WHEN LIFE IS BANANAS JUST ADD ICE CREAM

CLick here for the blog post Blacking It Up: Hip Hop, Race and Identity by Racialicious

2011-02-11T02:59:00.000-08:00

I recently attended a speech by a Native American who broke down the issue of racializing mascots and cartoon characters. He made an interesting point when he said that many times people think they are honoring a race when in fact it is very offensive to them. After I attended the seminar I came across this article in my news feed and decided to share it. I am able to see a different perspective on society in regards to race and gender and I hope this article gives you some insight as well.

My favorite quote form the article that came from a movie was "You can go back to being white whenever you want." It cuts right to the point of privilege as it pertains to race. One of my best friends is white and I know that although she can hang with black folk without batting an eye, she can go back to her white life and her career whenever she wants. There is freedom and power in that alone. But I also know that every moment that she is opening her mind and learning about our culture she is able to take that back with her and make a difference. It may not seem like much on an individual scale but as long as she understands that there is a struggle we have made progress. She doesn't necessarily have to be there, but she chooses to as a friend and as a compassionate and supportive person she listens when I voice my frustrations without saying a word. There are people who genuinely love the black culture because they know struggle, even if it's no where close to being the same struggle, and like the love that bonds us this is powerful.

The Sweetest Spot on Earth : Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-10T02:45:00.000-08:00

I find Valentines Day fast approaching and society would have us believe that it's a day for lovers. Although this isn't the first year I've been without a Valentine, this is definitely the first year I thought I had it in the bag. I just knew I wasn't going to be alone, but low an behold if there was ever a year to be alone, this is it. I've been seeing a nice guy for about 3 months now, but he doesn't want a commitment. At first I convinced myself that we were just having fun, I was too busy anyway, and besides what's the worst that could happen? Well I found out that the worst that could happen is catching feelings for someone who doesn't want you the way you want them. I've been playing it cool, but as I think about how much I've put out and how much I won't be getting in return, I get angry ...at myself. I can't blame the guy because he was clever enough to let me know upfront that he didn't want the commitment. Yeah, I blame cupid.

So, here I am, getting ready to cut him out of my life for good, and for no good reason. But before I do I decide to call one of my best friends. I wanted to vent, maybe explain my side. I thought maybe she could convince me that I'm not crazy for liking yet another spineless douche bag who isn't worthy. I would hate to think this disappointment equates to love somehow. My mind get's cloudy sometimes when I want something so bad that I can't have. She reminds me that I know love. I've been there, felt that. This isn't it. Move on.

Yes, that's right... I remember love! Technology is a wonderful thing. I found this picture on Google Earth as I took a virtual walk down memory lane. I went back to the place where it all began. This might just look like an ordinary corner to you, but for me this spot was a magical place. It's where I learned to fly. It's where I had my first real kiss, it's where I felt butterflies. It's where we would meet during the evening after dinner, the morning before school, the middle of the night when we would sneak out to look at the stars. Then a thousand kisses and hugs later it's where we declared our love for one another.

I know better. I was in love once. It was the height of my existence as a human being. I say that with pride, joy, a little regret, but with all that is in me. His name was Charlie, and we were crazy about each other. Like the old Casablanca flick that stresses that love is more than an act, it's a place, and a memory that we carry for all eternity. They'll might always have Paris, but me and Charlie will always have the corner of Avenue J-6 and Rodin.

It's the reason we carry through the hurts and the pains of the future, and the present. It's the reminder that hope is alive. It's the reason we try, and it's also the reason we hesitate to say goodbye. Because of this experience I've been able to move forward in any relationship because what we had was real, it took many forms including educational. It was powerful, and it was complete. It was more than passion, and kisses. It was trials and tribulations, commitment, time spent together, and Lord knows time spent apart, but forever in one another's heart. We shared the same street, then we eventually shared the same heart beat. We were best friends, then we were lovers. We exchanged Valentine's Day presents, and long walks. We exchanged secrets, and laughter, went on missions and adventures. Our friends became friends. Our mothers became our mothers. We met when I was only 14, and we traveled through time as if we were on a cloud. When we were together no one else existed, nothing else mattered. Over the years we would plan and dream and scheme, rescue each other, and when romance failed we always had our friendship, then always the beautiful cycle would begin again.

Then one day, several years later, it was over, like the snap of a finger it was over. The love wasn't gone, but the days of carefree childhood turned into responsibilities that were beyond our control, him to his family, me to my studies then career. I still dream about him, still think about him every time I see a starry sky. He was mine, and I'll always be his.

In a way it was an accomplishment, an honor and a privilege to be that girl. Ride or Die? Check. His hero? Check. His one and only? Check. His first love? Check. The one that got away? check. And he was all that for me and more. He inspires everything I do, from writing, to designing. I do it all with him in mind.

Here's the point that lies at the tip of any heart. When V-Day rolls around I will not feel alone, or like a failure because I don't have a "him" by my side. I will feel like a blessed woman with so much on her plate that I haven't the time to sit around and count my losses, or the what if's of a future that doesn't exist yet, with a guy who simply isn't him. I know love. I will hold my head up high, I will remember, I will smile. I will do more than survive, I will live. I know the truth about love. And I know that for me and Charlie we'll always have Avenue J-6 and Rodin. We're the lucky ones, because we had something that couldn't be lost, or misplaced, even questioned.

I get sad thinking about the people who don't know about real love, because once you know it you can't help but to spread it. You want to show it, you want to give it as much as possible. Knowing real love means finally knowing how short your time here is and how short your time together is. And loving is time well spent. Find your magic this Valentine's Day. Love doesn't cost a thing, it's more valuable than money, and it only grows when you give it away, so whether it's a memory, a place, a kiss, or time reserved for you and your lover, just spend it, give it away, then live it eternally. Don't be afraid, because real love is always worth it.

UGLY76

2011-01-28T01:41:00.000-08:00

Beauty is arbitrary. Fashion should be organic and women should experiment until they find themselves with a definition of their style. Style is personal. It's unique like a person's voice or fingerprint. Trendsetters are young. For them fashion is exciting, and fascinating. It's when you get older that you realize that fashion along with beauty fades. Style lasts forever. You gain wisdom throughout your trendy days, then all of a sudden you realize that somethings are more functional than others. You start buying pieces that you know work. Pieces in a few different colors, maybe even a few at a time. You know the staples and the colors that work for you season after season. Instead of you working your clothes, your clothes start to work for you. You become the inventor, the innovator, the visionary. It's all about class, your level of it, how you start to interpret it and how you start to convey the few things that changed you in a way, allowed you to grow, and made you the person you are. If you have ever changed, you yourself actually became fashion for a moment. Fashion is after all the great signifier of change. Trend setters may love fashion, but they aren't fashion. They are still following the rules put in place by someone else. People with style actually challenge the rules, bend the rules, make their own rules, and tell other people what works, and what doesn't work. If a stylish person suggests that practicing how to put mascara on is a benefit, people listen. If she says that layering works best for Fall weather people listen. She is a high ranking officer in the army of fashion. Skilled, disciplined, sharp, a leader, and a most of all honorable.

I would consider my personal style to be "70's Vintage Chic". Anything that fits into that category reminds me of myself. It's a secret in a lot of ways because I have never actually expressed the real reason I buy what I buy. Is there a psychology to fashion? Maybe.

It's not just the marketing, because when I say personal style I mean just that. There is no perfect store that only sells things I would only buy. Therefore there is no direct marketing category that I would fall into. I could open my own store, brand my style, and sell separate pieces that individually express their own unique reality. The symbolism of the store name, the brand, and the manner in which I display items and decorate the store would all be part of my personal style. If I wasn't bold, I would never be able to fully express my vision in a way that made sense to anyone else on the outside world. In a way you have to be fearless to express personal style, and go all out when you want to make a point. I know all the trends yet I still gravitate towards certain colors, prints, silhouettes, fabrics, and a trace of anything that resembles my personal style. If I wouldn't wear it I wouldn't display it.

That's the thing I love about fashion. If you know the language and you consider yourself fluent, you are able to create your own style. And like your spirit style is forever. Fashion is like a book. The designers are the authors. The books themselves are the wardrobes. The chapters are the outfits. The clothes are the paragraphs. The the accessories are the sentences. The shoes are the punctuation marks. Once you write the book others read it. To a young person fashion is their life, they study the books, and practice the teachings. To an experienced person fashion is just what you put on to live your actual life, complete with places to go, people to see and things to do. Fashion just helps you be the best you. And style gives you the power to change things, and transform yourself when you need to.

Just like the self published author, books need marketing, vision, and purpose. It needs to fit into a genre so that people know where to look for it, or so that when people look at a specific genre it's waiting to be discovered. What genre of clothing would I provide? Women's casual, and business attire. I would design, and style, drawing inspiration from vintage 70's pieces.

Embarrassing God

2010-11-19T03:20:00.000-08:00

"Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live."

Titus 1:16 NLT

"Not so long ago I saw a man shopping in a grocery store while his young son ran up and down the aisles. The boy was unleashed and hyper, making a complete nuisance of himself. The father kept calling his son's name, but the boy only ran faster—up one aisle and down the other.

Just as the father caught up with him, the boy reached out and grabbed a handful of candy bars. The father tried to take them away, but the boy held on tightly. Then he started to scream. It was a high-pitched, piercing scream that reverberated throughout the store. Clerks and customers turned to look from every direction as the frustrated father tried his best to squelch his son's cries. The boy only screamed louder and started to kick. Finally the father let him go, and once again he ran down the aisle with all his might, chocolate still clutched in his greedy little grip.

I caught a glimpse of the father's face. It was the look of complete and total embarrassment. Although I'm sure he loved his son dearly, at this moment he was ashamed to be his father.

