Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!!! Today is a special day. I love my Mom. I love the relationship that we have. She is my best friend. She can make me laugh even when I'd rather not. She always seems to know when I need a hug or a kind word. Even when she is pressuring me about having kids, I still love her. Today, I celebrate her. I celebrate the woman she is and the woman she's raised. My Mom did not have an easy life. But, she sacrificed it all for my brother and I. She worked two jobs throughout my entire high school and college years. She made sure we had everything. She was and still is one of my favorite people. She believes in me when I find it hard to believe in myself. I love that woman more than life. I am so blessed that God chose her for me. 

There aren't really enough words to fully explain how much I love my Mom. She is one of my favorite people and best friends. She hates to take pics, which is why I had to search forever for these. She is the silliest, most honest woman I know. I told her today that she was my gift. She loves me unconditionally and that is a gift in itself. I really hope the mothers in the world have a great day today. You are truly appreciated. Happy Mother's Day!!

I Choose Me

I started the year with a distinct promise to myself. This year would be about becoming a better version of myself. I knew that this would take a bunch of little steps to fulfill the bigger promise. Things like my gratitude jar, which I love. I write down one good thing at the end of the night. It makes me smile when writing it. Also, I decided to be happy or at least act happy. I've spent entirely too much time last year being unhappy because of the actions of other people. Every day I wake up with that thought "Be Happy." It is absolutely true what Gretchen Rubin writes in "The Happiness Project," Look for happiness under your own roof” & “Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”  

Things that would normally bother me, don't anymore. I have truly given myself over to this new way of thinking and being. I can no longer carry unhappiness around with me like an accessory. Bad things happen. More often than not, to good people. But, for as long as I am on this Earth, I have the chance to change my circumstances. I messed up before. I put the keys to my happiness in the hands of another. That was the wrong move. Because it gave that person the power to break me and they did. I became a woman I didn't know last year. I was angry and hurt and upset and sullen. I do not have time for that woman anymore. She no longer exists. 

Thinking happy thoughts has truly changed my outlook. I'm not saying that I won't stumble because I will. I had a day this week where I could not muster a happy thought. So, I allowed myself to feel what I was feeling. I gave myself the day and then I was over it. I am fully aware of everything in my life. I know the good and bad. I do not sugarcoat anything. I think that there has to be more in store for me, for my life. I'm more determined than every to find out what it is. My happy thought for today is a simple one: "the weather is warming up, I'm out of the house and life is good. I am thankful for today." For me, these are the thoughts that get me through my day. What more can I ask for? Happiness, is indeed, a choice. I choose to be happy everyday. So should you. 

Looking Forward

It's New Year's Eve and I'm feeling reflective. So, this post is a two in one. First, I wanna talk about the best thing of my year: my hair. This past year has been an amazing natural hair journey. I've had so truly dope hair days. From braid outs to bantu knot outs to two strand twists to wash and go's, I did it all with my own two hands this year. Most of these styles are trial and error. Some I got right the first time. Others, not so much. But, even when it didn't work, I just tried harder the next time. It's my hair so learning how to work with it is a must. I haven't been to a salon in almost 3 years. This is all me. I am thankful for youtube natural hair vloggers and the hair forums. I am grateful to the natural hair community for all of the information that has been at my fingertips. I did this. I'm so proud of me. Here are my favorite looks/styles of this year. I really fell in love with my own natural hair this year!!

Now, here is the second half. These are 14 questions that needed to be answered before the new year. Let's jump into it! Oh and Happy New Year's people!!!

1. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing? *Right now, settling. But that won't be for much longer. 
2. Have you been a friend to yourself? *This year, I have been my own best friend. I had to be.*
3. What was the biggest risk you took this year? *Reached out to someone who hurt me.*
4. What have you been holding onto that you need to let go of? *Everything that was said between the two of us, the life we planned, the love we had.*
5. What was this year’s biggest time waster? How will you make a change? *Biggest time waster were the countless moments spent wondering "what if?" Prayer is the only thing can change it. *
6. In what ways have you supported yourself in being less than? In what ways have you supported yourself in being all that you can be? *I allowed myself to blame me for something that happened to me. I've supported myself by stepping out on faith as far as my writing goes.*
7. Right now, is your life a manifestation of your inner world, or is your inner world a reflection of your outward world? How can you get back into alignment? *My life is a reflection of my outward world. Has been all year. But, 2014 will be the year of manifesting my destiny. This is how I will get back into alignment.*
8. What are 5 things you can do to reconnect? *Stop letting my heart lead me, doing instead of talking, strengthening my faith again, reach out to friends more, keep myself in good spirits.*
9. What lessons can you take away from this year’s relationships? *Things fall apart without warning. You have to be able to function without them. You have to know how to put yourself back together and move forward. No one else will do it for you. Love yourself the most because you are the only person who will take care of your heart. *
10. Have you been compassionate with yourself? With others? *With myself, not so much. With others, maybe a bit too much.*
11. What has brought you the most joy this year? *My family, hands down.*
12. Have you been living in your truth? *More and more.*
13. How do you want to think and feel about yourself twelve months from now? *I want to think more positively. I want to be able to see the sunny side of things again. I want to feel better about everything. I want to be my old self again.*
14. What else do you need to say or do to be complete with this year? *I am so done with this year. I have said everything that I can say, I've written all that I can. I want to leave all of 2013 right here.*

