Life of a Fashion Designer, Marriage and Family Therapist, Holistic Practitioner, Wife, Mom, friend, and so much more, who is pulled in many directions by everything and everyone while learning how to start where she is, use what she has, and do what she can...
Welcome Gods and Goddesses…Enchanté
As I sit here on public transportation with the sun warming my face, and appreciating the 50 degree breeze that welcomes me everytime the doors open it is putting me in a reflective, proud but melancholy mood. So I decided what better moment to get my feelings out right now where there is no one around grasping for my attention. Yesterday, I had a pretty eventful day. I went and saw my cousin play basketball for Drake, against Loyola, and it was ravishing seeing these young men out there putting up a good fight, and trying to make their dreams come true. It was truly inspirational, and it made me pray for them, especially my cousin. It made me pray that God shows him how much he is loved. How awesome he is, and that he can do anything he put his mind to, but put his mind to something good, and rewarding on multiple levels. To don't give up and trust in him.
Yesterday I also got a biopsy. I still have to wait for the results, but in getting this biopsy I was given information that confirmed suspicions I already had. I've shared this information with my husband but now I'm forced to make a decision that will/ or may affect our lives and I'm struggling to be open, and positive about it, but I'm trying.
I'm trying to focus more on being thankful that God has given me the gift make things beautiful. Thankful that my family is in good health and that I'm able to live this life with my wonderful grandmother still here and in her right mind and able to help me with creating our family tree. That I am on this journey of starting a new career as a therapist and I am doing very well in my classes still maintaining a 4.0. Thankful that my mom has opened her heart to go through the journey of falling in love. Thankful that God keeps showing me ways to build on my relationship with my dad, and work on my marriage, and be a good Mom.
There's so many things that I can be thankful for and yesterday having the opportunity to pray for my cousin now has shown me that I need to pray that same prayer for myself. God is showing me how awesome and loved I am. He is showing me that I can do anything and all I have to keep doing is have faith and keep trusting in him. Everything is going to be alright.
I haven't blogged in a while because it's been one thing after another these last 3 weeks, and not necessarily bad things. About a month ago, I believe I had a breakthrough. I'm not really sure what happened, maybe the weather started to be nicer. Whatever the reason is I REALLY (this time) realized how done I was with being upset, waiting on other people to do what they should do, and not thinking about my own needs, and I'm happy to say that 4 weeks later I'm still done, and I'm enjoying this process of enjoying my life more.
I enjoyed myself in New Orleans with my husband. I've been taking the time to thank him more, and taking steps back in these trying times to put myself in his shoes and validate him, although this is still in the beginning steps of the process, but I'm optimistic that this will improve on both our parts. I did have the stomach flu for a week, and was out of commission as much as a Mother of two rumbuteous boys can be out of commission. Then I turned around and got right back sick with a cold, or maybe its allergies? I don’t know I was sick :-)! I'm working on creations, prom dresses, and planning my next JS Creative Minds Vending and Networking event and I still haven't gotten word from North Western University, but I'm learning to Praise God while in my challenges, and worship him before my blessings come. I have figured out how to take things as they come, and pull the positive out of the majority of situations I encounter, and whatever else I don't encounter I'll deal with when I do, and I'm loving this moment. Tell me, how are you doing?
For the last few years I have noticed that my oldest son has caught this "I want" aka the "give me" or "can I have" disease, and I was wrecking my brain trying to figure out how I can make him more appreciative of what he has. I tell him all the time you have so much going for you, and there are kids in this world that don't have half as much as you have. They don't get to go on vacations every year like you do. They haven't been out of this state let alone out of the country like you have! Stop I want, I wanting and can I have blah, blah, blah, but he still continues to do it. I teach our boys that life isn't easy. That they must work hard for what they want, believe in themselves and never give up. We're also trying to teach them the importance of giving and not just taking, appreciating what you have because what you have can always be taken away, and there are people who don't have everything we have. So starting last year I joined him in the Honeycomb Project where he can sign up for different volunteer projects around Chicago every month, but the problem with those projects is they fill up really fast, and some months we're left without a project.
So one day, taking my morning walk on the lake I came across some tents that some homeless people set up, and ding, ding, ding! A thought popped into my head; we should feed the homeless, make sandwiches or something and pass them out to these homeless people!
