Monday, January 30, 2012

Celebrating 40 Years in 40 Days

I am turning 40 later this year. Initially, I was going on a cruise but the planning stage did not go as well as I wanted and it left a bad taste in my mouth! So instead I came up with Celebrating 40 years in 40 days. I am very excited about it. I will do something every day.

Now, everyday does not have to be grand and over the top. However, I must do something every day! Some days will be simple things as exploring my neighborhood or a nice day at the park. Some things will be with a big group and others maybe with one or two other people. I checked my bucket list for additions.

Before anyone could ask me about when does it start. I decided to keep it simple. I am starting on June 1st and run to July 10th. That means I don't have to worry about wrapping up the school year while starting my celebration. I just realized my birthday is 1/2 way through it. That's perfect!

So here is the list so far. I just need to put dates with activities. The good thing is I can do some of them during the day and I don't have to wait until the weekend for my mini trips.

Activities
1. Massage
2. Mani/Pedi
3. Facial
4. Picnic
5. Breakfast at Tiffany’s
6. Apex Museum
7. Wind Down Wednesdays
8. Rock climbing
9. Mini trips – Bham, Charlotte, Panama City, Savannah 
10.      Screen on the Green
11.      Catch a Play
12.      Drive – In
13.      Kings Island (amusement park in Cincinnati)
14.      Black History Museum in Cincy
15.      Laser tag
16.      Take an exercise or dance class
17.      Canvas by you (new painting creation)
18.      Dinner with friends
19.      Lunch with friends
20.      Crash a book club meeting (Anew)
21.      Sleepover
22.      Game night
23.      Music Festival
24.      Explore West End
25.      Explore Henry County
26.   Skydiving
27.   Ziplining

Any suggestions?

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Day 12 - What's In Your Bag?

What's in my bag? Hmm...which one? My DHS bag, my drawstring bag, or my purse? I rarely carry a purse but I have carried one the last few days. I carry the other two every workday!

Since I really don't feel like moving off this couch to grab my purse, we are going with the bag closest to me. It is my drawstring bag. It is what I used for the basketball games as the bookkeeper.

Here it goes:

  • 6 pencils (need them for the scorebook)
  • 5 color pens (for grading papers between games and at half time)
  • 2 pens
  • highlighter
  • calculator
  • class room keys
  • camera
  • binder clip
  • mail (pulled it when I left the house the other day)
Not your average woman's purse, but who said I was the average woman!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Day 11 - Siblings

Disclaimer: I am not finished with this post. However, I am posting it so I am not in trouble with Psycho! Once I have completed it. Then I will remove the disclaimer. 


As I have mentioned a few times, I am the oldest child of five. I have three younger sisters and one brother.


All of our names starts with the letter T - Tiffany, Tenia, Tierra, Terrance, and Tiauna. I asked my mom about our name selection years ago. Was it intentional since neither my mother or father's names start with T? My mom met a pair of twins when she was about 7 months pregnant. Their names were Tiffany and Taffany. For some reason there names stayed with her and she named me Tiffany.  I definitely preferred that name over Taffany! With my sister, she did not have a name selected. The day my sister was born, some woman named Tonia inherited a fortune. Not really sure why that made the front page news. My mother liked the name but changed the "o" to an "e" for Tenia (pronounced Ta-nee-a). For my second sister, Tierra. My aunt wanted my mom to name her Ciara. But since she was now officially on the T trip, Ciara became Tierra.

It was the 3 of us for eight years. To this day I don't know what my momma and daddy was thinking, but as an eighth grader, they tell me they were having another child. I was not too excited to say the least. I just saw my teenage years gone with babysitting a little kid. In my mind, Tenia and Tierra were not little anymore. They were 10 and 8 respectively. To pacify me, my mom said I could name the next baby. There were 2 requirements. The name starts with a T and since it was a boy, the middle name was either Monte or DeCarlos in honor of my uncle. I gave her Terrance De Carlos or Terrell Monte'. She chose Terrance. A year and a half later, they were pregnant with another one. Again, I was able to help with the name selection. I gave her Tatiana. She said that was too long. Then I gave her Tia. She said that was too short. She finally came up with Tiauna.

Because all our names begin with T, people became confused on who was who. So a few years ago, I gave us all nicknames that describes us. I am telling you now they are not politically correct. I do not do politically correct. Sorry...well no I am not! HA! Tenia (the one right under me) is Psycho. Tierra (the next one) is Fat Girl. Terrance is just Terrance. He is the only boy; therefore, it is not hard to figure him out. And the baby girl, Tiauna, is Psycho Jr. Now don't leave me any comments about their names. They have embraced their names because it is who they are. If they change, then I will change their names! By the way, I am Big Girl. Compared to the 2 Psychos and Terry, I am big.

Tenia - This the sister who probably looks the most like me but tries the hardest to be my complete opposite.