Do you think God ever feels that way with his children? Imagine how he must feel when we become so earthly minded that we run through life, ignoring his voice and oblivious to his warning, grabbing things as we go and holding them tightly.

Do you think God doesn't get embarrassed by the way his children act? Our life is a reflection of his authority. And when we disobey, he is the One the world scoffs at.

from Embracing Eternity by Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins and Frank M. Martin (Tyndale) p 148

12 Ways to Tell If Mr. Right Is All Wrong #8

2010-11-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

He monopolizes your time.
In the early stages of a relationship, it’s normal to want to be together all the time. But if he starts demanding you spend time only with him, that could be a sign he’s emotionally abusive.

“An abuser strips you of your resources so you can’t be out of his control,” Freed says. “If somebody loves you, they want you to have a wide social network and be close with family and friends. That makes you a more well-rounded person.”

What Saves You?

2010-11-04T00:49:00.000-07:00

"Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love, which is forgiveness."

Reinhold Niebuhr

When will love come?

2010-10-27T16:50:00.001-07:00

"Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you. When you dare to reveal yourself fully. When you dare to be vulnerable"
~ Dr. Joyce Brothers

Twiturm.com - Finga bandit - oooooh Yaaaaaa

2010-10-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

Twiturm.com - Finga bandit - oooooh Yaaaaaa

WHIP YO MUTHA F*CKIN HAIR like young Willow Smith

2010-10-18T19:46:00.001-07:00

Whip My Hair BMF
Uploaded by BlakMusicFirst. - See the latest featured music videos.

Fact Of the Day!

2010-10-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

The Popsicle was invented by 11-year-old Frank Epperson in 1905. He left a container of soda and a stirrer outside overnight, and in the morning discovered them frozen together.

The Power is Yours

2010-10-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

The Magic Wand

Quick-change artist extraordinaire,

I whip out my folded cane and change from black man to blind man with a flick of the wrist.

It is a profound metamorphosis

From God gifted wizard of roundball dominating backboards across America,

To God-gifted idiot savant pounding out chart-busters on a cock-eyed whim;

From sociopathic gangbanger with death for eyes

To all seeing soul with saintly spirit;

From rape deranged misogynist to poor motherless child;

From welfare-rich pimp to disability-rich gimp;

And from “white man’s burden” to every man’s burden.

It is always a profound metamorphosis.

Whether from cursed by man to cursed by God or from scripture condemned to God ordained, my final form is never of my choosing.

I only wield the wand; you are the magician.

—Lynn Manning

DOPE REMIX for Kelis' SCREAM

2010-10-07T20:57:00.001-07:00

Face to Face Identity Management through Clothing

2010-10-01T23:05:00.000-07:00

"A respectable appearance is sufficient to make people more interested in your soul." ~Karl Lagerfield

We know a big part of any makeover involves changing clothes, adding to our wardrobe, and taking things out that make us look bad. No matter how painful that may be, we know that we are judged by our first appearances. Why do you think that is?

OPPROBRIUM

: something that brings disgrace

a : public disgrace or ill fame that follows from conduct considered grossly wrong or vicious

"We may be born naked, but we waste little time correcting the oversight. Almost from the moment we wriggle into the world, we start getting dressed. Conventional wisdom claims that clothing is simply a means of survival, but clearly there’s more to it. Whether it’s a couple of strategically placed shells or a suit of armor, a G-string or a caribou parka, clothing is a set of signals to all we meet. And though clothes may indeed protect us from the elements, their real job is to protect us from social opprobrium, or to make a statement—to a potential boss, a potential bride, or a very real enemy." —Banana Republic Catalog

(Adler. Looking Out, Looking In, 13th Edition. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning/CourseSmart, 01/01/2010. 72).

SCREAM by Kelis

2010-09-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

My favorite song off the album "Fleshtone" produced by Benny Benassi. I love the use of color, her cropped hair, the black light scenes, and her shoes are HAUTE!!! (check out the spine detailed platform boots when she's on the ground wearing the fuchsia hat) I give the video two thumbs UP ...but did you expect me to give it anything less? #biasedKelisStan

I Stick Out...

2010-09-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

In Japan, in fact, everything had been made level

and uniform—even humanity. By one official count,

90 percent of the population regarded themselves as

middle-class; in schools, it was not the outcasts who

beat up the conformists, but vice versa. Every Japanese

individual seemed to have the same goal as every

other—to become like every other Japanese individual.

The word for “different,” I was told, was the same as

the word for “wrong.” And again and again in Japan,

in contexts varying from the baseball stadium to the

watercolor canvas, I heard the same unswerving, even

maxim: “The nail that sticks out must be hammered

down.”

—Pico Iyer, Video Night in Katmandu

(Adler. Looking Out, Looking In, 13th Edition. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning/CourseSmart, 01/01/2010. 54).

Could I really be happy in Japan? Probably not. I would be different on purpose and that would show that I didn't want to fit in. I would always be viewed as wrong there. I'm happy to be part of Western Civilization where individualism is valued. I'm happy to be an original.

Ego Boosters

2010-09-29T19:36:00.000-07:00

I walk a tightrope of unique design.
I teeter, falter, recover and bow.
You applaud.
I run forward, backward, hesitate and bow.
You applaud.
If you don’t applaud I’ll Fall.
Cheer me! Hurray me!
Or you push me
Down.
—Lenni Shender Goldstein

When solitude goes from being welcomed to being painful.

2010-09-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

We must love one another or die.
—W. H. Auden

I'm taking a Speech class, and the focus is communication, the basic need for humans to interact. I use the word basic because like needing food, water, sleep, and the breath of God, we also need love. The first few pages of the text book (Adler. Looking Out, Looking In, 13th Edition. Wadsworth) cut deep into my psyche. I'm hooked. I always knew I was a natural communicator, but my emotional connection to words -- written or verbal -- is profound. I'm not a "touchy feely" type of person, but I now understand people who are.

Definition: Communication is a transactional process involving participants who
occupy different but overlapping environments and create relationships through the
exchange of messages, many of which are affected by external, physiological, and
psychological noise.

I Love Lucy!

2010-09-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

"Luck? I don't know anything about luck. I've never banked on it and I'm afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: hard work — and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't."
– Lucille Ball

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

2010-09-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

"Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road."
– Dag Hammarskjöld

After a whirlwind vacation (weekend in Vegas, and 10 days soaking up the Southern California sunshine) I'm heading back to school for the Fall Quarter!! I 'm actually excited to get back to my routine of study sessions, student functions and 3 hour carpooling rides. It helps knowing that I only have a little time left at the picturesque campus and laid back culture of the North West Student Life. For all my fellow students heading into Autumn with high hopes for a brilliant new year Good Luck!! with all your endeavors and always shoot for the stars, but keep your feet firmly on the ground!!! And by that I mean study hard, play hard and get those A's baby!

2010-09-07T16:40:00.001-07:00

"Just don't give up on trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."
– Ella Fitzgerald

Levi's Curve ID - What kind of curve are you? - Sponsored Post

2010-08-29T00:08:00.001-07:00

Levi's Curve ID - What kind of curve are you? - us.levi.com

Finally... jeans that fit! I'm a demi curve. Tell me what your shape is?

sponsored like

Flying Fuchsia's profile on MyLikes

Artistic Creatures

2010-08-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful implanted in the human soul.” ~ GOETHE

Life Lessons Taught by My Mother "The Optimist"

2010-08-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

When I was about 10 years old my mother (a single parent) got a promotion that required her to work in a new city. She made the decision to moved me and my brother out of our house in the suburbs, and into an apartment in the city. There was one night where we ventured a little further from home than any of us anticipated, and we got LOST trying to find our way back. When I say lost I mean hopelessly, impossibly and completely lost for hours. These were the days before common navigation systems. She wasn't reading the map correctly, she didn't stop and ask for directions, she just drove us around in what seemed like circles. I can only imagine now as an adult how she must have felt, not only about being in this immediate situation but how she felt about her leap of faith with the move, and the new life she desperately wanted for herself and her family. This incident spoke volumes to me not only of how stubborn my mother is but also how determined and optimistic she is and continues to be in my life.

We ended up 6 hours away and in front of the ocean at some point. As a child I was unaware of what was really happening, a little confused by my all knowing mother's perplexed look, but completely filled with excitement when she suggested we stop for ice cream and see a movie! lol I know now that if ANY man had been with us this would have played out completely different for many reasons which I won't go into. But Looking back on that night I would have to say the funniest thing to me was that after the movie we went straight home. I still don't know to this day if the woman had a lot on her mind and was simply unable to navigate us home, or if we were just meant to take a break from our new lives and just "enjoy the show" that night... but I do know this: She stayed calm, came up with a solution that made everyone happy and relaxed while she prayed, looked at a map and figured it out. I learned then that when things seem hopeless and I get completely lost, there's always a navigation system somewhere in my heart. The solution may not be obvious, but it's there. I grew up with a woman that never stops praying, so I pray. I grew up with a woman that has always taken pride in doing a job well done, so I take pride in my work. Through practice, experience, and always love I learned that prayer works, hard work pays off, and sometimes when life get's a little over whelming we just need to take a deep breath, clear our head, enjoy a little bit of the sweet stuff and try again. So shoutouts to my mama for keeping her cool when she easily could have had a melt down!

CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH:

2010-08-19T22:01:00.000-07:00

These Jimmy Choo "Light Ups"

Angela Simmons was spotted wearing them at an event recently.

price $2,500 ...I know I know ...Dream on.

Daily Tips on Having Sweet Dreams!

2010-08-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

Make your bed and keep your bedroom clean.

