Recipes for Love...

Recipes for Love over on Blah Blah Birds today!!!

Check it out here! 

Good Monday Morning...

SISTA LOVE!
beyonce.com

make it a happy week! 

Good Monday Morning...

photo credit: jiggyloves

have a fabulous week! 

Good Monday Morning...

sezane paris

have everything with cherries on top this week!

smiling about...

being married for 5 years...

hotel casa del mar
may 24, 2008

5 things...

I still get excited when he walks through the door

 we still make each other laugh out loud

date night is always on Friday, no matter who joins us (mom..ha)

we make decisions together on pretty much everything

I enjoy cooking for him and he enjoys tasting 

bonus: we watch "real time with bill maher show every friday night after date night :) ha!

little marriage advice...

 on your anniversary day, ask each other what you've done great this year and what you can work on for the upcoming year.  keeps communication open and helps each of you improve. 

(I might still need to work on what he told me last year...lol)

enjoy the weekend!

 

Good Monday Morning...

my favorite photo or him!

happy birthday to my sweet husband, who makes me laugh everyday! 

 

Smiling About...

the best pizza you'll ever eat...

getting this lovely top in the mail soon...

these comfy and cozy socks...a bit pricey though! 

blah blah birds getting a facebook page...like us! 

celebrating the sweetest husband's birthday this weekend...

have a fabulous weekend! 

 

Happy Heart Day...

photo credit: jiggyloves

Spreading love over on Blah Blah Birds...

Happy Valentine's Day!

and I'm off and running...
 

Love to Procrastinate...

The famous and the infamous V-Day is tomorrow, and someone is panicking.  lol!!!  Here are some last minute ideas that your sweetheart will surely love...

whip up ooey gooey salted caramel heart brownies...

if you're in or have a sweetheart in DC, Chicago, NYC, or San Fran, H.Bloom might be the way to go...

these cute little monogrammed leather jewelry pouches...I want it! 

make your sweetheart a nice cocktail before dinner...

surprise your sweetheart with their own custom fragrance...

a trip to the city of love...BAM! 

photo credit: hipparisblog

whatever you do, do it with love...

and I'm off and running...
 

Smiling About

8 ways to tell if a man is in love with you...

our shadow
Toronto May 2012

On the show The View yesterday, Joy kicked off "Hot Topics" off with these 8 ways.  I thought it was so sweet and funny, and I wanted to share if you didn't see it yourself.

1. Catch him staring at you-check

I always catch the husband staring at me at least 2 to 3 times a week.  Ha!  Sometimes I say "what are you staring at?" other times, I just admire that he does it.

2. Gazes in your eyes-check

He just gets so dreamy eyed when he talks to me. Lol!

3. Buys foods that you like-check

He always brings home my favorite ice cream even though I don't need the stuff.  Hmmm...does he reallllly love me? Ha!

4. Keeps his stuff at your house-check

Well of course he does, we are married!

5. Talks about the future-check

Always!

6. Wears the sweater you gave him-check

He definitely doesn't shop for himself, so he really has no choice!

7. Stands right next to you in public-check

He always does, unless we had an argument in the car.  Then he walks ahead of me.  lol!

8. Ok with you answering his phone-check

Hmmmm... this is a hard one!  He sure loves to answer mine and look at my Instagram and Facebook, but I don't usually answer his phone.  I guess it's nice to give him a little privacy!  I do tell him when it's ringing and when he gets a text. lol!

So, I guess I'm 100% sure The Husband REALLY loves me!  Now, ladies don't go starting any arguments about this list, just admire the unique ways he shows you he loves you.  It's all in fun!

In honor of this post, Happy 8th Anniversary to my dear friend Ladybird Toni and her hubby Chibale Wills!!! Love you guys, you lovebirds! 

Have a fabulous weekend!

and I'm off and running...
 

Tracee Love...

  

I know I posted about Tracee Ellis Ross' new website here and here, but I didn't watch this video until yesterday.  I had to share!   Love her, and how she wants to change the world, inspire, and touch people with googoobs of positive energy.  Love how she loves Instagram and Pinterest...me too!   I love when people are just real and let it all hang out!

Look I said "love" like four times...I think love is one of the key things to being the best person we can be along with compassion, which is very hard to master.   I see so much hatred and negativity in the social media world and beyond, and her video just gives me the warm and fuzzies.

