I HAVE NEVER FALLEN IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE THIS QUICK!! I AM TOUCHED!!

   Hi guys, I woke up this morning and came across this video and I immediately knew that I had to blog this. Sorry you haven’t heard from me in while. Like I said in the heading, I have falling in love this girl called Talia on YouTube simply based on her video.

If this video am about to show you doesn’t inspire you and encourage you, then I don’t know what will, lol…Am all about sharing LOVE and Positive energy (atleast I try) and that is exactly what this video emphasizes. If I had any reason to complain today, I will postpone that after seeing this video. Enjoy and Stay Blessed guys and let’s say a prayer for Talia (My Angel) and the families of Hayley!! (already an Angel) RIP Hayley.

Love..Laugh...Pray!!

Message to Hayley from Talia!

You should read the note after this video!
RIP Hayley...You are in a better place. This is one of my fave songs btw! Hero!!
                         

                                  

If you feel touched and want to help...two links for you. Thanks!

http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f87d4c2a71fca210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD&sc_cid=kwp2&sc_kw=st%20judes&sc_mt=e&sc_adid=10141226122&plt=STJGENSEGOOGL0002070&gclid=CJj98rGkvLACFUOo4AodoWwpog

http://www.ccfoa.org/

WHAT IS LOVE?!!

 I KNOW I ALWAYS SAY THIS IS A MUST READ BUT HONESTLY YOU NEED TO READ THIS ARTICLE. I came across this yesterday on Facebook and shared it with a couple of friends and trust me, we all loved it. Very insightful! This article hits the nail right on the head, it tells us what LOVE really is and trust me, it’s not what you think. The one thing I took from this article is that Love is not a fairy tale(have real expectations), be tolerant and know that compromise and sacrifice are the tools for a succesful relationship. Just like everything else in life, when you want something you have to work for it. And more importantly, accepting yourself and making YOU happy before anyone else should/could. (family,friends, partners)Without giving away too much, here you go.

This is the type of article you need to share with your friends. Enjoy!! #truth

                      

   We live under a massive cultural delusion about the nature of real love. Propagated by mainstream media, from the time you're born you're inundated with the belief that love is a feeling and that when you find "the one" you'll sense it in your gut and be overcome by an undeniable sense of knowing. When the feeling and corresponding knowing fade (for the knowing is intimately linked to the feeling) and the work of learning about real love begins, most people take the diminished feeling as a sign that they're in the wrong relationship and walk away. And then they start over again, only to find that the now-familiar knowing and feeling fade again... and again... and again.If love isn't a feeling, what is it?
    Love is action. Love is tolerance. Love is learning your partner's love language and then expressing love in a way that he can receive. Love is giving. Love is receiving. Love is plodding through the slow eddies of a relationship without jumping ship into another's churning rapids. Love is recognizing that it's not your partner's job to make you feel alive, fulfilled, or complete; that's your job. And it's only when you learn to become the source of your own aliveness and are living your life connected to the spark of genius that is everyone's birthright can you fully love another.
Although it's nearly impossible to capture this elusive word into a single definition, M. Scott Peck says it poignantly in The Road Less Traveled:
Love is as love does. Love is an act of will -- namely, both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.  By stating that it is when a couple falls out of love that they may begin to really love I am also implying that real love does not have its roots in a feeling of love. To the contrary, real love often occurs in a context in which the feeling of love is lacking, when we act lovingly despite the fact that we don't feel loving.

   And as my favorite fiction writer on real love, Kate Kerrigan (author of a must-read for every engaged and newlywed couple, "Recipes for a Perfect Marriage"), writes in her fabulous essay, Marriage Myths:

You don't have to encourage it, or welcome it, but you better learn to suck it up from time to time. We have mythologized love to such an extent that people are no longer prepared for the realities of long-term relationships. We are taught that it is good not to compromise, not to put up with anything we don't like, not to sacrifice our own beliefs for anyone or anything. Yet compromise and sacrifice are the cornerstones of marital love. No matter what way you dress it up, the best thing you can bring to a marriage is not the feeling of 'being in love', but romance's poor relation: tolerance. Add to that enough maturity to be able to fulfil your own needs and you have some hope. Optimism and chemistry, which seem to be the bedrock of the modern marriage, just don't cut it, folks. And while I am pontificating, one more tip for the ladies: Try to find a man who has that most underrated of qualities: character. I did and so far my Oscar hasn't bothered him. Although I am still waiting for my cooked breakfast...
Sound pessimistic? It's reality, not a welcome word in a culture addicted to fantasy. But here's the good news: when the initial infatuation feeling fades and you do the real work of learning how to love and be loved, something infinitely richer and sustaining than flimsy infatuation flowers in the garden of your marriage. Over time, these plants grow roots that are sturdy and strong. They are nourished by soil that is well-worked as you've sat beside each other and yanked out the weeds of intolerance, impatience, frustration, and fear. It's work that can and must be cultivated over a lifetime, and yet we expect to enter marriage with a perfect, rose-filled garden.

