Summer Bucketlist--check-in :-)

Happy Wednesday!!! It's gorgeous outside. Low humidity and about 75 degrees. Yay! I'm about 75% back to health. I'm sure by Friday, I'll be good to go. Please keep sending me your healing thoughts. It helps. :-)

 Can you believe today is the LAST day of JUNE? Wow!!! I mean summertime just flies by. Just two more months of summertime. June was fantastic! I am so grateful for every day I lived this month. God is wonderful!

So, I wanted to do a "check'in" on my summer Bucketlist that I shared with you last month. Here goes:


 * Read a few books that have grabbed my interest. :-) It's like food for the mind and it makes my train rides  faster!  CHECK--I'm on my 2nd great read of the summer--Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende. Plan to begin my 3rd summer read this weekend. Reading is like eating a good dessert! :-)

 * Jog. Check. I've jogged once. :-/, but I walk my butt off EVERY SINGLE DAY. lol

 * Inline skate, finally, at a park somewhere. :-)--not yet. JULY is the month for sure.

 * Spend lots of quality time with my sweetie pie!--Check. Yep.

* Go to the nyc jazz festival at Carnegie hall. I'm soooooooooo excited about this. Getting dressed up and listening to good music. yippee! CHECK. It was awesome. I felt like a true grown-up New Yorker out on the town. :-)

* Enjoy Maxwell and Jill Scott in concert! Yes. This was such a blessing to receive this tickets from a new, treasured friend! God is good!--CHECK. That was super fun. Beautiful voices. Beautiful people!

 * Start my "passion plan." ;-) Not yet. Must get with it on this before summer ends. Will do it. :-)

 * Spend time with my nephews. They are growing so fast! Almost check. I'll see a few of them this weekend. Yippee!!

 * Paint. Frame. Display.--Not yet. Next week I will buy my supplies.

 * Make a few jewels. :-)--Not yet. For sure in July. :-)

 * Go with the flow. Remain grateful. Smile lots. Share lots. Live LOTS!--Check, check, check. And the beat goes on! lol

 What about you? Where are you on your summer Bucketlist? Hableme.

Sending motivation your way. Tag you're it!!!

heal.smile.energy.

Happy Tuesday! I'm actually at home sick today. After a horrible train ride home yesterday, having the chills in 90 degree weather, body aches and coughing, I thought it best to stay home. I am determined to kick this cold before Friday. I've been gargling with warm salt water all day and drinking hot tea and soup. I think my body is just having a mini-detox.

Anyhoo, I hope you are feeling fantastic! I see the sun blazing through my window. No matter how hot it gets in the summer, it still makes me happy to see the sunshine in the sky.

So, did anyone watch the BET Awards. I did. I'm not a huge BET fan, however, I really think the Awards rocked this year. Of course, I was quite impressed with Chris Brown's tribute to MJ. The kid has true talent. He was on point with every step. It was beautiful. Man in the Mirror is one of my all-time favorite MJ songs and that was the perfect song for Chris to sing. I was moved by his humility~finally. What did you think?

My 4yr.old nephew, Makiah <3

I was also THRILLED to see Larenz take come to the stage as he recited his poem from Love Jones. Ahhhh, Love Jones. A funky flick from the mid-90s starring Nia Long, Larenz Tate, Bill Belamy, and Isaiah Washington. Where are the Love Jones movies these days? We are longggggggggggggg overdue. :-)

And finally, El Debarge. Wow. He still has that voice. After seeing the Debarge story on TVOne's Unsung, last year, I was afraid he was a done deal after doing drugs for so many years. I was so happy to see that he still has his voice. I have to admit his outfit reminded me of Sha Na Na. But, that's ok.:-)  He's El Debarge!
I love "All this Love" and
'Love me in a special way, what more can I say, love me now. Cause I'm special, not the average kind who'll accept any line that sounds good." Now, those are real lyrics. :-)

  

My godbaby, Madison. :-)

Today, I'm doing what I can to make myself smile. This song playing by the Pointer Sisters makes me smile.

"Romeo and Juliet, Sampson and Delilah... "

I also love hearing Ledisi sing "True devotion..." #6 on my playlist here.  Maxwell singing Matrimony, #9, is delightful too. He was so lovely and sincere and sweet in concert last Friday. Jill Scott, priceless. Both brilliant! 

 Music makes me smile, for sure. 

