Chic Pumpkins for Halloween

www.bellemaison23.com/

I for one do not get all willy nilly about Halloween except to celebrate and make a fuss when it comes to holiday projects with the kids (at my childcare gigs) but when I saw these chic, goth fabulous like pumpkins I froze. "Fabulous pumpkin creations", I thought. Anyway I was blog hopping and feasted my eyes onto the beautiful Halloween crafts on Belle Maison where there is a great article on Halloween Chic (innovative ways to decorate for the Halloween holiday). Obsess over the pic and check the article when time permits.

A Creative Birthday...

So my girls (aka BFFs) decide to come up with a creative way to sike me out and cause me to just about poop my pants all at the same time. Good job ladies. It was so much fun and one of the best birthdays I ever received (well my 7th birthday surprise/slumber party my parents organized still tops all) but next to that this one is KING. Please be advised the horse I adopted for the hour of fun was SOMBRERO which = Heart Palpitations to say the least. That damn horse had me in such a frenzy I ordered our guide to get me off at once. This was the funny part to everyone but me (at the time). I was so dramatic and Sombrero was eating it up! Show Off! The horse bucked, galloped, stopped (every other minute), and formed his own trail. He even bit another horse's behind when he was put onto a leash! My kind of stallion! So my girls win creative birthday organizers of the year award for this one. Horse back riding, dinner at Bonefish Grill and great gifts= one happy Diva.

Crazy Yes! Creative...Absolutely!

Folks often ask me how I do it. How the hell am I working 3 jobs, volunteering, and managing school. How is this possible. I get the weird looks and long sighs. People do not focus on the possibilities. A parent at my job #2 asked, but what about days off? "What about them?" I replied. I work a max of 4 hours a day 3 days a week playing with kids. That isn't work to me. I'm getting paid (cash mind you) to have fun! I have a strength that has nothing to do with me alone. My spirituality keeps me balanced. I tried numerous times to balance my life on the solo and failed miserably so I had no choice but to call in for help. The best help around. Funny thing I average the same income I did as an investment rep at a well respected financial company I worked at for around 5 years. Now I can be happy doing what I love and working towards my purpose. That my friends is PRICELESS. I usually have to be at work no earlier than 2:30. That means no early mornings...well only Sundays. I work weekends but have my mornings to myself and can sneak in a matinee at the movies in the middle of the week and shop while everyone else is at work. Sweet. The absolute best, no micro management-no bosses over the shoulder. This ironically leaves lots of time for innovation since I'm rarely stressed out.

Inexpensive But Rich

Finding deals gets me all gushy inside and I just loves a challenge when it comes to shopping for clothing, accessories, and jewelry. Well I had a little soiree to attend last weekend and I also had other financial obligations. Why always around the same time. But hey, who doesn't? I had some Nine West booties I got last year for like $17 bucks (oh yeah they were like $60 something dollars on amazon) see here ...and a top I just grabbed from WalMart $9, a cardigan $16 and leggings $10, a snakeskin clutch (took the gold chain off) I got this on consignment many moons ago (I'm sure it was under $5). The colors are rich which equals Fall trends 2010. This was the final result of my innovations. Being creative with the funds and the fashions is a must. Besides everyone is doing it.

Unexpected Fabulosity

When picking up a book I grabbed from discount store Ollie's for like $3 bucks, I figured the new read was going to be a possible drag. OMG was I terribly wrong! The author none other than Bernice McFadden author of the beautiful novel 'Sugar' put her foot and leg into this fresh tale on the raw experience of love between a black woman and man who has past experiences that would make the average person shiver at the thought of loving another. The novel provided an unexpected surge of revelation at the end and was a major page turner. Her writing is graceful and doesn't throw in a fairy tale, unrealistic happy go lucky wrap up at the end. It gives you the real and concludes with the reader having a sense of positivity on the trials and tribulations which love often takes you. It was Brilliant!

Velma Newsome Creator of Tatianna's room

 www.tatiannasroom.org

 Don't you just love when people see something broken, or not 100% what it could be, take the problem, work to resolve it or improve the situation and in turn make someone smile one good deed at a time? I love it and this is why I had to write up a post on Miss Velma Newsome the creator of Tatianna's room. Her creation is not only fresh, creative, and fun but also loving for those children who benefit from the program. Here's the 411. She redecorates the rooms of children living in group homes or foster care. Miss Newsome worked in group homes for years and recognized that the rooms the children lived in were pretty much plain jane. She started Tatianna's room in 2008. Check out her site for more information and the scoop on donating.

 www.tatiannasroom.org
http://www.mindtv.org/cgi-bin/display_asset.fcg?member_id=2133;ordinal=1;file=vodind.ttml;style=mind

Masterchef's Tracy Nailor

Fox

Okay I'm not a reality TV junkie, well maybe a little but only for those shows that force people to perform at their best and expose the fiercest, most creative people at their best all the while under Chef Ramsey's foot and grueling screams of displeasure. Plus I love cooking (hey I get it honestly my Dad always showed me something new in the kitchen). Anyway my favorite on my new addiction Masterchef's Tracy Nailor. The MD whose real passion is cooking up the beloved recipes her mother taught her and raised her up on. This sista cooks with a true passion with her mother's memory at the core of her focus. All the reason for me to tune in week after week to route for her and hope she'll make it at least to the final four.