Reason, Season or Lifetime??

I think I needed this reminder today!
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People come into your life for a reason, a season or
a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will
know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is
usually to meet a need you have expressed. They
have come to assist you through a difficulty, to
provide you with guidance and support, to aid you
physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may
seem like a godsend and they are. They are there
for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at
an inconvenient time, this person will say or do
something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a
stand. What we must realize is that our need has
been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and
now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or
learn. They bring you an experience of peace or
make you laugh. They may teach you something
you have never done. They usually give you an
unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real,
but only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons,
things you must build upon in order to have a solid
emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson,
love the person and put what you have learned to use
in all other relationships and areas of your life.

-- Author Unknown

Flapping Arms and Leaky Flappers

Ah the things I've learned since my last blog!

Although I've been working out for a bit, straight power walking...with arm motion has always eluded me. My arms got tired.

HOWEVER, this weekend I decided to take it to the park with my current favorite podcast [2 Fit Chicks and a Microphone]. Before I realized it, I had done 20 minutes straight of power walking...and my arms were not sore/tired. WOW!! In fact, I went ahead & completed 45 minutes.

And of course, just to prove it was not a fluke, I had to do it again. And it was good!

This takes care of the flapping arms.....now on to leaky flappers.

A $7 flapper from my local hardware store cured a toilet leak...that I let go on for a few months [and to think of the money down the drain!!]

Man....what a month!

Got 10 Minutes...You Can Get Organized!

Got 10 Minutes...You Can Get Organized! 

1. Desktop: Use the time to put pens & pencils back in the holder, put away stray paperclips and rubber bands, sort through the piles of paper. Create three file folders: To File, To Read, Take Action; sort papers appropriately into these 3 folders. Obviously, throw out any that are outdated or no longer needed.

2. Junk Drawer: We all have one. Throw out anything you don't need anymore. Use old check boxes or baby food containers to sort the items you do keep in the drawer. Put away things that have a different home.

3. Purse: Pull out all the old receipts, notes, and grocery lists that ended up crumpled at the bottom. You probably don't need 5 pens and 3 kinds of gum. While you're at it, pull out the extra tubes of lipstick, after all, you can only wear one at a time. Consider taking out all those punch cards and 'club' cards that you don't use everyday. Keep them in a small pouch in a desk drawer and just get out the one you need when you need it.

4. Refrigerator: When did you make those baked beans? What's the expiration date on that salad dressing? Dig all the way to the back and pull out the stuff that's out of date or that no one likes. A crowded refrigerator has to run more often to keep all that food cool and only ends up costing you more money.

5. Linen Closet: Do you need 30 washcloths for 4 people? Probably not. Do your bath towels have thin spots? Pull them out, too. Don't just toss them in the trash! Keep a bag or box of rags in your basement. Use them to dust, dry your car, or to clean up after home improvement projects.

6. Medicine Cabinet: You actually shouldn't store medicines in the bathroom; the moisture and humidity isn't good for them. I keep mine in a small tub in my linen closet. My mom keeps her in a kitchen cabinet. Wherever you keep them, weed out the ones that are past the expiration date. Check with your local municipality for proper disposal of medications. Make a note of any outdated prescriptions so you can contact your doctor to refill them if necessary.

7. To File: Remember that folder on your desk labeled 'To File'? Now is a great time to take that file folder to your file cabinet and put those papers in a more permanent home. Remember to only file papers you absolutely need to keep for tax or reference purposes.

8. Birthday Cards: I keep an assortment of birthday cards on hand for whenever I might need them. Once or twice a month check the calendar and sign and send birthday cards for the next two weeks.

9. Bookshelf: Do you really need your college textbooks? How about all those novels you read 3 years ago and haven't picked up since? Load them into a bag or box and take them right out to your car. Next time your out running errands drop them off at your local charity of choice.

