing happy -- and for the first time ever you began to have feelings about the fact that you're not married. You never really cared that much before. But suddenly (it was so sudden) you found yourself wondering... Deep, deep breath... Why you're not married.
Well, I know why.
How? It basically comes down to this: I've been married three times. Yes, three. To a very nice MBA at 19; a very nice minister's son at 32 (and pregnant); and at 40, to a very nice liar and cheater who was just like my dad, if my dad had gone to Harvard instead of doing multiple stints in federal prison.
I was, for some reason, born knowing how to get married. Growing up in foster care is a big part of it. The need for security made me look for very specific traits in the men I dated -- traits it turns out lead to marriage a surprisingly high percentage of the time. Without really trying to, I've become a sort of jailhouse lawyer of relationships -- someone who's had to do so much work on her own case that I can now help you with yours.
But I won't lie. The problem is not men, it's you. Sure, there are lame men out there, but they're not really standing in your way. Because the fact is -- if whatever you're doing right now was going to get you married, you'd already have a ring on. So without further ado, let's look at the top six reasons why you're not married.
1. You're a Bitch.
Here's what I mean by bitch. I mean you're angry. You probably don't think you're angry. You think you're super smart, or if you've been to a lot of therapy, that you're setting boundaries. But the truth is you're pissed. At your mom. At the military-industrial complex. At Sarah Palin. And it's scaring men off.
The deal is: most men just want to marry someone who is nice to them. I am the mother of a 13-year-old boy, which is like living with the single-cell protozoa version of a husband. Here's what my son wants out of life: macaroni and cheese, a video game, and Kim Kardashian. Have you ever seen Kim Kardashian angry? I didn't think so. You've seen Kim Kardashian smile, wiggle, and make a sex tape. Female anger terrifies men. I know it seems unfair that you have to work around a man's fear and insecurity in order to get married -- but actually, it's perfect, since working around a man's fear and insecurity is big part of what you'll be doing as a wife.
2. You're Shallow.
When it comes to choosing a husband, only one thing really, truly matters: character. So it stands to reason that a man's character should be at the top of the list of things you are looking for, right? But if you're not married, I already know it isn't. Because if you were looking for a man of character, you would have found one by now. Men of character are, by definition, willing to commit.
Instead, you are looking for someone tall. Or rich. Or someone who knows what an Eames chair is. Unfortunately, this is not the thinking of a wife. This is the thinking of a teenaged girl. And men of character do not want to marry teenaged girls. Because teenage girls are never happy. And they never feel like cooking, either.
3. You're a Slut.
Hooking up with some guy in a hot tub on a rooftop is fine for the ladies of Jersey Shore -- but they're not trying to get married. You are. Which means, unfortunately, that if you're having sex outside committed relationships, you will have to stop. Why? Because past a certain age, casual sex is like recreational heroin -- it doesn't stay recreational for long.
That's due in part to this thing called oxytocin -- a bonding hormone that is released when a woman a) nurses her baby and b) has an orgasm -- that will totally mess up your casual-sex game. It's why you can be f**k-buddying with some dude who isn't even all that great and the next thing you know, you're totally strung out on him. And you have no idea how it happened. Oxytocin, that's how it happened. And since nature can't discriminate between marriage material and Charlie Sheen, you're going to have to start being way more selective than you are right now.
4. You're a Liar.
It usually goes something like this: you meet a guy who is cute and likes you, but he's not really available for a relationship. He has some condition that absolutely precludes his availability, like he's married, or he gets around town on a skateboard. Or maybe he just comes right out and says something cryptic and open to interpretation like, "I'm not really available for a relationship right now."
You know if you tell him the truth -- that you're ready for marriage -- he will stop calling. Usually that day. And you don't want that. So you just tell him how perfect this is because you only want to have sex for fun! You love having fun sex! And you don't want to get in a relationship at all! You swear!
About ten minutes later, the oxytocin kicks in. You start wanting more. But you don't tell him that. That's your secret -- just between you and 22,000 of your closest girlfriends. Instead, you hang around, having sex with him, waiting for him to figure out that he can't live without you. I have news: he will never "figure" this out. He already knows he can live without you just fine. And so do you. Or you wouldn't be lying to him in the first place.
