Tempted Talent

(Talent Tuesday)


Tyler Perry has done it again! This weekend movie-goers alike will flood theaters nationwide to view Temptation (Confessions of a Marriage Counselor). Could it be a series of Temptation movies to follow? Well, Perry has yet to comment but I believe this one  will set him apart from all of the Madea comedy's and dramedy backlash his critics and fellow cinematic authors throw at him.  Take a look at what you can expect this weekend:

Here is a message from the multi-faceted writer/director himself:

         I WANT YOU TO SEE IT THIS WEEKEND! In this movie I talk about being tempted, I talk about how to forgive, I talk about how to move on from it, and I also talk about how sometimes the decisions you make when you decide to cheat can stay with you for the rest of your life. This movie is powerful. I showed it to several hundred pastors, then had them over to my house to talk about it and the sentiment was the same. This movie has the power to save relationships. So please go see it this weekend if you can. Bring your husband or your wife, your girlfriends and boyfriends, single's ministries and church groups. The subject matter is too strong for kids but it’s perfect for young adults and older. I can’t wait for you to see it.TEMPTATION OPENS EVERYWHERE THIS FRIDAY.~Tyler Perry 

 I don't know about you but I sure am tempted to see all the talented individuals in this film. There's Journee Smollett-Bell making her adult film debut. Then you have fine Lance Gross, who can cry at the drop of hat and Brandy revving up her acting chops again. There's also veterans Vanessa Williams and Ella Joyce. And who doesn't want to see newcomer Robbie Jones or Kim Kardashian make their theatrical debuts?!

Be sure to tell us how you like it!

Arnold's 6 rules

Motivational Monday

I was in training all last week for a new job and my instructor played this video to motivate our class.

I figured I'd share it with you guys, and hopefully you will feel just as motivated and inspired as I did, because it caused me to make some changes in my life.

Enjoy!              

                 

                          

                   

Artwork

(Solace Sunday)


I love buying figurines and artwork that I can have in my home one day. Until then it is all collected and kept in my closet. One of the most inspiring pieces that I've added to my collection is this wall hang that I found in Meijer!

It reads:
    Today is the day 
     Live your life with abandon. 
     Be courageous and wild at heart. 
    Be your own hero. 
    Follow your dreams, no matter how big they are. 
    Fall in love. 
    Be generous and truthful. 
    Inspire someone. 
    Take chances and be spontaneous. 
    Make friends wherever you go.
   Create happiness. 
   Smile at strangers, we're on this journey together. 
   This is your life....make it beautiful. 


Find solace in art this week. Let the words of this piece speak to you. Each day I strive to do one of the things that it says. In fact today, I'm smiling at all strangers, even if they glare back!

R.I.P the Runway

(Fashion FWD Friday)


Please tell me you all saw BET's RIP the Runway?! It was a hot mess. From the performances to the fashion....The best part was Boris Kodjoe and Kelly Rowland! The both of them dazzled the audience in thir duds. And fellas take note, JT not the only guy on his "Suit & Tie" ish! Boris' line AlphaWorld is going to do numbers this season.


Let's take a look at the best moments:

         
Boris is one beautiful man as my grandma always says!


 

What do you think of the urban couture that was featured?

Love

(Wisdom Wednesday)




Love is a beautiful thing! This weekend I was surrounded by love as I attended my cousins wedding! It was amazing to see two people exude so much love. And it wasn't phony it was real. True love.

Word to the wise:

• Stop looking for love in all the wrong places
• Seek God for companionship first 
• Be equally yoked
• Be friends first and lovers later
• Learn one another wholly 
• Build a love for each others' families 
• Grow together 
• Never see the faults in the other without addressing your own flaws
• Accept them as is
• Love compassionately 

Whats wrong with our youth?

 Truth is....This country does not put enough attention and focus on our youth because this and other terrible things should not be happening! Should not!

Im sure you have heard about this but read more here about the two teens who raped a 16 year old girl...

Talent Tuesday

This talent tuesday goes out to all the rappers out there 

whose music contain meaning, respect and truth. 

Theres not many out there, 

but we can always count on Lupe Fiasco to address major issues in our society.

This one was written about a 6 month old baby that was shot and killed...

You can read more here

But here is the song by Lupe, carefully listen to the end.

Defeats

(Monday Motivation)


In the past three months I've felt defeated in areas of my life. I'm overcoming those defeats and one thing that helped me was the quote below from Maya Angelou. I hope that it encourages and motivates you to overcome the challenges you are facing...


"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, and how you can still come out of it."

Are you making excuses?

Sunday Solace...

Today I woke up with a headache or what I call an Eye/head ache and it took me 30 mins to get out the bed, because I really wasn't feeling good and getting up going anywhere, but I said I have to get up and go to church, so I did and just want to share the word with you for Sunday Solace.

Today Pastor Dan spoke about excuses and opportunities.