10. Magazine Rack: Magazine racks tend to pile up with outdated catalogs and magazines. Get rid of the outdated ones. If you want to keep a magazine for the idea you read in it, consider just tearing out the article and storing it in a file folder or binder. Both options use much less space than storing years of magazines and the information is much easier to find without having to weed through 7 years of magazines.
from: Get Organized Now! Newsletter by Maria Gracia

http://www.getorganizednow.com Issue: February 20-26, 2010

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In my Never Ending Quest to get Organized......

Five Steps to Get Organized

 Thanks to Debt Proof Living!

I won't try to kid you into thinking I'm some kind of organizational expert. I am the most disorganized person ever. My professional office is a mess. My home, remarkably, appears to be orderly as long as you don't open a cupboard, drawer or closet. Being disorganized steals my time, energy and money. I buy things I have already because I can't find them, or I spend too much time looking for things I need. That is going to stop. I am declaring before each and every one of you, my dear readers, this is my year to get organized.

I have consulted several professional resources, done a lot of thinking and I've come up with the following steps I will take to achieve my goal.
Step 1. Commitment. I've tried to get organized before, but I have never been fully committed. I trust that making my commitment open and public will make all the difference. Do you hear me? I am going to get organized.
Step 2. Identify the space. Lumping my office and home into a single organizational project is overwhelming. To overcome this, I have divided the task into 12 projects or spaces, one per month in 2010. My home studio where I write, sew, knit, craft and basically create things is a sight to behold. It is huge and filled to capacity. Mark it Project Number One.
Step 3. Identify recipients. I am committed to getting rid of everything I do not use on a regular basis or that I do not find to be incredibly beautiful.  But, I know myself. I will not be able to throw away good things that do not fit these criteria. Before I get started, I need to identify charitable organizations, selling sites, friends or family who will appreciate receiving everything that doesn't make the cut.
Step 4. Three containers. I have labeled these boxes "Keep," "Trash" and "Give." Seems simple enough but, to make sure, I did a practice run on the desk in my home studio. Out of six drawers, I ended up with seven things in the "Keep" box, zero to give away and everything else filled the trash container to overflowing. My desk is clean and nearly empty. The three-container plan worked.
Step 5. A place for everything. Just because I don't practice it, doesn't mean I don't know this secret for being organized: There should be a place for everything and everything in its place. Once I have identified what I will keep in each project space, I am determined to identify a specific place for each thing I own. Then, I'll get into the habit of returning things to their places.

I have cut out a big job for myself in the coming year. Think I can do it? I do. And I plan to take pictures to prove it. I'll keep you posted!
©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

Continuing on my Personal Upgrade

Well so far so good.
Lipstick...check
Hair...check...in fact, I'm under the dryer now as we speak!
Hair salon... check...@ least for the month of February. I did go to a new place...and liked it...so that is a good thing!

Commitment for a Personal Upgrade

Well it has come to my attention that in all my working out and healthier lifestyle, I've begun to neglect my 'feminine side' a bit.

I'm now committing myself to the following small changes for the entire month of February.

I WILL wear lipstick whenever I leave the house.
I WILL braid my hair for a wavy twist out style once a week [unless I've been to the salon that week]
I WILL visit the hair salon every other month [once I find one that I like...will be visiting one this weekend] - we'll see for next month how this continues.

Who knows, I may be so into this that come March that I'll add a few more items!

Loving a Black Man [is there really a difference??]

I am copying this directly from a blog. I thought it was important enough to do so. It has a lot that I agree with..and a lot that I don't....how's that for riding the fence? LOL

Thanks naeswirl……

How to Love a Black Man Biblically

** I don't agree with the all of the items listed in the "Ten Problems that Black Men have with Black Women" but I left the article intact. Personally I think most of these qualities is actually what makes us STRONG BLACK WOMEN. But that's my opinion LOL

Song of Solomon 1:2
Matthew 26:47-48

The Ten Problems that Black Men have with Black Women:
1) Black Women make Black men feel unappreciated, unwanted, irresponsible, and regressive.
2) Black Women are too aggressive, and are impatient when it comes to waiting on a man to pursue them.
3) Black Women are too strong-headed and independent, which presents great challenges in relationships.
4) Black Women are masculine in that they are controlling and like to “run” the relationship.
5) Black Women expect too much. They are gold diggers who will not look twice at a blue-collar black man.
6) Black Women are hot-headed and have bad attitudes.
7) Black Women stop caring about their appearance once they are in a relationship.
8) Black Women are not open to other areas of intimacy. (paraphrased)
9) Black Women’s tolerance is far too low; they are not empathetic to the Black Man’s struggle in a racist society.
10) Black Women do not cater to their man as much as they cater to themselves and their child.

