When I'm bad, I'm really bad

I'm supposed to wake up at 7:30 a.m every weekday morning. Spring out of bed, bounce into the shower, dress, make my bed, get the coffee pot going and begin making breakfast for my zoo crew. With me taking the lead we are supposed to start our day on schedule, tackling our home school work bright eyed and bushy tailed. Ending our day with a smile because we accomplished our daily goals. Proudly checking off the items on our "to-do list."

THAT'S WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO

Waking up at 9:00 a.m , begrudgingly rolling out of bed, clutching my comforters for one last snuggle. Dragging into the shower...or not (don't judge me). Getting dressed. Maybe. Getting that coffee pot going. I have to, otherwise I suffer withdrawals, not a pretty sight. And school? not even starting until after 12 noon. Working on assignments with one eye open, a far cry from a bright eye. At the end of the day, there is no smile on my face because my "to-do" list is undone.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING FOR 2 WEEKS

Help me...

next week

;0

Change is good

I recently went out on a limb and ventured off into unfamiliar territory. I did not go out of the country or into a bad neighborhood. I made a change in my makeup choice. oooohhhh, that is very scary for me. All of my close friends know that I am a M*A*C cosmetics kind of girl and on the occasions that I am wearing makeup, I rarely will use another brand with the exception of eyeliner, and mascara.

Recently, though I was involved in an event and I really wanted to look really pretty. I did not want my dark acne blemishes to be visible, I hate them. However, I had run out of my usual Studio fix powder foundation and was really freaking out. Freaking out because I did not want to spend $26 for a new compact, and I was unsure of where to turn for a comparable yet less expensive product.

I was searching high and low trying to find the right color match, texture and application style. For some people this is a simple task, but for me, it was a cause for much anxiety. I'm used to just walking up to the counter and having it all picked out for me. Walking away as a satisfied and confident customer. Having to pick out my own foundation color left me feeling anything but confident. I did not want to be one of those women that you see with two toned skin, their neck obviously lighter or darker than their face. Can you see my dilemma?

Eventually I just gave up, and enlisted the help of my cousin, a great makeup artist. We chose the Maybelline Dream Matte mousse foundation and I love it! It is so light and airy, and a little goes a long way. I was amazed at how well it covered my dark spots, giving me a beautiful even tone that looked natural. The best part of it all? It can be purchased for under $10. I am so happy that I have found something that provides me with the same quality, look and feel of my beloved M*A*C Studio fix. Needless to say, I attended my event with great pride and confidence and a little extra change in my pocket.

BYE-BYE M*A*C...HELLO MAYBELLINE!

*I am not in any partnership with Maybelline, to promote this product. I simply loved it and wanted to share my feelings about it*

Therapeutic Thursdays : my cup o' tea

I love a good warm cup of tea. There are so many varieties to choose from for all purposes. A nice cup of tea is perfect when winding down after a long day. It is soothing when you are experiencing some anxiety and cozy when it's nippy outside. Most are familiar with the internal goodness of herbal teas in a cup but how many are aware of the herbal teas in the bath?

A few years ago I was introduced to the herbal bath teas and have been hooked ever since.

A Single or a group of healing herbs nestled in a muslin bag or cheesecloth and steeped in a hot bath can do wonders. I used a combination of lavender, chamomile, Valerian root and passion flower. It was a very sleep inducing concoction. Perfect for when I had a hard time sleeping or really needed to relax. Once the bag has been steeped for 10 minutes you will enjoy the aroma that fills your bathroom.

There are bath teas for all purposes and intents ; cold & flu, menopause relief, inflammation, pain relief and even romance. Herbal Bath Teas may also be used for facial steams: Add a tablespoon of Herbal Bath Tea to a bowl of boiling water to create an infusion. Using a soft towel to cover your head and the bowl, place your face over the bowl and relax allowing the tension to release as you breathe in the purifying steam.

Give it a try, grab your favorite herbs and have yourself a cup of tea..."ahem" or a tea BATH.

