It's as easy as A-B-C...

 Happy Black History Month! Another  February is upon us, so it's time for the the rest of the country to recognize/celebrate how trill we are. I like to surf the internet for things I haven't seen before in regards to our litness (I'm sure that's not a word, but I'm using it) accomplishments and history. I happened to stumble upon this set of Black ABCs that I read were used in the Chicago school system back in the 1970s. These were used to instill pride into growing minds. This set is too cute. Showing our kids that they are beautiful, worthy,and relevant enough to see in classrooms. I think it'd be awesome if we could modernize them for the kids today.I would not want to see any "N is for Nae-Nae" though. Anyway, I just wanted share these. Say it loud...

Goodbye 2014...Hello 2015!

Happy New Year!

I won't hold you hostage with a super long post, but I did want to drop by and write something. Writing has been on my mind lately and just yesterday a friend asked why I didn't post anymore. Last post was in July. JULY. Now, I don't need to defend my absence but I will say that is a long time to be gone. Too long. Life was being lived. Feelings were being felt. Money was being made and spent, lol. I will do better, I have to. A lot happened in 2014. In a wide scope, America was being extra ugly towards my folk. Tragedy is never easy, but within the struggle there is beauty and the result of this unrest will be magnificent. People from all over came to Ferguson and the surrounding areas to show solidarity and let the powers that be know that this mistreatment is for the birds. On a more personal note, I got my own place, cut my hair...multiple times, bought a car, went back to school (<<<<<<I'm real excited about this one), I wrote my first guest piece on another site, went to some GREAT concerts, (OUTKAST, anyone??) D'Angelo returned to music and I willingly gave him my coins, I made some good new friends, dissolved some silly relationships, got promoted, switched branches, became uncomfortable. Most importantly, I loved, laughed, cried, lived and reveled in my being different. 2014 definitely had its share of ups and downs. I'm something like an optimist though so I tend not to dwell on the low points for long. I am definitely appreciative of all that happened and all that will happen. As far as resolutions go, I'm not big on them. I do like to have goals set though. My goals change throughout the year. As my mind shifts, so do the goals. I do have a little list for right now though.

 2015 Goals (so far)

• Take more pictures
• Dress up more
• Be more optimistic
• Do more art
• Improve
• Go more places ( here and abroad)
• Take no shit
• Organize
• Save money/make more
• Focus/Be attentive
• Learn more
• Be more awesome
• Be more aware
• Listen more (to God, to music, to myself, to others)
• Love myself and others more 

That's all I have to say right now. What are your plans for this year?
 Stay blessed or be pressed...




*soundtrack to this post was The Internet. Get familiar

Updates, potential, and more

What's up?!
Once again I've been MIA for a couple months but I'm out here living, and learning. I'm still settling into my new position trying to find my place in this new environment. I'm also adjusting to living by myself and without a car. It has it's rough patches but honestly, it's not that bad. I've got some loud and questionable neighbors but that's what happens when you live in an apartment complex. I'm sure they think I'm strange too, lol. As far as school goes, all signs point to starting in the fall. Finally. I've been out for a long time. Former classmates are graduating with their Master's while I've yet to receive my Bachelor's.  Truthfully, it did make me feel some kind of way...for a short while. Then I remembered that our paths are purposely different. I wouldn't trade what I've learned in these past 5 and a 1/2 years being out of school for anything. As far a dating goes, honey, the #struggle is real. LOL. I've had some brothers that showed promised then offed themselves with the foolishness. You say you want to come to my house on the regular to use  MY internet and laptop cause your hotspot is tripping? Brother, we've only went out once. How can you be upset when I say no? #ByeFelicia Y'all know my bs tolerance is low, and I refuse to raise it. In other news, summer is right around the corner, so if you are in my area look for me at various concerts. I plan on attending as many as possible and screaming and singing until my lungs get sore. Here's a little mood music to make your Saturday night as easy as a Sunday morning.

Change has come

Hey!

Things have been changing for me recently and I now have time to sit down collect myself, say thank you, and write. We're 3 months into the new year and I've got a promotion, my own apartment, a haircut, and no car, lol. They are all connected and I'm thankful for each one of them. The past month or so has been a month of growth. I'm growing into my adulthood and my womanhood and I'm accepting it with open arms. It's very comforting and exciting to see yourself mature seamlessly. Of course we all have our "moments," but I'm proud of the woman I'm becoming, and it inspires me to keep growing and living! I also know I'm getting older because all I want to do on the weekends is catch up on sleep lol. #elderly 

This promotion had come just in time because I had been feeling under challenged in my old position and my mind was restless. I couldn't sleep at night because I was fearing that I was wasting my potential and intelligence. I was thankful that I had a job, but baby, I wanted to QUIT. I just wasn't getting what I thought I needed. I felt like I had learned all of what I was supposed to in that role. So, yeah, I'm glad about this new title.

