Kierra Kiki Sheard "You Don't Know"

LeAndria Johnson-I Shall Leap Into My Destiny

the words are so powerful. i shall leap into my destiny

LeAndria Johnson singing Running Back To You

i love her version of this song more than the orginal. i find myself listening to this song and this youtube video at least once a week. Her voice is so anointed!!!!

LIQUID PRAYER

Beyoncé Songs...This wont be happening ever again on my blog

I am NOT a beyonce fan at all. HOWEVER she has four songs that I do like by her, that actually has some substance to them. so I figured I would upload all three songs so you can hear them but I wont be uploading anything else by her... I JUST figured out why I love these songs so much. None of them were actually written by her. That's why it makes so much sense and are so mature... Duh, why didn't I realize this earlier.  Anywho enjoy beyonce fans.

  

He Still Love's Me-The Fighting Temptations Movie

It is always good to know that no matter what God still loves you!!!!

No I'm not lucky I'm BLESSED YESSSS!!!!

       So a lot of great things have been happening to me lately and I really feel like 2011 is my year!!! I have been working out, I lost weight and inches. I got into another graduate school. I am in good health. I am crossing off items on my goal list for 2011 as well. I joined a book club and I have been reading a lot of literature.(Although I am not a big fan of the book I am reading now because it is a pretty depressing book) I went on a random road trip. I trying different foods, and I actually enjoy it. lol. I even started a blog! lol. The lord is opening up a lot of opportunities for me. I am very thankful,gr8ful, and humbled about everything that is happening in my life. There is one thing however I need to upgrade and do in my life. I listen to gospel music and try to live by the Lord's word. I mess up from time to time, I am human. But I wanna join a bible study group. It was not on my check list. It just popped up in my head today. So I am gonna do. I am a go getter. I sometimes act on impulse and that feeling in the now moment. I think about what I am going to do before I do it. However if I really want to do it. I am gonna do it. But I am going to talk to my pastor and my host family at my church and see when they are having them so that I can attend...

        The Lord has really been blessing me abundly l8ly and I am very happy with everything that is happening in my life. I am still currently broke, but I am fine with that.lol. Not really, but hey things in my life could be worse. So I am happy for where I am now. I love me some AmeriCorps VISTA, but I do wish they paid us VISTAs more. Somehow the Lord has been helping me out and I am maintaining. I call my mom almost every week, asking for money, and someway some how she produces the money and I thank her for that.  I basically make just enough money to pay all my bills to turn around and be broke all over again. Now ain't that some bullets.lol.

        I am still weighing out my options about the whole Missouri thing, for those that are wondering. I would not mind going. I talked to the woman today and I asked her did she get my cover letter and resume. She stated that she did and she would be getting back to me in the next couple of days. So I am going to w8 a week and see what she says. She informed me that she also sent out a couple of other emails to other people. So now I have competition. If it is for me, it is for me. I am just going to pray over it and if I am suppose to be in Missouri I will be in Missouri. And if I am suppose to be in Missouri, I pray that God guides and makes me a gr8 asset to the organization and the people that I serve. I do have a strong passion for gerontology so hopefully I said all the right things and I am what she is looking for. I guess I am halfway what they want because she did contact me first right????

I thought this song did a gr8 job of expressing how I am feeling right now. Enjoy and good night everyone!!!

Single Strand Knots: How to Avoid 'Em!

BGLH asks, Single strand knots or SSKs are the bane of many naturals’ existence. Today I’d like to know, how do you decrease single strand knots? Have you made adjustments that resulted in a decrease of single strand knots. If so, what were they?

Single Strand Knots are almost entirely unavoidable, but there are some things you can do to prevent them from getting too out of control. I try to avoid single strand knots by doing the following:

• oil rinsing
• detangling at least once a week, carefully from ends to root
• wearing stretched styles (twist-outs are my go to style!)
• Sealing my ends every time I wet my hair

What about you? Let me know!