This past Monday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr day my family and I did just that. In spite of it being -7 degrees below zero, it was a perfect morning to do it, because it was the only morning we would all be together. It felt so rewarding, and it was such a proud moment seeing how excited my son was to give back. Check out the pictures below, and I urge you to give back, and teach your kids how to give back. If you would like to help in any way by donating food, or creating your own opportunity to give let us know.
Setting up the bags and food, Apples, Pears, Oranges,
cans of vienna sausages and Oatmeal Pies
Making Turkey/Ham & Cheese sandwiches. Yes, our hands were clean :-)
On this pull it together Tuesday, I'm sorry to inform all of my Gods & Goddesses that I am taking a much needed hiatus from blogging. From time to time, if there is something I absolutely have share with you all, I will. I was so looking forward my son starting school, with the potty training, and pacifier fairy, it was hard but my son passed all of that with flying colors, only to be put in a class with teachers that are not a good fit for him, and because of this I've decided to keep him home with me for a year, and that involves me teaching him myself. I also need to push forward on my business plan, and I just have to much on my plate right now, so something has to be pushed aside, and blogging is going to be it... temporarily.
In the meantime, I'll leave you with this: If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of anyone else!
So first off I want to say that I have ABSOLUTELY no problem with pacifiers unless that child is 10 years old and still needs them through out the day, then there's a problem, other than that I have no problem.
I admit my son is 3 years old and he still sucks his pacifier. However, he does not need it throughout the day, he only wants it when he is sleepy. I know about all of the "statistics" and "risk," but as his Mother these "statistics" and "risk" have not affected us, and I have NO PROBLEM with him wanting his pacifier for his naps, and at night.
HOWEVER, being that he will be starting school in September, and I think that this particular situation will help build his character and make him stronger. I have decided that I will let him make the decision of saying bye to his pacifier, sort a speak.
I recently told him that the Pacifier Fairy was upset, because he's a big boy now and big boys don't need pacifiers, so the Pacifier Fairy has been looking in the garbage everyday for his pacifiers so she can take them to fairyland, but there are no pacifiers there, and this is making her very upset. I asked my son, "Do you want the pacifier fairy to be upset?" My son said, "Yes!" I tried very hard not to laugh, and I succeeded. I then explained to my son again, that he was a big boy, and he needs to put his pacifiers in the garbage when he's ready so that the Pacifier Fairy can get them. My so then told me, "You do it!" I said, "No, you do it!" So far, no action has been made. We'll pull it together soon, lol.
Please give me some POSITIVE advice about this situation, lol.
They say that you shouldn't let your kids watch to much T.V. Blah, Blah, Blah, but I know that the majority of moms out there will agree with me and say that they are thankful for the educational Kids videos out there. I'm thankful cause at this very moment my son is putting together his puzzle games, and watching the HBO Family channel, which is allowing me to do this and get some work done!
So if you haven't noticed from yesterdays post, I sooooooo enjoyed myself in Memphis, TN on my husband and I's anniversary vacation. Memphis is not only fun family time at places like Beale Street and a guitar shaped swimming pool:
but as an African-American Woman I learned so much about my history at places like the Stax Studios, the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Sun Studio, etc:
Going to these places put so much gratefulness, and sorrow into my heart. These people marched, and fought for future generations to walk proud with their heads held up high and say, "I am a man!" "I am a woman!" "I deserve to vote!" "Listen and love my music no matter what color I am!" "I can sit where I please, drink water from whatever fountain I please, and sit and eat where I please!" So many things that we take for granted now a days, cause there I so many people preoccupied with who's sleeping with who, what kind of car whoever is driving, and what the next person has. To busy looking to videos and movies for the wrong type of education, instead of going to the books and going to schools to get the education that our ancestors fought so hard for us to have.
I took three very important young people on this anniversary vacation with my husband and I, and I just hope to God that one day they'll understand this lesson, and I hope that you reading this can pull it together to understand the lesson as well.
1st I wanted to tell you all that I'll be busy doing a serious Potty boot camp for the next couple of weeks, and celebrating my wedding Anniversary, so I will be MIA, but I leave you with savings this Fine Jewelry Friday!