5. You're Selfish.
If you're not married, chances are you think a lot about you. You think about your thighs, your outfits, your naso-labial folds. You think about your career, or if you don't have one, you think about doing yoga teacher training. Sometimes you think about how marrying a wealthy guy -- or at least a guy with a really, really good job -- would solve all your problems.
Howevs, a good wife, even a halfway decent one, does not spend most of her day thinking about herself. She has too much s**t to do, especially after having kids. This is why you see a lot of celebrity women getting husbands after they adopt. The kids put the woman on notice: Bitch, hello! It's not all about you anymore! After a year or two of thinking about someone other than herself, suddenly, Brad Pitt or Harrison Ford comes along and decides to significantly other her. Which is also to say -- if what you really want is a baby, go get you one. Your husband will be along shortly. Motherhood has a way of weeding out the lotharios.
6. You're Not Good Enough.
Oh, I don't think that. You do. I can tell because you're not looking for a partner who is your equal. No, you want someone better than you are: better looking, better family, better job.
Here is what you need to know: You are enough right this minute. Period. Not understanding this is a major obstacle to getting married, since women who don't know their own worth make terrible wives. Why? You can fake it for a while, but ultimately you won't love your spouse any better than you love yourself. Smart men know this.
I see this at my son's artsy, progressive school. Of 183 kids, maybe six have moms who are as cute as you're trying to be. They're attractive, sure. They're just not objects. Their husbands (wisely) chose them for their character, not their cup size.
Alright, so that's the bad news. The good news is that I believe every woman who wants to can find a great partner. You're just going to need to get rid of the idea that marriage will make you happy. It won't. Once the initial high wears off, you'll just be you, except with twice as much laundry.
Because ultimately, marriage is not about getting something -- it's about giving it. Strangely, men understand this more than we do. Probably because for them marriage involves sacrificing their most treasured possession -- a free-agent penis -- and for us, it's the culmination of a princess fantasy so universal, it built Disneyland.
The bottom line is that marriage is just a long-term opportunity to practice loving someone even when they don't deserve it. Because most of the time, your messy, farting, macaroni-and-cheese eating man will not be doing what you want him to. But as you give him love anyway -- because you have made up your mind to transform yourself into a person who is practicing being kind, deep, virtuous, truthful, giving, and most of all, accepting of your own dear self -- you will find that you will experience the very thing you wanted all along:
Love.
Tracy McMillan is a TV writer whose credits include Mad Men and The United States of Tara. Her memoir I Love You and I'm Leaving You Anyway is now available in paperback from Harper Collins/It Books. She lives in Los Angeles with her 13-year-old son. Follow her on Twitter.
Forever 21
I recently visited the Forever 21 in Louisville, KY and I found some really cute finds!
I got 2 pairs of pocket jeggings (dark blue and black). They are so cute and they are only $11.50!!! I also found a really cute black shirt with sequin designs!!!
I love Forever 21 and hope that I will find more good deals in the coming months :)
www.forever21.com
I got 2 pairs of pocket jeggings (dark blue and black). They are so cute and they are only $11.50!!! I also found a really cute black shirt with sequin designs!!!
I love Forever 21 and hope that I will find more good deals in the coming months :)
www.forever21.com
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Family
I had a great time this week with my family in Louisville, KY and Philly!!! Spent time at my church convention and then spent time with my family from NC who came up to visit us in Philly!
Here's some pics from this weekend!
Time for work tomorrow!
Here's some pics from this weekend!
Time for work tomorrow!
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Louisville, KY
Enjoying a wonderful visit to Louisville, KY for my church convention. Visit my church on the web: www.cogop.org
We are staying in an area of Louisville that reminds me of the University City section of Philadelphia. It is one of the neighnorhoods between the large University and downtown (sound familiar right Philly folks).
I drove the entire way from Philly to Louisville. It took us 11 hours and 40 minutes. We stopped 3 times for a total of 2 1/2 hours. I know my Dad would be proud. The entire time that I prepared for the trip especially the driving part, I could hear my Dad
s voice giving tips and reminding me how he always would on how to prepare for a long trip! lol
The hotel also has a lovely indoor pool that my godson has visited each day since our arrival.
The assembly is being held at the Kentucky International Convention Center and its near the area called Fourth Street Live, which reminds me of our new Xfinity Live area in South Philly. It's really really nice.
http://www.4thstlive.com/info.cfm
Today I think I willl go to the pool!