Tenia and Tiffany
Growing up, I was prided myself on doing the right thing. Tenia on the other hand prided herself on doing whatever she felt like doing at that time! She spoke her mind whenever she wanted. Most people think I am outspoken. I don't have anything on her!

One of my earliest memories of Tenia in action is when she was about 3 or 4. My aunt owned a corner grocery store and lived in the apartment over it. My cousin and I worked in the store while the birthday party was happening upstairs. My mother thought Tenia was with us. When we couldn't find her, we started looking for her frantically. After what seemed like forever, we found her under the pool table with a plate of chicken, a plate of chicken bones, and several empty wine glasses. The little girl was feeling good!

A few years later, she had the same 3rd grade teacher I had when I was in 3rd grade. The teacher told my mom, she dealt with me being talkative because I always did her work. BUT Tenia was a different story. She talked all the time and refused to do her school work. I remember asking her about it too. Her response, "I am not you! I don't have to do what you do!" And that has been her motto for the majority of her life.

As adults, we have grown closer. For that I am grateful! I love that I can spend time with her having real talks. We talk about almost everything...kids, relationships, school, work, parenting, and us as adults. Even though I don't tell her often, I love and admire for being able to keep her family of 7 together for all these years.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Day 10 - What I Wore Today

Finally, I quick post I can complete in less than 5 minutes.

As soon as I finish this post, I am going to get dress. Today is the last day of my Winter Break. I am proud of myself for not spending most of my break agonizing over completing a never ending to-do list for school. In fact, I said I was only giving it a max of 2 days and I did not even give it that many. So today, is prepping for the week and completing the end of the semester reports. Therefore, my work gear today is all about comfort.

I am wearing Baby Bandit's DHS Football black sweat pants, long red tee, black DHS tshirt, and black tennis shoes.

Now off to conquer the world....or at least my world.

Make it a Marvelous Monday!

Day 9 - My Beliefs

I don't think a blog post can do justice about one's beliefs. Beliefs are deeper than feelings. They are the thoughts, opinions, or convictions. They are at your core. Its the heart of who you are and what makes you tick.

If you have not learned by now, I am a list type of girl (well at least on here). Listing things out helps me group ideas together. In addition, it helps me from rambling to long on one thing and then rush the rest. With that said, I will list some beliefs to satisfy this posts and I may go back at a later date to expand on one or two of them.

  • Tough love is tough for the giver and receiver
  • Giving is mood booster
  • Many people talk about God but really do not understand Him or His love
  • Real parents want desire for their children to have and be better than them
  • Education is key to succeed. However, education is not only in the classroom
  • Learning is a life long process
  • When you stop growing, you stop living
  • Women are more forgiving in relationships
  • Men are really sensitive. They just have been taught to hide their feelings
  • The family, especially the Black family is under attack. Many just don't realize it
  • Stop telling people what you would do. You don't know unless you have been in that situation...period!
  • Never say never
  • Black love is real. Its just rare
  • There are always one more side to the story than the number of people involved. ie if there are 3 people involved, then there are 4 sides to the story. 
  • Anyone and everyone is capable of success
  • There is power in the tongue. Be careful what you put out in the atmosphere
  • Procrastination and disorganization is time and dream killers
  • Write it down and make it plain.
  • You can learn something from everyone
  • Purging is good for the soul
  • Fear is paralyzing
  • As long as you are breathing, you can start over
  • Look at the 5 closest people to you, they are a reflection of you

These are some of my beliefs that have been with me for years. What are some of your beliefs?

Sunday, January 1, 2012

My Moments of 2011

I know I am in the middle of a 30 post challenge, but I decided to take a break from it to reflect on the last year. Like everyone else, it had some great, good, decent, and bad moments. The real question is did I take the time to learn the lesson in every single one of them. If I am truly honest, the answer  is a resounding NO!

Some moments that pop up in my mind when I think about a particular month
January
  • Made resolutions...really more so goals. I don't like resolutions. However, I did not have a vision board. Therefore, they fell by the wayside very quickly. 
  • WINTER STORM 2011 - the city was shut down for a week. I was getting stir crazy because my street was clear in a couple of days. I get plenty of sun on my street. So the snow/ice combo melted much faster than other streets. 
  • Battle of the Bands with E and the kids, then bowling with Reggie, Penny, Shaun, Nai, Shelia, and Tanja. Spent a day with people who have deposited in my life many years ago. Even though we don't talk everyday, I enjoyed spending time with them being able to JUST BE ME. 