You are more likely to stay up late surfing the Internet and munching if your bedroom is a dark, messy cave. Simply making your bed, so that it looks inviting, will help you to break the late-night surfing/watching/snacking habit in favor of getting some digestion-restoring, metabolism-balancing beauty sleep.

"Life is something to do when you can't get to sleep" -Fran Lebowitz

2010-08-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

Why Are You Shooting the Messenger? | via Clutch Magazine

2010-08-14T15:47:00.000-07:00

You are right in demanding that an artist should take an intelligent attitude to his work, but you confuse two things: solving a problem and stating a problem correctly. It is only the second that is obligatory for the artist. – Anton Checkhov
Why Are You Sho oting the Messenger?

One of the most on point articles I've read as a writer in a very long time. Check it out!

Kanye West's Surprise Visit to Rolling Stone

2010-08-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

How have you come to terms with death?

2010-07-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

“The reason death sticks so closely to life isn’t biological
necessity—it’s envy. Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs at what it can.” —Yann Martel

Speaking Our Minds: Is It a Gift or Curse for Today’s Black Woman? – By Alaina L. Lewis

2010-07-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Click on the title to read the full article.
adrift says:

July 26, 2010 at 7:01 am

"Though I can ride with some of what is said here I would hate to see black women neutered and subdued- bent to the pressure to become more like white women to accommodate the sad fact of black men now want black women to assume white female traits of self subjugation. I’m African and I think my sisters in America have come too far to bend to power now. In the current public atmosphere where there is virtually no open opposition- where even the music is singing the tune of the system, the black woman is seemingly the last voice of subversion. Black women have always been the voice and a black man of strength has always been able to counterbalance that with their own. What is this new strain of black male- a white patriarchal wolf in melaninated lion skin? Don’t let the pressure of weaklings make you give up your strength- the black man may hate you now but he will thank you later when you have brought him to his right mind.

Note: I am not talking to abusive and disrespectful women who mistake regressive aggression for strength."

This was a comment posted in response to the article found in the link above and honestly I couldn't have said it better myself. I can't help but wonder if times have changed to to the point where Black Women are being left behind because of wanting to speak our minds and in our own way stand up for what we feel is right. I gave this some thought as I watched my friends and family stray away from Black Women as significant others. Either way, holding your tongue when you see wrong being done is not the answer. We need our strong black men to PLEASE STAND UP!!! And then if you feel the need to go elsewhere for love do what you do. But don't disrespect or act like we are the problem. The problem lies in the madness of the world and the slack morals that we deal with everyday in raising children, and trying to keep our future in tact and brighter. Clearly not everyone will feel the same way and it doesn't always have to be an issue of race. But the media has made us a target and chosen to exploit our failures in relationships as if to say that we are not worthy of the very men we helped to raise. I find this to be unfair and irritating at times, but like a soldier I march on.

The Art of Living is to Make Use of Suffering, but who is the Artist?

2010-07-25T03:40:00.000-07:00

"You desire to know the art of living, my friend? It is contained in one phrase: make use of suffering." - Henri Frédéric Amiel

A famous argument against the existence of an all-powerful and providential God is known as The Riddle of Epicurus, or Problem of evil. This is it here:

God either wants to eliminate bad things and cannot, or can but does not want to, or neither wishes to nor can, or both wants to and can. If he wants to and cannot, then he is weak - and this does not apply to god. If he can but does not want to, then he is spiteful - which is equally foreign to god's nature. If he neither wants to nor can, he is both weak and spiteful, and so not a god. If he wants to and can, which is the only thing fitting for a god, where then do bad things come from? Or why does he not eliminate them?

I gave this some thought and this was the answer I came up with in regards to "Why does he not eliminate them?"

Just because someone may want to do something it doesn't necessary mean they HAVE to. In fact only an all powerful and all knowing God could let people be themselves, and actually use the problems of the world without needing to eliminate the problems of the world. I like to use pens instead of pencils when I want the things I write to be permanent instead of erasable. I believe God is working on a master piece and it requires a lot of colorful paint, sometimes bright and sometimes dark. It both shows us who we are, and gives us the freedom to make our decisions and inevitably live with those decisions good or bad. Whether your personality or character happens to be bright or dull, you and your mistakes (and successes) are all part of the picture. This mostly applies to the actions we take and the reactions we have to the things we have no control over. Personally, I chose a long time ago to be bold, from my style of dress to my thinking, actions and everything in between. I refused to be missed ...well at least until I'm R.I.P.

When it comes to nature, and that includes human nature, the one thing that is evident is that it STOPS for no one. Certainly there are many people throughout history who are a testament that nature doesn't stop them in death either. The world will always keep turning. And as sure as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West people will be inspired, and people will act on those inspirations. It is a true test of the human spirit how well we can stick together and work with one another in love and harmony when natural disasters occur or tragedy strikes.

The truth is that evil in it's own way is a necessary part of life, it creates challenges that some (usually the victims and those sympathetic to those victims) may view as a problem, but no matter what it is, it can still be turned into good, joy, or reconciliation when viewed in certain light. Lawyers have the task of defending people by simply showing their side of a story in a way that generates sympathy. Anything that has enough light shed on it can be figured out. And if no human can figure it out the smartest thing to do at the end of the process and (if you have faith) at the beginning of the process, is turn it over to God. He provides just the right amount of light that will give us the hope, perspective and perseverance to move forward even if things don't go our way.

It's not God's job to stop or kill (human) nature it's his job to shed lots of light on it, roll up his sleeves and make it fit into the bigger picture somehow. God uses ALL THINGS for good, working with what he has, has created, and in turn the choices of his creation. Thus showing that not only is God an active participant in our lives but is the Master Artist when it comes to life, living, creativity, conception, escape, loyalty, love and most of all eternal optimism that never runs out no matter how bad a situation gets. God is the Master of making a way out of no way. And that is why I not only believe in his goodness in all situations, but I praise him for it and choose to learn from it even when it hurts.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ~ Romans 8:28

Lessons on Living in the Moment

2010-07-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

When asking a question that starts with the words or thought process "Should I..." Answer accordingly with this Latin phrase...

Carpe Diem

It will always be a step in the right direction. You can hardly go wrong by being true to yourself, and living in the moment. Take the chances and opportunities you have right now to enjoy every aspect of life, because tomorrow isn't promised.
(For spiritual effect the phrase could be followed by the question WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?) But that's another post.)

The Meaning According to Wikipedia

In Horace, the phrase is part of the longer Carpe diem quam minime credula postero – "Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future", and the ode says that the future is unknowable, and that instead one should scale back one's hopes to a brief future, and drink one's wine. This phrase is usually understood against Horace's Epicurean background.

Harrison, S. J. (2007). The Cambridge companion to Horace. Cambridge University Press. p. 154, 168.

Kelis: A Day in the Life

2010-07-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

Check out the link below, it's a great read for people who don't really know about Kelis and a treat for people who already love her.

Kelis: A Day in the Life

umm oh yeah, I forgot to tell ya'll... I declare JULY as Kelis Month for 2010! This month her album dropped. Literally the DOPEST dance album I've ever heard. It's addictive and spiritual on a level I've never heard from her before, and she shows her strength as a diverse artist. If you don't like Electronic music or Techno you might not "get it" but you won't be alone because it only sold 7000 copies in the first week. BUT I'm all over it. Even if she only sold 7000 albums everyone that purchased the album picked up a jewel, and should consider themselves among the lucky few that recognize raw artistic creativity that only Kelis can pull off. This album was a unique twist on an underlying and uncanny ability to showcase her faith in God and her thankfulness for the process of life that she was honored to carry to term. Her and Nas' baby Knight was clearly her reason for joy in a time when she was going through turbulence in her life. I applaud her for focusing on optimism and joy throughout the album. It is a joy and blessing to listen to, and I have been using it as background music during my morning meditations because it fills me with a sense of purpose and life for the rest of the day. I thank her for being bold in every way. She definitely has impacted my life with her music and style over the years, and as a fan I can say she has gotten better and better over the years. #TeamKelis

Kelis Interview with NY Post

2010-07-15T01:04:00.000-07:00

Demons can teach doctrine too.

2010-07-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

I participate in some form of Bible Trivia on a regular basis, ( here's a good site if you find this sort of thing interesting http://www.christianet.com/bible/bibletrivia.htm) in an effort to learn for myself and also to share with anyone who thinks like me, I've decided to post all the questions I get wrong over time. Here is the first question I got wrong:

True or False

Demons cannot teach people doctrine.

I was surprised by this. I guess I always thought that it would be easy to tell the difference between the two teachers. That is the counsel of the Holy Spirit and the counsel of demons. Maybe I thought there would be tell tale signs that the person was a nut job. Wild eyes, suspicious Kool-Aid, (OH YEEAAHH) the cult effect, well not so much. Over time the world has mastered the kinko, the copy, the fake, the faux and the very idea that the truth and quality of authenticity and real things can be replaced with something perverse or cheaper. Here is what the Bible has to say.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

I encourage you to stay in the word of God for yourself, it's a hard spiritual lesson learned. This means even if you don't attend church on a regular basis. In these end times, and for quite awhile now, some teachers and preachers have either lost their faith or never had it to begin with and WILL STILL TEACH AND PREACH for money, glory, and fame. Be aware and know where to find the information for yourself. False prophets will say anything to win you over, even if it means making you feel bad about yourself so that you feel condemned by God, and seek the love of man and the world to no end.

Saggin Pants ...Author Unknown

2010-07-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

Saggin Pants

Letter from a college student

The other day, a friend of mine visited me in the lobby of my dorm just to chat while her laundry was drying. As we were chatting, two young freshmen came by. One of the 2 boys wanted to 'talk' to my friend (as in date). She asked him how old they were, and both of the boys replied 18. My friend and I both laughed hysterically because we are both 22 years old. After my friend left, the young men were still hanging around and one wanted to know how he could gain her interest.

