DESIRE, PERSPIRE, INSPIRE

Hello World !

DESIRE
Every one dreams. Whether the dream is to be rich or if it's to simply be happy. Good things do come to those who wait BUT you have to put in the work, wait and watch your labor manifest into your dream. For instance, let's say last night you had a dream and in that dream you saw your self  in the exact position you want to be in life. It seemed so real but you woke up to find that it had only been a dream. You go on with your life day after day dreaming of the things you could accomplish and the people you can someday meet. "If you do what you've done, you'll get what you've always gotten." You must first DESIRE more for yourself. Secondly you can't expect to see fruits of a labor you did not produce. In other words, you can't expect superior results doing bear minimum in life just to get by. Work at high levels and get high level results. Dreaming is normal, fair, and just but there comes a time where you have to stop dreaming and just live your dream.

PERSPIRE
Perspire is the act of sweat leaving your pores. Most commonly associated with exercise. How does this play a role in dreams? Well, ask your self this. If I call myself working out and by the end of the workout there isn't a drip of sweat falling from my body ... how much of an effort did I really put into that workout?  The answer would be very little to none. In order to achieve the desired results you must WORK for it. (in every area of life) "Nothing in life worth having comes easy". There will be plenty of obstacles that will tempt you to stop ... hurt, disappointment, and rejection. (just to name a few) You may feel like giving up ... but "don't give up because you never know how close you are to achieving your goals."

INSPIRE
Whether you're just starting, you're currently perspiring or you've made it, never fail to inspire. Inspire others with your walk. Let them sense that something about you is different and make them curious enough to find out what it is. Inspire others with your talk. Seeming knowledgeable being able to off creditable is beneficial. People will see something in you that can even inspire them to get up and do what ever it is that they've been sitting on. What do I mean by sitting on? I mean procrastinating and saying that they'll do it tomorrow. "Tomorrow isn't promised" so "Don't put off till tomorrow, what you can do today" You want to leave a good impact on people and always make a lasting impression.

Important things to know

1. Networking: "It's not what you know, It's who you know" You could be apart of Greek Life, be apart of many clubs, obtain and maintain dean's list every semester, even be president of the class but if you don't take the time to do internships, go to conventions, talk and connect with those in your field of interest; it makes it harder (not impossible) to find yourself in a desirable position after graduating. I know so many people who have a college degree and are unable to land a job in their field. Then they end up settling for what pays. Don't ever let any one tell you that you can't do something, especially not you. You went to school and worked hard to get the qualifications that put you in the position to make that money so DON'T settle.

2. No Regrets: We all look back on life and say if we would have done so and so differently our life would be so much better. Truth is fate is real. You needed to go through things to teach you and help you grow into the uniquely God created creature you are. My aunt told me that God created us with his goal in mind with the path to follow to reach it but we as born sinners create detours to this goal. Just know you're destiny shall be reached before you pass away. Don't believe me? Look at Jeremiah 29:11.

3. Live your own dreams: Don't compromise your happiness for someone else. If you're doing things to please others you won't ever truly be happy. Go out on a limb and experience life for yourself. Even though you may have been told otherwise, sometimes the best lessons learned are self taught.

4. Negativity: People can project their opinion, thoughts, and advice into you. It's up to you what you accept as truth. When you know who are you and are content with that, it's hard for negativity to uproar your mentality. "The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you can not do". So don't wait another day. Go pursue your dreams !

5. Patience is a virtue: You may see everyone else around you prospering and you don't seem to be getting anywhere. It's important to know that things do not happen in your timing but in God's. Don't question your neighbor's season of blessing, though yours may not be the same .. it is just right for you.


SB: This blog post was inspired by my haters, motivators, doubters, and by "The Hip Hop Preacher" aka Eric Thomas (E.T.). One day on Facebook I happened to come across one of his videos and was immediately drawn in.. His demeanor demanded attention and his message spoke to my heart. After watching it I was thinking about how to apply what I had heard to myself and make a life long change.

Here's the link to his YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/etthehiphoppreacher

Here's the link to his personal site:
http://etinspires.com/index-2.html

Here's the video I stumbled across:

Christmas in July ! Summer Haul: Part 2

Hello World !

It's Christmas in July, YAY! Christmas in July is celebrated by those who live in the southern hemisphere. For southerners their winter falls in the month of July as appose to December for those in the Northern hemisphere. I got a little online shopping happy and bought quite a bit of things and just wanted to share them with you. Here I go.