Signed,
Enjoying Louisville
We are staying in an area of Louisville that reminds me of the University City section of Philadelphia. It is one of the neighnorhoods between the large University and downtown (sound familiar right Philly folks).
I drove the entire way from Philly to Louisville. It took us 11 hours and 40 minutes. We stopped 3 times for a total of 2 1/2 hours. I know my Dad would be proud. The entire time that I prepared for the trip especially the driving part, I could hear my Dad
s voice giving tips and reminding me how he always would on how to prepare for a long trip! lol
The hotel also has a lovely indoor pool that my godson has visited each day since our arrival.
The assembly is being held at the Kentucky International Convention Center and its near the area called Fourth Street Live, which reminds me of our new Xfinity Live area in South Philly. It's really really nice.
http://www.4thstlive.com/info.cfm
Today I think I willl go to the pool!
Signed,
Enjoying Louisville
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Struggling Well
This week was very exciting for me. I listened to a message from Pastor Waller of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church last weekend called "Let's Get It Done." Hearing that message made me want to initiate change in my life.
Pastor Waller
Since the passing of my Dad, I have been very depressed and unable to do a lot of things that I normally would. My routine was wake up, get dressed, check on mom, get her coffee and a donut if need be, go to work, eat breakfast, work, eat lunch, work, go home, check on mom again, cook dinner (give mom some if need be), watch tv, eat dinner and go to bed.
My dad and I when I was a baby
NOT a good schedule right.......
After hearing the message from Pastor Waller, I decided I needed to start doing a lot more and get some things done. I challenged myself each day that I would try to do at least one thing additional once I came home from work and I made it one WHOLE week!
I cleared out my basement 3/5 days and the other days I spent cleaning or doing some form of light (and I mean light) exercise and I cut back on my portions at home and work.
On Tuesday, I saw two co workers I havent seen in awhile. We caught up on each others lives, one said she had a stroke a year prior and the other was very quiet yet supportive while offering kinds words. Once I explained what I had been through this year, my quiet co worker bought me a CD to listen to titled: "Struggle Well." The CD was the 6/30/2012 sermon preached by Pastor Waller, come to find out she is a member of ENON!
I listened to the message after work in the car, I listened to the message on the way to work the next morning. Of course, I cried and cried but it was affirmation for me to struggle well and still try to be a blessing to others while I am going through the toughest patch of my life to date.
This weekend, I continued on my path of doing more and I feel so much better. In one of the sermons, Pastor Waller talked about people with different types of addictions, for this week, I was able to see progress within the area I struggle with and I am so thankful for it.
I am praying for an even better week next week.
Wish me luck and visit the links below.
www.enontab.org
http://www.listentochurchsermonsonline.com/d-philadelphia.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCpEJaKv1Ww
Pastor WallerSince the passing of my Dad, I have been very depressed and unable to do a lot of things that I normally would. My routine was wake up, get dressed, check on mom, get her coffee and a donut if need be, go to work, eat breakfast, work, eat lunch, work, go home, check on mom again, cook dinner (give mom some if need be), watch tv, eat dinner and go to bed.
My dad and I when I was a baby
NOT a good schedule right.......
After hearing the message from Pastor Waller, I decided I needed to start doing a lot more and get some things done. I challenged myself each day that I would try to do at least one thing additional once I came home from work and I made it one WHOLE week!
I cleared out my basement 3/5 days and the other days I spent cleaning or doing some form of light (and I mean light) exercise and I cut back on my portions at home and work.
On Tuesday, I saw two co workers I havent seen in awhile. We caught up on each others lives, one said she had a stroke a year prior and the other was very quiet yet supportive while offering kinds words. Once I explained what I had been through this year, my quiet co worker bought me a CD to listen to titled: "Struggle Well." The CD was the 6/30/2012 sermon preached by Pastor Waller, come to find out she is a member of ENON!
I listened to the message after work in the car, I listened to the message on the way to work the next morning. Of course, I cried and cried but it was affirmation for me to struggle well and still try to be a blessing to others while I am going through the toughest patch of my life to date.
This weekend, I continued on my path of doing more and I feel so much better. In one of the sermons, Pastor Waller talked about people with different types of addictions, for this week, I was able to see progress within the area I struggle with and I am so thankful for it.
I am praying for an even better week next week.