The first thing I told him to do was to pull up his pants! He asked why, and then said he liked saggin ' his pants. I told him to come over to my computer and spell the word saggin'. Then I told him to write the word saggin ' backwards.

S-A-G-G-I-N

N-I-G- G-A-S

I told him the origin of that look was from centuries ago. It was the intent of slave owners to demoralize the field workers by forbidding them to wear a belt as they worked in the fields or at any other rigorous job. In addition, men in prison wore their pants low when they were 'spoken for'. The other reason their pants looked like that was they were not allowed to have belts because prisoners were likely to try to commit suicide. And, saggin' pants prevents you from running.

We as young Black people have to be the ones to effect change. We are dying. The media has made a mockery of the Black American. Even our brothers and sisters from Africa don't take us seriously. Something as simple as pulling up your pants and standing with your head held high could make the biggest difference in the world's perception of us. It is time to do right by ourselves.. We need to love and embrace each other. No one is going to do that for us.

It all comes down to perception. What people perceive is what reality to them is. We have to change not only the media's perception of us, but we need to change our perception of ourselves.

Remember all eyes are on you Black Man. All eyes are on you Black Woman. All eyes are on your Black Child. People point the finger at us and expect us to engage in negative and illegal activities, to manifest loud, boisterous behavior, to spend our hard earned money in their stores, buying goods we don't need, or really want. We have allowed not only the media, but the government and the world to portray us as a 'sub-culture. ' They have stripped our culture down to the point where the image of Black people is perpetuated as rappers, athletes, drug users, and consumers of junk food, expensive tennis shoes, expensive cars, expensive TVs, cell phones and not investing in homes for our families.

We are so much more!!!!!!!

To all our Black Men: It's time to stand up. There are billions of Black Women who want to do nothing more than worship the ground that you walk on. We are so in love with your potential. We want to have your back, we want to love, support and cherish every ounce of your being. But with that you have to show that you are willing to be the head of our households. You have to prove yourselves worthy of our submission. We need you to be hard working...Not a hustler. We need you to seek higher education, to seek spirituality. We need you to stand! And trust us; we will have your back. We know that it gets hard. We know you get weary. Trust and believe that there is nothing that a Black Man and a Black Woman can't handle with GOD on their side.

To all our Black Women: It is also time for you to stand up. It is time for you to stop using our bodies as our primary form of communication. It is time to be that virtuous woman that Proverbs spoke of. You cannot sit by the wayside while our men are dying by the masses. You are the epitome of Black Love. It starts within you. You need to speak with conviction to let not only our Black Men know, but the world, that you are the Mothers of this world. You are so powerful. You are so beautiful. You need to love and embrace every blessing God has given us physically, emotionally and spiritually.

For all our Black Children : We need to love them. We need to teach them. We need to stand up for them We need to protect them. We need to show them that there are no 'get rich quick' schemes. We need to tell them that they WILL die trying if they submit to a life of crime and deceit. We need to teach our children that no one will love them the way we can. And being a basketball player, a rapper, or a drug dealer is not reality. It's not realistic and only a small percentage of people ever make it as a rapper or professional athlete. We need to teach our children that we can be more than rappers and athletes. We can be the owners of these sports teams. We can be the CEO's of OUR fortune 500 companies. We need to believe in literacy. I am almost certain if we were to look back to the 1930's and 40's, the literacy rates for Black American Children are probably still the same.

Please Keep This Going & Have a wonderful day

'This is the year of empowerment. '

God will empower us to accomplish things this year that will be mind blowing'.

so I got this from my mom in an e-mail. I felt it was powerful and something to not only think about but to share.

Kelis got that Coco Chanel Swag

2010-07-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

I love this look! It's CLASSIC CHIC and FLAWLESS from top to bottom. In case you missed the memo I'm a Kelis Stan. I don't care about them other hoes, no Rih Rih, NEVER Lady Gaga, and Beyonce' is as plastic as Minaj to me, although I think her sister's dope. Now don't get me wrong musically all the ladies I mentioned are talented, beautiful, and at the Top of their game. I have a lot of their music but their sense of style makes me wanna scream sometimes. When it comes to deliberate delivery and the attitude that says I OWN THIS, Kelis wins hands down. Them other chicks just seem forced to me, over done with a sort of costume feel. I mean costumes are cool but not to EVERY SINGLE event, and when they aren't in costume they look a natural mess. Only my opinion, but of course it's a little biased because I've been riding to Kelis since day one and have not once wavered as a fan. She is to my pop world what Lauryn Hill is to my Rap world. Her style is both unmatched and under rated. She's the under dog, and will always have a place on my blog.

The world of fashion isn't for the faint of heart.

2010-07-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

Fashion isn't always beautiful, or lovely. It can be down right laughable, and ugly sometimes, but that's never been the point. The latest haircut may offend you and the loud lipstick might leave you scratching your head and wondering if the person has any real friends. I assure you a fashionista's real friends HATE most things she dons, and laughs behind her back before waiting for the perfect time to laugh in her face. Either she spent too much, not enough, picked the wrong color, read the wrong article, or followed the wrong ban wagon ...well that's what they say.

Fashion isn't made because of excess labels or lack of style. True fashion is RAW and at first glance visually assaulting. It was meant for the brave, the trail blazers, the ones who stick to their guns and dare to be free thinkers. Many people don't realize that like everything else fashion has a process and each garment has it's very own life cycle. Like a piece of wood that is carved out, and after the sawing, sanding, and finish someone steps back and says hmm I think I can sit on that, and wouldn't you know it goes perfect with my book shelf. But it's an idea, often the concept for a larger picture. If it starts out pretty it will not grow. But if it starts out ugly it will work it's way down the line and hopefully become the foundation of a much greater concept.

If you're goal is to be pretty, and fit in, then I am sorry my dear but you have missed the proverbial fashion boat. My best friend happens to be a guy, and a very honest one at that, with not one clue about fashion magazines, seasonal colors, trendy haircuts, and couldn't tell you the name of a designer shoe if his life depended on it. But he is my biggest critic when it comes to pics, and beauty experiments. I tell him thanks for noticing, he tells me he wouldn't be a true friend if he didn't tell me how ugly my latest look was. Needless to say I have never fit in and I plan on sticking out for the rest of my life. I can't help it, maybe it's my eccentric zodiac sign, maybe it's my IDGAF attitude, or maybe it's because beyond the average intelligent fashion bot I choose to see fashion as the one true freedom of expression for someone obsessed with color and texture.

I AM a fashion scientist, studying the elements, and testing the theories of trends, colors, hair cuts (like the one pictured to the right) and runway exploits like the avante guard style of the late great Alexander McQueen. I don't dress for anyone but myself. Often times I get a surprised glance, shake of the head, or an ALL out attack on my style choice of the moment. I smile on the outside, and laugh on the inside, but I stand firm on the belief that what I am wearing is in line with the times, and anyone who says otherwise is just not on my level. Playing it safe in the fashion world is for sissy's: Translation they don't care about the Art. As Coco Chanel once said "I am fashion". I have to think this way or I would never be able to create new pieces or find inspiration. I eat, sleep and breath fashion and will go the extra mile to take something hideous (in another persons opinion) and make it WORK!

In my opinion the uglier the better. Because once you have achieved the ugliest you have finally reached fashion. Everything else can be chalked up to style, accessorizing or following the trend. You get fly, I am fly. Beauty is found on the inside, and EVERYTHING else is ART or your interpretation of it. If you can't read the language then you safely get in where you fit in. But if you are fearless and fabulous, confident, and possess a sense of style that can't be shaken with a shaved head, a bright lip, an ugly dress or the wrong pair of shoes. Fashion was made for you, and only you. FASHIONISTAS UNITE!!!

Five Steps to Loving the Single Life | Clutch Magazine: The Digital Magazine for the Young, Contemporary Woman of Color

2010-06-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

"...Remember that “one” is a whole number all by itself, and not a fraction." ~Brooke Obie

Five Steps to Loving the Single Life | Clutch Magazine: The Digital Magazine for the Young, Contemporary Woman of Color

I had to share this with you all. It was one of those important reads that made a difference in my perspective on being single. I think a lot of times we get caught up in the idea that we NEED a man. When what we need is to better ourselves so that we are strong, confident, and comfortable in our own skin. That way when we find a man we are better equipped to handle a relationship and able to take care of the needs of our man. Also, it gives us a chance to set the precedent of how we expect to be treated based on the example of how we treat ourselves. Just something to think about. I strongly encourage anyone to read this article.

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

"Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a FATHER to a DAUGHTER. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express." ~ Joseph Addison

The bond between a father and daughter is unique and at times unchanged over the years. I can always tell when he doesn't see the "grown up" me. But when you spend half of your childhood apart from your father you don't mind if he see's you as an innocent princess and as his "little girl" because no one else does.

It's easy to see the impact a father's presence and absence has on a child's life. I was his first born. I always knew he loved me, because he told me. We spent time together, laughed a lot, and I was always right by his side when it was time to take the 45 minute drive to Los Angeles from the suburbs. On Saturday mornings we listened to old reggae albums and dancehall music. He loved Bob Marley as much as I love 2Pac today. He was my hero and could do no wrong in my eyes.

Even as an adult I don't mind taking the time to see things his way if it keeps the peace. I always was the only girl that "got" him. I schooled his new wives on what made him angry, and I had the calm voice of reason when he was ready to go HULK on the nearest someone. He was quiet and stern, yet he told the funniest stories ever, leaving everyone ROTFL. In his 20s he was a civil engineer, a professional and most definitely a loose cannon. I thought it was normal.

