Jumping Ship...IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!!!

Ok, so for the past two days I've gotten emails that blogger is NOT letting you guys leave comments. WTF is up w/ that? It's beyond irritating. I've always heard that blogger be on that bs but this...is a whole nother level of tomfoolery. So...I'm jumping ship and moving!

My new address is: www.mzinspiredmind.wordpress.com Don't worry, I'm going to have a housewarming and all over there! Update your blogrolls!

Love ya!

Living my life like it's golden

I'm in a 'mood' today. An extremely grateful, blessed mood. The past few months I have been thru the ringer. I've went thru more changes with situations with my life. I've had extreme highs and low lows. When I woke up this morning(and it killed me to get out of my warm cozy bed and out into the 30 degree OH weather) I realized that I was blessed to see today. I was freezing cold, but thank you God that I'm not homeless with nowhere to sleep in that freezing cold.

I looked at my son and realized he needed a heavier jacket on today and I thanked God that I didn't 'get rid of him' like so many told me to when I found out I was pregnant at a very inopportune time in my life.

I looked at my daughter in her peacoat and bookbag swinging off her back and realized how much that lil girl means to me. She's so much like me(to much like me). That little girl taught me the meaning of love and sacrifice. When I found out I was pregnant w/ her, I was a vain 20yr old that didn't believe that a child fit ANYWHERE w/in my busy life style. The thought of having a car seat in my first car made my stomach lurch. She is my beautiful first born.

I got in my car and sighed b/c it was cold but at least I have a car. This is the first car I've bought w/ NO assistance from anyone. I did it all by myself. For some this is nothing, for me it was a milestone.

I drove into work and thought about how there are at least a million and one other places I wish I could be, but thank God I have a job. I didn't have a job for the first month and a half when I moved back to OH and it was a depressing time.

I'm busy. I actually had to 'schedule' a 3way call w/ two of my best friends from my Howard Univ days. I miss those chicks so much. We're all leading busy lives though. I had to literally stop myself the other day while cooking dinner and make myself call my granma. If you read yesterday's post, you know how important my granma is.

I have a FT job and just got a PT dream job(in my field, PRAISE HIM!) and just had an interview for a seasonal PT job. Yea, I know I'm crazy but the holidays are coming and I have a lot of things I want to do before EOY financially.

I'm working on the prereqs for my MA program and upon the advice of someone in my field, have decided to get my licensure in Chemical Dependency Counseling. This time next year, I'll be licensed in the state of OH.

My daughter is playing basketball and in her school's musical. My son is gearing up to start basketball as well.

We are busy, but this to me is living life. So many lessons have been learned and for that I'm thankful. I've had people come and go(which has hurt) but it's all for the best.

I'm finding out who "I" really am and I'm liking this person. I'm living my life like it's golden.

Toasty Thursdays--1st Edition

ENJOY!!!!!

Fuzzy Melonberry

Highball Glass
Ice or Shake and Strain

1oz Peach Schnapps
1oz Barcardi Melon Rum
6oz Cranberry Juice

Mama...you know I love you...

This picture makes my heart smile. This is Barack and his grandparents. His grandma was a HUGE part of his upbringing. It was because of her that he's had so much of the success that he has had. She put her grandson's needs above her own and provided for him. She made sure he attended an elite school while living w/ her in Hawaii. It was because of her love, that he excelled and stayed away from a lot of things that unfortunately claim so many of our youth(young, black youth especially).

My parents had me in their early 20's(Dad was 24 and Mom was 27). They got married when my mom was 3 months pregnant w/ me. My Dad was in the Air Force and my mom was a teacher. She eventually stopped teaching and started working for a very popular Children's magazine as a computer analyst. They moved around quite a bit due to his going on different 'tours' as they are called in the military. My parents wanted me(and eventually my brother) to have the most 'normal' upbringing possible. This led to me living with my granma for most of my adolescent years. I thought it was cool b/c my granma is and was one of the coolest people ever. I'm tellin you Tiddee(as she's called due to a book she used to read to my brother and I ) is the dopeness.

My granma has taught me so many important lessons that even though she doesn't think so, I take heed to. I try and pass these same 'jewels' as I call them on to my daughter. I'm so very grateful that I've gotten to have the relationship that I have w/ her. I'm also thankful that my children have had the relationship they've had w/ her.

My granma's birthday was in September. We were supposed to take her to Pappadeaux for dinner(both of our favorite place). At 4:15am, on her birthday, I woke up feeling sick to my stomach. Something didn't feel right. At 5:30am, my Aunt called to let me know that Tiddee had had a heart attack and was in the hospital. I immediately went into a panic. My granma had a health scare 2 years ago and it was very touch and go. We almost lost her. I couldn't deal w/ losing her now. I have so much more to accomplish. I want her to be front and center at my wedding(even though she doesn't want me to fool w/ a man b/c she doesn't want me to get sidetracked). I want to celebrate many more birthdays with her. I want to sit at her table and continue to eat her wonderful Sunday dinners and holiday meals for the rest of my days. My granma is more like a mother than my own mother. It hurts my heart in some ways to say this, but I'm equally blessed I guess.

This post is nothing but a dedication to my granma, my Tiddee, my 'Mama'. I love you granma, more than you'll ever know. I hope your proud of the woman I am and am becoming.

Ps. I would have put a picture I have of the two of us on this post, but my granma don't play that. She don't want no parts of the 'Innernets' (LMAO, she's from the old school!)

Wishful Wednesday--My First Home

This is the sort of house I want but on a smaller scale for my first home.



I have a book(a vision book??) where I write down any and all things that I eventually want in my life. The main fuel behind my fire for moving back to the Midwest was so that I could prepare(mentally and financially) to buy my first home in the next year to year an a half. In my book, I have all the things I would like my first home to have.

Now, I know enough first time home buyers and have watched enough shows to know that I will need to be flexible. I'm ok with that. Some things are more important on my wish list than others. I know the style of home I want and the price range I would like to stay within.

Here are the things on my wish list for my first home:

In a cul-de sac(I'd like the kids be able to play w/out an increased amount of traffic)

Bay window/nook (off of my dining room. I envision curling up there w/ a good book)

A Formal dining room. ( I LOVE to entertain so this is very important to me)

Basement (preferably finished..this will be our family room too)

Loft(b/c I LOVE the look of lofts)

Mantel(how cool is it to have your own mantel!)

3-4 bedrooms(everyone will have their own room + a guest room)

2.5-3 bathrooms(I can't stand sharing a bathroom w/ the lil people and don't want guest all in my business when they are using the bathroom)

Garage(does this really need an explanation)

Backyard(hopefully already fenced in w/ a patio)

Master bdrm w/ walk in closet(my clothes, shoes, purses need to fit)

Master bath(preferably w/ a garden tub, stand alone shower, double vanity)

Thoughtful Tuesday...

The below quote came from my 'Daily Word'(Rev Run's daily email)

UPDATE: I've sat and thought about this quote some more and what the author is saying makes sense, but I still feel(mostly) the same as earlier.

It is not the man who has too little, but the man who CRAVES MORE that is poor.....
-Seneca


My thoughts: I'm not to sure I really agree w/ this. The general definition of crave is: to have an appetite or great desire for. I think that by craving more, we strive for more. We have a desire to be better than what we are or to have more than we currently have. Nothing is wrong w/ being content, but what's wrong w/ wanting more?

Anyone else??