Wish me luck and visit the links below.
www.enontab.org
http://www.listentochurchsermonsonline.com/d-philadelphia.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCpEJaKv1Ww
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Gabrielle Douglas
I am watching an episode of Rock Center with Brian Williams. They did a segment on Gabrielle Douglas, a young African American girl who qualified for the 2012 Olympics. She gave an awesome interview. She was very articulate, happy and represented very well.
Here is her website, wish her luck!
http://gabrielledouglas.com/
Here is her website, wish her luck!
http://gabrielledouglas.com/
Ashley Stewart
I LOVE ASHLEY STEWART. Ashley Stewart is one of my favorite stores IF NOT my favorite. Before I left for my Sorority convention in Chicago, I went to Ashley Stewart to stock up on some nice Royal Blue and White pieces to wear. Here are some of the things I wore in Chicago:
Thanks Ashley Stewart
Thanks Ashley Stewart
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Planned Home Renovations
I would like to take on the following home renovations in 2012:
Paint my kitchen a light grey/silver color
Tile the kitchen floor
Clean and Waterproof my basement and begin renovations
that's all for this year :)
Paint my kitchen a light grey/silver color
Tile the kitchen floor
Clean and Waterproof my basement and begin renovations
that's all for this year :)
Change
So much has happened this year but I am slowly changing for the better. I accomplished so many things this week alone because I changed my mindset. I guess its some truth to the Power of Positive THINKING. I guess I will utilize my library card to get some new books.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The First 90 Days WITHOUT my dad
***Originally published on my FB page***
Today July 15, 2012 marks three months since my dad passed away. As I reflect upon the first 90 days without him in my life, I needed to put my thoughts in writing.
To everyone who has called, texted, emailed, sent a card or said a kind word, I offer thanks. I never understood how it felt to lose a parent, someone you talked to everyday of your life, until now. Just imagine, when my dad died we were together for 10,280 days of my entire life. He raised me from birth, day 1 until day 10,280. Not only was my dad a father, he was a friend.
I only have good memories of my dad. As a child, I remember my dad and I watching tv in living room probably football. He would play with me and all my toys even the barbies and we would have fun. When I started attending school, I remember dad bringing mom coffee every morning, washing and ironing my clothes and gave me a ride to school everyday until high school when my parents drove me to Broad and Race and I caught the subway the rest of the way. Bottom line we spent every morning together carpooling to work and school. Countless minutes and hours of valuable time and conversation.
When I attended college, I remember my mom and dad taking me back to school every Sunday, sometimes they would stay (in full church attire) and eat in the school cafeteria for dinner with my friends and I. Everyone would laugh and say "Why would your parents want to eat dinner here?" but thats how we were and are. A very close knit family who did everything together.
After mom was tired of taking those weekend trips after church, dad drove me back to school every Sunday (since I had to come home every weekend in my freshman and sophomore years). Actually, I drove up and dad drove back.
I remember discusssing my classes, books and all the interesting college stuff with my dad. As a great intellectual, he was always ready for scholastic discussions. I remember him being so proud when i graduated and continued to graduate school.
After college, my mom, dad and I all worked at the same job (mom and dad in the same department for over 33 years) and I worked on the floors and in HR. Again, we carpooled back and forth to work everyday. We did everything together. Finally, after mom retired, dad, sis and I carpooled together. In the latter years, I did the driving and parking upon dad's request. When dad got sick initially, he was in my car and we were on the way to work. It was life changing.
Upon his health declining, we still did everything together. I would come to their house everyday and when dad was still driving he would come to my house, beep the horn, I would come to the window, he would ask for a shopping list of items, I would pack it up and take everything to the car. That was his way of saving money since I was the couponer. I would go to many appointments as the pick up and drop off person until other transportation could be arranged. We shared many meals together and deeper conversations than ever before. I would cut his hair, shave his beard, clean his nails and buy all the crazy things he asked for.
One month before he died, I called out of work. I called mom and asked her to get dad dressed because I wanted to take them out for breakfast. I told dad to order whatever he wanted....and he did! He had a steak, eggs, potatoes and pancakes! I could not believe he had so much! After breakfast, we went to Wynnewood (near daddy's hometown in Ardmore, PA). We checked out a new furniture store and went to Old Navy where I brought him a EAGLES hat. We went back to the city, I went to the bank and when we came out daddy said give me some money! lol By the end of the day, he got me for $100 lol. It was so funny.
