Inspired by Sade's Concert

Is it a CRIME that he gave me the KISS OF LIFE.  I'm a SOLDIER OF LOVE so I stand for what I want.  This ain't NO ORDINARY LOVE so you can't compete with what we have.  So your swords or guns can't pierce our souls because we have BULLET PROOF SOULS.  Two hearts at war with the world because they're against what we have.  Since we're inseparable maybe our love is as deep as the ocean; we can swim away like two MERMAIDS to find our hidden treasure and CHERISH THE DAY.

*This is for the TRUE Sade fans.....

*peace, love, and soul

Express yourself!

You don't have to be quiet anymore... It's always good to express yourself... STOP HOLDING BACK! We were blessed with a hole in our faces; so use it but don't abuse it... Know when to turn it off... You know the saying if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything...  Well start standing and stand tall because you will not fall... If you keep holding it all in; it will eventually turn into negative energy and you might say or do something that you will regret... Don't wait until it's too late... You have a right to express yourself whether it's verbal or non verbal... If you have to write a letter than do it... Don't hold back!  Free yourself it will probably save your life or their life....  Many people die each year for holding back... If you need to ask for help ask and don't be afraid...

*put God 1st (love, peace, and soul)

Don't Lose Focus!

It's much easier for us to lose focus than to remain in a straight line.  If you're adamant about goals that you want to accomplish then don't lose focus.  Distractions are set up to hold us back especially if it's not headed in the directions of your goals.  There is always time to play but right now stay FOCUSED!  Don't ever give up because as long as you're on track you're winning.  If it's taking some time for you to start seeing results it's okay don't panic; victory is near. One day you will have a story to tell.  Always think positive.  Get rid of negative thoughts (distractions), it will hold you back. Learn how to relax.  Be patient.  Don't stress!  Everyday you put effort in reaching your goals; you're one step closer.  Good Luck!

*put God 1st (peace, love, and soul) 

ARE YOU A SHOP-A-HOLIC

OMG I love the movie confessions of a shopaholic!  What girl doesn't like to shop?  I love love love to shop but I know my limit....  Do you know your limit?  Yes there are millions of shopaholics in the world but do you know the key to keep your sanity while you're going bananas buying clothes?  When you get paid; always pay yourself first.  Put something away in your savings account.  Next, take care of all your bills for that pay period.  Make sure you have money that can last you until you get paid the next time.  Finally, shop until you drop but don't forget to balance your checkbook so you won't have any overdrafts.  Be a smart shopper and try not to use credit cards while you are shopping b/c this may put you into debt.  If you have to use the credit cards then use them but think about the bill that is going to follow after you've made that purchase.  It's best to use cash or if you do use the credit card pay if off once the bill comes.  Don't try to keep up with the Joneses!  The Joneses is not for everybody and especially the ones that know they can't afford to keep up but do it anyway.  You should never put material things over your priorities; you might find yourself homeless or carless one day.  Whatever is out now and if you can't afford it so WHAT?  It'll be something out there that's better when you can afford to shop.  There are so many people out in the world that's in debt and don't have to be.  Make wise decisions moving forward.  Remember nobody wants to be with somebody that's broke. 

*put God 1st (peace, love, and soul)

Bride-to-Be

This is for the women that are in the process of becoming wives.  Just last year I was planning my wedding and it really is an overwhelming process.  People don't understand unless they have been in your shoes.  You go through so many emotions while you're planning and unexpected things will surface and you're like when will this be over with.  It's all worth it in the end you just gotta have some tough skin to push it to the finish line. 

When you are a bride-to-be you definitely need some alone time to gather YOUR THOUGHTS.  YES YOUR THOUGHTS!  Many people will have different opinions about the day that's the most important to YOU.  I'll say if you have an idea stick to it and don't let anyone change your mind.  Everybody style is different and they would want you to change it to something that fits their criteria.  NOPE!  Stick to what's best for you.  You're the one that's going to be looking at your wedding pictures for the rest of your life not them.  If your wedding doesn't come out the way they wanted it to; forget them. It's YOUR WEDDING!

