Warm Wednesdays: Being grateful

I am so blessed to have a J.O.B. but more importantly a J.O.B that has my schedule to be flexible.  I remember my days as a claims adjuster (I just had a gag reflex when speaking those words). I could not stand that job. I mean sitting in the office alllll day long answering phones about inflated claims for bodily injury or car damage. Uuuggghhh. I knew deep in my soul I needed to be in the helping capacity. To what degree, I didn't know. So, I am thankful that my current J.O.B took a chance with me because I did not have any experience in this field. Nine years later, I'm still in the business of assisting those who are intellectually challenged. I am also so blessed to have snagged the type of J.O.B that allows me to be in the community helping others.

 Today was a beautiful day and I don't miss anything about being in the office answering some foolish calls about what's fake hurting people or the fake damage that was done to their car/property by the people we insured.

YAY me........ Booo my past as a claims adjuster.

Enjoy.

Anthony Hamilton - Last Night (ft. Sunshine Anderson)

You know I love music. Well, I'm that one who would listen to the CD and pick out the songs that nobody knows. I think I really should of worked at a record company or on a radio station because I would be rocking all types of music.  I have a ear for music. It can honestly put me in a zone.

For your listening pleasure

Sinful Saturdays: What a day, what a day

I had a nice time today.  It didn't start out like that at first, but it turned out to fabulous.  I called a couple of co-workers for an impromptu lunch at our favorite place- 7 West Bistro Grille. We love love love that spot.  My mouth was set on eggplant parmigiana over spaghetti. They wanted the lamb chops. As we were parking, we noticed a lot of people dressed up going into the establishmentt.  They had balloons, gifts and the whole nine yards. We didn't think anything of it. It's graduation time and it probably was a party going on in the back.  So we opened the door and to our dismay, the hostess advised us that the their was a private party and they did not have any room. We even asked about sitting at the bar and she said "no". Sad faced and starving, we turned around and exited like puppy dogs that just got scolded for wetting on the floor. I was not a happy camper. So we had regroup and figure out a spot to eat.  After pondering, we settled on "Glory Days Grille". The food  was just o.k. Nothing to write or text about. Here are some pictures of what we had:

 Corn Bread (very good, but needed to be warmer)

 Mac & Cheese (so-so. not like home)

Lobster & Crab combo (they said it was good w/out the toasted hot dog bun - yes hot dog bun lol)

 Fish Taco (where's the fish?? same thing I asked)

Chicken with tomato and goat cheeseand a side of squash. (friend said that it didn't look like the menu picture)

These are two of my co-workers/friends who also had a yearning for 7 Bistro Grille, but settled on Glory Grille instead. Nothing against Glory Grille, but it didn't even compare. My Saturday continues.......

Freestyle Fridays: Fist pumping to hip hop

I love love love music. But every now and again, I love a good hip hop song with at banging beat. Here's what I'm fist pumping to right now:

~ Hustle Hard-Ace Hood ft. Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
~I'm on one- DJ Khald ft Lil Wayne, Rick Ross & Drake
~Look at me now- Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
~No Hands- Wacko Flako ft. Wale & Roscoe Dash
~All of the lights- Kayne West ft Rihana.
~Miss me- Drake ft/ Lil Wayne

 When I hear these songs in my car, I tell ya, I become someone different for a minute. Then it's back to reality.
"Closed mouths don't get feed on this boulevard" I'm feelin' that line. I'm just sayin' (see, I'm even writing different-lol).

lol...

To Do List Thursdays: I celebrate ME

 To many times people (me included) focus on the things they wish they could change about their  looks that we don't celebrate our positive attributes. Well, here are some things that I like love about me:

~My legs. I try  down play my legs when it comes to showing them off. I've gotten lots of compliments (majority men)regarding my shapely "thick" legs. At times, I have to watch how I dress especially when it comes to going to work. If I wear dresses/skirts, I try to keep them at bay with a lower heel. When I throw a heal on- watch out now..lol. Which brings me to...
~My foot. Yes, my foot. I've been told that any shoe I put on looks good on my foot. Maybe it's the shapely leg attached to it. LOL.  But people say "oh those shoes look nice on your feet".Which brings me to...
~My skin. I've been told that my skin is super soft. I don't do much to it but put lotion on. Nothing in particular, just lotion. Which leads me to...
~My scent. I've been told that my body chemistry with perfume, perfumed body lotion or oil can hold a scent really well. Maybe the suppleness of my soft skin holds the smell in- I don't know just guessing.
~My dimple. A lot of people don't know I have a dimple. Though it's high up on my right cheek and can only be noticed when I smile. Which brings me to....
~My smile. I've been told that I have a nice smile, to bad I really have to practice smiling more though.