The context of Song of Solomon is that King David was going through a very small town and saw a woman who was working in the garden. She captured his attention by the way she worked. He returned to the palace, but could not get her off his mind. Consequently, he disguised himself and dressed like a peasant. He returned to the vineyard and won her over. Song of Solomon is a collection of 7 poems that talks about how they met: their courtship, engagement, wedding, honeymoon and the life they lived after.


Four C’s On How to Love a Black Man.

1. Cheerleader.
Every woman involved with a black man has to learn how to be a cheerleader. A cheerleader is of no consequence when the team is winning. When the team has scored a touch down, you can’t hear the cheerleaders because the whole stadium is ecstatic and excited. Cheerleaders are necessary after a tackle, a hit or an injury. Every black man yearns to have somebody on the sidelines who will cheer for him when he’s not making progress.

2. Conditioner.
a) Hair Conditioner. A conditioner is something that improves the quality of another matter. Every woman is supposed to condition, or improve a man’s quality of life. Most heterosexual men only use shampoo, while most women who take care of their hair use shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo is incomplete by itself. The conditioner is the sealant. Women need to understand that they are incomplete without men, and vice versa. When we connect, we seal and complement each other.

The conditioner does several things:
It detangles. A woman’s first assignment in loving a black man is to bring order.
The conditioner also stops breakage. The role of a woman who is involved with a black man is to stop him from having break downs.

The conditioner alleviates dandruff (signs of death in the scalp). Dandruff always shows itself at eye level, so you can see a man when he’s starting to die. Life no longer excites him. Therefore, to stop the death process, a woman has to condition him.

Conditioner also brings gloss. The role of a woman who is living with a black man is to help him shine. Don’t minimize him even though you make more money.

a) conditioner is also an acidifier. In order for a man to love a woman wholly, he’s got to be healed from what is in his head.

b) An air conditioner is an instrument used to change the environment. It produces both air and heat. Air conditioners do not produce the air, they recycle the air. The role of a woman in a man’s life is to be an environment transformer.
c)Fabric Conditioner/Fabric Softener prevent static cling. If you want to love a black man and have him love you back, you cannot have static cling.

3. Co-pastor
The man in biblical structure/order is the priest of the home. Unfortunately, in the Christian construct more often than not the woman is more disciplined in spirituality than the man. The woman in that relationship is assigned, or deputized, as the co-pastor.

4. Conspirator
The woman who is connected to a black man has to come up with a conspiracy for his success - setting him up for greatness in his absence.

SOS 1:2 “Let him …” This is very critical because Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, is advising sisters who love a black man to let him feel like it was his idea, let him believe that he was right. It says “Let him kiss you…” this implies that the woman has the authority, but the man can’t operate in that authority without her permission. The male ego is such a fragile entity. He doesn’t need to know all the things a woman has done on his behalf.

God’s conspiracy for man was to make him feel like “he’s the man,” but man didn’t understand it until God introduced him to a woman, the conditioner. Her role was to condition him for a place in God.

The Joys of Being Human

Why is it that folks that are supposed to be close to you can see what you are not providing them... yet when you bring up positives, that's overlooked?

Why is it that they can't see what they themselves are NOT doing....even when brought to their attention?

Ah the joys of being human.

Natural Eating

This lady has some great info here. Wow. One day may I have even half her knowledge and zest for life!

Dr. Amen...you inspire me!

My List

Well my list is done.

All 23 items are listed in order of priority. As in stuff that has to get done by January 18 gets first dibs.

Is money needed? Added that to it also.

Wish me luck!