The EMOTIONS!  I'll say this again NOBODY KNOWS WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH!  When you say yes after he proposes; you just think of the pretty dress and just walking down the aisle.  You do not think about what comes with it.  Of course, we all watched Bridezillas but you never know until you're put in that situation.  It's an absolute roller coaster ride.  I completely understand why Bride-to-be's become Bridezillas.  You deal with a lot of baggage.  Cold feet is real!  You know that you want to be with this person but it's scary to know that it's for the rest of your life or if it's going to work especially when the divorce rates are extremely high nowadays.  Then you have other things that will pile on top of the cold feet; THE PLANNING!

Planning for your wedding has it's ups and downs and I'm pretty sure who's ever in the process of planning now understand what I'm talking about.  Like I stated before people will have their opinions; just stick with your idea and in the end you'll be happy.  You definitely can't make everyone happy but this day is for you and him so you should be happy.

Congratulations to all the bride-to-bees! <---- lol

*put God 1st (peace, love, and soul)

A Woman's Worth

A woman should know her worth....  Know what you're worth and never settle for less...  As women we take on so many responsibilities that we don't realize when it's time to take a break....  We are wives, mothers, career-women, housekeepers all of the above...  We are always on duty even while we're sleeping... It can be overwhelming; being a woman is overwhelming NO DOUBT!

Why do we always want more?  Once we achieve one thing then we have to find something else of interest to achieve... STOP! Take a break! Go on vacation... RELAX! This is why we are overwhelmed and we don't take time for ourselves... Find your balance... Squeeze in that hair appointment, the mani and pedi, the mall trip, the weekend getaway... Do something for yourself... We try to please everyone but for once let someone please YOU!  If you have a significant other, they should recognize your worth and for once take over some of your responsibilites.. You deserve IT!!!!  Don't ever stop being goal setters/goal achievers, just take some time out for yourself...

Know your worth ladies and don't let anyone tell you any different... You know what u want and you know how much you can handle and you know when it's enough.....

*put God 1st (peace, love and soul)

Don't Let Your Past Define Who You Are Today!

We all have made mistakes in our lives....  Mistakes are meant to happen so we can learn from them...  Once you've recognized your mistake and learned from it then it's in your past now and it's time to move forward.  Your past should not dictate your future...  I don't care if whatever you've done resurfaced; that's not who you are now so it shouldn't be a weight that you should carry anymore unless you can't forgive yourself.... If you can't forgive yourself then you can't move on... LET IT GO!  If someone wants to throw stones at you then tell them you don't have to wear it as my pastor would say...  People can say whatever they want... Most people don't want to see you overcome obstacles in your life; they want to see you hurt over your mistakes...  But always remember that everyone got a story to tell....  No ones perfect... If you think about it; if you didn't make those mistakes would you be where you are today?  Maybe or maybe not depending on what you've done... Take something out of whatever your mistake is or was and create a new chapter....  Never look back!

*put God 1st (peace, love, and soul)

Friends....

I was riding to work today and I was listening to the radio and the song "Friends" came on....  And what stood out for me is "how many of us have them." Really how many friends do you have?  People always say friends come and go but if they come and go then that wasn't a friend from the beginning....  People tend to use the word FRIEND so loosely... You've ever met someone and it felt like you've known them for years and you've only known them for a hot second and when you introduce this person to a friend, mother, father, cousin etc you say this is my friend so and so.... You don't know this person why are you calling this person your friend.  We have to wake up and choose wisely...  Yes, we do have PEOPLE that come into our lives for a season, day, month, year blah blah blah but do and/or should we consider them our friend.... Yes, we can learn from these people whether good or bad and you can even develop a friend along the way but not everyone is there to stay so therefore you should watch who you call your FRIEND...  We have to stop putting so much faith into the people we call our friends b/c you never know what their purpose is in our lives... Yes, you expect a friend to go above and beyond measures but you have to realize that they're human 1st...  Human 1st; which means their personality isn't like yours so they might do things a little different not saying that it's wrong or right..... 

What I realized in my experience; I have better relationships with the male species rather than a female...  Men don't internalize everything and it is what it is with them and I can dig it......  Being friends with a woman you just never know... You can be friends one day and the next it's deuces....  I just can't deal with the cattiness it's overrated....  In addition, to women friendships you can be the best of friends and has always been there for that person but as soon as you can't be there for one thing it's a problem.... Watch who you call your friends b/c a REAL FRIEND would understand your absence....  