ONLINE SHOPPING CRAZY

Just Fab!

"The Pantheon" 

Price: 31.96

Forever 21

Ponte Knit Peplum Top

Price: 12.80

Forever 21

Lacquered Snake Choker

Price: 10.80 

 Charlotte Russe

Royal Blue Jeggings

Price: 15.00

Charlotte Russe

Metallic Tip Pleather Flip Flop

Price: 4.50

Wet Seal

Chain Link Single Bracelet 

Price 6.50

Bath and Body Works

Coconut Vanilla - Price 5.00

Exotic Coconut - Price 3.00

Country Apple - 3.00

 Bath and Body Works

Coconut Lime Breeze - Price 2.66

Be Enchanted - Price 2.66

Pink Chifon - Price 2.66

 BH Cosmetics

120 Eyeshadow Palette 5th Edition 

Price: 18.95

BH Cosmetics

Blending Brush

Price 3.16

 

 

 

If you're interested in the items I have for sale leave a comment below, Thank you !

Also if you're interested in purchasing items I have or similar to them I will leave the links below.

Forever 21 http://www.forever21.com/Product/Main.aspx?br=f21

Charolette Russe http://www.charlotterusse.com/

Wet Seal http://www.wetseal.com/home.jsp

Just Fab http://www.justfab.com/

BH Comestics http://www.bhcosmetics.com/

Bath and Body Works http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/home/index.jsp

Online Shopping: Pros and Cons

Hello World !

I absolutely love to go shopping, I mean but what female doesn't? It's like the perfect gender role stereotype. I just like the way I feel when I go retail shopping. It's kind of therapeutic. Based on convenience and preference some people may prefer online shopping over in store shopping. Here are a list of personal pros and cons of online shopping you may be able to identify with.




PROS

• Not having to wait in long lines - Patience is a virtue, a virtue many people lack.
•  No annoying workers - As soon as you walk into the store "Is there anything I can help you with?" Yes, you can back up and let me shop, if I need assistance I'll ask for it. Thank you.
• No crazy shoppers/crowds - Whether it's Black Friday or if it's just the weekend the mall is ALWAYS packed.
• Everything is layed out and already organized - You don't have to use gas and time to go shopping and possibly not find what you're looking for.
• The ability to multitask while shopping - You can clean and shop. Eat and shop. Wash clothes and shop. Heck ! You can even breastfeed and shop. It's just convenient!
• Special Deals - depending on the store they may offer special deals for online shoppers versus in store.
 

CONS

 

 

• Sizing - If it's an unfamiliar site or item you may end up with a size too or small or too big. Then you end up having to go to the store anyway, if you don't want to pay to ship it back. At this point it's become more of hassle than a convenience.
• Looks are deceiving - I personally can't stand when I get something that appeared differently online. Which if I would have saw while shopping at the mall I wouldn't have bought. It's the worse. Especially if the item is final sale, forget about it.
• Anticipation - If you're excited about the purchase it feels just like Christmas as a kid. You know you're getting something and when but you just CAN'T WAIT! Especially if you do standard shipping which can take up to 9 business days (depending). SMH.
• Pricing minimum on free shipping- What if I just want one item that cost 10 bucks?! Why do I have to spend at least 60 to get free shipping? Obviously they have to get you to spend your money somehow. This is the number one way how. Along with the suggestion items on the side/bottom. So you can say "Ooo this is cute .. Oh and this .. fab !" 
• Identity Theft - This one is very important. I check my account often, especially if I am frequently purchasing items with my card. My bank also notifies me of withdrawals above a certain amount in any case I should be concerned. Be sure to check your balance and your listed purchases to make sure they were all made by you. Report any suspicious purchases and such.

Hope everyone's enjoying their summer :D

Second Attempt of a Transitioning Hairstyle

Hello World !

 This is my FIRST WEEK into my natural hair journey and I've come across a lot of struggles already. Hair too dry /hair too greasy. Hair too straight/hair too curly. Big poof/loose curls. (Based on what I expect the outcome to be) It's just a huge hair learning experience. Overall I'm learning how to care for it best and what products work best for MY hair. Alright, so since the Bantu Knots/Chini Bumps were an epic fail  yesterday I decided to go for a flat twist out today. I had tried this style about three days ago which also resulted in an epic fail. I thought if I parted and sectioned differently I'd get different results. Trial and error at it's best.

