Happy New Years!!!!

I hope you're all enjoying your evening. Be safe and I'll speak to you all in the new year.
2016 is going to be full of ACTION, SUCCESS, LOVE and PROSPERITY... so to sum it all up...
IT'S GOING TO BE LIT!

Time to Reflect

Exactly 1 year ago I posted on a few other things that I came across including a book and a little video by Oprah. I've posted about meditation and the benefits of taking the time to listen in a previous post (here:laying the seeds for a new you). It happens every year during the time of reflection on the past year that we open ourselves up to trying to improve upon self. It's called resolutions when in actuality it's just a plan to try to find your happy place. Those of you with small "resolutions" should be happy. It actually means that you're right on track and content. For those of us who seek improvement and use the new year as the starting point for fresh beginnings, there is nothing wrong with improvement. It's great to seek out ways to enrich your life.

On that list of improving it should also include how you plan to enrich those around you. You should always strive to be a better you but don't forget that you impact others and your  improvement can be a benefit to those around you. There are 3 traits that not only help you to be a happier person, these traits also help your friends and family to be better themselves.

Get your money right!

I admit when I have faults and financial management is a tool that I look forward to fine tuning in 2016. We all work to achieve better lifestyles and to support our families but little actually know how to make your money really stretch and grow. Money management is not taught in schools and beyond the basics of paying for bills and necessities, most don't really know how to make our money work for us. I'll be the first to admit that I need lots of help here but I have a hard time paying someone thousands of dollars to dictate to me what I should do with my money (maybe that's part of my problem LOL). So to save a bit we look for financially savvy individuals who offer morsels of wisdom for free.

I came across this woman's story of financial independence at the right time so I decided to share with my favorite group of internet friends. I was reading and doing research on another topic for a post and the story of Tiffany Aliche popped up for me in my feed (read here: huffingtonpost). She recalls her past of great hardship and struggle which ultimately led her to her calling of helping other women lay out a better financial road map. Luckily for Tiffany she has found her calling in life that serves a purpose and helps others which is what we're all here to do. I don't think it's ironic at all that she lost her job and relationships only to discover her life's work. The universe is always working to show us our true purpose and path but you have to idle and humble yourself to really hear what the universe has to say. The universe helps us at times by forcing us to slow down and take it in. It's up to us to listen. I took the pledge to get my finances in order with Tiffany in 2016. I figured I could get some advice (hopefully the free advise helps because I love FREE)  and what better way then with a group. I'm always open to learning new things and benefiting from those who provide guidance. I'll follow up in 2016 with post on what I get from the group. For those who join then I guess we'll be learning at the same time.

Another Year... Another day to re-invent yourself

As we begin to close out another year it's a must to reflect on what you've learned this past year. Everyday is a chance to learn something new and experience new things. Have you filled your days with new things? Do you feel that you're living to your fullest potential? If you do then you're extremely blessed. But for those who are still seeking new experiences or looking to find your passion then today is a new day to move in the right direction.

So that leads us to the how's.  How do you break out of the pattern that you've set for yourself? How do we break out of our individual norms? The trick is not to try one big thing expecting a big bang change but to do little subtle changes that lead to a big change over time. Like a Humming bird.

Take a listen as Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love explain the difference.

R. Kelly and Anthony Cumia... WTF moments

If you think that what you do in your personal life doesn't impact your professional life than think again.  With social media blurring the lines between personal and professional images, it's easier for those watching to tie the two together which can alter perception of you collectively. In our society today people actually make a living off of their online social presence and personalities so it shouldn't be hard to connect the dots when thinking in terms of the average person either. Companies use it to scout out potential talented new hires and people use it to leverage friendships so if something is out there on the internet about you, then people will use it to judge you. That includes any charges brought against you in the legal world. Those charges depicts your negative choices and highlights those issues for the world to scrutinize and if you're a celebrity your personal decisions are amplified and will be used against you. In the world of celebrity, your personal life choices aren't so personal and nothings off limits. It's basically part of the package deal when you have a public persona and need the approval of your audience. That leads me to two separate stories today where two celebrity men became upset when their personal choice were being discussed or in one case, documented during a domestic abuse.

R. Kelly recently sat with Huffington Post and the interviewer asked him about his previous issues with underage girls and he became upset and walked off camera, cutting the interview short. He was clearly upset but tried his best to remain semi-calm (btw... do you like the picture choices?  Did you catch what I did there? LOL). When asked about how his  actions impact his music sales he said one topic didn't have anything to do with the other and that's where I disagree. You're a entertainer and he's made his living off of overtly sexual music leading fans to be extremely interested in his sex life. The problem becomes up for ethical debate when finding out his interests are young teenage girls. Ohhh and not to mention that during all of this he was married with kids of his own so to me he shouldn't get upset when asked questions about his personal preference when it's been widely documented. Yes... people still may like his music but you can't just wish personal indiscretions away. It doesn't work like that for any of us. Watch for yourself as he clearly becomes annoyed and then tries to defuse the situation by giving the interviewer a compliment on her looks. 

