Madame Tussauds

Each month I try to find a educational but fun outing for my mentee. This month I decided to take her to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Washington, DC. "Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is an exciting new attraction bringing historical figures and events to life through wax figures that visitors can touch, see and hear." For $21.50 you get to take a tour of this amazing museum and see life size figures of some of the most famous people in history.

My little sis loved every moment in the museum. A history lover at heart she was drawn to figures such as Marie Antoinette, J. Edgar Hoover, Duke Ellington and Abraham Lincoln. My amazement was more geared towards President Barak Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, the Kennedy's, Denzel Washington and Will Smith.

I encourage everyone to take a trip to Madame Tussauds wax museum. It was a really great outing and it was amazing to see and learn about how these life like figures are created. The process takes about 3 months for each statue and body measurements, pigment details, make up and facial feature are matched to the actual celebrity to a tee. Oprah, Beyonce, The Kennedy's, Madonna, George Bush, and Larry King are just a few of the many figures housed in the museum. As you can see photos are allowed.

So take a trip out to DC and go see it for yourself!

The Perfect Balance

The week has came and gone so fast I can barely believe its the weekend. It was a rough week but I know I am blessed because it could have been worse. I am realizing just how important it is to have that perfect balance between your professional life and your personal like. The 2 go hand and hand like ying and yang and without that perfect balance life can seem very chaotic.

There are times I get so preoccupied with work and exhaust myself in my own career ambitions that I have very little energy left to dedicate to my personal life. The time in which I am not working, I focus on my future and think of all the ways in which I better get on the move ASAP so I can accomplish all that I desire. Needless to say, that is the perfect way to become "burned out". It is important to have goals and to plan for the future, but it is imperative to live and appreciate today.

Going forward I will try to achieve that balance and make sure I spend enough time enjoying this thing called life. We only get 1 chance so with that said I booked a flight and in 2 weeks I'm off to ATL!!! Did you think I was playing??? What I say is what I mean folks, and if it wasn't for the procrastination of my beloved sister I would have booked my flight to LA too.

I am looking forward to both trips and ironically after a weekend of rest and relaxation I even looking forward to work on Monday!!

21 Days!!!

Ok, so my race is officially 21 days away!!! I am scared out of my mind but I am ready to do it. When I initially decided to start running late last summer I immediately said I wanted to run a 5K and now that day is right around the corner. Running this race will be a great achievement for me even if it takes me 2 hours to do it, I will make my way out of the Lincoln Tunnel.

My game plan for the next 21 days is to run 3 miles 4 times a week. I will also start running without music since I don't think I will have my ipod during the race. The amazing thing about running is that it is a mental exercise more than it is a physical exercise. If you can convince yourself that your not tired and your legs don't hurt you will make it.

To date, I have raised $155.00 in donations for the race, thanks to all of you who have supported me. There is still time to make a donation if you have not done so already, the link is listed below.

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=292556&supId=249175806

I better get running!!

Why We Love Michelle Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama exemplifies class and grace in a modern yet traditional sense that has captivated the world. Known for her bold yet sophisticated fashion choices, Michelle Obama has become a inspiration for the younger generation. Having graced the cover of Vogue magazine and compared to Jackie O, Michelle Obama is the complete package of brains, beauty and wits. After only 52 days in the White House, Michelle Obama has set a wonderful example as our nations first African American First Lady.

Let's take a look at some of the stunning ensembles from our first lady:










Watch First Lady Michelle Obama appear on ABC's Good Morning America with co-host Robin Roberts on Friday, March 13, 2009.

The Get 'Em Girl's Guide To Unlocking The Power of Cuisine

I have always loved to cook so I wasn't surprised when a very special person brought me a new cookbook to add to my culinary literature. "Get'Em Girl's Guide to Unlocking the Power of Cuisine" is a sassy cookbook written by 3 city girls living in New York. Their goal was to write a book about the 3 things they love the most: "food, fun and men!" This delightfully witty cookbook has recipes ranging from "Bring him Back Chicken Soup" to "So Serious Suffocated Pork Chops."

Based on the theory that "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach," these ladies have managed to combine strategies and tips for dating with strategies and tips for cooking. This unique collaboration provides good humor, and easy to make recipe's that are great for the working woman.

If you are looking to spice up your meals and maybe even your dating life you should definitely check out the "Get'Em Girl's Guide to Unlocking the Power of Cuisine.

What to Buy???

With my birthday nearly 3 weeks away, the pressure is on for me to find the perfect gift to commensurate the celebration of seeing another year. While some may think this is a vain and materialistic ritual, I have always believed in the theory that if I don't treat myself to something nice why should anyone else? With that said, the hunt is on!

In the midst of a severe economic recession, I am looking for something nice but not over the top. Thus far, I am considering the following:





Unless, you are a true shoe lover at heart you will not know what to do with either of the two shoes reflected above. As a self proclaimed shoe connoisseur, I know both options would add a uniquely fashionable look to my wardrobe.

The Steve Madden brown booties are adorable. This shoe will not only look great with pants but will add a hint of sexy to a nice pencil skirt. The Betty J's as I call them, are my favorite. These shoes exhibit a balanced concoction of chaos and trendiness which Betsey Johnson is known for. A shoe of this type is worn occasionally and will make an unforgettable statement.

The comparison in price differs dramatically however, shouldn't every girl have at least 1 pair of Betsey J's,?

Stay tuned for the final decision.

Sunday Mornings

As a little girl Sunday mornings for my family always meant waking up to a homemade breakfast and then going to church. It was a routine that was expected and one that surprisingly I have held fast to despite my declaration of independence from my parents. My new Sunday routine includes attending morning service and then picking up breakfast or paying Starbucks a visit, with one of my girlfriends. I then call my bff and recap the sermon for him since he is unable to make it to church on Sundays.

Well this Sunday's service really hit the spot for me. Quite often those of us who strive to continuously progress sometimes miss out on enjoying our achievements and blessings. We immediately become distracted with our newest goal or materialistic possession to obsess about. Unfortunately, I must admit that sometimes I am guilty of letting my ambitions or goals overshadow my current achievements and blessings. Sometimes I forget to just sit back and be happy with where the Lord has brought me. Nonetheless, when my pastor spoke on this subject, I felt the need to share what the Lord had put on his heart. The following is an except that was shared with us from my Pastors upcoming book.

"For so many, life is filled with frustration and drama stemming from a mindset which focuses on the happiness and blessings that hopefully are waiting for us in the future. We spend out lives saying, "when I get another job I'll finally be happy or when I get married everything will be perfect. We even believe that if I get broke-off financially all of our problems will go away. The truth is we have fallen into Satan's biggest trap. It is simply to keep the Christian so preoccupied with chasing tomorrow's happiness that they never stop to enjoy the trip. You see the moment we realize that a good portion of our lives will be invested "pressing toward the mark" and if all we can be happy about is the "mark" season we'll be miserable during the (often long) process of "pressing." This morning we've got to move past Satan's trap and realize that Christ died for our peace and wants us to embrace, enjoy, reverence, take hold of, have a blast in, smell the roses in every second God gives us. We will no longer take today for granted but sap the life out of every moment."

I hope this has touched you as much as it has touched me. Life is short, too short to spend it worrying about tomorrow when we can be enjoying today.