Alright so this is the comparison of how I parted it the first time and then last night (L to R)

As you may or may not be able to see, the first time I did four going to the side, two in the back and two on the side. The second time I did two toward the front, two going down on each sides and four toward the back and these were the results



BACK:

FRONT:

I was semi happy with the results. The bottom back is still frustrating me because its so short. But it'll have to do for now.

Stay tuned while I continue to grow my NATURAL hair and grow as an individual, wish me luck. I will need it ! LOL

Chocolate Men

Tyrese Gibson         Idris Elba        Dwyane Wade         

I've fallen in love 3 times continuously for the last 5 minutes ... LOL. 

First Transitioning Hair Hairstyle

Hello WORLD !!

So this is my first natural hair blog and I'm very excited about this. Natural hair seems to be currently trending, although many people have been doing it for years. As I looked around at my peers I've never been influenced to do the same but my aunt CONVERTED me and wants me to "embrace" what I was blessed with, so here goes ! So February of 2013 I cut my hair back into a Rihanna cut, for it had been my third time doing so. I followed up with "creamy crack" about a month later in March. Since then I've had a sew in & twists as a protective style. So since it's July I'd consider being about 3 months natural. My hair is still very short in the back and sides so I'm trying to find styles that will be suit me. Bantu Knots/ Chini Bumps seem to work best. I did the style last night, here all the results.

As you can see my hair came out more of a bush then curls. So I'm going to try again tonight, wish me luck. Here are some styles I tried with it. I did a mini "model session".

Any recommendations on a product that will be make my curls more defined? PLEASE LET ME KNOW !!
Later
*Smooches*

P.S. I will not be doing the BC ... not happening. 

Feedback

What would be point of going to the grocery store once a week just to walk around and walk out, never buying anything? The store has good advertisement and sees an abundance of customers everyday but they're not getting good revenue. Well that's sort of how I feel when you read my posts but don't leave any comments. Good or bad comments, suggestions on what else to write or how to make my blog more interesting. ANYTHING. Feedback is greatly appreciated :). Thank you in advance.

F O O D

Hello World !! 


I had a little inspiration to write this post because trust me, as much of a fan I am of food I wouldn't have done this all on my own.

Well I'll start by saying your health is very important and being able to maintain healthy eating habits are valuable as well. There are hundreds of diets, programs, books, pills, and equipment to lure you in. Whether you want to lose a vast amount of weight or just tone your body. No matter what method you choose I think it's important to know the effects and the in and outs of the product before usage. There are plenty of scams and I'm sure the last thing you want to do is waste hundreds of dollars on a useless resource. My advice would be to check the reviews (from real people), whether it's a personal testimony or other internet blogs.

Here are some links to products I know are very helpful !

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90x.do?e=b&s_tnt=46950:6:0

http://www.zumba.com/en-US

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/10_minute_trainer.do


 


COUNT THOSE CALORIES



As I get into the food I personally like to eat I think it's important for me to point out that it's not impossible to enjoy the foods you love and remain fit or healthy. There's just one word that needs to be added to your vocabulary: MODERATION. Which includes eating small portions and paying attention to the serving sizes and the amount of calories that are in each serving size. If you're new at this, of course it will take some getting used to. But think about it, it will be a change for the better and the end results will be spectacular!

Here's a user friendly calorie counter to get you started. REMEMBER: the ideal amount of calories per day is 2,000

http://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-food-calorie-counter

JAMAICAN STYLE

Okay, so since I have a Jamaican background I'll start there.

Jerk Chicken/ Pork
Beef Stew
Oxtail
Curry Goat
Escoveitched Fish
Fried & Boil Dumpling
Spicy Beef Patties with Cocoa Bread
Callaloo / Cabbage
Saltfish
Jack Fruit
Breadfruit
Bulla
Bag Juice/ Sugar Cane
Bammy
Fried Plantain
the list continues ....


Are you interested in the preparation of some of the dishes above? Well, here's a link with all the necessary ingredients and recipes to get you started !

http://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/food_and_drink.htm

DINE INS

To move on I'd like to mention great restaurants I've been to, want to visit again soon, those I don't like and those I've never been to. These exclude your typical Friday's, Applebees, and Ruby Tuesday's.