What are some songs that make you smile? Send me some positivity today. Keep shining!

Sending good health your way. Tag you're it!

Celebrate~something~Monday :-)

Happy Monday! The sun is shining and I am ready for an amazing week. Hope you are too! Put your desire out into the universe and it shall be. :-)

Celebrate Monday. It's a new day. New week. You woke up! Yay!!!!!!

This video clip was shared with me and I had to share it with you. I'm sure you'll enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVQJPeRwKek

Sending you good feelings!!!! Tag you're it! Smile.

 

Two-cent tidbits

Happy Thursday! It's pretty hot in NYC. Summer is in full swing. Loving it!

 What's on your mind? Here are my two-cent tidbits :-):

*If you have something nice to say about someone keeping it to yourself isn't doing anyone any good.
Share it. :-)

*Being consistently late is inconsiderate. Time is the most precious thing we have in life, along with health. Value it. Don't waste others'.

*Your way may not be the best way for her/him. Give advice and let go from there. Each person travels his own journey.

*Do your best to stay joyful, even when it seems like "joy-mongers" are lurking around. Do not let anyone take your joy or inner peace. Mantras work. They are really prayers. Think it, think it, think it, say it, say it, say it, and it shall manifest. So positive thoughts are essential. :-)

*Work it out. Don't run away.

*Shower the people you love with your love. Show them the way that you feel. This is a song I heard at the concert the day before the Inauguration. I believe James Taylor is the author and original singer. John Legend joined Mr. Taylor that day and the song really moved me.

*Laughter really makes the blows in life so much easier to bear.

*Perspective is everything. Be open-minded. Change your view, it may help you to see things a bit clearer. :-)

*Enjoy the now. Prep for the future!

Your turn. Hableme.

Sending victory your way! Tag you're it.

Jam! :-)

Happy Wednesday! We're almost there. The weekend is right around the corner. I'm grateful for aonther day to walk in the sunshine (and low humidity). Yippee!!

I can't believe Friday will make one year since the King of Pop passed away. MJ was the best entertainer ever, to me. I appreciate so much of his music. It breaks my heart to know that he last years on earth were so troubled. He was a humanitarian and caring soul. I focus on the smiles he brought to my world. Music is powerful and universal. What I know for sure is that MJ made so many people dance, sing, and simply feel good. God bless him for that. May he rest in peace for evermore. His artistry will continue making us a little bit happier for sure.

One of my favorite MJ videos is Jam. I love when he is trying to teach Michael Jordan how to dance. Priceless. p.s. I doubt this will be the last of my MJ "sharing." :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezuPOIggAzE&feature=related

At Spike Lee's MJ celebration in BK last summer

Do a little dance today! Sending energy your way. Tag you're it!

What about you? :-)

Happy Tuesday! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. :-)

I discovered a cool "about me" article on someone I've admired since childhood, Dee Griffin. So, I decided to answer some of the questions myself. What about you? I'd love to learn your answers, too!

If I could....I’d travel the world reviewing spas, beaches, and unique shops and collecting natural stones, etc to design beautiful jewelry. I’d also interview folks in my travels and create documentaries on interesting ways of living. :-)


Never... lose self-confidence & self-love.

I am guilty of...eating cake for breakfast (after a special occasion.:-)).

Something most people don’t know about me: I collect jewelry boxes.

My passion: Traveling the world and seeing God’s amazingly beautiful creations. & making others smile.

My best friend says I am: I’m funny!

Thing I can’t live without: The internet

Whose diary would you most like to read? Oprah’s.

I wish I’d known: You have the power to be whomever you choose to be. (thank God I know now:-)).

If I could do it all over again: I would have been a fashion designer.

The most fun I’ve ever had: Jet skiing in the Bahamas & Karaoke for my birthday!

What I know for sure: We all are here to be of service, big or small, be of service. :-) And do your best to treat others as you’d like to be treated and many times things work out to be pretty dandy.

Sending encouragement and lots of smiles your way. Tag you're it!

Celebrate life!

Happy Monday! It's time to celebrate a new day, a brand new week. Another chance to be better, do better, give more, live more! The sun is peaking through my window again. Yay! :-)

I had an awesome weekend! I am ready for a wonderful week. Today I'm celebrating a few things. By celebrating I mean, I am rejoicing and expressing gratitude. I'd love to hear what you're celebrating today!
Here goes:

**Waking up bright and early with my health and my mind. :-)

**Lingering energy from the weekend. Remembering all the sweet, cute sounds and facial expressions my Maddycakes made yesterday at the cookout. Toddlers warm my heart!