Shop our Independence Day 4th of July Sale now until midnight Monday, and save 25% off, by putting coupon code: STARS at Google checkout.
Remember you have to use Google checkout, not PayPal in order to redeem the coupon. I'll be thinking about you all, but a Goddess has to do what a Goddess has to do. Have a fun and safe weekend, and please don't drink & drive!
I know I just came off of a wonderful vacation at Wisconsin Dells with my family, but I admit, that I had a little bit of a breakdown last night. I'm so used to doing this and that, but when it comes down to me chilling out and resting I feel so guilty about it, that I just have a crying fit, and my husband looks at me like, "not this again!" So since I wasn't successful at resting yesterday, I'm determined to do it somewhat today ;-). I've made a couple important phone calls, and I'm going up to my sons preschool, to finish registering him, but other than that I'm pulling nothing together, until probably about Thursday!
How do you moms out there handle the guilty mom blues?
So I took a long weekend vacation, and went to the Dells with my family. I very beautiful and strenous vacation feeled with so much fun, so much screaming and chasing a 3 year old, a 4 year old, and cuddling a 10 month old, and now I'M EXHAUSTED, and looking for some motivation. Lately, embedding videos from you tube on my blog hasn't been working, so I'll just place a link for todays video. Enjoy, and I pray that you have a wonderful week, and that I find some energy! Enjoy!
I had a wonderfully busy weekend with vending at the Custer's Last Stand in Evanston, and celebrating Father's Day with my hubby and family, all I want to do is sit in the bed and watch Season 5 of Charmed on DVD which is on the schedule for today,but first I need to talk to you wonderful individuals, and update my inventory, as well as a few other things.
Usually today will be filled with some song that expresses my feeling of the day, but I came across this video of kids entrepreneurs that I wanted to share with you all. Its great, cute and very motivational. TEACH YOUR KIDS TO BE WHATEVER THEY WANT TO BE! Have a great week everyone!
Continuing with change today on this Pull it Together Tuesday, when I quit my job in order to positively strengthen my marriage, nurture my son, and build my business. I knew that it was a huge step that involved major change in my life, but I had no ideal about the level of change. It is indeed a process that is very challenging to enjoy, but I can honestly say that I am enjoying the struggle, cause I know that the outcome for my family will be nothing but success, because my Father God is guiding me! These obstacles will be Pulled Together and we will be Victors!
This week, I'll be continuing to love my husband, and other family, potty training, registering my big boy FOR PRESCHOOL!!!!! Being active on Etsy, updating the measurement descriptions on the website, putting together this seasons newsletter (if u would like go sign up for our newsletters, click here.), working on my business plan, preparing for this coming weekends Custers Last Stand Arts Festival in Evanston, and getting my purses together for the RWOC Volunteer project at.
I'm switching things up this Music Monday. Their was good effort to make my Mother's Day a great one, but to make things truly great, I've realized that great effort has to be made on my part. There are very few things that my son can do without me, and my Husband is not his best at all without me, so unfortunately as bad as I want my family and friends to do things without me, its just not going to happen. So IT'S KEEP IT MOVING MUSIC MONDAY. Hopefully this keeps you going this week, and myself!
Have you ever been so busy, that you don't even remember half the stuff you've done? Well thats how I've been for almost 2 weeks. I've been seriously working on auto piolet, because of this I absolutely refuse to do anything else for anyone, but my son for the next couple of days! I've had meetings, errands, replinished products, shows, photo shoot, etc., and after trying to be on the show for years, I finally had the oppourtunity to be apart of the Oprah Show audience!
So first, I was so exceited, but I had to contain it because I was on the Red Line "L" and everyone would have thought I was a crazy lady, so for 40 minutes I had to try to calm down, while waiting to get to my stop. So, I thought about how I was going to tell my Mom that WE WERE GOING TO THE OPRAH SHOW!!!!!!
