The Hotness

I'm loving the throwback theme a little bit too much.



Thanks Strength!

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To get through my workday, I generally need a lot of inspiration because my job isn’t exactly riveting. Enter my inspirational quote and other uplifting whatnots corner. I have my mirror engraved with “Hey Good Looking!” (purchased more for convenience and price than the daily affirmation), surrounded by some particularly motivating quotes. Among them:

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

and

“If you are going through hell, keep going!”

By far my favorite is a comment I’ve seen attributed to several people (Nelson Mandela among them). I’m not really sure who said it but they were on point. I find this quote especially useful when I find myself surrounded by petty insecure people (one is too many). I’m sure most of you have heard this one before, but it can never be overstated as far as I’m concerned:

“We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

I also have a few IM doodle drawings up that a friend made one day to express our frustration on the job. They’re crude but cute. Let's just say the emotion you can convey with stick figures is amazing.

Undoubtedly, my next addition to the inspiration corner will be these pick-me-up stickies by Karen Salmansohn.

Cute


Today's Shuffle

1. Traffic/The Sighting, Cujo
2. The Joke, Lifehouse
3. Ya Solo, Zap Mama
4. Set You Free, Kem
5. Can You Believe, Robin Thicke
6. Hate on Me, Jill Scott
7. Worlds Keep Spinning, Brand New Heavies
8. Shake a Lil’ Somethin’, 2 Live Crew
9. Friends Will be Friends, Queen
10. Searching (live), Eykah Badu
11. Liberation Front, Thievery Corporation
12. 1 Thing, Amerie
13. On Fire, Lloyd Banks
14. Another Again, John Legend
15. Fly Like Me, Chingy
16. The Men All Pause, Klymaxx
17. Papa Don’t Take No Mess, James Brown
18. Saving My Face, KT Tunstall
19. Smooth Operator, Sade
20. How We Do, The Game

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Meet Snowball

"That's my JAM!"

*gosnowballgosnowballGO!*

Today's Shuffle:

1. Down and Out in New York City, James Brown
2. Hold On (Remix), Dwele
3. Candyman, Christina Aguilera
4. You Remind Me, Mary J. Blige
5. Honey, Erykah Badu
6. Must Get Out, Maroon 5
7. It’s Tricky, Run D.M.C.
8. B.O.B., Outkast
9. Possibilities, Floetry
10. If Your Girl Only Knew, Aaliyah

Player: Yahoo

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What did you do to ring in 2008? People have so many different rituals, superstitions, and beliefs about New Year's. Some folks go to church (done that). Some party (never done that.) Some believe that whatever you're doing on New Year's is how you will spend the rest of your year. Let's hope not, since I spent my New Year's Eve and will likely spend most of the day in bed, sick as a dog. (I was going to share a picture but, since I actually look like a corpse, I'll spare you all.) I certainly pray this is definitely not how I will spend the rest of 2008. Amen!

I don't really do the New Year's resolution thing. I almost feel like making a resolution pretty much guarantees that I won't achieve it. I made ONE last year and, needless to say, it didn't happen. So, at the most, I try to make sure New Year's doesn't catch me with a messy house. (Of course, that plan was shot to hell the minute I sneezed.) Sometimes my mom and some of my neighbors make a huge pot of black-eyed peas for good luck. I always skipped out on that tradition since I am not a fan of most peas and I don't see how peas and luck are at all related. But to each his own.

At least two of my friends had an extra special holiday season. They got engaged (on Christmas and Christmas Eve)! Congrats to them! Check out one engagement here.

As for me, while I'm sipping hot tea, drinking soup, eating Indian food (the spices help tremendously), and resting until I feel well enough to get back to tackling that "messy house" thing, I'll do the only thing I really stick to each New Year - counting my blessings.

I Am Grateful:

...to be alive!
I know it sounds cliché but we often lose sight of the fact that tomorrow is not promised - no matter what age you may be.

...that I am well! (for the most part anyway. lol)
When I find myself allowing some trivial things to get me down, I have a tiny biopsy scar to remind me that at least I have my health.

...for the health and well-being of my loved ones!

...that I have family and/or friends who love me!
I'm sure it's hard sometimes. :o)

...that I have shelter!
It may not have my dream house, but at least I have a roof over my head and walls to protect me from the elements. At the end of the day, that's all anyone really needs.

...that I have food on my plate!
Again, so many people take this for granted.

...that I have clothes on my back!

...that I have a job to sustain me!
Even if I don't have my dream job, at least my bills are getting paid. *see food, shelter, and clothes references*

Of course there is a lot more to be grateful for, but sometimes, I think it's best to focus on the simple things we take for granted far too often.

And now, I'm going to lay down. But before I do, I want to share something I found on a box of one of my favorite teas (English Toffee dessert tea by Celestial Seasonings - yummy). Since I have always eaten my dessert before dinner (with few exceptions), I really enjoyed this credo. [Sidebar: Of course my parents tried to nip this habit in the bud when I was a kid, but I just hid cookies and other sweets in my room and quickly ate some a few minutes before dinner anyway - then proceeded to clean my plate. They caught on eventually and gave up on changing me. Some may call it a bad habit. I just call it a habit.]

Have Dessert First!

“Always have dessert first, says the pessimist,
because you never know if you will live through the meal.
Always have dessert first, says the optimist,
as an act of faith that the meal will follow.
Always have dessert first, says the hedonist, because
pleasure is a cardinal point on the compass of life.
Always have dessert first, says the puritan,
as a prayer of thanks for the good things in life,
Always have dessert first, says the child,
because it’s the most fun.”

- Stephen Foehr

Try it sometime.

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