2013 : Year in review

Happy New Year!!

I decided to write this post after watching my internet cousin Evelyn's vlog on YouTube. She's pretty fab, check her out. On to my year...It came in just as it went out, surrounded by loved ones and crying from laughter. Lots of things happened, but the most important was that this was the year that I planted some seeds for my future. I began a repayment plan with my former university, Jackson State. (I won't get into the foolish saga of actually getting the payment plan) My education is important to me, and I've decided that this brokeness that I'm experiencing is only temporary. I've always been frugal, but these payments are testing my patience. It's cool though, I'm going to pay the money, get the transcripts, graduate, get the career and the salary I deserve. Point. Blank. and The Period. I confronted some feelings about a boy that I had been burying for far too long. It was cathartic in a way. Real tears came from face. (If you know me, than you know that was a milestone.) I also had to be truthful with another man about how we weren't going to work out. That was hard. I'm built tough, but I'm not here to hurt feelings My besties and I had a friend talk that was long overdue, necessary, and helpful. We've been down for each other for over a decade and decided long ago that we weren't in the business of breaking up so we had to confront some issues. I became closer to them and to some women that we met through African dance class. These ladies have been a blessing. Slightly older, so much wiser and have shown us what our future can look like if we do it right. My folk threw me a surprise birthday party! I learned to crochet and it has made me feel more feminine, and in touch with my elders and ancestors. I read more books. I dated more men. I failed and succeeded.
 I've always been confident, but with each year I gain more self-love, empathy, compassion, knowledge, happiness. 2013 was no exception. It was a year of growth, and progression. I'm glad about it. 2014 is going to be good. It won't be a bowl full of cherries, but that's life. I'm ready for whatever. I'm going to spend my year becoming a better me. Reading more, writing more, loving more, living more.
I got some real advice right before the new year started. My good friend, Annessa said "I've been where you are, I've been 26. So let me tell you something you may not know, YOU'RE DIFFERENT. The End. You may feel like you're just like everyone else, but you're not. Know that. Embrace it." It clicked. She was telling me something that I knew but I don't really act on. So apart of me being a better me in 2014 will be to radiate my being different to as many folk as I can. I hope that your year will be as great as mine. I'll keep you all posted...

It's A Celebration B*****s!!

  As I lie here in my Forever Lazy, I'm just replaying last night's events. I've got the BEST friends and family in the world. They threw your girl a New Orleans themed surprise party! They got me, I had no clue. I thought I was going to a singles mixer. I got cute in hopes of meeting some good men. We get to my homegirl's house and folk start yelling "SURPRISE!!" while 2nd line music plays in the background. They adorned me with beads and the decor fit in with the theme. My friends know that while I am not from NOLA, the music, men, food, drinks, the city itself intoxicates me. It was perfect. They even had my parents in on it! They gave my daddy very few details because he and I talk everyday and he definitely would've ruined, it. My mama's job was to make sure I actually went and not come home after work and put on sweatpants, lol. Friends and family came out to kick it with me drink hurricanes, and dance to ratchet favorites old and new. I consider myself an amateur twerk team member especially when I get that drank in me. Just throw on my Waka Flaka weakness and watch me, LOL. Sadly, with all the camera phones no pictures were taken, we have only memories to be  replayed and recalled from last night. Today is my actual birthday and I don't even know how to spend it. Words can not express the gratitude and love that I feel. I'm just turning 26, this isn't typically a birthday that people go all out for. I do feel that since this happened that my year is going to be altogether different. There must be some changes coming. I'm so thankful, and still a bit tipsy, but I feel wrapped in love and there's no better way to greet my new year than that.

*How I felt last night. and I'm sure I made this face . LOL

Don't let Christmas make your money rubber!

This piece is from Soulkissestv.com 

10 Ways To Save On Christmas

October 11, 2011 By SangDuong

1. Make a budget. Be realistic and sit down with everyone in your family and discuss realistically what can be afforded. I know it’s not the hottest topic to discuss, but if your whole family knows the budget then their requests will be more reasonable and help lessen the stress.

2. Plan ahead. Know what you want for the Holiday Season whether it’s buying gifts for one another to having a sit down dinner or going on vacation. Again whatever you decide to do put on paper and start planning early. Its mid September but a few weeks from now your schedule may not allow enough time to plan for a wonderful stress free Holiday Season.

3. Write it all down. Once you know your budget and you start planning what you envision your Christmas  Season to be like be sure to write it all down. This makes for a great quick reference and the human mind does not keep track of our decisions as accurately as we wish! Writing down your plan will help you stay within budget and keeps your expectations in check and realistic.

4. If you are purchasing gifts be sure to ask those persons you are buying for to give you a list of 4-5 realistic options within your budget. I know it’s not very popular to ask and you should be thankful for anything given but it’s nice to get what you like. I’m more for the surprise type but with the current economy I am more than thankful for items I do need.