One day my dad sat me down on the front porch steps and with tears in his eyes he broke the news to his little 9 year old princess that him and my mother were getting divorced and she was taking me and my little brother to live somewhere else. It was the first time I ever saw my father cry and it was the first time I felt my heart break. My parent's divorce hit me the hardest and in some ways I'm the only one who hasn't fully recovered.

Looking back on those tumultuous last days as a family I was literally the only one happy, oblivious to the pain everyone else was probably feeling at the time, so the news hit me like a ton of bricks out of the clear blue sky. I didn't know any better, I saw fairy tales and family sitcoms and just knew that as long as we were all together everything would somehow "magically" workout. It didn't workout, and over time I began to hate all aspects of reality, I was always looking for the next escape, a trip, a drug, a drink, a crazy boyfriend, a friend that had it worse than me. I was successful in losing myself. I learned later in life that the hard part was finding myself without my dad. Who was this person that stared back at me in the mirror? and could I ever love the mess I had become, and would he ever love me like he did when I was just his little girl?

I understood that he was lost in the world without his family and I prayed for him the most. I worried about him and I wanted him to be happy again. My parents hated each other so much that they wouldn't even speak to one another. I had to relay every message and arrange all the visits. Eventually my dad moved out of state and we got summers and Thanksgiving with him. He would try to pack all the advice and encouragement I needed in a few, very limited special moments. I clung to his every word as if it was a life vest and I would surely die without them. And in some instances I probably would have died if I didn't have his voice in my head telling me which way to go.

As the years have passed our conversations are shorter and less frequent. There is usually an awkward silence, because we are both emotional and don't even know where to start without telling lies about how we are really doing. I hate small talk, and unless I'm face to face with him that's all I get. Just hearing his voice makes me cry, and he's a jack ass so if he says anything mean I melt into a ball of tears and it takes me more than a few days to get out of the depression I feel.

My father will never know how much I missed him over the years, and how much I waited for him, and how much I cherished the summers I spent with him. I love him so much and I know that if I lived closer and I could see him face to face more things would be different. Someday I hope to reconnect with him and my new sisters in a real way. Maybe when I have kids of my own we can turn a new leaf, and start a new chapter in our lives. I wait for the day, and the man.

Latest Kelis Video

2010-06-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Torture: Musical Dreams

2010-05-27T12:16:00.000-07:00

So I woke up from a lovely dream the other day and it left me with this pressing question...

#WhatIf there were no music devices and you could only pick 5 Artists to permanently be implanted into your ear, who would you pick?

THE DREAM

I had my headphones on when I fell asleep and I was so caught up in the Matrix that I went to say something to someone and when I couldn't hear their response I subconsciously tried to take my head phones off. The problem was that in my dream I took the head phones off BUT the music was still playing loud and clear. So I moved to plan B and unplugged the headphones from the MP3 player. Still the music was playing. STILL DREAMING and in the midst of being in "dreamland" I had a mini panic attack lol to the sounds of E-40's the "Game's Been Good To Me". My only thought when the music WOULDN'T stop? What if it never stops and I'm limited to only the people I programmed on the player? WOW could I really live with these people forever? forever ever?

My dream self was stuck unable to hear anyone over the volume of the music. I freaked out so bad that I finally woke myself up, realizing that the music was coming from the headphones and obviously in real life I was able to unplug. *SIGH of relief* Needless to say I had a good laugh.

If you had to make a split decision of who you could listen to for the rest of your life because of an ear implant that couldn't be removed who would you pick? I asked this question on twitter and got some great answers. We only did top 5 due to the 140 character limitation.

TGeights

B.I.G, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, Andre 3000, and The Dream

RebelUn

Kim Burrell, Jill Scott, Outkast, Jimi Hendrix and Noah Jones

dribaybay

@iamjsmooth. @jcoleNC. @chrisbrown. thee fuugees. and shareefa

DefintionOfReal

lil Wayne, Jay z, beyoncé, Aaliyah & Dru Hill

ariola0

badu, jill scott, q-tip, mos def and k. west

My Top 5 Artists in no particular order were

Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley, Kelis, 2Pac

They collectively play the soundtrack to my life, and in many ways their influence has made me the person I am today. I support the ones that are still alive by purchasing their albums and staying loyal to their evolving Art. I'm with them through the good times and the bad times as they share their experiences with the world. I remember that they are human like myself. The ones that are dead and gone have a special place in my heart because the memories they evoke are untarnished and in a way frozen in time like a portrait, yet classic enough to play anytime, never failing to move my spirit.

Ray Bans : Up to 45% Off - Sponsored Post

2010-05-18T23:32:00.001-07:00

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The "Truth" Behind Religion

2010-05-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense.
1 Corinthians 1:20

Whose Truth is it anyway?

One of my Twitter friends directed me to these videos after he witnessed a conversation me and a couple other Tweeps were having about Religion, Prayer, and the "Illuminati". Keep in mind I don't necessarily share these beliefs, but I think it's important for people to be strong in their convictions. If you believe something you want to be able to have an intelligent conversation about it. This is a way to test your faith against the Worlds Views on religion and it's history. This gives us all a chance to look deeper within and determine what it is you believe for yourself. I share my opinion on the video below after you watch. God Bless!

Thanks for the history lessons. It's nice to know that my Savior's love was written in the stars. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that NOTHING IS NEW UNDER THE SUN. Hey we already knew that it's all been said and done before. We also know that Jesus' entire existence from life to death was foretold. How do you think it was predicted, stories of mythology, dreams, stars, what's new? We also know that the documentation of his life, teachings and miracles were documented by so many people that not everything could fit in the "Canon" of the Bible, and religious leaders even banned some books because they felt they might have presented some aspects in a less than glamorous light. You don't even have to believe that the Bible is the word of God to know that. Just be a real historian and know where to look for the facts.

I BELIEVE IN A LIVING GOD. Call it the Creator of the Universe call it the Sun call it the beginning and the end, love, truth, light, whatever you want, but when he called me to have a relationship I went. Something inside of me NEEDED and WANTED more than Physical Science and Chemistry could give. I believe in relationships, and love.

RELIGION IS POLITICAL. It's something that we were created to lose as we grew closer to what is really important. It is something that was made to keep us in line until we broke free and made our own decisions about our own lives. That CHOICE is our God given right. Don't let anyone take it away from you. It's the first thing God gave us. We should all have our own Philosophy and views on religion anyway, if you ask me. Eventually we create our own routine and develop a natural hunger to be around people who share our beliefs, our goals and our general interests. The fact is, if you know the truth then anyone who follows you is a slave to your teachings. So be a leader, a team player, and in the right circumstances the best follower you can be.

EVERYONE SHOULD LEARN THE TRUTH FOR THEMSELVES. These videos and many like them are many peoples idea of a History lesson, therefore according to the video it too is subject to a "religious" following.

I VALUE MY FREEDOM. Don't be fooled into thinking that ALL people aren't at some point tempted with the idea of control and power. Some people take the bait and some people give it up for the greater good. Even Jesus himself was tempted with these things. We all know what money brings, because it's presented in the media and advertisements. But not everyone knows what true love brings, and that's the sad part. If you knew that someone really loved you would you A)accept it or would you B) find a technical, scientific reason for their feelings and then argue, walk away and tell everyone that they assaulted your intelligence with their love?

ALL FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS A PLOY TO CONTROL ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN. What's wrong with people believing in love or having a relationship with what they believe is the one true living God? What's wrong with the belief that positive relationships create something bigger than the people involved? After all aren't all partnerships and alliances an attempt to have strength, perspective and better resources? I would take that over a hopeless and lonely existence any day.

My stand since I made the choice to follow the life and teachings of Jesus Christ has been simply not to buy into religion, but to invest in relationships, to think for myself and to encourage others to do the same. I love the Lord, therefore if there is a history or a story to be told I wanna hear EVERY WORD of it. The good and the bad. And while you're at it every perspective of it, because no matter what anybody says about it, I know God for myself and I will never forget what he has done for me, and what he has brought me through. That's what History boils down to anyway isn't it? Not forgetting the past because it made us who we are. So if my beliefs came from a pagan worshiping astrologist who inscribed, made up, or stole their religion from somewhere or someone else, somehow it got me to where I am today and I can't be mad at that. The past is the past. I laugh at it more than I cry over it. Now that my eyes are open I'm even more thankful to God for where I am today.

When you start seeing more blessings in life than curses you show signs of a person who has been touched by LOVE. There is freedom, joy, strength, and power in that. And I believe that even if you get your heart broken true love is eternal. These things can't be proven by Science. Astrology can't predict it, and religion can't prevent it. It is what it is and always has been.

There are points I don't believe and there are things that logically make sense in the video. I look at the motives of all parties. Especially God's. The author of this video doesn't love me, the church doesn't love me, neither does religion as a whole, but my Heavenly Father does. I think I'll go with the one who has my best interest at heart. He was the ONLY one to say this is why I did what I did, why I came, this is what I will do for you, this is what I ask of you. If anyone else cared about my blessings and my future then maybe I would have listened. But they don't, so why would I subject myself to the negative, when I could have the positive?

God is LOVE and that's why I follow where he leads. It's that simple. I've experienced the alternative, weighed the options and I made my choice. How many people experience both sides and still choose death?

What do you choose?

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2010-05-13T22:12:00.001-07:00

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I hate when I fall in love with an item at a bargain price only to get an error message stating that my size is SOLD OUT!!! MyShape.com was created to help women of all ages, shapes and sizes find fabulous clothing that FIT and FLATTER each unique shape. The idea of setting up your own virtual store is a step in celebrating our individuality, as Fashionistas of course. With complete measurements and tools to help you keep your wardrobe and shopping all about you, why go anywhere else? What can be better than going to a site where EVERYTHING fits?!!!