**My BBP arrives today. Yes! Distance makes the heart grow fonder. :-) He's the best!

**The color pink. I love colors and pink is one of my favorites. I painted my nails pink on Saturday. When I look at them I feel like smiling.:-):-):-)!

**A glass of cold water. Simple. Refreshing. Delicious! Especially in the summertime. Ahhhh! lol

**New friendships. I made two great friends at Oprah's Live Your Best Life Weekend. I'm so grateful to have met them! 

**My mom's love. Dad's love. Siblings love.

**Central park. I am so very grateful I can walk there daily at lunch and sit and enjoy the trees and sunshine. It's fun to "people-watch" too. :-)

 **Lastly, it's the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER! Yes!!!! (i love, love, love summertime).

Your turn!

Sending you buckets of love and laughter! Have a fantabulous week!!!!

Two-cent tidbits :-)

Happy Thursday! Very glad to see the sun shining through my window right now. Yes!!! I'm ready for a great day. Hope you are too.

It's Thursday and thought I'd share some random two-cent tidbits. I welcome your tidbits today, as well. Hableme. :-)

~~It's really terrific to be able to sit in Central Park at lunch and take in the sunshine, read, eat, and just breathe. If you can get out during your lunchtime and take a walk and get some fresh air. Do it! :-)

**Bill Clinton is brilliant. Smart. Charismatic. Talented. Down to Earth.

~~An excellent book that I highly recommend to everyone is Somewhere Inside by Lisa and Laura Ling. So eye-opening about so many things. Moving. My eyes watered during so many parts of this book. I respect these women so much. I learned a lot about international relations between the US and North Korea and China. It's not just about that though. It's also about human connection and how essential communication is to all relationships on ALL levels. Be open to relate to others, listen, and talk it out. Without communication we have nothing.

 

**NYC really rocks. I discovered another funky boutique in Koreatown this week. More importantly than that, I'm very excited about attending a couple of free concerts in the park this summer. Yay! :-)

~~I was watching some clips from old BET Awards shows. One of my all-time favs is when MoNique performed "Crazy In Love." That was so cool! She did it. And the outfit was really hot. Love the color. Check it out if you've never seen it. http://www.casttv.com/video/w66c62/crazy-in-love-monique-s-crazy-in-love-video

**Good thought by Marianne Williamson: 

 Whenever you have a problem, pray: "Dear God, I am willing to see this situation differently. Amen."

 

~~It's Black Music Month. Who do you think is the greatest Black artist ever? In the last decade?  Hmmm, my top 7 of all time: Michael Jackson, Prince, Patti Labelle, Janet Jackson (as a performer), Anitia Baker, Donnie Hathaway, Beyonce. In the last decade or so--Usher, maybe. Kanyae West. You tell me. :-)

**Stretching is the best thing ever. Ahhhhh. I really must begin yoga again consistently.

Sending laughter your way. Tag you're it!

A daughter's view

Welcome to Wednesday! Is your week going great? So far so good my way. Keep smiling no matter what. :-)

So, I'm reading this excellent book by Lisa and Laura Ling, Somewhere Inside. I'm totally captivated by the strong sisterly bond these women had and maintained during Laura's "imprisonment" in North Korea. It's a beautifully written book because it goes back and forth with each sister relating her story, beginning with childhood, to their parents marriage-divorce, to Laura's terrifying yet fascinating experience in North Korea. I am really enjoying the read!

I just read a part of the book that talks about Lisa and Laura's relationship with their father. Their parents divorced when they were very young, 3 and 7. I can truly relate to their experience because my parents divorced when  I was 4 yrs. old. I barely remember them together. However, what I do remember is my dad's ever-enduring love for my brother and I no matter how far apart we may have been. He made sure to call us often and we got to spend the summers with him. I was so very excited the first time Carl (my brother) and I got to fly to NY to spend time with my dad. I was 9. Carl was 7. We flew Delta and were chaperoned by a stewardess (they weren't being referred to as flight attendants yet) :-). She'd check on us frequently and always gave us Delta playing cards. It was so cool. I adored my dad and I was in awe of NYC! I was a Georgia gal, you know, at the time.

