Archives for February 2014

5 Tips To Becoming A Confident Woman

February 22, 2014 by
 self-improvement, self-confidence, self-esteem

Have you seen women that exude an air of confidence and self-assurance.  Sadly, you wish that you had the confidence and you could carry yourself in that manner.  They seem to be able to conquer the world and achieve anything.  As a result, you admire them and wonder how they reached that level.  You secretly wish you had half of their skills and success.   You ask, how do you become a confident woman?

Unfortunately, I was there at one point in my life.  As a single mother, it was hard to imagine how I could ever reach such a level of confidence.  I was barely able to pay my bills.   I dreamed of making a six figure salary.  So, I wanted to know how to get there.  I wanted to be a strong mother, leader, a mentor and manager.  The fact that I couldn’t achieve success on my own became a reality.   Therefore, I needed guidance and advice on how to start my journey on becoming a  confident woman.
Our roles as mothers, spouses, partners and influencers is huge.  We need to display confidence around our children.  We also need to be confident around our spouses and significant others at times.  Additionally, we have a responsibility to others that we influence in our life and on the job. Building confidence is a process.  It doesn’t happen over night, but if you continually enhance your skills you will become a confident woman.
Here are a few traits that I believe all women need to become confident:
  1. Define Your Belief System –  First, these are your core values that remain unchanged.  They can include but are not limited to being ethical, family-oriented, reliable, trustworthy.  Define them and stand firm.
  2. Be Consistent – You must be consistent in all areas of your life for the most part, but be flexible when needed.  If you’re inconsistent you won’t be taken seriously by your family, co-workers or anyone else that you influence.
  3.  Become An Achiever –  Next, set goals and make a plan to achieve them.  It’s important to be an example for your children in this area.  Achieving goals requires stamina and hard work.  
  4. Be Positive – I read daily affirmations to help me stay positive.
  5. Have a sense of humor – Last, know that you will make mistakes along the way.  Be able to laugh, pick yourself up and move on.
Finally, if you don’t want to obtain a mentor, surround yourself with positive people.  Especially, those who have arrived at the destination that you’re trying to achieve.  Ask for advice when you need it.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a road map how to achieve success in your business or on how to be a good mother.  Most importantly, becoming a confident woman and believing in yourself will help you achieve your goals in all areas of your life.  Your spouse, partner and children will see it and believe it.  Take the first step to becoming a confident woman, and everything else will fall into place.  You may also like Why I Am Thankful For The Stumbles In My Life.

 

Filed Under: Empowerment Tagged With: , ,

A Tour of My Hometown

February 17, 2014 by

I used to play in this little house when I was a child.  It had a living room, kitchen and a bedroom upstairs.  Rather than dolls, it had bears to play with.  It seems so small now, but I was able to stand up in it as a child.  I grow up in a small town in WV where everyone knew everyone and we ran around the town carefree. I wanted to share some of my fondest childhood memories with you.  So I thought we would take a tour of my hometown.  


I loved this little house.  It was open to the public on certain each week.  On the days that it wasn’t open, we looked at the bears through the window.  My fondest memory of the bears was them having a tea party.  


This stream ran behind the Little House.  We would take our shoes off and stand in the water.  It seemed so much deeper as a child.  

Oh the memories of Betty’s Restaurant.  We hung out here as teens.  Betty was the owner and cook.  She made the best cheeseburgers, fries and chocolate shakes.  The restaurant is still in business.  Occasionally, I will stop by for breakfast.  They still have the same booths and bar stools, lol.  I’m squeezing in the booths now rather than sliding in, but the hometown atmosphere is still the same.  

This is where a our town newspaper was printed.  Mr. Charlie was the printer.  He was always covered in black ink as he rolled the newspaper off the printer.  We would look through the window as he was working. Mr. Charlie never allowed us to distract him from his work.  He just smiled and kept the printer rolling.  It is now a 5 star restaurant called The Press Room.

This is the Rumsey Monument. We spent hours here climbing the steps to watch trains cross the bridge behind it and cars cross the bridge on the other side of it.  This monument is dedicated to James Rumsey, who launched the first steam boat on the Potomac River in Shepherdstown, WV. According to the history books, Robert Fulton was given credit for the first launch, but residents of Shepherdstown, WV know better.  