Again, this is the fantasy that our culture propagates and throws many young people into despair when their fledging relationship fails to measure up to these unrealistic and damaging expectations. If you're in a fulfilling, long-term marriage, you know what I mean and I'm preaching to the choir. But for the women and men who I work with every day in counseling, it's a crushing moment when the infatuation drug wears off and they're left to begin the real work of loving. And it's even more devastating when this happens during their engagement, a time our culture hammers into their head as the happiest in their life.

It's time to send a different message to young people about the difference between infatuation and love. If we're going to restore marriage to a place of honor and respect, we must teach that the role of one's partner is not to save you from yourself and make you feel alive, fulfilled, and complete; only you can do that. It's time to teach a different message. Let's begin the conversation here!!!!

credit: Sheryl Paul
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sheryl-paul/what-is-love_2_b_1446105.html 

    Mother's Day Special Message!!This is a Must Read!!!
Hi Lovely people, I wanted to make sure I blog this week particularly because it’s mother’s day on Sunday and didn’t want to miss what I wanted to share. My mum is the most important human being in my life and I know it’s the same for most people. There is nothing like a mother’s love and it should never go unnoticed. Most of us were raised with single mothers who did everything and still will do anything to see us happy.
  As Washington Irving puts it “a mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
I came across the story below a few months after the Japanese tsunami/ earthquake and I was really touched, to say the least. This story is a true example of a mother’s sacrifice and love for their children.  As mother’s day approaches (May 13, 2012), let’s take the time to reflect on all the sacrifices and special moments we shared with our mother’s. Let’s make it a point to honor them and make them feel loved always but particularly on mother’s day, take time to say “I love you and appreciate all you do for me”.

   Please read this heartfelt story and share your own stories about the Mother’s in your Life!!! This will touch you, trust me! I also looked for some great mother's day deals online for yall. Thank me later..lol!! Lots of Love!

               
           
It is so easy for us to get off track in life… to become distracted from the things that really matter. When that happens to me I lose my sense of perspective and balance in life. The following true story brought it all home again. I choose love over fear!
    After the Earthquake had subsided, when the rescuers reached the ruins of a young woman’s house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. But her pose was somehow strange that she knelt on her knees like a person was worshiping; her body was leaning forward, and her two hands were supporting by an object. The collapsed house had crashed her back and her head.
With so many difficulties, the leader of the rescuer team put his hand through a narrow gap on the wall to reach the woman’s body. He was hoping that this woman could be still alive. However, the cold and stiff body told him that she had passed away for sure.  He and the rest of the team left this house and were going to search the next collapsed building. For some reason, the team leader was driven by a compelling force to go back to the ruin house of the dead woman. Again, he knelt down and used his hand through the narrow cracks to search the little space under the dead body. Suddenly, he screamed with excitement," A child! There is a child! “
The whole team worked together; carefully they removed the piles of ruined objects around the dead woman. There was a 3 months old little boy wrapped in a flowery blanket under his mother’s dead body. Obviously, the woman had made an ultimate sacrifice for saving her son. When her house was falling, she used her body to make a cover to protect her son. The little boy was still sleeping peacefully when the team leader picked him up.  The medical doctor came quickly to exam the little boy. After he opened the blanket, he saw a cell phone inside the blanket. There was a text message on the screen. It said,” If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” This cell phone was passing around from one hand to another. Everybody that read the message wept. ” If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” Such is the mother’s love for her child!! That mother’s life was cut short, but the longevity and power of her love will live on. *♥*

I love you MOM!! Steals and Deals: 

http://www.personalizationmall.com/

http://hip2save.com/2012/05/08/jills-steals-and-deals-mothers-day-flowers-jewelry-more/

http://www.fatwallet.com/mothers-day-deals/

http://shopping.aol.com/articles/2012/05/04/aol-exclusive-mothers-day-deals/

http://www.southernsavers.com/2012/05/living-social-groupon-daily-deals-for-mothers-day/

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/clearance.jsp

http://www.teleflora.com/

      

    Hi yall, Yes…I missed u guys! You know I love blogging and am happy to be back!!