February
  • WINTER STORM 2011 still having an impact on my life. Mid-winter break cancelled because of the impromptu break we had in January from the storm.
  • Found out I had 2 more nephews on the way. My sissy is pregnant with twin boys. 
  • Experiencing several Black History Month activities at DHS with Men of Distinction leading the way with activities at least once a month. 
  • Baby Bandit makes an AAU team. Coaches debating what squad to put him on. He was good enough to play on the oldest age bracket, but the NEEDED him on his age bracket for his height. There were no height. Had him playing center when he naturally plays small forward/off guard. 
March
  • Baby Bandit totalled my car. It was definitely a traumatic experience for him. His seatbelt honestly saved his life. When he get his license this year, I won't have to worry about him not having it on or texting while driving. 
  • Bought a new (for me) car - CASH ONLY 
  • Spring 95 Rescue 911 GZ anniversary turns into a weekend of events - Sip N Strokes, Stone Mountain-Lithonia Step Show and dinner, Church Services with Adenika and her church family, and just some good girl time.
Spring 95 with our DP and President 

Hound and Goldie enjoying a laugh at dinner

  • Really connected/bonded with my line sister. I agreed to pick her up a few times over the weekend. It was one of the best things I did in 2011. We talked and caught up with each other lives. I really can't put into words the bonding that took place. We really connected for the first time. It definitely has been one of the relationships I nourished the remainder of the year. Every time she was in town to spend time with family, I made sure I was in the number. Any real relationship is requires giving, supporting, listening and encouraging. We both have done it this year. We have bonded over painting. I supported her with her book signing and her end of the summer program. She was here to celebrate my birthday with some of my other friends. We have sent many texts, emails, facebook messages to encourage each other, bounce ideas around, and just to say hey just thinking about you! 

April

  • Went to my 1st Sip n Strokes session. Learn they work miracles..LOL. I can't draw a straight line with a ruler. But I was able to make a masterpiece with Darcova.  She is definitely a PROFESSIONAL!  (Inside joke).



  • Decided on how to celebrate my 40th birthday and BB's 16th birthday. Since they are 2 days apart and he never been on a cruise, I planned a cruise for this year. 
May
  • The twins were born over 2 months early. Cooper Dean and Cortland McKinley entered the world as fighters! They are doing well. 

  • Supported Dr. Darcova Triplett at her book signing. STRUT! Darcova is such a giving person. She incorporated many other dreamers into her day. They were other writers, business owners, motivation speakers, bakers, hairstylists---basically anyone acting/pursuing their dreams. 
Darcova's book celebration (Line sisters supporting each other)
June
pic.twitter.com/N7BBxZ9
  • Drove home to spend about 2 weeks home. Able to attend my oldest nephew graduation and visit with my 2 newest nephews. 
  • Was able to be home with my mom for her birthday
  • Was back home for Baby Bandit and my birthday. Did not celebrate on my birthday but had small celebrations with different people throughout the next few weeks. 
  • Nephews JB and TJ was able to visit for 2 weeks with me. Have you all picked up I love my boys! 
  • Mom comes to collect her grandboys; birthday cookout 
  • Became one of the "coaches" for BB AAU team because I know the game of basketball and know how to keep stats. 
  • Started my blog

July
  • One of my friends took me to the gun range for the 1st time. Loved it!

  • Continued celebrating my birthday with the girls at Canvas by U.

  • Enjoyed watching Darcova's Summer Babies performance at the end of their summer camp
  • New Teacher Orientation even though it was my 3rd year in their system. ( 1st time starting the year off as the teacher of record)
  • J Watty moves in with us for his senior year of high school. Now I have 2 teenage boys living with me. 
  • The twins came home
August
  • Started last semester to earning my MEd in Special Eduacation. I know I have no desire to becoming a special education teacher but I like the techniques I learn to use in my classroom.
  • Birthday movie and chemo celebration 

  • Baby Bandit was in a quinceanera. Click on the word to read about it. I was honored he was asked to participate in such an important day. 

September
  • Watched Baby Bandit come along in football. He went from no playing time last year to no resting time this year. He played almost every down on offense, defense, and special teams until we had the win on lock. 

  • Joined a small gym.....again *sigh*
October
  • Homecoming!!!!! Both DHS and MBC homecoming were the same weekend. I literally supported my high school Monday through Friday night's football game then celebrated with my college the rest of the weekend.




  • Seen my college roommate and best friend for the first time in 15 years. When she graduated, she cut everyone off from college and Atlanta. We talked about it about a year ago. I understood why she did what she did. I hated she went through so much her last year in college that she thought she could not come to her girls, especially me. Glad we were able to reconnect in person! Love you CareBear.

******Blogger is acting crazy. I guess I have a limit on the number of pictures I can upload****Hmph****

November
  • Thanksgiving with the family
  • Meeting the latest edition to the family---finally another niece, Taylor.

  • Family pictures 

December

  • Graduated with my Master's of Education - Special Education
  • Baby Bandit moved up to Varsity for basketball
  • Lunch with some friends
  • Impromptu lunch with 2 fabulous women  - Kami and Adenika

  • The Sequel - Sleepover



  • Really taking time for myself (no teacher responsibilities for most of the break)
Just some of the moments that came to mind. Yes there were other moments, but these are the pleasant moments I wanted to share with you!