To make this short & simple & sweet. He says, "Use it or lose it." So for everyone out there with a talent, you need to "use it before you lose it," because if you become too comfortable with excuses God will give your opportunities to someone else. Take those opportunities you receive and run with them, it may be difficult along the way, but just remember "no test, no testimony."

So this week, all I want you to remember are these words...EXCUSES & OPPORTUNITIES, because when you remember those two, you'll remember the connection and you'll remember that your opportunity will be given to someone else, if you don't take it.

Have an awesome week everyone :)

Spring is coming....are you ready?

Fashion Fwd Friday

Lets start putting your spring collection together because spring is just around the corner :)

I'm in Love

(Truth Is...)


Truth is I'm in love! Yes, I'm in LOVE! I'm in love with writing. It brings a peace to me. The time I spend writing is relieving and provides a joyful experience for me. What is even better is knowing that I'm writing something that other's enjoy. The only formal training I've had at writing has been in college classes, typing and researching term papers. However, I'm thinking about pursuing it fully.

When I first journeyed to college my goal was to be a journalist. Along the way I found my interest were being peeked by other suitors. Now I'm falling in love all over again and ready to pursue it once and for all.

Truth is we all are in love. You love doing one thing and will do whatever you can to find time to enjoy it. I ask you to take a risk and just love it back as much as you can.


Just be in love!

...and it continues

To continue Motivational Monday's words and to also go along with what ari and I have been talking about risk, and taking a leap of faith, and being proactive here is a quote that relates to it all...

“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

How true is that? Settling into what we know? Instead of stepping out of our comfort zone and discovering something new?

Pinballs!

(Talent Tuesday)


Not pinballs in a machine but Pinballs by Betsy Byars! This was one of the first chapter books I read when I was in the 3rd grade I believe. It tops my list of my favorite books that I read growing up. Byars pins this story of three children from different walks of life who move into the foster care of the Mason family. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have been foster parents to many children over the years and due to infertility and lack of medical research at the time (I presume), continuously open their home to children in need of love. With the children they have recently taken in they want to build more of a exclusive family but the children, Carlie, Harvey, and Thomas J are resistant until they discover that they don't have to be bounced around like pinballs in a machine with no direction yet they can create their own as long as they trust one another. It is truly a heartfelt tale and if you don't fall in love with one of the characters then you are heartless.

To my surprise ABCFamily is gearing up this Summer to release a new original series called the Fosters which is executive produced by Jenifer Lopez! Here's a glance at what's to come:

Storied similar to Pinballs, this one-hour drama unfolds the story of new millennial family structure. Here we will journey along with a multi-ethnic family that is a mix of biological and foster children being raised in a two-mom parent household.   Interesting right?!

Kudos to both Betsy Byars and J-Lo for bringing us stories that people don't usually tell. They've garnered the lives of millions in our world and brought them to life and that's talent!

Find Your Inner Child

(Solace Sunday)

Remember when you weren't stressed? When the only things that mattered were cartoons and whether or not you could find a way to get out of school? Do you remember not having to pay bills? The times when you were just plain, carefree? That was when you were  a kid?

Let's find solace this week through resurrecting our inner child if only for one day or an hour! I charge you to:

• watch your favorite cartoon
• read a Dr. Seuss book 
• ask your mom to make your favorite meal
• grab a happy meal from McDonald's & play with the toy
• browse Toys 'R' Us-where every kid can be a kid
• gather some friends and play tag
• buy some finger paint and create until your heart is content
• break out that 64 pack of crayola with a good old coloring book
• play red light-green light
• build a fort or camp out in the living room 
• skip instead of walk
• don't tie your shoes---wait that's a hazard but you get the point 
• sing a nursery rhyme---remember those
• find pictures of yourself as a kid and make a collage 
• drink a juice box
• have ice cream for dinner and cereal for dessert 
• go play in dirt and track mud in the house....-wait don't do that you'll have to clean up afterwards (lol)
• journal about a time where you were the happiest as a kid or when you realized you weren't a kid anymore
• have fun! 

Break away from all of the things that surround you and just be! For once in your life just be.....that's what kids do! 

No words-Just watch

Motivational Monday

Risky Business

Truth is.....

"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen."
--Paulo Coelho

Truth is...constantly playing safe just might be your biggest downfall.

FASHION STAR

NBC's smash hit break out reality show is back for a second season! Tonight watch the season two premiere of Fashion Star! Who will be the next designer to have their duds in stores like Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue. New to the buyers ward this time around is Express!


Here's what we can expect this season:

This will be interesting! You know I'll be tuning in...I'm an addict for good television lol! 

Have a great weekend and remember to always be better than yesterday! 

The Value Within You

(Wisdom Wednesday)


Do you know the true value of yourself or the talents you host? How about the value of others? Victoria Osteen tells us a story about how one man's treasure turned to riches for someone else all because  he or his family never saw its true value....