Stay fabulous!

OH MY GOD MISSOURI

Part I: The Overview
Okay so overall today was a pretty good day. It was rainy, but the day went by really fast especially when you work a 9-5 job like me. Anyway let me jump to why I am blogging tonight. So I was registering for a workshop that my Alma mater was having. I thought to myself, why do I have to register under my school email address. So I decided to clean out my email by erasing old emails that are no longer important, to leave room in my email in case I get a confirmation back from my school. That's when I saw it. A job recruitment form from AmeriCorps VISTA. Whoever said that AmeriCorps does not help a person find a job was lying. Anywho (I know that's not a real word, I just like saying it.lol.) the email in a nutshell offered me a job.

Part II: The Job
The job however is located in St. Louis, Missouri. The recruiter for the job stated that they found my information through AmeriCorps. They are offering to help house me for a very cheap rate and utilities will be included along with moving and traveling expenses. As you all know I am a AmeriCorps Vista and the job would be through AmeriCorps again. So it is a real job, not a spam. It is a great opportunity and it is a legitimate opportunity as well. Basically my job title would be Health and Transportation VISTA. She also emailed me the job description for the position. The job looks VERY interesting because I love working with the elderly population. This is what I do in a nut shell.....

The goal of the VISTA Project is to promote successful aging by supporting our seniors to live safely in their homes, lead a physically and spiritually active life, and remain socially engaged in their community. The Health/Transportation VISTA will increase the quality of life of seniors through health promotions coordination and the Ready, Set, Go transportation program for seniors to their medical appointments and worship services.

She also broke down in about 4 more pages of what I would be doing as well. BUT I realize this is a blog, so I am not going to bore you all with a extremely long blog post. haha.

Part III: I got a Dilemma
 If I accept the job I will start exactly 2 days after my first contract ends. They would also train me for a week in the month of June or July. Ok so here is my dilemma I got accepted into 3 graduate schools. I have already deferred 2 already to do AmeriCorps for 1 year. I just recently applied to a third graduate school and I got accepted  as well. I can defer the 3rd school for one year, however the other two if I choose to take this job would mean that I would have to reapply to those schools again for the following year.....Okay here is 2nd dilemma...Money.  Ok many do not know, but I am a military dependent. And the military has been paying for my college education....however it is until I turn 26... I am 24 NOW! If I take this opportunity, I will have a few months to use the remaining monies of my benefits. However this job is something that would be a great opportunity.

Part IV: The Breakdown
I am very analytical about EVERYTHING. So I am weighting my options and I weighing my opinions. I am also trying to looking at the pros and cons of this situation. I called my Alma mater to find out exactly how many months of my educational benefits I have left and IF I can possibly extend it.( Its a Huge possibility that the government will say no, but I am going to give it a try.lol) AmeriCorps is already paying for a semester of school and if I continue to do AmeriCorps again for a second year then that means, I will have one full year of graduate school that will be paid for. Those are two pros BUT call me greedy, but I want as much free money as possible. So I do not want to age out of my money. You feel me?

Part V: Location, Location
I emailed the woman, and I told her that I was interest.  I also got a really good friend of mines to help me write up a gr8 cover letter. Special shout out and thanks goes to her! I am honored and flattered that they thought of me to even offer me a job. I am from Virginia, and I wasn't quite sure how far Missouri was in driving distant. I typed in my GPS the address of where I will be working, if I take the position and it is 772 Miles from Virginia. Distance is not a issue for me mainly because I do not have a comfort zone. lol. I love meeting new people and learning new things. There is a possibility that I might get homesick, I gr8ly doubt it, but there is a possibility that could happen, But I will be fine. Plus I am a member of the largest black sorority in the world. I can easily join a alumnae chapter and mingle with Sorors that can introduce me to people in the area. But before I just up and move, I need to see where I am moving and if this job and area will be a good fit for me. Also I would need to see the housing  they are provided me with for little to nothing cost. I also looked up the cost of living in the area as well to see if I can even afford the area.