Happy, Happy!!

Happy Independence Day!! I do not know what this day means for you. But, it has always meant family, bbq, music and fireworks for me. It's the quintessential summer holiday. It has been the kick off for Essence Music Festival in New Orleans for 17 years now. This is the first year I do not think I am attending. Whatever the day means for you and yours, I hope that everyone enjoys their holiday. I wanted to share a few songs by a group who represent summer to me. Enjoy the music. Happy 4th of July!!

It's Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there! In all honesty, this day doesn't mean a whole lot to me currently. My Dad is deceased & I don't have kids. I would like to be more optimistic about today's holiday. And, in the future, I'm sure I will be. I will spend today the way I have for the last 14 years: reminiscing about my Dad, Kenneth. This holiday just makes me miss him even more. I wish he was still here. Wish I could be having a conversation with him. No tears today though. I will not allow them. I'm going to think happy thoughts and remember the good times. Dads are pretty important people. Today is their day. So, make sure you let the Dads in your life know how much they are loved & appreciated. Happy Father's Day!


In the picture: my Dad Kenneth Sr, me,
my brother Kendrick, and my sister Matika.
Circa January 1997.

Oh, Happy Day

"All I really want is to be happy!" - Mary J. Blige. This lady absolutely loves that lyric! I don't even know where to start. Things had gone awry for a few days. They've found a way back to normal. I love that. I prefer things to be happy and peaceful and calm. Laughing is chicken soup for my soul. Smiling makes my heart happy. I'm more me when things aren't stressful. I feel more centered and at peace. When there is drama or strife, I feel super extended and outside of myself. When there's an issue, I like to tackle it and get rid of it. If it lingers, it weighs down my spirits.



Today, I laughed and meant it. I had great conversations that eased my spirits. I said the words that were heavy in my heart and head. I pray that I said them with all the love I have in me. I sort of meditated this morning. I cleared my mind and heart. I proclaimed that I was going to get back to my happy place. And I did. I'm good. Spent the day with a smile on my face and love all around me. My prior posts weren't that happy I was told. And, to a degree, I agree. But, I blog about whatever I'm feeling. I wasn't feeling too happy the last few days. But, the moment has passed. All has been restored and renewed in my life and in my words. Today def was a good day. Hope your Sunday was as good as mine. Be happy, Loves!!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, people! I am not a huge fan of this holiday. I do not mind the candy or the kids dressing up in costumes, or even the trick-or-treating. I think all of that is cute and fine. I do not like the scary, dark mood of the day. I am not a fan of scary movies or being scared in general. Haunted houses freak me out. People jumping out of the darkness to scream or grab me is not my idea of a good time. I get why some love it. I haven't been to a haunted house in years for that reason alone. I love to see my nieces and nephews in their costumes. And, I always scream when they attempt to scare me. It's cute because they are kids. Halloween is the most fun to me when you are a kid. Halloween costume parties are great for adults. Now that's my idea of fun. Happy Halloween, folks!

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day is always good for a great time with family and a good bbq. Usually. but, not this year. Tropical Storm Lee had another thing in mind. This rain and wind does not see it for any bbq's today. At this particular moment it sounds as if the wind is trying to get inside. And, since I can't go out, I might as well stay in and wash my hair. So, I hope the rest of you are enjoying your Labor Day. Happy Labor Day people!!