What do you think?

and I'm off and running...
 

tiny little problem...

Yes, this week my mind has shut down as far as posting.  I cannot think of anything to blog about.  Is that crazy or what?  I always have something to say, but this week...nothing!  What have I been doing?  Well, I've been thinking about turning another year older on Sunday.  Yep, my birthday is coming up fast and furiously!  I seem to always get in these birthday funks leading up to the day, but then I'm all excited the day of.  We'll see if that happens this year!  I've gotta stop the hate my age getting older thing and just embrace it! 

What else has my mind preoccupied?  I received "tiny beautiful things" in the mail on Monday, which is my book choice for September book club, which I'm so excited about hosting.  The book...can't put it down!   Really interesting read so far.  I feel like I'm ear hustling at the door of someones therapy session.  Ha!  If you're looking for a great book,  check it out!  It's by Cheryl Strayed, and it's a tiny bit of goodness. 

Tomorrow, check out my post over on Blah Blah Birds!  Meanwhile, order the book and check out Ladybird Dyan's post here!

Any great books you're reading now?  Do share! 

and I'm off and running...
 

smiling about...

this perfect dish...

photo credit: how sweet it is

20 cheap summer date nights...

photo credit: marie claire

look forward to doing a couple of these with the hubby!

people watching in Paris...

photo credit: hip paris blog

Hip Paris blog did a cute post on  places to people watch in Paris.   Definitely love to people watch and can't wait to do it in Paris.   Bookmarked!

public picnics...

photo credit: pop up la

Just think of a huge public picnic with everyone wearing white.  Pop Up Picnic has come to L.A.!!!  More deets here...

this video...

video credit: urban bush babes

Video speaks for itself, but I heart Solange!  

what are you smiling about?

have a great weekend! 

Life has been life lately...

Nice, France June 2009
photo credit: jiggyloves

Life has been life lately!  You all know how that is.  Ups and downs, highs and lows, excitement and disappointment...the roller coaster of life.  I feel like I have been running in place for the past two years and not really being fully present.  Yes, I take exciting trips, make great meals, try new restaurants, see great movies,  laugh and smile with my husband, have girl talk, and dream, but how do I feel when I'm doing none of that?  That is what I feel is important.

Basically, how do you feel when you're with yourself and nothing to do?  Are you happy, sad, frustrated, anxious, peaceful?   For me, it depends on the week.   Most of the time I like to go a lot, be out, keeping it moving.  I might sit by myself for a minute or two, but then I'm itching to go.  When Friday hits, I'm always looking at the husband saying  "what are we doing this weekend?" or "where are we going?"  or "we have to do something".  Ha!  Actually, we don't have to do anything, but just be.  Being happy in my own skin and with my own company.  Right?  I'm working on that! :)

Today, I'm on my 18th day of meditation, which I do every morning and evening.  I definitely see a huge change in my priorities and my mood.  I'm not totally there yet, but I feel a change in me.  I've always wanted to meditate, but never followed through.  I decided to take on two tasks; meditation/prayer and going to bed at 10:00pm (orders of my lovely acupuncturist, she really said 9pm).  I've done well with the mediation, but going to bed before 10:30pm has been difficult...the Olympics is on!!! lol!  The sleep thing is a work in progress!

My next tasks are mastering a weekly exercise schedule and cutting my dreadlocks...Yes! I'm done with them and ready for a new look (more on this later).  I think setting one or two tasks or goals at a time is great!  It helps to relieve the stress of having to conquer it all at once.  I've tried that, doesn't work!!!  In the mist of all that, I'm giving God the tasks of blessing me with a career change and a little healthy, cuddly, beautiful or handsome, happy  addition to our family.   No pressure! :)

day at the beach June 2012
photo credit: jiggyloves

Here are two thoughts by Deepak Chopra that stuck with me during my meditation practice...

"Surrendering the needs of the ego to the needs of the spirit" (Very difficult, but very possible with continued awareness)


"The more I love and embrace change, the more my life unfolds easily and effortlessly" 


That's all!


I just wanted to share, maybe even spark a dialogue.  If not, then hopefully I touched one person out there that has been thinking what I've been feeling lately.  Life is tough, but there is so much to be thankful for and so many blessings on the rise.

If you have some words of encouragement or want to share, leave a comment below.  Thanks for reading!

Enjoy yourself today...and check out some food for the soul over at blah blah birds!

and I'm off and running...