I asked people to give me ideas on topics to blog about and they came through with some really cool topics! :) So I have decided to address all those requested topics. Am gonna address the first two within the next couple of days! But before I go any further, I wanna say THANK YOU to you all for being my lovely and loyal audience, a lot of people have told me nice things about this blog, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.

   Now let’s get down to business, one of the things people really wanted to know was what “the tell-tale signs” were, that your relationship is going down the drain! So I went to work found a simple but interesting article that gives you some insight.
 I must say however that, although some of these signs are accurate based statistics and research, do not rush to judgment (if you are experiencing them) but rather take it us a wakeup call to examine your relationship and make decisions. It might not be as it seems. With all that being said, enjoy the read! Love you guys!!Will be back tomorrow as promised with a topic I actually discussed with my friend, “doing the most”, it’s a juicy one…Stay Tuned!!

          Generally, it is easy to tell if you're in a good relationship. You and your partner are happy, you enjoy the time you spend together doing things you love, you miss them when you are apart, and your friends and family comment about how well you complement one another. It is easy to see the characteristics of a solid partnership, but somewhat more difficult to decide if you and your partner are in a bad relationship...especially if that relationship is long-distance or naturally involves long periods of separation.
If you and your partner spend much of your time apart, it can be easy to miss some warning signs that your relationship is changing for the worse, but many of the signs of a relationship in decline remain the same whether partners are in the same room, down the street, or halfway around the world. Here are some common signs that your relationship may be in decline.

 1. You start finding distractions to avoid talking to one another. Talking to your partner about what's going on in your life, what's on your mind, or even what you had for lunch is healthy. Talking is one way we share our lives with others. When you (or your partner) find yourself constantly making excuses as to why you can't talk at the moment or conversations flounder because one or both of you remain silent and stoic, it shows that you are no longer interested in sharing your thoughts with your partner. Occasional silence is not a bad thing, sometimes there's just not much to talk about. However, if your conversations consist primarily of uncomfortably long periods of silence, your relationship may be in trouble.

2. Conversations consist of nothing but small talk. While silence can be a sign of the relationship breaking down, so can conversations that consist of nothing but "fluff." Most people default to idle chatter if they cannot find any meaningful connection with the person they are talking to. If you find yourself consistently talking about the weather with your sweetheart, perhaps you are lacking a strong connection.

 3. You stop doing nice things for each other. When you first started dating, you sent random text messages to let them know you were thinking about them, kept their favorite snacks on hand, picked up little gifts while out shopping, and wore that shirt or dress they love when you knew you would be seeing them. If you find you're forgetting to do those things – that they just don't occur to you – your feelings for your partner may be changing.

 4. You fight over minor things. Almost all couples bicker over small things at points, but if you and your partner find yourself fighting more and more about little stuff and getting quite heated about it, it may be a sign that more is wrong than whose turn it is to take out the trash.

 5. Your sex life changes dramatically. If you find that the level of affection in the relationship has dropped dramatically, this is typically a major red flag. Do you still hug and kiss when one of you leaves or returns home? When holding, kissing, and making love to your partner stops being appealing for reasons you can't define, it's time to worry.

If any of these warning signs seem familiar, take a moment to consider what may be causing them. Most problems can be solved if both parties are committed and willing to put work into the relationship. However, if you find that you simply are no longer interested in pursuing a long-term connection, it is best to be honest about your feelings with your partner and end the relationship.
 

“Let’s Talk about “……” Baby, let’s talk about you and me”

Before I start, let me just say, this is PG 21. (Lol, 21 is legal)…In all seriousness, this is an Adult convo. (Don’t want teenagers getting any ideas)Thanks!!

I know you’ve filled in the blanks by now. Well, ever since I started blogging, people (esp boys) have suggested I talk about this topic, but I have been leery about it until this week. Long story short, I visited the much anticipated Museum of Sex in NYC this weekend and was convinced by my friend T to blog about it. Also the topic of one of my favorite shows GCB this week was sex so I felt it fit to blog about it today.

Sex is a beautiful thing created by God. Scientist say that sex has so many health advantages,  sex improves heart health, improves intimacy, reduces prostate cancer, boots immunity, burns calories, relieves stress and much more.

In the natural order of things, it is the most appropriate way to reproduce ( FYI: the bible teaches us to have sex when married) If you are going to have sex when not married, make sure you protect yourself and be responsible. Actually, its NECESSARY THAT YOU DO. ALSO remember ABSTINENCE IS COOL (if that’s what you choose to do, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise).Anyway this is not intended to be a sex education post, maybe that will come later.

  My trip to the MUSEUM OF SEX was interesting to say the least. I would encourage everyone who lives in NYC to go and visit, it’s on 28^th and 5^th Ave, Manhattan and there’s a 17.50 fee and 15.75 fee for a student with valid ID.