Part VI: What this job can do for me?
This job could be a very good job and marketing opportunity for me. I applied to graduate schools to receive my Masters in Social Work. AmeriCorps itself in a sense is a social work like job. Mainly because you are serving and helping those in need and AmeriCorps main focus is to eliminate poverty. I like working with the elderly population and if I take this job that would be something else to add to my already long resume. So that is a pro as well. 

Part VII: Where I am
I think my determine factor would be money and making sure my VA benefits are good. I am truly thankful to A. Been Accepted into 3 graduate schools and the options to even choose. B.Choose to leave or stay in the state of VA C. Have my housing cover D. Be offered the opportunity to move to a new state and city....

THERE WILL BE A PART VIII I WILL STATE WHAT THE VA SAYS AND WHAT THE JOB SAYS ABOUT ME VISITING. UNTIL THEN I AM GOING TO PRAY OVER THE WHOLE SITUATION. THANKS FOR READING EVERYONE!

My mini vacation....UPDATE TIME..

       So I went on a mini vacation to west. va...Morgantown to be exact. I had a good time but I'm def happy to be back in the 757...I went down to visit one of old friends. I drove down to w.va all by myself. What was I thinking. A 6 hour trip turned into 9 hours! Geesh! I did wonderful my first 4 1/2 hours. I was on a roll. Then I got tired...I ended up stopping at 2 different rest stops,1 gas station, and I rested again outside of a hotel....I kept taking these half hour naps. But I finally made it to wva...I got lost for a brief second in hecktown, and almost freaked out but my friend found me. lol. My friend Akeya was a gr8 host, and she showed me around the city of Morgantown. I ate at some really nice restaurants and I ended up buying 3 bottles of wines at this winery. Which is funny because I really don't drink. But the wine that I bought was sweet.

        West Virginia University is def huge and full of hills and mountains. Too big and hilly for me but def a nice looking school with different majors. I believe ODU and WVU are the same size.  The only thing I didn't like about WVU is that their campus is spread all over.

      We went to a couple of restaurants, museums,and wine tasting. I did good with my diet on the trip as well. At least I think I did. lol. I did good my 1st night with the food, and even the 2nd night....I ate my dinner to l8 though...I woke early the next morning and did 20 push ups, 120 crunches, 60 squats ,100 jumping jacks, and front and side planks at a min a piece...I  tried to take pictures of my trip but I don't have a camera so a lot of the pictures are taken from my phone, however they aren't that clear. I'm still gonna upload them for you to see. I wish I would have taken more pictures though.

      Another good thing I can say about WVa is the price of living. Its extremely low! Furnished apartments are like $300. My friend was like those apartments right there are highway robbery,this is in the rich area. I go how much are they...she goes $750 for a 2 bedroom it incl. Water and elec. But it doesn't include furniture..That's just too much. I was like that's a good,a rich area in the 757 is 1600-2000 a month for an apartment and that doesn't incl. Anything...if I pay $300 for an apartment in the 757 its gonna be the slums or I have a roommates and we split everything in half and I still end up paying close to $500 a month after I pay rent,elec, cable...Then I said to myself, self ur not in 757 anymore. You two are living 2 different worlds. But I have 2 more days left of my vacations. I just got home after another 6 hours trip back to the 757. I'm resting today. Def hitting up the gym hard today and tomorrow for a good 2-3 hour workout! I gotta burn the calories that I ate this weekend. Thanks for reading about my weekend!!! My pictures are below!




close up on my makeup

 



in wva getting ready

 


akeya

 


stepping out for the night

 

wine tasting at the winery





one the restaurants that I went to down there

 

inside the restaurant




inside the restaurant

 



appetizer that we ate, it was pretty good

 



spinach lasagna

  


hummus and another organic dish

 

dressing up.... someone said that i look slim in this picture. ill take that compliment.lol.