It's always hard to maintain any relationship but you really have to be careful with the people you allow to enter your life....  You can't choose your family but you can definitely choose your friends... 

You can do bad all by yourself....

*put God 1st (peace, love, and soul)

What Motivates You?

You have to find your niche.  What motivates you?  Stop complaining about the past and do something about your future.  Find something that you're interested in and explore; if you find out that this isn't what you want then try something new... The world is yours; stop letting life pass you by b/c it isn't going to slow down for you.  Stop making excuses!  People DO NOT become successful from excuses....  Sometimes you have to go beyond measures to become the person you want to be BUT if you have excuses you're going NOWHERE!  Yes there are going to be bumpy roads ahead but don't let that knock you down!  Take it as a learning lesson and continue to progress.  Progression is key; it's essential if you want to be successful....  Successful people DO NOT become successful overnight; it takes hard work and a lot of dedication.  Devote yourself to whatever it is you want to do with your life.....  Try to surround yourself with people that's positive and that's on the road to becoming successful or already successful....  You will prevail!  Always remember to count your blessings b/c there is a person out there in a worse off situation than you.... 

*put God first (peace, love, and soul)

WORKING OUT

Working out doesn't always have to be about losing weight.  Working out is about letting loose.   Yes letting loose!  When you work out you feel good about yourself.  Work it OUT LADIES and gents.  Notice that I didn't capitalize gents.  Reason being is that men don't get overwhelmed as much as women do so this blog is dedicated to the LADIES!  Hey LADIES! How u DOIN (Wendy's voice)? Ladies we stress too much!  Let's try to shake it off and do some exercises.  Free your mind!  Take your mind off all the things that's stressing you out and put it in to something that's going to stimulate you mentally and physically. It's worth it.  You don't have to join a gym; buy some DVDs.  Let's push those couches and tables out of the way and WORK IT OUT! I guarantee after your work out you will forget your stresses.  The best part about working out is that you get to release the negative emotions.  So LADIES let's start exercising it'll probably minimize a lot of tension you have.  You can purchase some DVDs at Target that's extremely cheap.  LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

put God first (peace, love and soul)

Never Give UP! DREAMS DO COME TRUE

We all have something that we desire to have.  If you want it get it.  Don't waste any time striving for greatness.  You will have bumpy roads and those roads might seem like it's never ending but I'M HERE TO TELL YOU NOT TO GIVE UP!  Your goals will come true as long as you're putting in the effort to achieve those goals.  I can attest to something that I've experience about 3 1/2 years ago that will put the stamp on "NEVER GIVING UP."  On Thursday, September 27, 2007, I was in a bad car accident right outside of my school.  It was three weeks after I started my physical therapy program when the accident occurred.  I was devastated!  I thought my life was over; the only thing I could think about is me being too hurt to return to the program.  I was transported to the hospital and at the time I was diagnosed with contusions to my upper and lower extremities.  I was prescribed some meds until I was able to see my physician.  The next day; I couldn't move my entire body, it felt like I was paralyzed.  Luckily, I didn't have school on Friday's and I didn't have to return to school until Tuesday.  All I could think about during this time is the test that I needed to take that I would have taken on the day of the accident.  Two days after the accident I was slowly regaining movement in my upper and lower extremities.  At this time I was determined to return to school on Tuesday to take my exam.  I wasn't going to let the accident deter me from my dreams after all I worked too hard to get into the program.  Blood, Sweat, and Tears (literally) you name it; I've been through it!  I began to study and that Tuesday I did return to class only to take the exam because I was still in pain and I didn't have full range in my extremities yet. I was suffering with a lot of soreness.  I returned back to class later on that week.  I had to put all the pain aside and get back to my regular routine.  I graduated June 2009; yayyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!  I still had a few challenges while I was still in the program such as having surgery on my jaw and suffering from vertigo due to the accident but it never stopped me from accomplishing my goals.  I say that to say this even when it looks like things aren't going right just know if you keep your eyes on the prize you will prevail.  Never lose focus; the world is yours. In addition; remove yourself away from negative people because they will distract you. Always pray, love, live, and laugh often...

put God 1st (peace, love and soul)