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sanitystyle - Sponsored Post

2010-05-12T20:56:00.003-07:00

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Don't Be Blind ..."Keep Your Eyes Pealed"

2010-05-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

The Spiritual War Is ON!!!

Jesus said…"I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." John 18:37

If a rapper or pop singer idolizes the father of lies I pretty much know when to play their music. I stay up on my current events so listening to POP MUSIC is like watching the news for me; just another update, nothing more nothing less. I support all forms of expression and I believe everyone has a right to their opinion. I take what they say with a grain of salt and lately what I've been seeing and hearing rivals Rush Limbaugh in the vomit department.

Tupac Shakur asked the question "Who do you believe in?" He was talking to the industry people, the fans, and eventually the world.

I believe that this day and age it's a question that we need to be diligent in asking of those that flood the media. We are a society focused on trends. It's easy to see that sometimes what makes money doesn't always necessarily make sense, but sheeple and tweeple alike will often just go with the flow without so much as a question or raised eye brow as to where on Earth, Hell or Heaven we are headed. Maybe people just don't care because ignorance is bliss, but as for me ...I chose the RED pill.

There used to be a time when it was easy to see what values our artists cherished. It was in a prayer or a praise, but usually reserved for the last song on the album, maybe they thanked God for their rewards or recognition but I see less and less of this.

Now what I see is symbolism EVERYWHERE. I learned in my Advertising and Marketing classes that recognizable symbols stay in our memory much longer than anything else. So, I ask the super stars in the music industry, who do you believe in? You don't have to believe what I believe but you obviously believe in something and would rather not come right out and say it. Why the secrecy and the symbols?

With hard copy albums on the decline and downloaded music ruling the industry it's much easier for people to leave their beliefs on the back burner. This is also the reason that we must look deeper into the content of their lyrics and find the meanings behind the symbolism in their pictures, costumes and videos. As our society progresses and we become more technical it's important to know who and what our American and International Idols believe in, support, and market. Do your research! We talk about them, pass them to our friends and loved ones, and yet we don't question them. What they are doing collectively is promoting a new world order, and setting up the direction of our youth and in turn our future, and we help them everyday. This isn't about conspiracy theories or censorship. It's about being aware of your surroundings. It's deeper than rap or music!!! It's pop culture and eventually it will become the fabric of our history.

Buying into things that we don't care to research for ourselves is and always has been a recipe for disaster. There is nothing new under the sun! What our favorite singers and rappers are doing has been done before and it has a history of it's own.

That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

I learned a long time ago to look deeper. It's important to be diligent in learning our History, read books, and study all the aspects of war, government, and culture. Stay in prayer read your Bible, guard your heart with the truth. That way you won't be easily fooled, and you will recognize the truth, as well as the lies, and make accurate projections as to what will transpire given the facts.

When I like an artist I want to know the good and the bad, and I want to know the truth. I can relate to their truth and I can feel a deeper connection to their music. But when they are just followers themselves and paving the road to death instead of life that's where they lose me. Yea little ole me, just one person out of a few billion, but I love and follow my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Real hip hop isn't dead it just moved underground. People would have us believe it's dead to keep the truth a secret, maybe even to keep it pure. But I know one thing; I'd much rather support the underground movement and the truth-spitters than listen to garbage. Whether it's for the party, the ride, or for quiet time I owe it to my enlightened self to continue listening to what's real and true. And through time and study it's becoming easier to tell the difference right away. In these amazing times I have resigned to carrying my Sword of Truth everywhere. Gotta be able to cut the lies to shreds ON SIGHT if need be.

That being said... I haven't found a Christian Rapper I can get into ...until now and he proudly proclaims that he's not a Christian rapper but a RAPPER that is CHRISTIAN and the difference is in the media, audience and message. Now THAT I can get into! So Shoutout to BIZZLE and check out other music by him.

Independent Wanderer

2010-04-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." ~Helen Keller

I've traveled and moved around a lot in the short time I've been on this planet. Recently God led me to move to the small towns of Bend, Oregon and even more recently and smaller Culver, Oregon (pop. 1300) Being the city girl that I am it's been very challenging for me... BUT I LOVE A CHALLENGE and I've grown so much in the short time that I've been here. My optimistic outlook allows me to embrace the move as just another Adventure!!! And by the way both the pictures on this post were taken a few minutes from my home. Beautiful right?

So traveling is in my blood, my heart my spirit, and it doesn't hurt that I have a penchant for learning in motion. I've done my share of independent study, home schooling and online college courses. Being an independent learner fits well with my lifestyle. I just can't get enough of exploration whether it's external or internal and I found that traveling long distances gives me both.

The History Behind My Wanderlust

My love affair with traveling has been a blessing in my life and something I've always cherished. My first memories of traveling are those of my mom and I going back and forth from Belize to the U.S a few times when I was 3 years old. I don't remember much except the week long road trip and the truck breaking down a few times in Mexico. My dad was always big on long road trips to far off places and camping as well. Then at 4 year old I remember tagging along with the great-grand-parents on train rides and museum tours. And of course the RV trips with my grand parents. Trips to Hawaii with my Aunt at 9 years old and again at age 12 with my friends from school. I moved out on my own at 17 from (Cali to NY) for about a year. Then there was the move to Florida for about 6 six months with my high school friends turned room mates. Eventually I made my way to Atlanta.

Looking back it's a little funny that I developed sort of a reputation for not being afraid of change. All my friends that moved away knew I was always up for an adventure, so they asked me to come along, and my attitude has always been WHY NOT we only live once, and wild n out takes on a whole new meaning when you're an out-of-towner. So I put school off for a few years and toured all over the U.S. with my closest friends dropping them all off in different places and on different paths, as we explored different aspects of American Life, from the poor to the wealthy. It was a social experiment and a lesson that changed my perspective on art and writing forever. I've been to every state at least once except for Alaska. Eventually I found myself traveling alone as my friends settled into their lives spread out across the 4 corners of America. While they happily and eagerly married off, and are now focused on starting families, I've developed a wanderlust. I refuse to settle for less than what I believe is MY DESTINY. As a 20something year old I've managed to hold onto my belief that I can do anything I want and go anywhere I want. I AM FREE to wander, to love, to fail, to succeed. I own this adventure called life and God provides the navigation system.

By no means am I wandering aimlessly without a goal or a direction... Anyone who knows me knows that owning my own business as a fashion designer is my ultimate goal in life. I live by the verse "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phillipians 4:13) I believe in my heart that God has great plans for me. I can have everything I want out of life and more, and so can anyone else!

What Am I Doing Now?

Naturally, after my travels (and working practically every job imaginable) I decided go back to school FULL TIME while in my spare time teaching myself *remember I do best as an independent learner* the ins and outs of developing, owning and operating a fashion business... I have been following my heart and walking by faith ever since I made the decision to focus on my career development.

"Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings." ~ Hodding Carter

How I ended up in Oregon...

A few years ago my mom moved to Oregon for the clean air and the scenery, but she was all alone and far from her entire family in (Southern California). I was back and forth between Atlanta and Indiana when she found out she was sick. I decided to make the move to the North West to keep her company ...I didn't like her being alone. She quickly recovered and I found myself in the smallest town I had ever been in. At first it took some getting used to, but there are a few cool things about a small town that you just can't get anywhere else. For instance everyone knows your name everywhere you go: Restaurants, grocery stores, liquor stores, church, business offices and the list goes on. If you have a presence you can quickly become a Big Fish in a small pond. My mom is VERY active in the community and serious about her volunteerism. She is a well liked and respected figure here, so she REALLY knows everyone, and she LOVES how small it is. I never really liked dealing with people much, so that in itself was an adjustment for me! Living in a city it is easier to blend in. I STAND OUT here for several reasons. lol All the women I got to know have been through church, or school and in a place where the population is a mere 1300-1600 people, everyone really does live down the street from me. BUT There is always something to do, help with, or volunteer for. It's hard to be bored even though it's a small town. My mom got well shortly after I moved to Oregon but I decided to stick around (I always feel guilty leaving her alone in a place without any actual family). So we decided to work on a project together...

My mom wrote her first book about 6 months ago. (you can check out the link at the top of the page) I did all the photography, the layout, the editing, and got it published. It has been successful and it was wonderful working with the woman who has ALWAYS supported my every move and my every dream. Mom got married to a nice older man, I gained a step-sister, step-brothers, in-laws, nieces and nephews and in this tiny town a new friend and confidant. Now that I know my mom is happy, married and in good hands (no longer all alone) with a new home base I'm ready to make moves. God has given me the okay for the next adventure, and new chapter in my life and I'm happy to shout from the beautiful and picturesque mountain tops NYC here I come!!!

Ladies Spring Tea!

2010-04-27T02:24:00.000-07:00

4 Months ago Ladies of Faith Jefferson County, the women's Bible study group I meet with on Monday nights, decided to host a Tea Party and invite all the women in the community. (I was SUPER FREAKIN excited about this because when I was a little girl I played dress up and had tea parties with my dolls.) We had planning parties, and dreamed up an event that would be the talk of our little town... We would have guest speakers, singers, a table decorating contest and a fashion show for the kids! They asked me to present the fashion show for the event, and I was honored to be apart of such a wonderful occasion. I commute to school every Tuesday and Thursday with my step-sister Becky who happens to be a troop leader for the local Girl Scouts, and she months earlier she asked me to teach the girls a few things about the sewing process. I was delighted to help! ,(I also made clothes for all my dolls but that's another post lol) ...so I had this idea of little girls playing dress up and having a tea party ...only we would MAKE the dresses and have the girls model them for the fashion show! It turned out beautifully! Here are a few clips of the girls on the run way...