MY FAVORITE'S
-Red Lobster
-Olive Garden
-Ari rang
-Buffalo Wild Wings
-Famous Dave's


NEED TO VISIT AGAIN SOON
-Macaroni Grill
-Jose Tejas
-Cheesecake Factory
-Cheeseburger in Paradise
-Outback Steakhouse


NOT A FAN OF
-Red Robin
-Ruby Tuesday's


ON MY BUCKET LIST
-The Melting Pot
-Hooter's
-Charlie Brown's
-Rainforest Cafe
-Bonefish Grill










If you any suggestions of other weight loss alternatives or new restaurants I should try leave a comment ! :)

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS LOVE YOURSELF FOR WHO YOU ARE

Missing you

The way we met was so ordinary. No formal introductions no corny pick up lines just casual conversation. Neither one of us had intentions on taking each other seriously. A month in and it's like we both realize it's something uniquely special about each other and the chemistry was ridiculous (in a good way). Being done wrong makes it so much easier to see good when it's right in front of you. Though I must admit it wasn't easy to accept. Overtime I've learned so much about myself as an individual that you've made clear to me. When I'm not sure you always reassure me that I can do it. When things get rough for each of us you remind me that there's no need to worry because of Philippians 4:19 and I remind you to that God is in control of your life because of Jeremiah 29:11. 

I know I'm young so this post may be overlooked but that's okay. For the amount of time I've lived and dated young men and got to know different individuals in general, I've learned enough to know when I have a truly good person in my life. I've learned to appreciate them and cherish the memories in the moment. I've learned to think highly of my self because how I project myself is how it will be reflected back unto me. I've learned that loving me first gives me the capability to convey love onto others. I've learned that being content and comfortable in my skin should drown out the negativity that attempts to intervene. 

He believes in putting God and his mother first in his life. He's understanding to the point where very rarely do I need to explain the purpose of my actions. Loving to the point where it's not overbearing nor lacking, it's just enough. Caring to the point of always showing concern and offering suggestions. He has a delicate heart, he's strong minded, protective and very humorous. Though based off first impression he's not the person I would have chosen, I must say it pays to get to know someone. Our relationship is not to be understood but more so known.

I know that he makes me happy and at this point and time that's all that matters. We want the best for each other in everything, mainly education. He supports my dreams of being a teacher saying I'll be "The best teacher in the world". We push each other to achieve our goals (big or small). He also let's me talk him to death without complaining and actually listens unless ESPN is on LOL. I support his hobbies and he supports mine. He's open minded to my culture and I'm open minded to his as well.

I guess what I'm trying to say is thank God I took that stupid dance class because I wouldn't have met you when I did or at all.

AB workouts STANDING UP !

Hello World !

So, I know I'm not the only one who can't stand doing crunches on the floor! If your body is not properly aligned or your carpet/yoga mat just isn't comfy enough it can cause discomfort. Well about a week ago I found out that you can do AB workouts while standing, who knew? I just had to try it. Last night was actually my first time trying it out and I enjoyed it very much. Without the extra strain on my neck nor back it's more enjoyable. You can also use dumbbells, sticks and resistance bands for more of a challenge. What are you waiting for? GET UP & TRY IT!

Here are a couple links to articles that fully explain what to and how to do it:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/standing-ab-workout

http://fitbie.msn.com/workout/15-minute-workout-stand-flat-abs

http://www.lauralondonfitness.com/workouts/ab-workouts/12-minute-standing-up-abs-1

http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-Standing-Ab-Exercises

NEW Cheerios Commercial Controversy

                                                                                                   

Hello World !

Sooo... Cheerios the brand we all know and love recently released a new commercial to the public which raised a lot controversy in the media. Why you may ask? Well the cute bi-racial girl had a Caucasian mommy and African American daddy. Though interracial relationships are very common in this century, there are plenty of people who are still against it and continue to have a bigot mentality.

Here's the commercial

Now you can't tell me that wasn't just about the cutest thing you've ever seen ! Innocence is a precious gift that children have. It should be cherished as long as possible because once it's corrupted it's pretty much gone forever.

Cheerios received so many negative comments about the ad that they disabled users from commenting on the video. I'm sure that there were plenty of racial comments being thrown around from very ignorant and close minded individuals. It's very unfortunate that racism still exists. Though we have come a very long way, we will never live in a perfect world. That's just the way it is.  In my opinion interracial relationships and families are evidence that our past African American advocates efforts were not in vain.