A Little Happiness

* "Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find happiness." - Anonymous

* “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.” –Joseph Addison

* “Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.” –Hosea Ballou

* “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” - Denis Waitley

* There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.” -Freya Stark

* “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” - Buddha

* People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

* A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.” -Hugh Downs

* “Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” - James M. Barrie

* “Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make them come true.” -Unknown

* "Happiness comes from within." - KC

* Happiness consists not in having, but of being, not of possessing, but of enjoying. It is the warm glow of a heart at peace with itself.”-Norman Vincent Peale

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! I love my Mommie. She is and has always been my biggest supporter. She is the person who taught me so much. She was always there with a hug, a kiss, a kind word whenever I needed them or not. She has always been my protector, my friend, my sounding board. I celebrate her every day, not just today. I love that we are friends now. My teenage years were tough on both of us. But, we made it through. There is no one else in the world who knows the girl I was and the woman whom I've become so completely. She is my Mother and i am so proud to have her in my life.

I was also blessed with a bunch of Aunts, two Grandmothers and a StepMom as well. There was no lack of female influences in my life growing up. These women all played a great part in my journey to womanhood. I am grateful for all of them. They are the women who have made me laugh, cry, smile, joke, think, explore and grow. I salute and celebrate them today as well. There are not enough words in the dictionary to fully express how much I love my Mommie. I will spend the rest of my life attempting to tell her. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommies out there!



"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." - Abraham Lincoln



"A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled." - Emily Dickinson



“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." - Rajneesh

Just A Kid At Heart

I'm a huge believer in the old adage that "you're only as old as you feel." And, with that said, I am 31 years young. I think that adults forget that a little kid still lives in their heart. We sometimes forget to enjoy life. We can all just be kids at heart.

There have been times when I will just color or paint just to ease my mind. It reminds me of simpler times from my youth. I miss those carefree days. Back then, I had no clue how easy breezy my life was. I love to play games with my nieces and nephews. That will def keep anyone young. I love to are their faces light up when they win. That image warms my heart.

Take today for instance: we're watching "Happy Feet." Two adults with no children in sight enjoying the hell out of an animated movie. This movie makes me happy. I love the musical aspect of it and the general storyline. I am not ashamed to say that cartoons still make me smile. But, I like old school cartoons like Smurfs, Tom and Jerry, Strawberry Shortcake, and the like. You can keep these new age cartoons. For the most part, they are weird and silly to me.

We should all take the time to enjoy our lives. Life is filled with so much stress and drama. Why not find some simple way to enjoy it? I don't ever want stop laughing at the silly things. There is nothing wrong with that. We tend to take things much too seriously in life. I bet that an afternoon of cartoon watching would help you de-stress. I know it did for me today. Are you just a child at heart? Talk to me.

What's Happy To You?

We are all trying to get to happy. That is the struggle everyday. Happiness is defined differently for everyone. Webster's defines happy as "delighted, pleased, or glad; as over a particular thing; characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment or joy." All of this got me to pondering about personal happiness."What's happy for me may not even rate on the scale of happy for the next (wo)man. Someone asked me if I was happy recently. At that very moment, all I could hear in my head was the last few spoken lines of T.I.'s hit song "Why You Wanna." T.I. poses the question to his ex "Is ya happy?" That little three word sentence packs a big punch.

Sometimes we forget to just be happy. It's easy to do so with all of the day to day things that pull us in a thousand different directions. I know I tend to get so caught up in my head and worrying about everyone else that I forget about me. that is the number one issue I am weeding out of my life. I've decided that my happiness comes first as it should. I don't wanna miss any other moment of my life because I'm worried about someone else. This hasn't been an easy notion for me to totally embrace. But, I will not continue to sacrifice my piece of happy to engage in the drama of others any longer. That just won't do going forth.

That question made me start thinking about my idea of happiness. For me, it could be something very simple or something extremely extravagant. I've never left my happiness up to anyone else. I feel like my true happiness only resides in my heart. I responded to the original question with a resounding "Yes, I'm very happy." I truly meant it because I truly feel it. I am at a place in life that I'm happy with me. My personal happiness comes from me no one else. I'm learning to take the time to smell the roses and enjoy my happiness. It's quite an awesome feeling too. I wonder if you have gotten to your personal happiness yet?

The Quintessential December Baby

Today is Tuesday, December 14, 2010. 31 years ago on this day @ 2:39am, I was born.

On this day, I am just thankful for life, grateful for waking up to see another day. I have been overwhelmed with the amount of birthday wishes via texts, calls, and FB postings. I am forever grateful for the love. There is no other way to express that. I am humbled. I don't feel all that well today but I will smile in spite of that. Why shouldn't I?

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving can mean a lot of different things to people. To me, it's always about family and being thankful for what I have. So, I make sure to remain mindful that no matter what is going on with me, there is someone who has it worse. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my family and friends and the love of them all. That's what's real and what matters the most to me. Be thankful people! Enjoy your families and Thanksgiving!