The end of the show ...

...Me and My Sister

The girls and I after the show...

The other part of the Tea Party that I was involved in was the table decorating contest. I won First Place and took home a beautiful candy bouquet! Here's what my winning table looked like...

The Girl Scouts weren't the only one's "Playing Dress Up" for the Tea Party... My family drove up from California for the occasion. My grandmother wore a Victorian style dress and my Aunt wore a Modern Victorian dress. We all had an amazing time! And the next day, which was Sunday, we went to church and did some sight seeing. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun and laughed so hard. This weekend I thanked God for family!

He has risen!

2010-03-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

The story of Jesus is about the journey from death to life.

I watched The Shroud of Turin on the History Channel today. It was an amazing documentation of the scientific work, and testing that has been enhanced by 21st Century technology to answer some mysterious questions about Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Imagine CSI procedures to determine one of the most argued debates in history. Science has determined the shrouds authenticity and discovered that it is also a 3 dimensional blueprint in a 2 dimensional form. It was amazing to watch this unfold. The Bible tells about the discovery of the shroud...

Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Luke 24:12 NIV

According to the Bible Jesus died on the cross right before the Sabbath and rose from the dead three days later. There is mention of a blinding light and an empty tomb. Scientists have discovered that the "blinding light" in fact came from within whoever was wrapped in the shroud. It is the only logical explanation of the image transfer. Testing determines that the image is not a painting, or photograph. They know what it's not, but it is still a mystery as to what it is. There is no medium. I share this info because it is my opinion that we underestimate the helpfulness of science in matters to determine the validity of religious beliefs. We have the technology to test any and everything physical. Jesus wasn't a character in someones fairy tale. He was real, he lived, he died. The shroud is evidence of his resurrection from the dead. Every day Science is proving this to be true. It's not a huge mystery it is fact. Everything he said would happen has happened and is happening still. The people who don't believe are slowly starting to look like the crazy ones, because their belief that he didn't exist or rise from the dead is illogical, due to evidence and records of eye witness accounts that he was indeed walking the streets. These written documents are not included in the gospels of the Bible because there are over 200 of them. If you were a member of any jury you would be presented with hard evidence such as the shroud with his blood and image, eye witness accounts and testimonies. No amount of denying or ignoring can make this unreal. The real question is what will you choose to do once you know the truth about the whole situation at hand. This situation is primarily your own life and death. There are only two options besides ignoring the facts, and it is a personal choice that we are all faced with. Do you accept his offering, a gift that grants you access to a place beyond our human comprehension? I feel that it starts with knowing that there is so much we don't know. That is the start of wisdom. If we can accept the possibility that what is possible is endless we have opened the door to heaven within our own heart, but we can't walk through those doors without a VIP pass called salvation. Jesus gave the invitation, and he's waiting for you to RSVP.

I grew up within the body of Christ. there was Sunday school, prayer meetings, Bible Study, fellowship, and personal trials and tribulations that eventually gave way to Spiritual hunger that grew inside me. When I was old enough I explored other religions because I had to know for myself that it was my choice and not some brain washing brought on by my parents or society. What I found was a better understanding of myself and a best friend in Jesus who surprisingly was with me every step of the way. I eventually came full circle. I have to admit that the concept of the "Easter Bunny" was and maybe still is completely lost on me. I don't know the story behind it, what he does, or why he is important to the Easter celebration. All I know is that for a lot of people Easter is about candy, pastel colors and egg hunts. For me however, Easter or Resurrection Sunday has always been celebrated with church plays, communion, and a sunrise service. This year I was invited to a special presentation put on by Jews for Jesus, highlighting the traditional Jewish Passover and how it's connected to our Christian beliefs. It was very interesting! I got to see a glimpse of what Jesus may have experienced within his own culture the passover before He died. As followers of Christ we mentally transport ourselves to the cross and the empty tomb, because it was in those moments over 2000 years ago that we were saved. I look at everything from three aspects and when I say saved I mean Spiritually. And everyday that I wake up to another day I have my proof that I was indeed saved from physical death as well. It's a personal view that has grown and evolved over time due to experiences, studying, meditating, and sharing with other believers.

I want us all to remember the reason for the season. Enjoy the candy, picnics, Easter egg hunts and surprise baskets, because it's a time for family and fun, but don't forget the sacrifice made on our behalf. If you don't believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, at least understand that He believed that's what he was doing, and it was out of love for us that he suffered. As a child I accepted his invitation for one reason only, and although my reason may be different than everyone else it was simple. His invitation was extended in love. It was that simple for me, I believed in His love and that the world could always use more of it. As a follower of Christ I believe that in three days he rose from the dead. Maybe it's not as cute as the Easter Bunny but it's the reason I have hope and joy EVERYDAY of the year. I truly hope you and your family are blessed this Easter Sunday regardless of your religious views or beliefs. The evidence speaks for itself. No matter how or when we do it we should continue to Celebrate life and love!

The Importance of Body Language...

2010-03-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

"You have your looks, your pretty face, but don't underestimate the importance of BODY LANGUAGE!!! HAH" ~ Ursula the Sea Witch from Disney's The Little Mermaid

We all remember the part... Ariel just couldn't figure out for the life of her how she was gonna get Prince Eric to kiss her in 3 days without her voice. Oddly enough this part of the movie was my favorite and left a lasting impression. In my adult life recent readings in Cosmo have prompted me to ask the question are we getting the most out of our use of body language when it comes to work, school, and of course relationships?

We know that body language is something that speaks for itself because it's always happening even when we aren't saying anything. But if we consciously make ourselves aware of our body language and use it to our benefit we create a charm that people associate with sincerity. It has the power to attract and repel, but maybe it has the power to do more if we have the right tips and tricks.

Mina Azodi author of the article "6 Tricks for Getting Your Own Way at Work" page 151 of this months Cosmopolitan, passes along advice from body-language expert and author of You Say More Than You Think Janine Driver.

Here is my favorite trick to...

#2 MAKE ANYONE SAY YES

HOW TO DO IT: To get someone to agree to a favor, gesture with one palm up, a technique police officers use during questioning to persuade a person to do as they ask. Then touch your hand over your heart as you finish the request, signaling a heartfelt appeal. To seal the deal, pause for a few seconds before you say the key word, such as "I know we're all really busy, but can you [pause] work my shift? That brief silence subtly frames it as a subliminal command, prompting her to say yes.

So if you make the "I'm afraid to ask face" during the pause your golden. It's as easy as one, two ,three!

Think about it, when someone asks you to do something what are the key factors that make you say yes? For me it's more like "if you really want something ACT LIKE IT". It's like saying Please and Thank You by using our body language!

Now that's sweet!

How has your body language worked for you, or against you in the past?

2010-03-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

“Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.” ~St. Patrick

This is my favorite day! I drink Green Beer, wear my green, and smoke my green! My most memorable St. Patty's Day was during the year I spent in NY. We partied harder than we ever partied before, from the parade to hopping all the bars, and then to a massive hotel party! It was bigger than New Year's Eve with the rock stars, costumes, green hats, and Irish accents, and oh the DRINKING!!!! It was great fun. So I just wanted to pass this along for all of you who don't know where it all started. I got this in an e-mail! Thank You Ellen! Enjoy and have a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

Just who was St. Patrick and why do we honor him on March 17 each year? St. Patrick was actually from Scotland. He was kidnapped by Irish pirates when he was 16 years old and sold into slavery. He worked as a shepherd during his captivity and after six years he escaped to France where he became a priest and then a Bishop. He later returned to Ireland to preach against the idolatry flourishing there.

St. Patrick baptized over 120,000 Irishmen and established over 300 churches. The Irish have observed March 17 as a religious holiday for over 1000 years. Falling during the Christian season of Lent, the Irish would attend church in the morning and feast in the afternoon.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place in New York City on March 17, 1762. Today, New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States with over 150,000 participants traveling the 1.5 mile route which takes more than five hours to complete.

Today, don’t forget to wear your green and enjoy a traditional meal of corned beef brisket served with horseradish and cabbage.

God's Love
Ellen

The Sword of the Spirit

2010-03-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

Peace. It doesn't mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. ~Unknown

As a child my most important life lessons came from my parents via the Bible, teaching me how to love God, treat others the way I wanted to be treated, and how to use the sword of the Spirit. It was my guide to life. Most of us believe that if you learn how to use something properly it will work. How can a person convince you that something DOESN'T work if they've never tried to turned it on, or flipped the switch? Whether it's a science experiment or an owner's manual, faith and courage get you from wondering to finding out. If you didn't think something would work you probably wouldn't even bother trying to use it, which means that whatever service it provided would be lost, leaving you to learn things the hard way, and/or work harder to finish the task. The only task we really have is LIVING LIFE. How you go about doing that is totally up to you. But I knew that whether I was rich, poor, educated or uneducated, working with my hands or not, I would...

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

I believe the Bible is the word of God, written by people who were inspired by God, and intended to provide the truth about Joy and Peace, how to get it and how to keep it. It even has all the practical info you need about everything in between, love, money, social dilemmas and more. I don't look at it as a rule book, but it does let me know what happens if there aren't any rules.

The Bible is also a great source of encouragement, which everyone needs at some point. We all know that what sets our best friends apart from the rest of the world is that they're the ones that believe in you, despite really knowing you. They are actually rooting for you in life, and don't want to see you fail. It might be negative attitudes, poor decisions, or lies we tell ourselves that keep us down or lazy, and clearly in the dark about our true worth as human beings, but a friend loves you at all times, sometimes more than family, and usually more than you love yourself. My sword has made me a better friend. It helps me see the good in people even when the world is against them. I know that God loves them, because God loves me. Trust me if I can make it through hell ANYONE can.