Personally I like dark skinned guys but my best friends love Cacausions so the generation of all races plus mixed races will continue to live on. Maybe we'll even get an option of biracial/interracial for race on applications. It only takes one individual to make a decision to take a stand and have a nation follow behind. Likewise for those are against the cause. Start with yourself, influence someone and keep the cycle going. Together we can make the world a better place for me and you and our children :)

Trayvon Martin vs George Zimmerman

Greetings readers !

I just want to take this time to reflect on what I've seen and heard about the case. I also want to take this opportunity to voice my opinion on the case and the matter itself.

I'd like to begin by saying crime, hatred and violence are at an all time high right now and a lot of innocent people end up losing their lives because of it.

In case you are unaware or uninformed Trayvon 17 at the time was shot and killed by Zimmerman in February 2012. The big question in the case is, did Zimmerman shoot Trayvon out of self defense or just plain murder? Through out the trial the Florida authorities agreed that Zimmerman's side of the story remained fairly consistent throughout the year. Usually drastic inconsistencies set off alarms, in any case it would signify that the individual is not telling the truth. Inconsistency in any story can be caused by shock. For instance, when the incident first happened you may have been flustered. You may remember every detail after or you may forget some. Since this particular case hadn't been well on its way until a year later, minor details may have been forgotten. (from both sides)

Looking at the case, in my opinion this incident was full fledged self defense vs self defense. Both parties had background training in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighting, if I'm not mistaken. Zimmerman most definitely does. Now if we go back from the very beginning. Trayvon leaves his home to buy snacks at a near by 7Eleven and on his way back he spots a mysterious guy following him. Now let's stop there. As a young male or young individual, what is the first thing you'd do if you noticed someone was following you? You try to lose them. My question to Zimmerman at this point would be, what about Trayvon made him "suspicious" enough for you to follow him all the way to his destination and run him down? At the particular time Zimmerman spotted Trayvon, was he engaging in illegal or suspicious acts? If not, what attracted you to pursue him? Was it his sagging pants and large hoodie? Well, we've learned it does no good to assume, now does it?

After Zimmerman called dispatcher he was advised to stay put and not to interfere. Though he did anyway, stating that people like him always get away with crime. That statement alone calls for stereotyping. "People like" signified he didn't know Trayvon personally. He just looked like those "other people" who do bad things in his area but he wasn't certain. That's why most people are taking it from a racial profiling point of view. Through the defense's investigation they later found out that Trayvon in fact was a part of those outlawed acts.

Though Trayvon may have very well been committing illegal acts at the particular point in his life, if he wasn't at that particular time basically Zimmerman had no probable cause. As far as Zimmerman approaching Trayvon, I believed Trayvon reacted as any male would. As a male, if another male you don't know is following you and then comes out of his vehicle to pursue you, what would be your first instinct? Though yours may have not been to attack the stranger, Trayvon's first instinct was. Zimmerman decided to intervene and escalate the situation causing Trayvon to feel threatened which then caused Zimmerman to be attacked. Rage seemed to take over at that point and made a mess of things.

Final Thoughts:

There is no doubt that Trayvon attacked Zimmerman and at that point Zimmerman felt threatened but the question is why did Trayvon attack Zimmerman?

Also if Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman banging his head into the concrete and covered his mouth and nose to disable him from breathing, why was Trayvon found on his stomach when the police arrived? Naturally he would have fallen on his back. The police took 10 minutes to arrive at the scene and the second sergeant attended to Trayvon not the first. So anything could have happened. The medical examiner also said Trayvon was still alive for a max of 10 minutes after he was shot.

To keep up with the trial and the testimonies you can subscribe to:

http://www.youtube.com/user/AxiomAmnesia

Happy Independence Day

Hello World !

Today is July the fourth, the day that the United States of America gained their independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in the year 1776. Just to give you a little history, FYI; in case you didn't know.

When I was a child I remember going to the nearby park and watching the fireworks with my mom. Up until about the last 3 year ago I still did. My mom believes in separation of the two and always pointed out that "you and I nuh frien" but we were each others driving force, back bone, side kick and partner in crime. She's like my best friend. I could pretty much talk about anything with her our relationship is truly irreplaceable . This year unfortunately I was not able to go out and see fireworks but I did enjoy a lovely afternoon at the beach with my family. All in all I enjoyed my day so enjoy the pics!!

Here's a link to a checklist for beach trips in the near future:

http://www.picnic-basket.com/beach-checklist-and-safety-tips.html

P.S. Stay tuned I'll be posting my second summer haul soon !