   

The museum of sex explores the history, evolution and cultural significance of sexuality. There are 3 floors, the first and third are dedicated to humans and the 2^nd to animal sexuality. I felt like a “kid in a candy store” because I felt quite intrigued reading and looking at all the exhibits particularly when it comes to the animal kingdom. You are given detailed literature as well as graphic presentations in regards to sexuality. Pretty cool!!!. Anyway, since we were allowed to take pictures, I DIddd!!! and wanted to share with yall. However I am only sharing the “clean” version (lol). For those interested in the “other versions” and much more VISIT the museum anytime you are in NYC.  Here’s the link… http://www.museumofsex.com/  thank me later!

 

 

 

Ladiesss…..Let's Talk Fashion!!! Before you go shopping for summer and spring…Read this!!!

Woke up this morning and the first thing that came to mind was fashion. Mmmm…maybe because the last thing I saw the previous night was my new favorite fashion show “Styled by June”. June Ambrose has a unique and daring sense of style and I love her. It might also be due to the lovely spring weather I woke up to.
I am not a shopaholic but I have an addiction for shoes and… purses lately. Your sense of fashion, I believe should depend on your personal preference and has everything to do with your confidence.

 Anyway, I wanted to share with my ladies, my fave and hottest fashion trend of “spring 2012”. I am in LOVE with this trend because it’s a bold and Fun trend.

COLOR BLOCKING!! Color blocking is a technique where blocks of various fabrics are sewn together to create clothing (including shoes and purses) with a few different solid colors. Color blocking can be challenging though, because you don't want to look tacky(and it happens when your colors don't blend well.) MAKE FLATTERING CHOICES WHEN COLOR BLOCKING AND DON'T OVERDO IT. Your safe bet usually is to go neutral with a block of color. However for those who want to go very bold(which makes it more fun), you can experiment with different colors, (mix garments of contrasting colors, or one color throughout entire outfit in different hues). Always remember, when finalizing the finishing touches of your outfit, choose the simple route.
Here are some examples of some color blocking techniques/styles!!

I like the blend of colors. They are bright and bold. Perfect

" My friend in my head"...Kelly looks AMAZING!! Find two colors that mix perfectly and it can create magic.

This is a settled form but very simple and chic.

I loveeeee this!I love the fact that the red hair adds to the outfit.

Fun,Fun,Fun. Perfect for a day event!

Keep it simple, don't go crazy with the colors if they don't blend well!

Shoess!! The floral print is my fave.

The best thing about color blocking shoes is that you have a variety of options when it comes to choosing an outfit to wear with them.

I tried it! :) I love the shoesss!

If you want to try out color blocking and need a guide, read the link below, it will give u step by step guide of how to master color blocking like a Pro. http://www.corporatefashionista.com/how-to-master-color-blocking-like-a-pro/

Did you miss me Ladies??(Sorry been busy and also I usually want to get inspired by a topic before I research) anyway, here we go. Am back againnnn!!
 I woke up this morning and the first topic that came to mind while wanting to blog was, ways to “keep the flames burning” in your relationship. I think this is very important especially for married couples and people that have been in relationships for a while. So I decided to do my research and viola I found a very good article. Enjoy…it’s worth it. ReadFollowComment
Ps: shoutout to Anj,Luu,Sela,Shells and maa..keep the comments coming.Thank u!

       
 It’s sad to say, but the divorce rate is still at 50% in America. Why so high? No one knows for sure. But we do know that it affects people all over the country, with our children paying the highest price. Marriage and relationships are hard. Everyone that’s ever been in one knows that much. There are good times, there are great times, and there are bad times, and even worse times. Life is like a roller-coaster, and marriage is no different. Read on for some tips on how to keep the fire burning in your relationship.
Find your best friend! Hopefully you are already married to them. It’s no secret that great relationships are based off of a good “friend” foundation. Personally, I married my best friend. We met in high school, and while there was definitely chemistry and attraction, we were friends first. We went through out high school dating other people, but going to the same parties and had some mutual groups of friends. We really had a chance to get to know each other, and even sort of grew up together in a sense. We developed inside jokes, memories, and a foundation of real friendship. Throughout the years, the friendship expanded to lust, and after high school we began dating. We’ve been together ever since – 10 years later. Being friends first has strengthened our relationship ten-fold. We know each other inside and out, and we truly enjoy being together. Being friends first really helps as you get farther down the road into your marriage – we all know the flame doesn’t always continue to burn bright, 20 years later. But the friendship is something that never blows out. The friendship is the rock of your relationship. The stability. The comfort. So find your best friend, and if you have married your best friend, you’re already there!