The first summer with my dad was overwhelmingly fun and there was so much to take in. I was meeting my stepmother and new baby sister for the first time. I was also meeting a man who became an essential part of my life, my stepgrandfather, Mr. Heath. Carl and I spend a tremendous amount of time at Mr. Heath's home. We felt nothing but love from my stepmother and her father. It was truly a blessing! My dad made our time together very worthwhile. He took us to the beach, Great Adventure, Broadway plays, Chinatown and even allowed us to go with him on his route (he was a mailman at the time) to deliver mail. I was a happy gal. However, I think what I valued the most was those times dad and I would be in a store or just walking around and he'd hold my hand. Sounds simple. Yet it made my day. I didn't see him every day, so those two months together were extremely precious to me. I think of those times often.... :-)

We often hear how important it is for boys to have a father in their lives. A man to guide them and teach them how to be a man. That's certainly true. But, the girls so need their fathers too. A father is a girl's first love. He dictates so much of what she'll accept from men as an adult. A father's presence, love, caring, and affection towards his daughter fuels her self-esteem. It's vital to a girl.

I salute all the dads out there who spend quality time with their sons and daughters. We need you. We love you. You make us who we are. You are a piece of the (family) puzzle that we so desperately need to strengthen and honor and uplift.

Three wonderful men in my life: my uncle Dane, Mr. Heath and daddy.

Everyone have a delightful day! Sending good feelings your way. Tag you're it!

Express yourself

Happy Tuesday! The sun is out again. Yay!

Today keep shining your own light.  Like Dr. Suess said:

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, 

and those who matter don't mind." 

 Relish each moment of this day. Don't forget to express all that matters to those that matter.

"Any act of appreciation affirms our connection to each other. Validates us. Expands who we are in the world. Deepens our spirit. And can turn an ordinary moment into an extraordinary, peachy, and praiseful day."~ Oprah

 Sending gratitude your way. Tag you're it!

Do one thing differently ;-)

Good Morning Monday! (yep, I'm saying hello to Monday, lol)  I"m ready for another productive week. Ok, we can do this! We are blessed and highly favored. It's a new day to wake up and be grateful! Go out and live and give. Leave the past in the past. Embrace the goodness of today. It's a chance to be better and do better. Yes!

 This weekend lots of fantastic sporting events were happening. Like the World Cup. I love the energy of this game! I haven't watched much, but I like seeing people get excited about it. The opening concert rocked. And of course the NBA playoffs. Again, I don't watch games, play-for-play, however I do have my favorites. I am rooting for the Celtics! ;-)

So Father's day is quickly approaching. Are you doing anything unique this year for that admirable man in your life? I think one of the best gifts to give parents is time. Spend some time. Listen to their "stories." Laugh with them. Relish in what they've lived through, what they've given you, and who they've become. :-) God bless all the fathers. All the men who've been there to love, guide, listen, encourage and protect us. I am very grateful for my dad. He is the hardest working man I know. The best cook ever. He has always had a crazy sense of humor. Most of all, he cares for his children with all of his soul. I'm also truly grateful for my grandfather Johnson, who passed away a decade ago. But he lives forever more in my heart. Love yougranddaddy ! I am deeply grateful for my step grandfather. He's still living vibrantly at 80 years old. And I do miss my grandfather McPherson, who passed away as well. But my childhood memories of him will always be with me. More on Fathers later this week.:-)

 In the meantime, I was thinking about movement in life. How to get from point A to point B. I am sure it starts with doing one thing differently. Taking one step at a time to progress. I thought of a few things that could be done differently to start seeing little sparkles of positive change in our every day lives. Here goes:

**Wake up 20 minutes earlier each day. To journal or to stretch and/or to give thanks. Or to simply breathe and take in the miracle of waking up again.

**Cut out something that is just no good for you. Maybe it's soft drinks.
Try seltzer water instead this week. ;-)

**Hug at least one person EVERY day. Hugs are good for your health. Don't be shy, just go for it!

**Wear a different color this week. A color you never wear. Colors can bring out the best in us. :-)

**Respond differently. :-)

**Smile more.

**Take a different route home.Explore. Smell the lilacs....

**Compliment somebody. ;-)

What could you do differently this week? Hableme.

Have a wonderfully joyful week. Sending sunshine your way. Tag you're it!