My sword has a light that shines in the darkest of circumstances. I've tested it. Sometimes I didn't even have my BIBLE but I was able to remember a simple childhood memory verse, and it was all I needed. It turns out the verses I remembered the easiest had the widest swing, helping me solve more problems within a few simple phrases.

Whether it's the whole Bible, only the New Testament, or just a few verses, my sword is always with me, and the more I practice the quicker,and stronger I get. As a child the size of my Bible was daunting. I could hardly anticipate the day I would grow into it. Soon I started to notice that it was being written on my heart, and not only was I unable to forget what I had read, but I found myself applying the scriptures to my life. I'm not talking Bible quotes or trivia questions, but the principles. It's like math there are the basics you learn in elementary school and apply to things for the rest of your life. Even if you hate math you know how to count, add and subtract. I learned what the sword was, how it works, and about the sharpness of the blade. The sword finally fits but I'm always growing, and I can never out grow it! I see the elders and I now want their grace to go along with my "wisdom in a bottle". To the naked eye it seems like sheer power to be able to pull something from this book with lightening speed, knowing exactly where to turn for any answer, but the truth is really in their FAITH, and not just the blade. If there wasn't a sword the warrior would still find a way to defeat the enemy. That's just the way God operates, mysteriously HE ALWAYS WINS!

Follow ME Fridays!

2010-03-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

I gain more than I lose because on Friday's

I FOLLOW more than I choose. ~ Fuchsia

Equal Opportunity Fridays! WHY am I not picky about who I follow and who follows me on Friday? Because I have all week to unfollow! And I've learned over time that people are full of surprises (in good ways and sometimes bad ways). There are more cool people in twitterverse than there are lames.

When I first embarked on this Twitter adventure there were two annoying things about twitter that I didn't like. The first thing was the spam and the second was the dreaded leak in my followers list. There's not much to do for spam except the option of privacy, but as far as the leak, I decided to get organized and stopped taking things so personal. After all, there are plenty of people I've had to unfollow, block or exchange harsh words with over the past year. I've noticed that people on twitter are no different than people in real life when it comes to their emotions. Whether friendly and upbeat, or sad and angry, Twitter has it all. Most people just need a word of encouragement, someone that agrees with their way of thinking, or adds something to a heated debate. But we need interesting followers to get that sort of connection. The most exciting time to add diversity to your list is FRIDAY!

BUT a lot of people don't understand Follow Fridays, and usually what people don't understand they hate. We've all seen the so-called Friday SPAM in the form of tweets lit up by @ links. When you don't understand the reason behind this, it can be annoying and frustrating especially if you try to participate and yet no one follows you back. I have figured out a way that works for me. My Friday Twitter sessions are dedicated to my followers. It's not about me on Friday it's about them! It's that simple. I show love to my friends old and new, expecting nothing in return. You gotta give love to get love in my world!

During the week I tweet with several people and retweet (RT) the most interesting tweets I come across. On Friday I have the opportunity to connect everyone who wants or needs cool people to follow. I only do this for people I actually communicated with during the week.

Here's how: First I tweet the following message. (sometimes it gets pretty long but it's worth it)

#FOLLOWFRIDAY @soandso @you @youtoo @everyonecool @everyoneItalkedtothisweek

Next and most importantly I FOLLOW EVERYONE MENTIONED WITH ME IN A #FF TWEET. In the beginning I had practically no mentions so I followed everyone mentioned in my Time Line to get my followers up. The most effective way to get the word out that you are following new people is by sending a tweet stating the people you recently decided to follow along with the person who mentioned them.

#NowFollowing @thatperson @thisperson mentioned by @generoustweetstar

I found this effective for two reasons. The first is that people will know you are following them without having to go to their followers list. The second reason is that the person who mentioned them will be recognized, showing that their original mention was indeed effective and helpful.

The best Follow Friday #shoutouts will always be the personal ones that have a brief description. This is helpful because it shows that you have developed a tweet worthy relationship with that person. Also for people who are interested in quality over quantity, they are able to make an informed choice about their potential new friend.

I never knew I would connect to so many amazing people through Twitter. Theres the artists whose work I have fallen madly in love with, the poets, painters, musicians, intelligent beauties, fly ass gentlemen and omg the CLOWNS, and the list goes on. Indeed there are some hilarious and talented people in my world bringing with them inspiration and light everyday, and amazingly it all started with Follow Fridays!

Sing Your Heart-Song Today!

2009-10-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

"The child of God is not exempt from the trials of life. There are times when storms will hit your house and beat against it with ferocious winds. This is not the time to give up. It is the time to stand firm and see the salvation of your God." ~ Therese Helton
Quote taken from page 25 of the book Heart-Songs: Prayers, Reflection and Praise. http://www.heartsongsreflections.com/

New inspirational book Heart-Songs: Prayers, Reflections and Praise AVAILABLE NOW! Order your copy at http://www.heartsongsreflections.com/ Therese Helton is the Author of this brilliant picture book with full color pages. The words come straight from her heart and gently touch your spirit, inspiring you to take a closer walk with the Creator. This book allows us to see how we are each individually loved by Him. She expresses a range of emotions as we see her go through spiritual healing and gain courage to face the world again stronger than ever. See her rise from the pits of despair and float to the surface with her rejoicing songs of praise and gratitude to her Heavenly Father. We were inspired to put the book together with picturesque scenes of Central Oregon, Southern California, Dangriga, Belize, and some of the most precious, and beautiful creatures of the regions. She encourages all of us to sing our own heart-song everyday.

You won't be disappointed with this book of treasures, in fact you might be moved to tears, and on the very next page be ready to conquer the world.

Therese is an inspiration and makes everything better like the kiss on top of a Band-Aid, or a bowl of Ice Cream at the end of a long day! She is especially dear to my heart; my incredible mother, amazing friend and sister in Christ. Mrs. Helton raised me to have faith and always encouraged me to express myself, through design, art, writing, and anything that would glorify my relationship with God and touch others in a positive way. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful mother. Through the years I have shared her with my friends and other young women of the community seeking an encouraging word and a friend to call upon in times of need. All in all this book touches hearts and gets passed around. Do something nice for yourself, a friend, or a loved one in need of encouragement, purchase the book today! http://www.heartsongsreflections.com/ If you would like to get to know the author or schedule a book signing you can follow her on twitter at http://twitter.com/SingAHeartSong

The Power of a Question

2009-10-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

"We each need to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly." ~ Shakti Gawain

Have you ever seen someone blow up on a complete stranger and instinctively known they were unhappy with their own life in general? In customer service you learn to not take anything personal. Everyone has problems, and most people are liars. They say they are fine when they clearly are NOT. Here I will let you know the importance of asking, answering and communicating through Questions.

I admit, I don't make things too easy for ANYONE. We have all heard that the only dumb questions are the questions you don't ask. I take this statement serious. By asking questions, we are simply being proactive in life's lessons and practices. Think: Participation Points. This works in our favor and if we work together we can help eachother learn.

Some people think they are honest with themselves but in reality they don't find out how much they are lying to themself until a stranger asks them a direct question. It's no secret among my friends and family that I am a very inquisitive person. There is very little small talk with me. I like to see what makes people TICK. My gift to the world? Asking the questions that people often don't want to answer out loud. I have the ability of being emotionally detached from any answer you happen to have. I don't have to wait for answers, but I do. I Can sense how you feel even before you say anything. In essence, when I ask direct questions I'm speaking directly to your inner spirit.

Over time I've learned that some questions are like slippery banana peels in any conversation. They can, and do, trip a person up. We've all slipped, tripped, or picked up someone else's trash to avoid an accident. One thing's for sure; crossing the path of a metaphorical banana peel is never fun, and should be avoided. A good thing to do is learn how to answer questions. Honesty is the best policy. Usually if a person is asking a question they already know part, or all of the answer. I won't say they know the truth, but I will say they THINK they know the truth. The better you are at answering questions the more confident you will be in life, and confidence leads to success.

When asked a difficult question, people often paint vivid pictures with their answers, shrugs, lack of eye contact, avoidance, misdirections, or flat out lies. Usually we can tell who is polite, who is a liar, who has self confidence, who has no confidence, and a host of other character traits just by asking questions. The coolest part about asking lots of questions? You learn very quickly, it really doesn't matter what comes out of a person's mouth, it's all about the physical response; pitch, tone of their voice, and body language.

After you have mastered the art of answering questions, you need to be able to ask questions that will challenge people. Typically, these are not yes or no, they're open ended. This is a skill that should be practiced and is highly favored in job interviews, business meetings, and first dates. People like to feel interesting, and the best way to give them this, is to let them talk about themself. You can see if they like talking about themself too much also. Annoying? Just a little.

Asking good questions is a skill that can also help when you are in a confrontation. Instead of belittling or disrespecting someone the first step is to acheive clarity by asking questions. Then if they choose to avoid or argue you can throw a banana peel out there. ;-) Think: Super Mario Cart! It slows people down, and of course spins them out of control in their own lies or ignorance.

All dangerous banana peels aside. As for the banana's themselves, or the rest of life, I choose to make Banana Splits. It's nice to create an experience of learning and acceptance you can share with others. Tricky questions are best answered in groups, it helps us appreciate our differences and gain better overall perspective. There is beauty and freedom in a question with no right or wrong answer and the safety of no judgment. Start asking and answering, enjoy the goodness, and share the experience with someone. Afterall Banana Splits were never meant to be eaten alone!

Any Questions?