Mike Posner - Bow Chicka Wow Wow ft. Lil Wayne

this song is so funny to me.... its kindof disrespectful. i hope people dont think a girl would change her mind after putting on some music. also the heavy promo of the alcohol in the video i could have done without, but hey if its paying his bills i cant be mad... but the chorus cracks me up everytime i hear it.

Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne Motivation

when i was driving to west va to visit one of my good friends. i heard this song on the radio, and i really like this song!!! check it out and tell me what you think!
Below is the exact music videos. The above video has the lyrics. I def forsee this video getting banned in the US.lol. I still like it though.

Whitney Houston (Worth It) Beauty of Love

I guess its music monday for me today because I am seriously uploading songs back to back... hey i guess thats what you do when its 2:20am and your on vacation.....but enjoy. i really like this song, and i really like the video of different successful couples displaying their love!!! hopefully i will meet someone someday that will make me say love is worth it. until then, i will love via these music videos and songs.

Fantasia & Jamie Foxx - Do What It Do

i have been watching this periodically for 4 years... i would love for these two to do a duet together...

Midnight by Brett Jones and Coko (Of SWV)

One of my favorite gospel songs ever.... never w8 until midnight or when something is wrong to call on God

Lyfe Jennings - It Coulda Been Worse

  If you hear one of lyfe jennings songs, you say this is my favorite song THEN all of a sudden you hear more of his songs... and you say to yourself I LOVE ALL of Lyfe Jennings songs. He is truly gr8 at what he does and I def appreciate him for keeping his music real!!!!.... i wish i had the opportunity to hear him preform in person. I don't believe I will get that opportunity seeing that is in jail for the next couple of years. However I still remain a fan, I wish you the bnest and you and your family are in my prayers..... this song is so true in so many way because in life things def could have been worse....

Could Have Been Worse by Lyfe Jennings

Visiting Good by God West Va

Going on a mini Vacation to visit my bestie in good ol West Virginia. I can't w8!!! Pictures will be coming soon!!! I guess, I will talk to you all in a few days!!! 

WV has lots of natural resources like mountains



My Bestie is getting her MSW at WVU. I cant w8 to get a tour of the school!



Pictures of my weekend

So this week was my collegiate chapter's charter week. Although I graduated and have joined a alumnae chapter I still come back and support. The neos of the chapter did an awesome job with our charter week. I really enjoyed myself!  Below are a couple of pictures of my chapter, Lambda Eta at our charter week dinner and weekend. There is no other chapter greater, flyer, and smarter than Lambda Eta!!!

me and my 19 Tasha

LaKisha(03) and me (09)

Miss Songtress herself, Rae (94)

Some of Lambda Eta 93-2010

Spr 09 and 01

my lss and I



93.94.96.09.10



my LS (Dayje) and I

SPR 09 & SPR 07

94,95,05

hopping (05,09,10)



SPR 95!!

SPR 94

FALL 10(the neos) my ls Tasha and her son Q



blah blah blah blah blah

So I have been working out for a about 2 months strong and I am very proud of myself for sticking to my goal. Like I listed in previous blogs I have cheated twice in the past 2 months. Last night was one of those days. So I have cut back my fried food completely. It was not intentional however. I have just been eating a lot of grilled and/or baked foods, eating more fruits and vegetables, basically making healthier choices when it comes to food to make a long story short. So yesterday, I did good all day, I ate breakfast, lunch, small snacks, and fruits. Then I went to a program, and once again I picked all the healthy items to eat, the fruits and the veggies and water, instead of the punch. Then after the evening program. I went to a fast food restaurant. There is nothing wrong with going to a fast food restaurant, its just what you get on the menu. I go out to restaurants a lot,and get salmon, but I have not eaten at a fast food restaurant in about 4 weeks. Any who back to my story, so I go to restaurant and I order 3 chicken fingers, fries, and bread, with the secret sauce. What the H was I thinking doing that. So I ate it. EPIC EPIC EPIC EPIC FAIL. My stomached hurt so bad.. I think it was because my body was not use to eating all that fried food. Not only did I eat the chicken tenders, but I eat the fries too, that 2 greasy food that I consumed and I didn't even know how many calories that was.. So needless to say, I wont be doing that anymore. No more fried anything!!!!
       This too is off subject, some people really ticked me off and said that I lied about what I eat, and don't eat. How can you tell me what I eat and don't eat. Are you with me 24/7? Do you workout with me? If your answer is no, I need for you to worry about what your doing and not what I'm doing. Instead of criticizing people you need to work on yourself first. I am honest about everything. If I say I going to workout, I actually go and workout. If I say I cheated OR messed up I will say I cheated and messed up. How is that lying? Last time I checked that was being pretty truthful. How rude are you? VERY... I think some people are just h8rs.