I don't want to seem conceited because I am not, but we have to celebrate what we like and stop dwelling on what we don't. I challenge you... celebrate the things you like instead of the things you don't.

Enjoy....

Warm Wednesday: I wish it was Friday....

Just hanging out at Fridays with a co-worker. They really changed the menu. What happened to fish & chips or a baked potato as a side. And the" three for all"-being charged like a meal- what the heck. Dang, I just wanted a taste of this or a taste of that, but not for $14.99. I don't think so. So I settled on potato skins (w/out bacon of course) and a taste of the strawberry shortcake.

My friend had the onion soup and chicken w/wheat pasta.  It looked good (if only I ate meat).

After, we took some snap shots (still amateur posing though lol)

  We had good time though.....

Goodnight people

Therapeutic Tuesdays: Ineligible

As in one of my prior posts, I stated that I was throwing in my towel. The fixer,the rescuer & the enabler towel. I don't want to do this anymore. Point blank... I'm tired.  I am really trying to be conscious about what I say and do for people. It's hard. I've been conditioned this way for along time and it's time to break this bad habit.  Just like smokers, drinkers and gamblers get their fix or high on those items, well I get my high on "helping" other people with their problems.  Who am I to judge or question the way people live their life? I can only worry about ME. So, I am resigning my unhealthy ways of trying to "fix" other peoples (a.k.a. healthy individuals)  problems. 

 Go ahead,  try to submit this to my insurance company of life  for payment, it will be stamped - BENEFIT DENIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Good night....

Carl Thomas "Hey Now"

Hey Now...whatcha know 'bout that!!!!!

Sit back and enjoy-

Sinful Saturdays: I'm throwing in my towel!!!!!

I'm hanging up my "fixer"& "rescuer" ways. I'm tired.  I had an aha moment at work.  I realized that people do not take responsibility for their own actions and I enable them to be that way.  This situation got me to thinking of all the ways in which I am a fixer, rescuer & enabler. Whether it be at work or home life, I enable people not to be the full potential God intended for them to be (or me for that matter).
 I did some research on the characteristices about this type of personality and here are a few.  The rescue is:

• Perfectionist
• Obsessive/compulsive
• Action oriented
• Family oriented (coworkers are considered family, too)
• Easily bored
• High expectations
• Strong need to be needed
• Can’t say no
• Self-critical
• Need to be in control
• Less willing to socialize (outside their profession)
• Pessimistic
• Less talk about feeling

Unfortunately, this is me.  It is said that people who are in the field of "helping or fixing people" often times need fixing themselves.   Reflecting back, I tried to fix people by doing a number of things like: looking up summer activities for other people's kids (I am childless), researching vacations that I'm not apart of  (can I go?), picking up office supplies for another program in my division (what's wrong with your car!!!), looking up support programs for at- risk youths (where's the school counselor??), calling schools to get clarity on situations that occurred (where's your mother!!!), getting information on utility plans to lower bills (didn't you know your bill was high!!!), offer unsolicited relationship and family advice (my bad). With all jokes aside, the list could go on and on. I am now aware that I put myself in these situations. I take full responsibility for enabling people to step-up and do what they have to do in order to learn for themselves.

I am taking my power back. I am only going to be accountable for me and only me.  I cannot be responsible for other peoples problems. The only person I can change is myself. 

I will be keeping a notebook handy to record how many times a day I try to "rescue" or "fix" someone else's problems.  I have a lot of work to do in being fully conscious of situations where I have the urge to rescue. 

Here are some affirmations that I am working on in order to overcome this need to fix the people, places and things in my life (a.k.a controlling situations):

~ I will only be responsible for me.

~ I can only be accountable for my actions

~ I will give back whatever doesn't belong to me

~ The only pain & fear I need to worry about, is my own

~ If the business isn't my own, then don't mind it

~ Turn the focus back on me.

Before getting involved in situations, I will silently ask myself two questions before responding: (1) Is the issue concerning me? (2) Did the person ask for my advice?  If yes to both, address the issue and/or offer advice. If no, listen and offer support.

There are to many times when I try to fix or rescue and it turns around to bite me. No more!!!!! My energy is depleted. used. drained. lifeless. finished. ca put. done. over.

 Stay tuned when I discuss more of this topic on Therapeutic Tuesdays.

Good night...

