Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Day 7 Challenge - 4 Books

BOOKS!!!!!! I am a student of life. One of the best ways for me to learn is to read, read, read. I have books everywhere....bookshelves in the garage, car, bathrooms, bedrooms, office, work, kitchen, purse, bags, etc. If I I am anywhere too long, I will pull out a book in a heartbeat. It is not uncommon for me to be reading more than one book at a time and I am always looking to read something new.

If I would have to pick a genre, it would be self-help/motivation books. However, I read almost any genre. Other than self-help/motivation books, there are few books I would read a book more than once.

Today's list will include books either I have recommend to others or books I have purchased several times and still may not have a copy of it!

1.Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want And Getting It by Henriette Anne Klauser PhD - This book has been read by many people in my book club. The title is self-explanatory. In a nutshell, it helps one create and put on paper. It recants stories of others including children who have created lists and totally forgotten about them. Later, they come across it and notice they have accomplished most of it on there. 
I have a line sister who cannot live without her list. I remember laughing at her because she would literally write down stop for gas. However, she is one person who accomplishes everything on her list!

2. The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman - I read this book several times. I wrote about it in an earlier post. The premise is every person has a main love language. It explains what that means and how one can discover his or her language AND how to speak others language.

3. The Power to Prosper: 21 Days to Financial Freedom by Michelle Singletary. This is an excellent book to assist anyone working on improving their financial status. I read this book twice last year. It is a 3 week fast from spending any unnecessary money. The twist I like about this book is it is written by a Black woman and it has a biblical foundation. One of the times I completed the 21 day fast with a group of women throughout the country. We blogged daily at Serenity-30’s blog. It was good to hear from others as we walked the journey together.   

4. The Conversation: How Men and Women Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships by Hill Harper. This book is Hill’s view on Black relationships. He reflects on his own failed relationships and why a successful man is not married. He poses questions to men and women separately in various settings, including the barbershop, house parties, dinners, and just regular conversations with friends. I particularly like the questions anyone can ask in a group setting. It is not necessary to read the book to have a conversation. 

Since it is my blog….I am adding a little to the challenge. I am including 4 books on my “to read” list.

1 Getting to the Root of your Problem: 365 Days of Inspirational Thinking by Dr. Rico Short. This great book is written by one of my beloved college mates. He is the dentist to the stars! More importantly, is his love and relationship with God and his family. It is a must read for anyone willing to work on themselves! 

2 Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones This book was recommended by the great Original Oldgirl LadyLee. I even won an autograph copy in her 15 book give-a-way. She delivered my copy this weekend. I cant wait to dedicate some time to reading it! 

3. The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt and Lisa Frazier Page – This book is about 3 teens making a pact to push and pull each other from their circumstances to become successful doctors. They all attend the same college in order to honor their commitment to each other. I kept this book on my desk at school. Several teachers have picked it up AND it became a required book for one English teacher’s class after she saw it on my desk. My mother read it in 2 days. So I need to handle it before I go back to work.
4. Well, I don’t have a 4th one. So what do you recommend?


Monday, June 27, 2011

Day 6 Challenge- 5 Foods

5 Foods....Should I list 5 foods I hate, 5 foods that I love, 5 types of food, the first five foods that come to mind. Hmmm.

 Five Foods I love

1.  Polish boys - I know many of you have never heard of a Polish Boy, but my Cleveland folks know it. It is a polish sausage/kielbasa deep fried or grilled. It is then placed in a bun and covered with french fries, cole slaw, and sauce. I know the combination does not sound good, but every person I know who doubted it, loves it. I have requests all the time for it. In addition, it made national news by being a feature on the Wendy Williams Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PATLOWZQG9c.


2. Georgia Mud Blizzard - This is by far the best blizzard ever! I am not a DQ fan, but I get this every time I go there. It is chocolate ice cream with brownies, fudge, and pecan nuts. Umm Umm Umm. 


3. Brownies - This is my all time favorite dessert. If you want to win me over, bring me some brownies. I love a variety of them: cream cheese, brownies with nuts on top, brownies with nuts in them, carmel brownies...you get the point! The only brownies I don't like are the ones with German chocolate icing because I hate coconut.

4. Strawberries - This is my all-time favorite fruit. Unfortunately, over the last few years, I have developed  an allergic reaction to them. Talking about being upset! I use to eat a pint at work during peak season. It took me a few times of my face swelling up to realize it was strawberries. Now I eat a few of them very rarely. As soon as I feel my face tingling, I stop. I was so upset I could not enjoy them at my last cookout.
    