5. Ask for needs. It’s not popular to get items you need, but it can be less stress for you when money is already tight getting items you are in need of. I like Starbucks but with small kids in my house the hubby and I rarely get an opportunity to use a Starbucks gift card. For our family a gift card to Walgreens would be more suitable.

6. Exchange childcare. If you do plan on going shopping consider shopping early in the year and exchanging child care with a friend. Take turns watching each other’s kids so you can go shopping in peace. Do you find yourself spending more money when you have your kids with you? Treat yourself to less stress and shop being relaxed and not rushed. If you truly need to save money plan out your transactions and don’t shop with others, this will help stay on budget and keep to a plan.

7. Shop Clearance and Discontinued items. So this may not be popular but if you have limited funds look for clearance items and be sure to keep your budget in mind when shopping around for items. Look for Manager Specials or closeout sales. Often times you can find some really good items fairly cheap if you just take the time to look around hence the reason start early.

8. Set up a Storage area. The worst thing you can do to yourself is shop early and accumulate your gifts and put them away in different spots and then when it comes to pull them out you don’t know where you put them. Designate one place to store those items. A cheap alternative is get a Cubby Tote drawer from Target for $2.50 from the $1 area and use that you place your items in and put it in a closet high for small kids not be able to reach. For bigger items consider a plastic tote 18 gallons or bigger or even the under the bed flat totes but make sure it’s a solid color and not a clear one.

9. Label Everything. When you buy a gift be sure to label with masking tape who the gift is for and for what occasion. If you are like me I will buy items when they are on clearance or at their lowest price and store them for birthdays or special treats but be sure to label them so you don’t have the hassle of trying to remember.

10. Buy after the Holiday Season. So let’s start early for next year! So you may find some discounted Holiday items right now but you will really save just after the Holiday season primarily the 2nd week of January all the way to the 2nd week of February. I spent $10 one year and got all my Christmas decorations including lights, ornaments (custom) and solid decorative bulbs, tree, wrapping paper, tape and much more for the following year. I waited till everything was 95% off and I am thankful every year after that.

Enjoy your holiday shopping!

*Jezzie's two cents :This is just a list of ways to try and have some money to spend after Christmas has come and gone. Take heed. I know we all like to give gifts and see reactions but I know none of us wants to deal being broke and incurring overdraft fees because of it. You work to hard to have lint in your pockets.

I AM TROY DAVIS

TROY ANTHONY DAVIS

11:08 EST is a time that will be forever in our memories. Tonight at 11:08 another black man was killed by the American Government. His name was Troy Davis. I had to go and do my research on this case so I could be informed.  He allegedly killed an off-duty police officer 22yrs ago. He maintained his innocence until his last breath. Sadly, the justice system didn't, believe him even though 7 of the 9 witnesses recanted their statements. This is bone chilling. I am not for the death penalty. Killing one person will not bring your loved one back to life. America needs to really rethink the justice system and our value on human life. America is in a sensitive place politically, and racially. This could be the blow to our collective psyche and soul that causes an uprising. We as a people need to be proactive and more involved in politics or things like this will continue to happen. The way the government is this could easily be one of my brothers, my father, my uncles. Whether you believe or not, my brother IS your brother, my father YOUR father,etc. We are all connected. Seriously, I am hurt over this. We have to do something about these type of incidents. This is far from okay. I hope this serves as a wake up call to us all. I pray for both the MacPhail and Davis families. I pray for us all. Death benefits no one. This is NOT justice.
Rest In Peace TROY DAVIS.

Merry Christmas!

I am no scrooge. I thoroughly enjoy Christmas and everything that comes along with it. I like the snow,smiling faces, the niceness of people, the extreme family togetherness, gifts and of course the real reason for the holiday:the birth of the Savior. A lot of people have forgotten that He is actually the reason for all the celebrating.I like new shoes and clothes as much as the next gal and I admit it's easy to get caught up in the commercialism of it all. When you strip all of that away, it leaves you with CHRIST and that's the best gift one could have. In my opinion anyway. I could stand on my soapbox and proclaim "how things have changed, and how the commercialism of the holiday is sickening,etc..." but you've heard that before. This holiday is about family, whether yours is loud, dysfunctional, crazy, loud, silent, or separated every other day except for this one, cherish it. You didn't have to be blessed with them. No matter how much they get on your nerves and no matter if you count the minutes until you go back to your corner of the world. A part of you secretly loves this time of year. It makes you feel like a kid again. Reverting to childhood isn't always a bad thing. If you don't feel the way I do, then that's fine we're all entitled to our own beliefs, thoughts, and feelings. I'm not the best Christian but I do hold and keep some things sacred. Spirtuality, family,being two of them. I don't wish people a "Merry X-mas" for the simple reason if you take 'Christ' out now on HIS birthday,what makes you think He won't do the same to you when you two finally meet? These are just some things to think about on this beautiful day. Merry Christmas to you and yours!