To Do List Thursday: Los Amigos

I had a wonderful time hanging out with my group- Entertaining Jackson: Eating Fabulous while staying on a budget. My meal was muy bien.  I had a potato burrito with onions & green bell peppers, rice and refried beans. The mix of flavors was so good.  The only down fall with this resturant was that you had to pay for refills. I didn't think nowadays resturants still did that. Anyway, my churro was the best I ever had. It was truly authentic not the Sam's Club 20 in the box thing.  It was filled with apples and a scoop of cool whip on top. It was yummy.  Take a look for yourself. 

 The Dish

 The Churro

The Crew

Enjoy

NEGATIVE PEOPLE!! [Les Brown]

I got this from another blogger. I never realized how inspirational Les Browns' lectures were. Makes you really want to get your ish together.

Enjoy

Cee lo Green ft. Melanie Fiona - Fool for You.wmv

I'm in love with this song. I want this played at my reception (I'm speaking this in existence thank you).

Enjoy

Warm Wednedsays: Five Pet Peeves

Here are my five pet peeves.....

~ If there are a million and one EMPTY parking spaces and you park right next to me.... I don't get that.
~People who drive super slow in front of you, then when the light changes they speed up and you get caught at the light....uuuggghhh
~People who act like they can't do anything for themselves when they are fully capable, but lazy......useless
~ People who are at the register getting rung up, then when the total appears, they have to look for the money....ahhh your at the store (purchasing of products+cash register = your money) dah...
~People who get stuff for free and still has something to say about it. Can you say...ungrateful????

Good Night

My Valentine....

This is such a cute video.  This is a you tuber that I watch and she and her husband made this video on Valentine's Day. Looking at her videos, it appears that she and hubby have a great connection. They look like soul mates.  I think this is what love should look like and be. Open & Transparent.

This video gives me hope that there is someone out there. just. for. me. ( and not the kiddie perm that's on the market lol).

Enjoy

Life of the Party - Medium.m4v

 That Charlie Wilson, I tell ya.

Sinful Sundays: It aint easy eating healthly

I really want to start eating healthier. Although I am a vegetarian, I picked up the habit of eating a lot more sweets and carbs. And we all know the math/ Sweets + Carbs= Weight Gain.

So I went to this local heath food store and got some groceries. And when I said some, it was some. The total bill was $36.56 and I know I will be finished eating them by Tuesday (maybe Wednesday). What did I buy you ask. Well, here it is:

 Crackers, string cheese, veggies chips, organic banana's, single serve dark chocolate, perfect pumpkin bar (which is soooo good), zevia soda (sugar & calorie free) and a grape strip (it's like candy licorice)

I also got some pirate booties, pop-chips, pro biotic drinks, unsweetened dried papaya strips, a sandwich for lunch (today), organic cranberry juice, hummus and two containers of lentils & brown rice mix (yum-o) for lunch tomorrow. I'm a snacker, so I needed things to snack on that's going to be low in sugar and in calories.

So, here is a picture of my sandwich. It's called a power house sandwich and it is sooo good.

It has two thick slices of mu ester (type) cheese, alfalfa sprouts, tomato's, lettuce, vegetarian mayo on two slices of grain (and you can taste it) bread.  I ate this with my zevia cream soda. It was yummy for my tummy. It's ashamed that to eat healthy it's costly. I guess it's the price you pay.

Enjoy your day, I know I am.

Sinful Saturdays: My favorite product....right now

So, I had this product for awhile sitting in my shower. I used it occasionally, so it just sat there collecting water the top. Today, I decided to get some use out of it because it was just taking up space for some new products I may want to get.

When I take baths, I bring everything but the kitchen sink in there with me. Magazines, journals, books, coupons, bills, etc..you name it, I'll bring it in there. I like to read- anything. So while bathing, I decided to read the back of the product I wanted to use.  The product directions said you can use this product in place of shaving cream.  Hmmmm I thought, maybe, I'll give it a try.

OMG!!!!!!!!!! This product is the best thing since sliced bread (well maybe not the best). I shaved my legs then put lotion on them and viola, my legs are super dupa soft (I must say so myself).  The product you ask:

It's called Organics Hollywood Beauty's Apricot Scrub. I got it when AJ Wright (R.I.P AJ Wright) was going out of business. It's an exfoliating scrub and can be used all over skin.  I also use this on my face with the microfiber cloth and Olay products. Glowing. But I must say, wow my legs (especially) are soft.  Can you say...Skin So Soft (and not from Avon- no offense) lol?

Me Likie

Freestyle Fridays: Microfiber Cloth- revisited

Microfiber cloth from cleaning section

Microfiber face cloth

I'm at the dollar store and look what I found- the actual microfiber face cloth.  I was using the microfiber cloths found in the cleaning aisle, but this is better. It's still the same thing, but just a smaller version. It still does wonders for the skin.  I use it in conjunction with Olay face products. Love it!!!!