FORGIVENESS

As you get older you begin to think wiser and act maturer.  Life starts to look different and as you progress things change; some for the good and some for the bad.  Each day should be taken slowly.  We should begin to recognize our mistakes and ask for forgiveness and remember to let go once you've made your request.  If we can't forgive ourselves how can we move on with life. We should learn how to forgive others.  At times, this can be difficult to do but it must be done.  If you can't learn how to forgive it will continue to bother you as time passes.  Set yourself free from unnecessary stresses.  Don't block your blessings by holding on to grudges.  Everyone make mistakes; it's life and we're all imperfect.  No one is greater or lesser, we all are created equal.  Don't be afraid to make the first step to apologize; even if you think you didn't do anything wrong it's okay to break the ice.  Sometimes people don't want an apologize or don't want your forgiveness but just know that you've tried and all you can do from that point is pray for that individual; move on with your life.  Remember that life is what you make it.  Just don't make it hard for yourself.

*put God first (peace, love, and soul)

Life... Embrace IT!

Life isn't that bad.  People make out life as if it's the most horrible place to be.  If you look at your life and compare it to someone else's you'll say to yourself "life isn't that bad." Be thankful of what you were blessed with.  If you're struggling so what; life is about struggles that's what makes us stronger.  Struggles are put into our lives to prepare us for something better.  Be patient. Be humble.  Your time is near.  Stop thinking just because one bad thing happened to you that life is over or you can't recover. You will recover; your time is near. There are people that wish they can get a second chance or even a chance at all.  Some people are born into struggles and it's not by choice.  If you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back and food to eat then you shouldn't be complaining.  Learn how to deal with the hands that were dealt.  It's not all bad.  You once had a smile on your face.  Try to remember what put a smile on your face and smile. So always start your day with a smile and give thanks.  You can't always expect for things to happen when you want them to; God makes the way for us and everything happens on his time.  Hakuna Matata to all your struggles; it's already taken care of.

*put God first (peace, love, and soul)

getting older

Getting older is a bit frightening.  I'll be 30 this year and I still feel like I'm 21.  I'm a recently married woman and neither one of us have kids.  There's a lot of talk about when am I going to have kids from people that I interact with on a daily basis and sometimes I get annoyed why I don't know.  Don't get me wrong I love kids and I would love to become a mother one day but all I want to do is have fun. Fun as in travelling!  I want to travel. When you have children a lot of things change and I'm not ready for those changes.  Kids are a lot of work.  Turning thirty is frightening.  I am not getting any younger.  Decisions must be made about motherhood sooner than later.  I thank God everyday for seeing another day but at times I wish time could move in slow motion.  I really want to stay young forever; is that a crime? I mean I act my age I just don't feel like I'm turning 30 and might I add that I don't even look like it either.  OH BOY!  I am going through a mid- life crisis.. LOL!!!  On a serious note, I wonder if those same people that's asking when am I going to have kids will be around to help me take care of them.  In my twenties, I am able to put childbearing on hold but since thirty is around the corner it's a lot of pressure now.  Time is ticking for me.  Well I'm going to travel this year and maybe just maybe settle down next year.  I don't know only time will tell.

*put God first (peace, love, and soul)

Taking time for yourself.

When is the right time to take some time out for ourselves?  Life is constantly moving at a rapid pace.  We're working, taking care of our families, making time for our friends but when are we going to make time for ourselves.  You're never going to be the perfect employee, wife, husband, friend, son, daughter, mother, father etc..... We all are imperfect so why not be adventurous at times? You never want to come to a place in your life when you just come to a complete halt and realize that some time has passed and you haven't experience NOTHING!  Take chances but the right chances.  Make the right choices in deciding what chance you want to take.  I don't recommend bungee jumping or jumping out of airplanes but to each his own.  Live LIFE don't let LIFE Live YOU!!!!  Life can be overwhelming so it's always good to have some FUN!!!!!!  Be CREATIVE!!!!!  Don't let the coins in your pocket deter you from your next move. Of course, we have to be wise about our finances, I wouldn't tell you not too.  But how long have you be saving for a trip and never gone on one.  HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO SAVE?  REALLY?!  Stop wasting time; life is short so ENJOY IT!!!!!  Take time for yourself; you might discover a new YOU! 

* put God first (peace, love, and soul)