 I've got my own place now. No more living off the fat of the land at my parent's because they've decided to move back to Houston. They wanted me to come, but I unlike them, am not retired and can't just up and move. I felt I was getting older and now was the best time for me to make this move. I'm still between both places, but I sleep at my apartment most nights and my mama has already left for 5th Ward leaving daddy to pack up the house. It's an adjustment to say the least but I know it'll be good in the end. I'm still in the beginning stages. No bed or tv  yet, but come May when I get JSU out of my pockets, I'll more to spend. My car broke down about a month ago. Ivy was old and well used. I see it as a silver lining because now I don't have to spend money on car maintenance, insurance, gas, etc.  

On to this hair honey, I had long been thinking about a change in hairstyles. I got inspired to cut all of it while was getting those trendy linings for a couple of months last summer. So I did it. Took my shoulder length hair and had my stylist chop it and give me a tapered cut. I LOVE it! I already feel so different. I've never had short hair before and I feel free. I'm #summertimefine  and it's barely spring, LOL

All these things are happening all at once. I'm beyond blessed, thankful, and grateful for them and for the people in my life who are supporting me. We'll see by the end of the year where I am emotionally, but right now, I 'm floating. Watch this Black girl fly (word to K-Dot)

Here's to change, it's making me better even when I don't feel like it is.

That's my before and after picture. #Cheekbones #TWA #new

Repost- 10 Wonderful Ways to Embarrass Yourself

The following comes directly from a great blog call All the Many Layers. It is chock full of inspiration, style, and flair. I just happened upon it, but trust I'll be visiting it often. This particular entry stood out because I'm always on  the search of being my best self and have realized that includes doing things I've never done. The journey to fulfillment and self-love doesn't have to be hard work all the time. Enjoy life and laugh. So I'm passing this on to you, in hopes that you learn to embarrass yourself wonderfully.






“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”  | Eleanor Roosevelt

1 – Confess. Declare your wildest dreams and your scariest nightmares. Admit what you’re ashamed of and what keeps you up at night. Talk about it, write about it; turn the emotion into creation. Get naked and do it often. Feel the sun warm your skin.

2 – Try something new. Don’t ignore your longings or play hard to get. Be a curiosity whore. If you like it, give it a chance. Say yes to yourself. Be easy. Give it up. If it’s good to you, if it opens you, come back for more.

3 – Be in love with something. Make love in public. Show off the stars in your eyes. Be a freaking genius at loving that thing. Love it without apology.  Wholeheartedly and passionately. Write love letters and share them with the whole world. Co-create with your love thing.

4 – Disagree. With conviction, without malice, in quiet or out loud. Believe in something. Love your differences. Carve yourself out. Dance all alone, with everyone watching.

5 – Admit you don’t know. Ask simple, basic questions. Be more concerned with understanding than being cool or all knowing. Humility is brilliance.

6 – Say What You’re Really Thinking. If it needs to be said, say it.   Expose the heart of the matter. Don't let nice become more important than real.  Claim the truth. Grab it by the balls.

7 – Disappoint someone. In order to be true to yourself. Make difficult decisions that teach you how to be your own advocate. Silence your "shoulds" and listen to your needs. Forget what you were taught. Be your own defiance.

8 – Make a mess.  Make a fool of yourself, a cluster of fumbles. Fall down, get dirty, get bruised. Let the world know that you are in the game and you won’t quit.

9 – Fall apart. Have a breakdown. Cry. Feel the burn. Let it cleanse you.

10 – Stand in the spotlight. Show all your colors.  Let them stare.

Black Gold- Day 2

First off, if you don't know Esperanza and Algebra. Sugar get familiar. These ladies are really talented.! This song speaks to and for us. If you didn't know; I, you, we are BLACK GOLD! Be proud of us.
**Side note: I know I said I was bringing you folk you've never heard of. BUT this song was too good not to post. I'll be back on my mission tomorrow.