The day my dad got sick, I was at work trying to reach him before a 3pm meeting. I kept calling his cell phone (I just got him a cell phone about 3 months before he died so we could talk and keep in contact with him during the day) and he would not answer. I finally got mom to discover they were in the emergency room. So Thursday, April 12, 2012 was the last day I was able to talk to my dad. His knees were hurting and I remember thinking I needed to do his feet when he came home and shave him the next day if he was still in the hospital.
Well I never got the chance. The last things my dad asked me was "Where's ma?" (She went to church for an hour to pray) and "Hold my hand" (Which I did). The last thing I said to my dad was "I love you boo and I'll see you tomorrow and that was IT he passed away 3 days later after we stayed in the hospital everyday and night wanting, wishing and praying for a miracle BUT God knows BEST.
So for all the people who do not understand why I have not been the same since my dad passed away, I hope you do now. This road has not been an easy one for me and I am just going through the motions to keep up with everything going on around me BUT it is hard because I truly miss my dad! Everyday has been a struggle but each day is a new day.
#RIPDAD #ForeverInOurHearts #MyAngel
Love you all. Stay Blessed.
Today July 15, 2012 marks three months since my dad passed away. As I reflect upon the first 90 days without him in my life, I needed to put my thoughts in writing.
To everyone who has called, texted, emailed, sent a card or said a kind word, I offer thanks. I never understood how it felt to lose a parent, someone you talked to everyday of your life, until now. Just imagine, when my dad died we were together for 10,280 days of my entire life. He raised me from birth, day 1 until day 10,280. Not only was my dad a father, he was a friend.
I only have good memories of my dad. As a child, I remember my dad and I watching tv in living room probably football. He would play with me and all my toys even the barbies and we would have fun. When I started attending school, I remember dad bringing mom coffee every morning, washing and ironing my clothes and gave me a ride to school everyday until high school when my parents drove me to Broad and Race and I caught the subway the rest of the way. Bottom line we spent every morning together carpooling to work and school. Countless minutes and hours of valuable time and conversation.
When I attended college, I remember my mom and dad taking me back to school every Sunday, sometimes they would stay (in full church attire) and eat in the school cafeteria for dinner with my friends and I. Everyone would laugh and say "Why would your parents want to eat dinner here?" but thats how we were and are. A very close knit family who did everything together.
After mom was tired of taking those weekend trips after church, dad drove me back to school every Sunday (since I had to come home every weekend in my freshman and sophomore years). Actually, I drove up and dad drove back.
I remember discusssing my classes, books and all the interesting college stuff with my dad. As a great intellectual, he was always ready for scholastic discussions. I remember him being so proud when i graduated and continued to graduate school.
After college, my mom, dad and I all worked at the same job (mom and dad in the same department for over 33 years) and I worked on the floors and in HR. Again, we carpooled back and forth to work everyday. We did everything together. Finally, after mom retired, dad, sis and I carpooled together. In the latter years, I did the driving and parking upon dad's request. When dad got sick initially, he was in my car and we were on the way to work. It was life changing.
Upon his health declining, we still did everything together. I would come to their house everyday and when dad was still driving he would come to my house, beep the horn, I would come to the window, he would ask for a shopping list of items, I would pack it up and take everything to the car. That was his way of saving money since I was the couponer. I would go to many appointments as the pick up and drop off person until other transportation could be arranged. We shared many meals together and deeper conversations than ever before. I would cut his hair, shave his beard, clean his nails and buy all the crazy things he asked for.
One month before he died, I called out of work. I called mom and asked her to get dad dressed because I wanted to take them out for breakfast. I told dad to order whatever he wanted....and he did! He had a steak, eggs, potatoes and pancakes! I could not believe he had so much! After breakfast, we went to Wynnewood (near daddy's hometown in Ardmore, PA). We checked out a new furniture store and went to Old Navy where I brought him a EAGLES hat. We went back to the city, I went to the bank and when we came out daddy said give me some money! lol By the end of the day, he got me for $100 lol. It was so funny.
The day my dad got sick, I was at work trying to reach him before a 3pm meeting. I kept calling his cell phone (I just got him a cell phone about 3 months before he died so we could talk and keep in contact with him during the day) and he would not answer. I finally got mom to discover they were in the emergency room. So Thursday, April 12, 2012 was the last day I was able to talk to my dad. His knees were hurting and I remember thinking I needed to do his feet when he came home and shave him the next day if he was still in the hospital.