5. Corned Beef - Corned Beef is not a sandwich reserved to my hometown but it is nothing like how we do it. The sandwich is huge and juicy! Every time I go home, I have to get one.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Day 5 Challenge - 6 Places I Want to Go

Today's challenge is places I want to go. Hmm, I have not thought about it for some time. So here goes.

1. Hawaii - Who does not want to go there?

2. Australia - Baby-Bandit (Or Man-child) went to Australia a few years ago. It was a great opportunity. I would love to visit too. He enjoyed it so much he wants to go back.

3. African Safari - No explanation needed

4. Vegas - I think I am the only person over 30 who has never been. I am not a gambler but now Vegas has so much more to do.

5. Cali and Houston - To spend some quality time with my aunts

6. All 50 states - It would be cool to travel state to state on an educational and fun trip. Not sure how long it would take but it would be fun.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Day 4 Challenge - 7 Wants

Day 4's challenge is wants. A want is a desire. Many people confuse a want with a need. The only thing we need is shelter, water, food, clothing, and love. Everything else is a want. The degree of want can come real close to a need.

My 7 Wants

1. A ranch home on a finished and furnished basement.

2. The right husband for me. I hear about women needing a husband. I am content with not having a husband. I have been single for so long I have become accustom to it. I would love to have someone to share my life with especially after Baby Bandit leaves for college in 2 years.

3. Financial security

4. Children to have parents who really want, provide, educate, and discipline them.

5. Children who want to learn

6. My son's college education paid for without either one of us stressing about the bill. I have NO intentions of paying for it or him taking out a loan. I just don't want to stress getting it done.

7. My mom to live in the same city as me.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Day 3 Challenge - 8 Fears

Fears. Everyone has some whether they admit it or not.

Fear - False Evidence Appearing Real.

Fear can be paralyzing but once it is faced, it can be so liberating. I believe its possible to have a fear without consciously knowing it.

My fears.

1. Not preparing my son to excel in the real world.

2. Not fulfilling my purpose.

3. Failure - My fear of failure has prevented me from taking risks. Risks in careers, relationships, goals

4. When I need someone (no one in particular), that person is not there for me. It is hard for me to ask or seek help. So when I need it and it is not there, it is a deep hurt for me.

5. Making a mistake that is so costly it destroys me or someone close to me.

6. Dying a slow and painful death. I don't believe that is how I will die but I would hate to have a painful long illness.

7. Not becoming completely debt free.

8. Dying alone. I don't mean not having a husband but outliving or estranged from family or friends.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Day 2 Challenge - 9 Loves

Day 2's challenge is 9 loves. When you think of love? What do you think? Romantic love, parental love, platonic love, etc. There are many forms of love. Love is a noun and a verb. Its a thing and an action. It is something you can have and something you can do!

I know what my "definition" of love is but in all fairness, I thought I would go to the dictionary to see if there are other definitions I might have not considered.

Dictionary.com gave 20 different definitions at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/love. Some of them are:

  • a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person
  • a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend
  • sexual passion or desire
  • a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person;sweetheart
  • affectionate concern for the well-being of others
  • the benevolent affection of god for His creatures, or thereverent affection due from them to God
  • to have love or affection for
  • to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for(another person)
So with so many definitions, I should be able to give 9 loves (not in any particular order) easily. Here goes:

1. I love my son, Baby Bandit. I guess I should ask Oldgirl LadyLee for a new name since he is 6 feet tall now. 

2. My mother. Without her, where would I be. She required so much of me growing up. I am very appreciative of it now that I am an adult. 

3. Books. I have so many books. They are everywhere - garage, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, office, car, purse. I have books anywhere. I prefer self-help/motivation books. I am always striving to make improvements in my life or others. 

4. Brownies. Anybody who knows me for a nano second KNOWS I love brownies! 

5. Sweets. I am a sweet head. I love cookies, cakes, pies,etc. You get the idea.

6. Learning. I am student at heart. It goes hand and hand with my love of books. I also take pride in learning from other sources....blogs, people, experiences, and mistakes.

7. Family. I come from a very large family. My parents have 23 siblings between them. My parents and their siblings have produced close to 100 children. Yeah do the math. I love spending time laughing and hanging with them.

8. Friends. My friends mean the world to me. They know how to motivate me, encourage me, make me laugh, and just plain on listen and spend time. I hope I am doing the same for them.

9. TIVO. This is the best invention ever!!! I Tivo over 30 shows per week. I can no longer stand watching a show live. Even if I have the time to sit down to watch it live, I will wait 15 minutes, so I can fast forward through the commercials. 



So what or who do you love?