I get home, and tell my mom about the great meeting I just had, and that the only bad part was that I was going to have to wake up really early, and not be around my son for a couple days. I also proceded to ask her do you know why I'll have to wake up early and not see my son for a couple days? Uninterested my mom says "Why?" I tell her, "CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO THE OPRAH SHOW!!!" Then I here crickets, and I'm like did this woman not hear me? She then continues asking me the most ungrateful questions, like, "Who's on the show?" (does it matter, its OPRAH!!!!) and "What time do we have to be there?" and "Why does it have to be so early?" I'm like, UNBELIEVABLE! How long has this woman been telling me about trying to get some Oprah tickets, and this is all she has to say! So I tell her, "Momma I'll take somebody else!" and I leave her apartment. She later calls and says that she's having some womanly problems, and that she was sorry, and is excited.
Moving on, I finally get together an outfit, fit for the show. Complete with an Isis Collections bold necklace set, and we're off! After standing in line, going through security, having my cell phone taken, and sitting in the waiting area for 45 minutes we're finally sitting in our chairs in the studio, and we're surprised to find out that we're getting double Oprah! 2 Tapings! The 1st taping is Chris Rock which was aired Friday, April 22, 2011, and the second taping was Michael Douglas, which airs, Tuesday, Apiril 26, 2011. Hearing Oprah's voice as she stepped out on stage was like a dream. I could not believe that I was this close to her. She went on with the interviews, and answered questions from the audience members. I had so many questions going through my head like, "Would you like to help out a Mompreneur?, and will you have A Women of Brewster Place Reunion? and My mom was so upset about her Soap Opera shows being cancelled, You are my Soap Opera Oprah!" I was so scared, and star struck that I couldn't raise my hand so that the microphone could come my way, and before I knew it, the experience was over. With no giveaway, pictures, or autograph, to help us remember this when we're 90 years old. We stood in line to retrieve our coats, our purses, our cell phones, and I was left with this sad, bitter sweet feeling.
How could I be so close to someone I admire like an Auntie (like Maya Angelou status), and not be able to talk to them? For them to not know who I am. I know if Oprah, knew of my situation she would want to help, but she doesn't so she can't help, so I have to help myself.
So because, of this, I feel that I've been working hard to push my business off, but there is always more that can be done, so I believe, that although facebook has been a great tool for putting The Isis Collections on people's radar, and keeping in contact with family and friends, but I think its time to move on. It's time to get off the computer and put my feet to the pavement. I'll still be on facebook, cause its sooooo addictive, but not daily. So loved ones, clients if you really want to contact me, I'm just a phone call or email away. Enjoy this Oprah Experience and your week!
You ever get in the mood where you're tired of complaining, tired of talking? Well, thats where I'm at. This week, I'm not only continueing potty training, and updating my client listing, and merchandise, taking Easter photos, doing photo shoots, and preparing for an Easter feast, but this weekend I'm so focusing on my husband. Pray for me, and let me know what you need to pull together!
Today is Day 3 of Potty Training Boot Camp. I woke up a little tired, and not wanting to get out of the bed, partly because I was missing my husband. He took a few days off of work, and its been good having another adult in the house do pick up a little slack around the house. Also because he was here, and we were so tired form having 2 shows this weekend, I've totally neglected the house and have not cleaned one thing. So today this Thankful Thursday I'm thankful that the entire house is vacuumed, floors have been swepped and mopped. Several spots have been dusted or wiped with my favorite clorox wipes. The stove has been cleaned, counters have been washed of all cooking grease, dishes washed, we've been fed breakfast and lunch, fb, and twitter status have been updated, all the merchandise I have so far has been added to the website, a list of future task have been created, and best of all my son DID #2 IN THE POTTY AGAIN TODAY, YEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND ALL OF THIS BEFORE NOON! THANK YOU GOD!!!!!
This is our potty & nice board, when my son tells anyone that he has to potty and he actually goes and does it he gets a sticker. Smiley face for #1's Apple for #2's. Everyone else on the board gets stickers when they've been exceptionally nice! No one so far, lol.
I had a wonderful weekend of meeting potentiall friends and clients and am looking forward to do custom pieces for the lovely brides I met yesterday. So all this weekend, I've been hearing the vintage voice of this artist, and I just LOVE IT. Here's to Bruno Mars, ENJOY, and have a wonderful week, everyone!
Oh, also, if you don't happen to hear from me this week for Pull it Together Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, or Fine Jewelry Friday it's because this week is POTTY TRAINING BOOTCAMP for my son. So I'll be concentrating on any accidents :-).
