Today Was A Good Day!

Um, please excuse the random piece of hair sticking up. Other than that...enjoy the specs and get inspired. SUBSCRIBE please!!!!!

How Powerful Words Can Be

I’m going to do my best, but this is going to sound a little cliché especially since I’m a blogger/writer.

WORDS are incredibly powerful. The way we say them, how we write them, even the way we take them. Never underestimate how much power you possess with your words. Whether you’re giving a speech or telling a story – those things can have lasting effects. Even paying someone a compliment can make a difference in their day, their week…maybe even in their life. I think we take for granted how we talk to people because it’s such a social norm to speak to folks just to break random silence as we pass people by walking in the grocery store, interact with them while we’re shopping or thanking them for doing something as little as opening the door for us. It’s gotten to the point where people are so jaded sometimes that they don’t pay attention to the fact that you’re actually paying attention to them.

Maybe I’m an emotional freak of nature but when I ask you how you are, nine times out of ten I actually want to know. I’m just not talking for the sake of hearing myself talk. I take common courtesy extremely seriously and it pisses me off that I’m not worth 2.3 seconds of your time that you can’t even thank me for holding the elevator for you. Am I angry?

Yes, people.

You’ve got to pay attention to how you affect people with little words such as “thank you” or “you look really nice today”. They can make such a big difference. Why has it become so hard for us as a generation to be nice to each other and more importantly use our words legitimately and for good use? (Now, I’m not saying go out of your way to lie to someone just to be considered "kind".) I’m just saying don’t let this technology saturated, pop culture obsessed, money driven world taint you to the point where you let courtesy completely escape you. All we care to talk about these days is ourselves: what we’ve done, what we’re doing and better yet what someone can do for us.

It’s disappointing, but I've got hope for us.

I’ve probably watched a little too much Oprah (as if you can) but feeling empowered and feeling good about myself is refreshing especially when it comes from an unexpected source. Surprise someone today…and say something nice. Not because you have to, but simply because you have the power to do so.

Someone Save The Music Industry!

Reasonable Doubt

Man and woman meet. Then they date. Simultaneously, they fall in love. Man proposes. Woman says yes because she thinks it’s the right thing to do.

They live unhappily ever after.

Love. That’s what all us emotion driven creatures, women, want. Naturally, by universal social norm the next step is marriage. But just because you love someone doesn’t mean you should marry them. He proposes and she declines even though she loves him. It doesn’t make sense.

Like the cynical Miranda of SATC said, “Why is that reasonable doubt can get you out of murder but in an engagement can turn you into the bad guy?”

Now, I’m not engaged but I have been proposed to once. I was 19, and I just broken up with my boyfriend at the time because after a year of dating I was tired of him wanting to break up every time he got mad at me. So, his attempt to get me back was proposing and giving me the choice of whatever ring I wanted. Now make no mistake, I loved this guy but this wasn’t the answer. We weren’t making it as boyfriend and girlfriend and chances were becoming husband and wife wouldn’t have made us more compatible. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have even made it down the aisle – it would have been a very short lived engagement. I loved him, but even at 19 I knew that wasn’t enough.

Society puts us – women- between a rock and hard place: a ring and a vulnerable man on bended knee. How does one say no to that? It’s honestly the biggest set up ever. (Seldomly does the woman ever propose to the man and if she does…well that’s another article at another time.) That being said, men don’t feel this type of pressure. Sure it’s tough to propose to someone but so is having a menstrual cycle and bearing children. Recognize that love is not enough and that money isn’t everything. If you realize that you care about this person but just not enough to enter marriage with them, go ahead and break it off. Regardless of how much you love them, the chances of reconciliation of a successful and healthy relationship after turning down a marriage proposal are slim to none – no matter what a best friend, talk show host or a fortune cookie told you.

My advice to men: Get your timing right and most importantly, get the right woman. Make sure your lady wants to be asked in the first place. If not, you may feel rejection like you never felt before.

And to my fellow ladies: Really know what you want and OWN it. Just because you want to get married doesn’t mean you can handle a proposal. I think that’s why most women cry when they’re being asked.

It’s because they’re confused.

Look, some people are meant to date and some are meant to marry. Separate the two. (And if you are going to be with someone for 15 years, go ahead and marry them. It’s the respectable thing to do.) 50% of American marriages end up in divorce. Would the number of divorces have been lower had some of those women said ‘no’?