Don't get it twisted

I am the type of person that has deep emotion. I am a peacemaker and a peace lover. If I have a serious problem with someone or something, it is important for me to set matters straight by eventually making my feelings known. It helps me to move on from the situation and not hold on to it. Holding on to negative feelings often create a place of bitterness and resentment, hiding in small crevices of the heart and mind. It never really allows a person to be free, causing one to be stagnant in life. Some people get it and some do not. Those who don't, seem to misunderstand the whole point. Feeling as though talking about things is a waste of time and energy. However, If done properly it can create a bridge to better understanding and a strong foundation in all relationships.
Recently I was told that I was making myself a victim because I chose to discuss a situation that hurt me deeply. I had the impression that my choice to express myself gave the other person the perception of weakness. How untrue that perception is. In fact, it is because I try to think through various issues, getting to the root of them that I am NOT a victim. Of any given serious situation which involves me. In fact I consider myself a survivor, because I fight everyday to push myself ahead. Doing what I do in spite of my trials. Going through my thoughts, I was reminded of that song ; Survivor, by Destiny's Child. How appropriate to post it up here today. It goes right along with my feelings.

Give me some Mo'

I have liked the comedy style of Mo'nique, although she can be brash in her use of the four letter words, she does makes me laugh. The energy that she adds to a movie really keeps it rolling. She keeps it real, and I like what's REAL.


So I was excited to see that she had gotten her own late night talk show on BET . The sistah's are doing their thing, with the talk shows these days. We have Wendy Williams in the a.m., Tyra and Oprah in the afternoons and now Mo'nique late nights. How great is that!? The talk show business is getting it's swirl on!


I've eagerly watched the first couple of weeks episodes, cheering her on for coming this far. Her guest line up is refreshing, because she looks for the people and stories that are inspiring. She is all about giving people a chance to shine. I really was touched by her interview of the Ohio Wrestlers, two boys winning against the odds. Her interview of the cast from ABC FAMILY Lincoln Heights , was sweet and encouraging too. She appears to be so full of love, happiness and gratitude that you can't help but to feel it too and it is this exuberance that keeps me coming back.


Now, I'm all about the love too but I still have to keep it real for a minute. Monique's show would be even better if she would just. stop. screaming. From the time she steps off the elevator, throughout the interviews and all, she is talking at the top of her voice. Whew! Some nights I just turn the volume down, because at that time of the night I am winding down. But I'm not giving up on her, I'm going to continue to keep giving her the support in doing her thing. After all she does have a good show and it's better to support a good show than to keep putting up with the thousands of crappy ones out there.....Even if i do have to take an aspirin for my headache after her show.

;)

Yesterday, I took my children to see the new movie by Maurice Sendak, Where the wild things are. It was an interesting movie, but in similar style to the book it was not much dialogue. I felt that the movie was slow moving but left room for after thought.

It began with the young boy in movie troubled and confused. He had some anger issues, which made for good discussion later with my 8 and 10 yr old about what is and is not acceptable behavior. Once he arrives at the place where the wild things are, he meets these creatures. I certainly would not recommend viewing this movie with kids under the age of 7, because those creatures are kinda creepy! But It is adapted from the great illustrator Maurice Sendak, so it is, what it is. The creativity in the costume designs were phenomenal in my opinion. I was giving side glances at my 8 yr old the whole time wondering if we were going to be sharing a bed that night. She was cool with it, however if she had been slightly younger I don't think it would have been cool. Also, the language of the characters was more mature than I cared for in a child movie, but these days it seems like every movie G, PG or PG13 has to slip in adult language.

All in all, I felt that the movie was a good draw for those of us with fond childhood memories of the storybook written over 30 yrs ago. But, without that connection I'm not sure that it is a total blockbuster for kids this year. Nice try though.

Gift set winner

...And the winner of the Reflexology and Aromatherapy gift set is

PETULA!!!

Thank you to ALL that participated in my first small giveaway. I hope to have more interesting and fun giveaways in the future.

Therapeutic Thursdays

I have something new that I want to start on my blog. Because I have an appreciation for holistic health I want to share it with my readers. One way that I have decided to do this is to begin a new series called Therapeutic Thursdays. Originally I was posting these on my Hippie Chicks fan page but figured it would be a good feature here too.

My first Therapeutic Thursdays post will be :

Rosemary essential oil

Rosemary is one of my favorite essential oils because it can do so much. Popularly known as a tasty addition to chicken, fish and vegetable dishes. Outside of its wonderful flavor however, it aids the digestive system when it is eaten.