                                                                               


This is a view from the Rumsey Monument.  Absolutely beautiful and more so in the fall.  The local Girl Scout and Brownie troops walked across the bridge shown so we could hike along the C & O Canal Towpath.  My sister was a Girl Scout and I was a Brownie.  I have to admit I crossed it, but I was scared to death.  My troop leader would allow me to walk in the road until a car came and than I had to get back on the sidewalk.  Her kindness sure helped ease my fears.  Because of it, I was able to take the hike along with the other girls.  

       
I spent many days at this little library reading or going to story hour.  I remember my mother scrubbing me until I was as shiny as a new penny and sending me off to story hour each week. Books were big in my home.  We had library cards, so my friends and I would head to the library until closing during the summer.  I also remember not returning books on time, and having to use my allowance to pay the fine.  I learned early to pay my bills on time.  

This is The Wall and my sister posing.  We spent hours sitting on this wall people watching and playing games.  Residents have been banned from sitting on The Wall on now, what a shame.  It was a great gathering place for chatting, eating an ice cream cone or just passing time away.  

We would leave the house early morning most days and just walk around town heading nowhere in particular.  Our parents never worried, they just wanted us back in time for dinner.  If we missed lunch, someone in the community would feed us and they in turn would do the same for the kids who where out of their neighboring area.  What a great era to be a kid.  We didn’t have children being kidnapped or harmed in any way, it was the least of anyone’s worries.  

We gathered pop bottles to cash in at the local store for money.  We had a red wagon that we pulled to the store to cash in our goods.  Back in those days, candy was a penny.  We would have candy for days with a quarter.  My best friend’s Uncle owned the candy store, he would always give us extra when we visited.  My favorite was the chocolate covered peanuts.  Yes, I was a chocolate addict at an early age.   

I loved my childhood.  We weren’t rich, but we had a great community.  Everyone knew what community meant, and looked out for each other.  Lend a handing hand, wasn’t a saying when I was growing up.  It actually took place.  We were raised by the community.  We trick or treated with brown paper grocery bags until midnight.  Our parents purchased sleds, Lighting Guiders, every Christmas.  Daddy gave us sand paper to sharpen the blades, and sharpen we did.  We stayed out until we damn near froze sled riding, and nobody called us in.  What are some of your favorite childhood memories?

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8 Reasons to Use Gift Bags

February 14, 2014 by

Image-Reasons-To-Use-Gift-Bags


Do you use gift bags or wrapping paper when you give gifts?  I used to love wrapping gifts, and I was pretty good at it.  I spotted a gift bag while shopping for wrapping paper one day, and decided to give one a try.  I have never looked back and from the looks of this gift table others think the same way.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Life-Thoughts Tagged With: , ,

Brother Sister Love

February 14, 2014 by

I love these pictures of Xavier and Zarriah. They demonstrate the love they have for one another.  I can’t say that it’s always been there, but it has grown over the years.  When Zarriah arrived at 31 weeks, and the doctor announced it was a girl my grandson immediately told the doctor to take her back.  He didn’t realize the severity of her early arrival, he just knew that he wanted a brother to play with not a sissy girl. 



We told him that we wanted to keep her, but she was really sick and we needed him to help us get her well.  Amazingly, he rose to the occasion.  Looking back at Zarriah’s fight for her life still brings me to tears.  She was one of the smallest preemies in the NICU, she weighed 2 lbs. 10 ozs., and she was there for 3 months.  I have to say, it was the longest 3 months of my life.  

My granddaughter has an attitude, and she has had it from the day she arrived.  She’s pretty independent and demonstrated her independence in the incubator.  The nurses wanted us to touch her and talk to her as much as possible.  When I tried to touch her or hold her hand she jerked away.  When her brother touched her or held her hand she would grab his finger and hold on.  I was amazed that she could make a distinction between us.  The nurses placed a step stool beside her so Xavier could reach her when he visited.  He made just about every trip to the hospital to visit her and never complained once about the length of time we spent there.  He was 4, and we all know that a 4 year old has little patience.  He spent hours coloring pictures for her.  The nurses placed the pictures around the incubator.  
                                                                                 

They are now 6 and 2.  He’s an excellent big brother, I’m so proud of him.  He loves her up, plays with her and protects when he thinks he has to.  He said he never wants her to go back to the hospital.  