Morning Workout Update: I need some motivation!

 OK, So I have been blogging about wanting to add a morning workout in a addition to my evening workout for about a week now. Key word, blogging/ wanting to add... I am still doing my evening workouts faithfully. I am still working out 3-4 days out of the week., for 1-2 hours at a time. My goal was to add running for longer periods at a time(which I have been doing,), and morning workouts to the mix. I have been running longer, but this morning workout is getting me and I don't know why. Here's the thing. I wake up early everyday, between 6:30-7:15am sometimes earlier. I don't have to be at work until 9am so I have amble enough time to pop a DVD in the TV and workout for 30mins -1 hour, take a shower, then head to work. Its not that I am tired or anything. Because I get up, look around, change the channel on the TV, and since I have been working with my training, I added breakfast to my diet. So i make breakfast.( Don't get too excited on the breakfast. Its instant stuff like oatmeal,and cereal and fruit, something you can whip up in less than 5 mins.) So I don't know what I need to do to get myself motivated to workout in the morning, I am all the way motivated in the afternoon, and I get upset, if I think I wont make it to gym. I don't know what I need to do get that humph in the morning. Any suggestions????

Kirk Franklin - I Smile

Thanks for the reminder to smile...

Walking by Mary Mary w/Lyrics

Enjoy, as long as you are walking with Jesus by your side you dont have anything to worry about!

HAPPY CHARTER DAY TO THE LOVELY LADIES OF THE LAMBDA ETA CHAPTER OF DST SORORITY INC.!!!

PSA: TODAY HAS BEEN DECLARED A NATIONAL HOLIDAY...ON THIS DAY 37 YEARS AGO, THE LAMBDA ETA CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INC WAS CHARTERED ON THE CAMPUS OF OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY....WE WERE THE 1ST BLACK GREEK ORGANIZATION TO BE CHARTERED AT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY..WE WERE THE 1ST TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THE 1ST TO BECOME LEADERS, AND WE ARE STILL A THRIVING FORCE 37 YEARS LATER...PLEASE UNDERSTAND THERE IS NONE GREATER THAN LAMBDA ETA....♥.
ALSO A SPECIAL SHOUTOWT  GOES TO OUR 11 SHINING STARS!!! BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU PAVING THE WAY AND CHANGING THE CAMPUS OF OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY ONE DUCK WALK AT A TIME!!!.... THE ROAD IS SOO VERY LONG!!!

Ciara ft R. Kelly "Promise" Remix

I love r.kelly.This song is old, but I had to bring it back.. R.kelly is just a talented dude. He cant help it. its in his blood. he eats, drinks, lives, and makes love to it.lol... thats a bad man!!! I always loved this song, but r.kelly killed it!