Keep the “newness” alive. One of the most exciting aspects of a new relationship is learning about your partner, and feeling that spark and the butterflies that come along with it. So what do you do after you know everything there is to know about your spouse and everyday life and routines take their toll? Add some spice! Try new things together! Start a mutual hobby. Start a collection. Try new restaurants. Travel to new places! Be adventuresome! Advance your knowledge of each other by learning new things together. It also helps to keep photo albums or video tapes. Every so often, remind yourselves of your history together. Watch old videos/DVD’s of things you’ve done together. Look through old pictures. Rekindle your memories and keep them alive.

Don’t ever stop communicating! We hear it all the time. Communication is KEY in any relationship. Well, it really is the truth. Life throws us curveballs – all of us. And you won’t be happy 100% of the time. When one of you feels down, or angry, it is important to communicate in the proper way. Not expressing feelings and thoughts about difficult issues – money, work, kids, illnesses, other relationships, etc – can really put a damper on a marriage. Always be honest and never keep things inside. Relationships are all about support, even and especially in hard times.

LAUGH OFTEN! Laughing in general keeps you happy. Laughing with your spouse keeps your relationship healthy. This is one of my favorite parts of my relationship with my husband. Luckily I married the funniest person I know – so this part is pretty easy for me. Laugh – about anything and everything! It keeps us young, and it keeps us feeling alive. Laugh about movies, TV shows, books, songs, memories, word slip-ups, funny happenings throughout the day – ANYTHING! Some of my best moments with my husband are just lying in bed laughing – sometimes even about nothing (yes, he’s that funny.)

Don’t stop flirting!! Most couples get too comfortable with each other after they’ve been together for a long time. This can be good, but it can always be bad. Comfortable couples tend to forget to flirt. Give your husband or wife the “eye” from across the room at a party, event, or even just in the grocery store. Make sure you let the other one know you are still “in” to them. Don’t let life’s busy, hectic, routine way interfere with the simple foundation and attraction that brought you two together. Send your spouse sweet notes or texts every once in awhile. Poke fun of one another – this will help with the laughing, too. Just be sure you do it tastefully! Don’t hurt feelings, and don’t do it too often. Done in the right way, a little playful banter back and forth is good for a relationship.

Keep the bedroom hot! We all know that life can get in the way of an active, busy sex-life. People get tired after they work all day, make dinner, care for the kids, etc. Again, don’t let life get in the way of the basic principles of your relationship! This is especially true for sex. Make sure you’re having it, and more than a few times a month. Not only is it crucial to your relationship, it has many health benefits as well. And don’t let it get boring or routine! Spice things up – depending on your comfort zone, add some fun – erotica, music, candles, etc. Again, try new things! Don’t become boring and predictable. And again, don’t get too comfortable. Wear lingerie from time to time. You don’t have to always be in a full set of makeup and done up hair, but remember to still try to look good for your man. (same goes for men!) Try not to “let yourself go” – meaning – you should still want to be attractive to your spouse years later. Don’t forget that. Oh, and an obvious one – stay away from temptations. Simply put, this is a big deal. Infidelity and addiction (in any area) can be serious wounds to a relationship.

Don’t forget to do the things you used to do to “court” each other. Flowers and candy go along way. Broke? No biggie. You don’t have to spend money to keep your spouse happy. Sometimes the little things mean so much more. The stigma exists that men don’t do anything around the house. Doing a spontaneous load of dishes or load of laundry – when it isn’t typically your chore – goes a long way. You know what makes each other happy. You know what makes your spouse light up. Don’t forget those things, and don’t stop doing them! Just because you’ve already “won the girl” (or guy!) doesn’t mean you’re done courting. Marriage is work – forever! Don’t get lazy.

Keep saying “I love you.” You should say it every day. And mean it. Too often we say it just as a habit, or because we have to. Don’t let that be you. Say it and mean it every time. Be affectionate as often as you can. Don’t ever let your spouse wonder if you still love them as much as you used to. Healthy marriages are always growing and evolving, and healthy couples continue to love each other more and more throughout the years. That doesn’t mean they don’t have problems. It just means their foundation is strong enough to get through the bad times as a stronger, healthier couple than before. Don’t forget why you got together in the first place. Don’t forget what you love about your partner, and tell them that every once in awhile. Give complements. Don’t forget memories. And learn from your mistakes and your troubles. Don’t stop loving each other! Be the 50% that makes it!!!

Source:http://ashleygray.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Keep-the-Flame-Burning-in-Your-Relationship
Article by Ashley Gray