Those 3 months had a major impact on all of us, but it had a major impact on him too.  He thinks about her stay, he built a hospital out of his legos.  I hope their love for each other never dies.  It does my heart good that he is happy she’s here and she’s his baby sister after wanting to return her.  Happy Valentine’s Day Xavier and Zarriah.  
                                                                        

Filed Under: brother sister love, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Happy Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2014 by



Happy Valentine’s Day to all my followers.  May you and yours find the love you desire and deserve.  Art work courtesy of my little Picasso, Xavier.  

                                                                                

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Disney Movies: Muppets Most Wanted

February 12, 2014 by

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I love Miss Piggy’s gown.  Will she marry Kermit?  Miss
Piggy is back on the big screen, starring in Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted,”
which follows the Muppets on a grand, star-studded tour throughout Europe. The
European setting screamed romance to Miss Piggy, who’s been trying to convince
her favorite frog to tie the knot for years. But what will the divine diva don
for the all-new film, which hits theaters in the US March 21, 2014? Vivienne
Westwood was commissioned to create couture desingers for the fashion icon,
including a white dress that would be perfect for a wedding if one should
actually take place.

In
the film, Miss Piggy wears a Vivienne Westwood couture Long Ivory Court wedding gown, with corset detailing and paillettes
made from recycled plastic bottles, accessorized with an ivory tulle veil.
Piggy also entrusted the designer with additional looks for the film, including
a Vivienne Westwood couture Harris Tweed houndstooth check coat and matching
beret worn in a scene set at Tower of London. Miss Piggy also chose a long
silver hand-embroidered floral lace gown for a very special number in the film.

“Vivienne Westwood is fabulous—just like moi,” said Miss Piggy.
“When I asked her to design this wedding dress for moi’s new movie “Muppets
Most Wanted,” she was thrilled and I was thrilled. The only one a bit ‘iffy’
about it was the Frog.”  Will Kermit the Frog Finally Say “I Do”? That’s the question.  Miss Piggy says, “You’ll have to see
the movie to find out.”   Mark March 21, 2014 on your calendar, and go see Muppets Most Wanted.  
                                                                              

Filed Under: Disney Movies, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Product Reviews: Wine Country Gift Baskets

February 11, 2014 by

 

chocolate gift basket review

 

I received this gift tower from a co-worker and I was delighted.  When I removed the gift tower from the box, I was delightfully surprised.  You can see from the picture that it is not your average gift basket.  It was a tower of 6 boxes.  It was so pretty I didn’t want to open it.  So, I placed it on my kitchen counter and admired it for days.

The boxes are beautiful, and the ribbon gave the tower a finishing touch.  As a result, my curiosity peaked as I looked at the pretty boxes.  They leave you wondering what’s in them because the boxes don’t give any hints.  I think that’s the point of the packaging.  The packaging was so beautiful, I decided to do a review of the gift just for you.

After a few days I couldn’t resist opening the boxes.  I had to find out what was in them. So I decided to open the top box on the tower.  What do you think was in the box?  If you guessed Ghirardelli chocolate squares you were right.  Chocolate lovers know how good Ghirardelli chocolate is.  They were devoured in a few days, much to my delight.

Because of my excitement, I decided to open one box per week.  During my endeavors, I discovered chocolate Italian pralines, candy apple caramels, butterscotch hard candies, yogurt covered pretzels and spice cookies.  I have to say this is one of the best gift baskets that I’ve ever received.

 Wondering about the maker, Wine Country Gift Baskets?   This company is based out of California.  It is known for their wine gift baskets and stellar customer service.  They have a large selection of towers and other gift baskets to choose from and ship via FedEx Ground.  They offer a variety of  prices to accommodate everyone’s budget.

This gift tower just happens to be one of my favorite reviews.  So, add Wine Country Gift Baskets to your on-line Brands for gifts. If you’re looking for something unique, consider this gift basket tower.  I highly recommend it.