In search for a studio apartment

So I have been on a massive search for a studio apartment. Now you may ask, why do you want a studio? Aren't they small? But here is the thing, its just me!!! I don't need a lot of space. Why should I pay $200-$300 more a month for a wall when I can create my own wall. Come on, now that to me is silly. So I think I found the perfect studio apartment and In am excited. Its in a perfect location, the price is something that I can afford and most importantly it has lots of closet space, and its in a safe area. I am a young lady and I can't live anywhere. My next step is furniture. I found some really cute furniture. I plan on purchasing it next month. All I need is a couch,bed, pictures for the wall, and a rug.I also need some decorations for the bathroom. I already have a dining room set and a dresser/chest.I basically need a lot of stuff. lol.But when I get my income taxes back (that's if I get anything back.lol) I want to purchase my big items with that money and buy everything else piece by piece. My goal is to have everything for my apartment by July. So that's 4 months. Not too bad. Here are some pictures of some the items that I want.

has lots of storage space, which is very key when you live in a studio

I like earth-tone furniture, I can buy anything to go with it. SN. I am only purchasing the couch.

I like this rug, I think it would go so well with this furniture

YOU CAN DO IT

Soooooo I graduated from my 6 weeks program with my trainer, however he is booked up until April 5th!!! So a small group of his former students have decided to get together and workout. I think that was a gr8 idea. We worked out together yesterday and it was a huge success. It was only 4 of us, but it always feel good to workout in groups and have someone cheering you on. I see these next 3 weeks will be a challenge  to myself to see if I can still maintain my healthy lifestyle. In the words of a very funny guy from from the Waterboy once said..." YOU CAN DO IT!!" lol. Also I am increasing my speed on the treadmill and I am very proud of myself. I ran 10 mins straight without stopping. My goal is to run a mile in 10 mins or less. I am getting closer and closer.... GO ME!!

Alicia Keys-Speechless ft Eve

Have you ever met someone that literally has you speechless... I love this song. Its Alicia Keys new single "Speechless" feat. Eve. .My favorite line is the chorus..."I'm speechless baby. Don't know what to say. I'm just speechless baby. The poet in me as gone away...."

I finally see it!!!

Happy Monday everyone!!! If anyone has been reading my blog about my weight lost goals, you will know that I have been upset with my weight lost or lack of weight lost. I am losing more so inches than weight and I am also gaining muscle. I have been working out and eating healthy. All that sounds gr8, however to me, all of my clothing seemed to feel the same. I know I was losing inches because my trainer measured me, but I could not see what I was losing and I was upset about that. Today, I put on a shirt for giggles that at one point was hard to close, and gosh darn it I could button the shirt with ease. Then I tried on another shirt, and that look pretty darn good on me as well. I finally see the weight and inches that I lost!Whose excited?!?!?... THIS GIRL! I am working out tonight and still eating healthy. I can't slack off, as easy as it was to gain the weight, its twice as hard to lose it!!! I just wanted to update everyone on my good news. You guys may not be excited but I def. am.

Nubian Twists

Sooooo I have wanted Nubian twists ever since a former classmate of mines got them about a year and a half ago. So I finally got them. It only took oh...7 hours which to me, is pretty impressive because it usually take 8-9 hours to do my hair. I am not in love with my hair, but I don't think its ugly either. I think its cute. I would get them again. What do you guys think? Do u like them? yes? No?
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side view

up close view

far away view

 

PlayDate

Playing Jenga at playdate

So yesterday evening I went to playdate for the first time. I really enjoyed myself. Basically playdate is where you go to a venue and all throughout the venue are games. And I am talking about games you haven't seen since childhood.lol. Operation, ms.pac man, wii,jenga, sorry, uno, poker, etc. They also had competitions like hula hopping, sing off, musical chair, and music was playing in the background all night. Also drinks and food were there at the location...what I really like was when you come in, there were name tags and u got to pick from it...what my friends and I all picked each others names. My name was "sweet cheeks" because I have chubby cheeks like a baby. I had a gr8 time and will def go again. I know the creators of PlayDate have to be super rich, because the place was packed! I looked them up and they travel all over to different cities like Miami, Vegas, and other major cities.

How I wore my hair to playdate