As an essential oil it works as a stimulant to the body's central nervous system. Which is no wonder why it has been commonly called a "wake up" oil. When trying to get yourself in gear for the long day ahead incorporate a few drops in a natural shower gel. Or create a wake me up spray with Rosemary, peppermint and sweet orange. Spritz a little bit above the sleepy heads in your house. There will definitely be a sense of clarity in the air.

Along, with keeping you alert you can also count on Rosemary to soothe your aching muscles. It is an antiseptic oil, so it is great for conditions such as muscle sprains, arthritis, and rheumatism. I like to use it with Lavender, peppermint, and cypress for a good back rub.

With the cold and flu season upon us and everyone very concerned about the Swine flu, now would be a great time to pick up a bottle of Rosemary. It is good for the immune system, use up to 5 drops in a warm bath.

See what I mean? Variety. So, the next time you walk past a fragrant Rosemary bush and rub its leaves between your fingertips, remember all of its goodness. It is so much more than just a fragrant bush.

Blogalicious 09 part 2 - Who you callin' a princess?

Sometimes people say a lot of things without a lot of meaning behind their words. Shallow compliments, and empty promises.


During lunch, which was hosted by Disney ( totally scrumptious) we were able to listen to the toe tapping soundtrack and view a few clips of the new movie The Princess and The Frog, featuring the first African American princess, Tianna. A wonderful story about a young woman of color who dreamed of owning her own business.We watched and were inspired to live our dreams and realize the inner princess inside us all. I listened to and laughed with our Keynote speaker: Karen Walrond, who encouraged us to be beautifully different. I had so much to ponder over. So many possibilities, if only I would reach out for them. It is all at my fingertips...


To really drive home the point, we were all invited to a late night Princess party sponsored by the Blogrollers . And what a party it was! I stepped off the elevator and Bippitybopppityboo! I was transformed. I put on my tiara, my princess ring, grabbed my glass of champagne and thanks to the two DJ's, I danced the night away to my favorite jams. Overlooking a spectacular view of beautiful Hot'lanta under the sparkling city lights. It was refreshing to be among professional women, who did not let their titles hold them back from cuttin' a rug! It truly felt like a celebration.


Every woman there was called a princess and how special it was to feel that they really meant it. They said I was a princess and with the Royal treatment I received, I believed it.

Blogalicious 09, Part 1 - My First Time

Every one has a first time for something or with someone that is forever ingrained in their heart and mind. I remember my...

first job,

first kiss

first pregnancy

first airplane ride

first blogging conference.

Hhhhmmmm, My First Blogging Conference. Please allow me to elaborate on Blogalicious 09. My goodness! what can I say? From the moment I stepped into the conference area I was in awe and knew that I was in for a treat. I eagerly received my badge and my sssswwweeeeeet Sssswaaaaaag bags then made a beeline for the wonderful breakfast buffet. Once in my seat my eyes were completely glued to the stage as I listened to words of inspiration and wisdom from the folks that know the bizzness about the business of blogging and social media. More interestingly to me was the fact that it was delivered from the perspective of women of color. The speakers shed light on the true affect and effect that we really have on this industry. The encouragement and education made it a little clearer for me to see myself with a place for creative & meaningful contributions in this realm. I mean, I knew....but now I REALLY KNOW.

I really appreciated the six breakout sessions, where we could get one on one tips from experienced blogger's. The sessions had something for everyone, I simply needed to pick which one to get in where I fit it. Here are a few of the session topics; Social Media Basics, Taking your Blog to The Next Level, Possibilities and Pitfalls of Having You on the Net, and The Art of Small Business Blogging. Later on I was very Impressed at the Town Hall & Plenary session which discussed Marketing to Women of Color and began with a conversation with Nelson George. There to share with us his new venture, BlackAtlas.com from American Airlines. More on that later, I promise. The dialogue that was created between the Marketers and the women blogger's on the panel was amazing and received several rounds of applause. It was through this panel I could hear the concerns and issues of women blogger's of color along with resolutions so that we all can have a win - win situation.

Sounds good right? I'm not gonna sugar coat it. It was good. Until this weekend I was a total virgin to blogging conferences. I had no clue of what to expect. I only imagined and hoped that it would be worth my time, energy and money. Thanks to Blogalicious 09, my "first time" was incredible and will never be forgotten.