Check out our Ultimate Kitchens Water Infuser Pitcher Review

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Winter Images: Ice Trees

February 10, 2014 by


Sometimes we need to take our mind off the stress of everyday life and focus on something beautiful.  Spring is around the counter, but I wanted to share a few pictures of West Virginia winters.  Winter has let its presence be known at my house the last few months.  We’ve had snow, ice and more snow.  I’m not much on the cold weather, but I have learned to enjoy mother nature’s beauty when she lays a blanket of snow and ice in my neighborhood.  I have learned to turn these type of mornings to be an opportunity to de-stress and enjoy the beauty.  

I stepped outside and found my trees layered in ice this particular morning.  They were beautiful. I could hear the sounds of crackles, drips and more crackles as the ice was melting.  It was beautiful music to my ears.  It was quite a fascinating experience.  

Rather than be angry at mother nature for causing unsafe conditions and bringing extremely cold weather upon us, I have learned to find the beauty in it.  I found these beautiful ice trees outside my door.  What are some your favorite things about winter?  

Filed Under: ice storms, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

My Mama Told Me Book Review

February 10, 2014 by

I finished another book on my Kindle.  I read My Mama Told Me by Sade C. Morrison.  This book is the first of three novels from Sade Morrison, and I have to say I enjoyed it.  In some instances it could be a Tyler Perry novel, starring Medea and her daughter.  


The main characters in the book are Naomi and her mother Gloria.  The setting is Detroit.  Naomi is ambitious, has a master’s degree, drives a Jaguar and lives in a wealthy neighbor.  Her life is far from the working class neighborhood where she was raised.  That life seems to be beneath her now and has created a distance between Naomi and her family.  


Gloria, Naomi’s mother, is a churchgoing woman who’s career was raising her daughter and making a home for her family.   She’s a southern cook, soul food recipes are her specialty, believes in the Lord and lives a simple life. 

Naomi’s life is turned upset down when a secret from her husband’s past surfaces.  She decides to leave him and the life she has become accustomed to and file for divorce. She heads home to her mother until she can figure out a plan and get back on her feet.  During her stay, she finds comfort in her mother and learns that her mother had endured a painful incident in her marriage too.  Her mother also suffers a heart attack.  Gloria helps Naomi by having heart to heart conversations with her and attempts to bring her back to her roots and the strong foundation she was raised on.  


All and all, I thought it was a good first novel by this author.  I would and will download another book in the future and see what it brings.  I recommend the book.  

Filed Under: book reviews, free ebooks, free kindle ebooks, Uncategorized Tagged With:

My Ancestors Discovered Johnsontown

February 8, 2014 by
                                                                    
                                                                       


It’s Black History Month, and I wanted to share a little of my history with you so you can get to know me better.  I’m in the midst of tracing my ancestry, and I discovered that a small town near me was discovered by my great, great, great grandmother and grandfather.  I remember going to family reunions in a town called Johnsontown, WV, but I have to admit I had no idea of the history behind it.
The town was discovered by George W. and Betty Johnson who were slaves in Pennsylvania.  In 1848, they were freed.  The slave owners brought them to Virginia where they founded Johnsontown on 12 acres of land. It is now, Johnsontown, WV.  My grandfather, my mother’s father, is a descendant.  They built several homes, a church  and a one room school house in the small community.  Before the church was built, the one room school house was used for both church and school.
                                                    
                                             


I remember attending family reunions in Johnstown.  The cook-out was Saturday and the following Sunday one of my relatives would preach at the small church shown above.  My mother’s side of the family were religious people on both sides.  They have a history of being Ministers, Bishops, Evangelists or marrying those who were.  I often wonder how my grandfather and my grandmother meet.  My grandfather who I loved dearly missed the boat on his religious calling.  He drank and raised hell every week-end God sent, but he never missed a day of work.  He taught me to care, share, work hard and play even harder.  I remember him planting a garden the size of a field to feed all of his children and grandchildren and making a career on the B and O Railroad.  My grandparents stayed married until the day my grandfather died.  My grandmother grieved herself to death, she passed away 6 months later. 
I’m proud of my heritage and wanted to share a part of my history with you.  Have you traced your ancestry?  Please share a part of your history.  Knowing who you are is a great feeling!
                                                                          
  
Filed Under: Black History Month, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,