I read a story one time about a man who lived in a tiny apartment and died in extreme poverty. At one point in his life, he had been homeless and living on the streets. This man never had any successes or notoriety to speak of" he lived and died as just another face in the crowd.

After the funeral, some family members went to his little run–down apartment to clear out his few belongings. There was a painting that had been hanging on his wall for many years, which they decided to sell in a garage sale. A woman thought it was interesting, so she bought it and took it to a local art gallery for an appraisal. Much to her complete shock, the painting was extremely valuable. The piece of art that hung for so many years in that little run–down apartment was painted by a famous artist who lived in the early 1800s. The woman decided to auction off that painting and ended up selling it for several million dollars.

Just think how that poor man’s life might have changed if he had known the value of what he possessed. He was a multimillionaire and didn’t even know it. In the same way, so many people today are living with priceless treasure inside, and they aren’t even aware of it. Sometimes, we have to appraise what’s on the inside of us in order to really understand the value of what we have.

As a believer, the Holy Spirit of God dwells in you–the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead! That’s a treasure of great value! You have inside of you everything you need to accomplish what God has placed in your heart. Today, don’t settle for living a mediocre existence. See yourself the way God sees you. Every morning when you get out of bed, remind yourself, I am a masterpiece. I am handpicked by God, and I have treasure inside of me.

Remember, you are an original–you’re not meant to be like everyone else; God designed you the way you are for a specific purpose. Everything about you is unique, and every detail about you matters. Receive His love today because His love isn’t based on your performance; it’s based on who He is. He never changes, and His love never changes. You belong to Him, and you are His most amazing work of art!

Eunique Jones

(Talent Tuesday)

Like Ari has said before, we just don't celebrate black history in the month of February, but every day. This week's Talent Tuesday goes to a black woman photographer by the name of Eunique Jones.

She worked on a project for Black History month called "Because of Them, We Can" where she transformed children into black icons that have paved the way for us. Here are some of my favorites below, but you can find the rest of the series here at her facebook page...
http://www.facebook.com/EuniqueJonesPhotography

Gulity pleasures

(Sunday Solace)
I know everyone has guilty pleasures and most would say its food for them, if not then its definitely one of mine. lol So yesterday I made an apple crisp. Not only was it delicious with vanilla ice cream on top of course, but my ma helped too making it a "spending quality time with my mother," time.

 So this week I'm giving yall a guilty pleasure freebie and if it gives you a chance to spend time with someone special to you then that is a plus.

So what will you spend your freebie on this week? ;)

Found this recipe online and added some dried cranberries into it yum.

What's Your One Thing?

(Monday Motivation)


I received an email this morning with the title "What's Your One Thing?" This email motivated me and hope it does the same for you. (See message below)



 There are a lot of things you could do this year.   You could get out of debt, get married, save up for vacation, or pursue a dream.  While there are a lot of things you could do, what is the one thing you have to do that would literally change your life?

Paul urges us to live with that kind of focus and intentionality. In Philippians 3:13-14 he says “…forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” It’s clear that Paul lived with purpose.

God hasn’t called us to wander aimlessly, unaware of where we’re headed. We’re not supposed to be spiritual tumbleweeds that drift wherever the wind blows. Instead, God has invited us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, to focus in the direction He’s leading.

So what is the one thing you need to focus on this year to follow God’s plan for your life?  What’s the one thing that you know in your heart you need to do?  Perhaps you need to…

• Break a habit.
• Accomplish a goal you have been putting off.
• Restore a broken relationship.
• Admit an addiction you have and get help.
• Pay off your debts and be financially free.
• Start a business.
• End a business.
• Support a ministry.
• Volunteer at your church.
• End a relationship.

What’s your one thing that you need to focus on this year?  If you could accomplish it, it could change your life. Then you could confidently say with the Apostle Paul, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

So tell me....what's your one thing?! Mine is following through on a new hobby! Let your one thing motivate this week by taking steps to get it done. 

~Motivating from a far Ariel Wilkerson 

(Email from Blueprintforlife.com) 

All Black & White

(Fashion Fwd Friday)

Ready for the spring? I know I am! And its looking like one of the trends this year will be black and white fits, lets check some out.

Fear

(Wisdom Wednesday)

Listen below as Joel Osteen talks about activating your faith and not your fear. Often times, we are so fearful of things. What if I don't get this or that? What if i can't get a job? What if I can't have a baby? What if my family never reconnect again? What if my business fail? All these what ifs are fears, and when you focus on your fears and put faith into your fears those negative what ifs will come to be.

Don't allow fear to take over your life and your dreams because they can and will do so, if you don't activate your faith. As J.O. says "When fear knocks on your door, allow faith to come in not fear."

Short Story Saturday

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend! While you are relaxing check out these two great web series: Almost Home and Boulevard West!

Almost Home from actress/producer Raegan Gomez!

and now....

Boulevard West......

Let me know how you like them! Enjoy!