Take it from a woman who really wants to get married but will turn you down just to not become a statistic – even if she loves you. It’s not worth it, because I am. The question is: are you?

Woman gets divorce and moves on. She meets another man. Man and woman date. They fall in love. Man proposes and woman accepts because not only does man love her but is willing to work to keep them together.

And that’s how you live happily ever after.

The Random Dozen: Girl Group Edition

So, I was reminiscing about some girl group songs at work the other day. And then there was also the Alicia Keys' performance on the BET Awards where she brought out SWV, TLC, and En Vogue. So today the random dozen is inspired by those girl groups that made us nod our heads, sing in the mirror using our brushes as microphones and feel warm inside :)

12. Blaque - Bring It All To Me


11.Changing Faces - Stroke You Up


10. 702 - Where My Girls At?


9. Destiny's Child - Bootylicious (remix)


8. TLC - Creep

7. Xscape - Understanding

6. Allure - All Cried Out


5. Salt N Pepa - Push It


4. Jade - Don't Walk Away


3. En Vogue - My Lovin'


2. Total - Kissing You


1. SWV - Anything

The Art of David Patterson

So last week sometime, the Boyfriend and I went to Atlantic Station to get out of the house. Aside from checking out the new H&M (which I heart) and the movies, we strolled by some street vendors that were out that weekend. As I strolled by, I came across David Patterson and his innovative art. I've honestly never really seen anyone else do this before. (Apparently, as an art student this is something that they are taught to do.) He's been doing it for a while now and he had so many pictures. They were all so beautiful...fantasy like visions of black art. What's cool about Patterson's art is he uses a pen and creates textures with different little lines and squiggles (as I like to call them). I'm not even an art buff but I seriously wanted to purchase every picture he had in the biggest size possible. Realizing that I had no where to put them in the apartment, I politely purchased the above picture (which is called "Surprise") in a convenient 8X10 size. However, once I do get my bigger place I plan on getting more of Patterson's pieces.

Add him my on myspace and show him some love.

QOTD: Nike inspired

"Just do it."
--Nike

Being the thoughtful and ambitious person that I am, I'm always planning to do something great - to get more money, get another job, start another business. But with all the time I take out to plan over and over again, I could actually be doing something. Don't get me wrong, planning is good. But it's only a piece of the PIE (plan, implement, execute). You should have A plan, not too many and it's definitely more successful to do more doing than it is to do more planning. So, I'm gonna do my best to just do it from now on.

Hey. It worked for Nike.

A Day In The Life: Sunday, July 6, 2008

Started my Sunday off beautifully with church and I felt beautiful, too!

[Dress] B. Darlin (Macy's)
[Shoes] Nine West
[Bracelet] Express
[Earrings] Target



Then I was out and about to grab a bite to eat and check out a couple movies with the Boyfriend...

[Shirt] Bitten by SJP
[Jeans] Seven for All Mankind
[Shoes] Vintage
[Earrings] Charlotte Russe
[Bag] H&M



Also I switched up my nail game. I was tired of the usual French manicure...check out my purple tips!

Out and About: Grand China

Grand China Restaurant
2975 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 231-8690

So the Boyfriend and I had a fulfilled Sunday. Started the day off with church (like all of us should have!) and the received the Word for the week. We also went to the movies where we saw Hancock and Wall-E.

Before we hit the movies though, we stopped by one of our favorite eateries, Grand China! We had discovered it a few months one night while cruising in Buckhead and looking for a bite to eat. (That's usually how you find the best things...by accident.)

Not only was the service great but the food was delicious.

I always get the Hunan shrimp which is divine. I had totally forgotten what I usually get the last time I went and actually ordered the Szechuan shrimp. It was tasty but my favorite is still the Hunan shrimp. The Boyfriend has tried the salt and pepper shrimp, the Triple Delight and then most recently the Two Delights of shrimp. (Have you noticed? We like shrimp...)

If you like Asian food (any kind - Thai, Japanese, Chinese, etc.) this is definitely somewhere you need to check out. The owner is the cutest little lady and she is so nice...and funny. She's one of the reasons why Grand China is so awesome. Since we've discovered it, I've been there twice (one of which was my birthday dinner).

I absolutely love it here and I suggest you check it out if you get the chance.