Feb 1, 2012- Intro/Frank Yerby

It's February again. So that means it's Black History Month. Now I know someone is going to say "I'm (your're) Black/African-American/Negro, etc everyday not just in February. It's the shortest month of the year anyway..." (Cue Kanye West). No need to shout sugar, I hear you and you're right. But since we were given this month to highlight/observe US and to (hopefully) start a year long conversation(s) and history lesson(s) about how intelligent, awesome, influential, and fly we are. So just like I did last year, I am going to hip my readers to some people you may or may not have heard of.



First up is Frank Yerby. He was a best-selling author with his first book The Foxes of Harrow (1946). The book sold over one million copies. It was the first novel by an African-American to be purchased by a Hollywood studio and it was made into a film in 1947. After the unexpected success of his first novel Yerby settled in Madrid, Spain, and went on to write more than thirty historical novels, most of which became best sellers. Yerby died in 1991. His work lives on.

Save room for your money, honey.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I want to start by saying THANKS for hanging with me and my blog for a year. I hope that your holiday season was as restful, as peaceful, as loving, as everything as you needed and wanted it to be. I know mine was. I trust that you are thankful for another day and another opportunity at happiness that everyone doesn't get. Now that parties are over, confetti has been swept up and the music has been turned down it's time to get back to business. I've never been one for making resolutions. If I want to change, I don't want for a designated time of the year to do so. My biggest challenge has been saving money. I know I need to do it, and I know the importance of it I just don't do it as well as I know I can. I have gotten better though. I switched banks and got a better savings plan. We're all tired of singing the "I'm SO broke" song. So here's what we can do. Financial plan 2012: 52 week challenge. Save a dollar for every corresponding week. 1st week=$1, 2nd week=$2, etc. Put it into a ING account at a .85% interest rate. Or whatever savings account of your choosing. (Even a shoe box on top of the fridge Redman style will do, lol) If weekly isn't feasible, try bi-weekly or monthly payments to yourself. For YOUR FUTURE.  Let's watch our finances grow and change. Tell all your friends, prosperity is in our grasp. Scrimping and not having enough is for the birds, we know better.  This is idea is not mine, I have to thank Ms.SparkWisdom from Youtube for this. (check her out, we all need a bit of extra encouragement and she is all about that.) I'm just doing my part and share the information. I want us all to win. Everyone deserves to have a little extra and have the means to splurge sometimes. You have to do the work though. You've got to save, or your nest egg won't grow. If you can't start now, start whenever you can. Along with saving more try keeping track of your spending. It's easier to see where your money is going if you physically write it down. Let this financial challenge be the first part of your plan on being a better version of yourself. Let this success spill over into your career, spiritual, romantic, and whatever other parts of life need a bit of revamping.  Be accountable for your successes and failures. Not just financially but in life. I promise it'll make you a better person. I can't wait to hear about it.

"If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting."
Benjamin Franklin

STOP! Read this before you make any resolutions.

 

This article is from marcandangel

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Nothing could be closer to the truth.  But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you.  You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot.  Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth.  And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on.  No, it won’t be easy.  There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them.  We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems.  That’s not how we’re made.  In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall.  Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time.  This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself.  Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.  Yes, help others; but help yourself too.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else.  Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you.  Don’t change so people will like you.  Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
6. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
7. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.  Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success.  You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.  Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
9. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive.  But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
10. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either.  You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
11. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.  Evaluate situations and take decisive action.  You cannot change what you refuse to confront.  Making progress involves risk.  Period!  You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely.  It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company.  There’s no need to rush.  If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet.  Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you.  But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
15. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you.  Concentrate on beating your own records every day.  Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
16. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.  Ask yourself this:  “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you.  You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough.  But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past.  You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation.  So smile!  Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
18. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart.  You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate.  Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.”  It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.”  Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself!  And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too.  If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway.  Just do what you know in your heart is right.
21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.  Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.  The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
23. Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.  Read Getting Things Done.
24. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Don’t take the easy way out.  Do something extraordinary.
25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while.  You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well.  You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears.  The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
26. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life.  When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out.  But making one person smile CAN change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.  So narrow your focus.
28. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy.  One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time?  Three years?  Five years?”  If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen.  Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.  If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
30. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life.  Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs.  Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

Jezzie's two cents: I am sure I am not the only one who sees themselves in this list. If it's time to make a change  in your life, DO IT. Let these above statements start you on the right path to making your life worth leading. The time for pity parties, and being unhappy in life are over. Live your life for you do right and I promise everyone and everything else will fall into place.