Well I never got the chance. The last things my dad asked me was "Where's ma?" (She went to church for an hour to pray) and "Hold my hand" (Which I did). The last thing I said to my dad was "I love you boo and I'll see you tomorrow and that was IT he passed away 3 days later after we stayed in the hospital everyday and night wanting, wishing and praying for a miracle BUT God knows BEST.
So for all the people who do not understand why I have not been the same since my dad passed away, I hope you do now. This road has not been an easy one for me and I am just going through the motions to keep up with everything going on around me BUT it is hard because I truly miss my dad! Everyday has been a struggle but each day is a new day.
#RIPDAD #ForeverInOurHearts #MyAngel
Love you all. Stay Blessed.
My parents and I when I was a baby.
A 5 month break from blogging....there may be a reason why
A 5 month break from blogging. Im sure you are asking why? I am glad you asked. Here is a list of things that have occured to me or in my life in the past 5 months:
Found and met my biological father after 28 years of him not knowing that I exist.
My father who raised me since birth died on April 15, 2012.
I went to Rochester, NY to see my cousin graduate from medical school.
Work was good but stressful due to all the family struggles I have been facing.
I went to Wilson, NC to visit my biological paternal family and my great grandma passed away 4 days and 4 hours later.
I went to Chicago for my Sorority convention.
Mom had a transplant surgery.
I planned a cruise to the Bahamas in August.
So, hopefully you understand the absence. I hope to get back to blogging more often. Hopefully this will be an outlet for me.
Peace
Found and met my biological father after 28 years of him not knowing that I exist.
My father who raised me since birth died on April 15, 2012.
I went to Rochester, NY to see my cousin graduate from medical school.
Work was good but stressful due to all the family struggles I have been facing.
I went to Wilson, NC to visit my biological paternal family and my great grandma passed away 4 days and 4 hours later.
I went to Chicago for my Sorority convention.
Mom had a transplant surgery.
I planned a cruise to the Bahamas in August.
So, hopefully you understand the absence. I hope to get back to blogging more often. Hopefully this will be an outlet for me.
Peace
Sunday, February 5, 2012
HAIRSTYLES
I am going crazy trying to find a hairstyle that is easy to maintain but still looks nice at work. I am getting tired of doing my hair every morning. Today, I was in the supermarket and saw a young woman with a beautiful hairstyle called Kinky Twists. I think I want to try out that style. What do you think?
Busy Year but looking forward to Chi-Town
I have not made a post since the first week of January. Since then I was hospitalized, out of work, back to work, feeling better and getting ready for my birthday which is Valentine's Day. Yes what a start to 2011.
What's on my radar for this year? I thought you'd never ask...lol
February
My birthday
March
Zeta's Finer Womanhood Month
NGL event at work
April
Zeta State Conference which is being hosted by my chapter
May
Memorial Day
June
Last meeting as President of my Zeta chapter - Epsilon Omega Zeta chapter
July
Zeta's International Convention in Chicago, IL. We will be staying on Michigan Avenue, known as the Magnificent Mile.
The hotel is so beautiful...look at the pictures.
The front of the hotel
The Great Hall
The Pool Area
Although I am excited to handle the business of Zeta, I am equally excited about going to Chicago for the first time. Hopefully, it will not be my last.
What's on my radar for this year? I thought you'd never ask...lol
February
My birthday
March
Zeta's Finer Womanhood Month
NGL event at work
April
Zeta State Conference which is being hosted by my chapter
May
Memorial Day
June
Last meeting as President of my Zeta chapter - Epsilon Omega Zeta chapter
July
Zeta's International Convention in Chicago, IL. We will be staying on Michigan Avenue, known as the Magnificent Mile.
The hotel is so beautiful...look at the pictures.
The front of the hotel
The Great Hall
The Pool Area
Although I am excited to handle the business of Zeta, I am equally excited about going to Chicago for the first time. Hopefully, it will not be my last.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I have a NEW cell phone.....FINALLY
I finally took the time to get my cell phone serviced. After 3 1/2 hours, I had a new phone with most of my information on it. I did not enjoy the experience I had at Sprint since the service took much longer than I was originally quoted but I am happy to have a new phone!
My new cell phone:
Sunday, January 1, 2012
I Was Here
Beyonce - I Was Here (Live at Roseland)
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