Little acts of kindness

It's the season for being thankful for all that we have especially in a world where so many have very little. With the holiday season upon us, we often think of things we want and we teach those values to our children at a very early age it's no wonder we're a world of consumers. We aren't trained to think of what we can do for the next person or how we can better someone day.

Here are little tips that you can use to give back this holiday season.

Nothing to Wear???

How many of you have ever felt like this? Don't you hate it when you look in your closet full of clothes but you still feel like you have nothing to wear.  This starts the cycle of buying more crap you don't really need only to still feel like you have nothing to wear. Well I'm going to help you out with this. Hint: It's not necessarily the clothes that's the issue.

No Meat Monday

I haven't posted a recipe in a while so it's beyond due and I made a delicious fish dish that I just had to share. I have made the decision to have 2 days out of the week where I eliminate red meat so this worked out perfectly for dinner and it was great! I advise making enough for 2 days so that you can really take advantage of the recipe because I guarantee you'll love it! It's definitely restaurant quality in the comfort of you own home so if you enjoy a good Netflix and chill night then you'll definitely appreciate this recipe. I promise it's worth it!

Now that I've teased you for a while here is the recipe for one outstanding meal including sides.
My entire dish suggestion is Cilantro and lime fish with rice pilaf and asparagus drizzled with the cilantro lime sauce.  You can also use this same recipe to make a great fish taco and use the sauce to moisten up your taco dish.

Boost Your Metabolism

Every year around the holidays I get this urge to be more health conscious. But it seems I'm not alone because most of us worry more about our waistline during this time of year due to the heavy consumption of food and drinks with the holiday and holiday parties. I know I've made an effort to hit the gym harder not only due to the holiday heavy foods but because my ass is getting older and gravity is running its course. I'm starting to notice more lumps and bumps than usual and I'm trying to fit it one step at time (on the Stair Master). One day I looked in the full length mirror and noticed I had middle aged mommy legs and my teenager agreed. OHHHH NOOOOO!!!! Then I saw the picture of Christie Brinkley at 61 in a bikini (see below) and thought no maam. I'm not going to sit by and let this happen so now it's on in the gym.

Raising black boys in a white family

Raising adopted children is hard. I know this personally because my family went through the process of adopting 2 relatives of mine that were not strangers and didn't have to go through the adjustment process of getting to know me or my kids because they were family. The dynamics of raising a blended family is difficult and add into that the complexity of race and our society and it surpasses my experience entirely. Yahoo Parenting did a piece on a family living in California who has adopted two boys into their family which include the parents who are white and two biological daughters. Although they spoke on the struggles of raising boys who are black they didn't really touch on the difficulties of a blended family and she strictly spoke on the issues that they have in a society that can be racist while raising two black boys and some of the topics that come up for them. I'm sure it's not easy for them or the children at times but you can see that the love is there and I thought this was interesting.

What's your thoughts?

Ayesha Curry said

So Ayesha Curry posted her opinion on Twitter about her own personal choices in what she wears and the some took it extremely left and it hasn't lost it's traction yet. Basically she was reading a magazine and posted her opinion on the styles she saw in the magazine and people got it super twisted. What people fail to realize is that Ayesha is a happily married woman and mother of two small children so the appeal of wearing more revealing clothes may not be what's best for her life these days. She's caught her man! No need to keep fishing. I don't see the offense in the statement at all. What I found most hilarious about all of this were the comments that I've read. One comment said that she and her husband look like brother and sister to suggest their relationship is incestuous which was funny to me. They do look like they're from the same gene pool. I still don't feel that the comment warded so many attacks because everyone is in different places in life and we all have different likes and dislikes. This is the type of thing you read... and then keep it moving.

Great Seasonal Bargains

Are you finished with your holiday shopping yet? If not then let me share with you some great finds that I've found online. Since it's the season for giving it's best when you find a great deal., Also I never forget myself in the mix during this time of year because who knows what I want more than me? Even though I'm usually not looking for myself, I always seem to find me a little something nice.

Aviator shades

I love these blue hued reflective aviator shades. Last year I brought some for my daughter in purple and this year I found them in blue for me. It will go perfectly with denim and just about all your summer wardrobe and the reflective style definitely on trend! Although they cost $125 you can find them cheaper online.