I have something so profound to do and say that it must not end here.  It must be carried out through generations to come.  I feel as though I'm being held back by myself and an alternate force because of the greatness that is within me, that's within us all.  We have a decision to make....the tools that we need are at our fingertips, we just have to begin.  God has placed each of us here for a divine destiny, we just have to trust our instincts.  T. D. Jakes is a pronominal Bishop and Author, if you haven't already his book Destiny, is a must read.  It's GO time...have you ever had to talk yourself into just starting something that you know you are good at and just having the thought of fear in your mind...the answer is JUST DO IT!  You are the essence of all things hope for, the essence of the future that you have always imagine for yourself.  Step into your greatness, motivate, tell your story, be your natural self and people will listen.  Step out on faith...this is your time...DO IT...blessings to you...tootles for now...


I have a confession to make...I had this book for several months with the intention of reading it right away and then life happened.  Then I was speaking with my sister/cousin one day and we decided to start a book club...so we did.  Since everyone in the club lived in different areas, we decided to do a virtual book club.  Each week we have a shared google drive document that we go into and share our thoughts on the chapter of the week.  So I wanted to share with you my what I add each week during my book club.  What are currently reading?  I would love to know, because once I'm finished with this book I want to move on to another great book.  Subscribe if you haven't already and leave me a comment on what book I should read next...tootles for now...

Chapter 1

I’ve heard great things about this book and I knew they were all true...to admire Michelle from a distance as the first black “First Lady” was one thing...we were able to view her life in small doses through a peephole when the security detailed allowed us to do so (lol), and now for her to open the door and escort us through her life!  The preface set the tone, it hyped me up and made me want to read beyond just the first chapter (but I didn’t). There were three sentences that touched me in the first chapter: (1) “Everyone on earth, they’d tell us, was carrying around an unseen history, and that alone deserved some tolerance.”  During this part of the chapter Michelle was talking about how her Uncle Terry and Aunt Robbie were different from her mom and dad.  This spoke to me about embracing people’s differences and accepting people right where they are. (2) “It was a flame inside me they wanted to keep lit.”  In this section Michelle was talking about how her parents embraced her sassy personality. She thought her mother liked it because it was something she was afraid to do or be. I think we all admire people that are daring...that aren’t afraid to do that thing we always wanted to do. I know I do!  (3) I’d spend a lifetime admiring him for his ease.”  Here she was referring to the recital and how her brother didn’t appear scared. Fear is something; I’m guilty of admiring people who are stepping out with ease. And even if they are somewhat afraid, they do it anyway. I admire that...I’m trying to be that person who approaches things with ease. To say that I am in love with this book already would be somewhat of an understatement…. I can’t wait to read everyone else's thoughts on the first chapter. 


Chapter 2

Chapter 2 was just as great as chapter 1, I’m realizing that this book will not disappoint. There were two sections of this chapter that were profound to me.  (1) “Lying in bed that night with my stuffed animals packed around my head, I thought only of “white.  I spelled it in my head, forward and backward, chastising myself for my own stupidity.”  I find myself chastising myself all the time.  I’m not sure why I’ve always had this complex of thinking I should not make mistakes.  I know it is not possible, I know God gives us all grace and forgives if we only ask.  I still find myself expecting and wanting more of myself.  (2)  Whatever was eroding inside my father, withering his muscles and stripping his nerves, he viewed it as his own private challenge as something to silently withstand.”  My father was a diabetic and also suffered from diabetic nephropathy, which was a disease that caused muscle weakness, loss of the sense of touch and sensitivity in his legs.  Which ultimately led to gangrene and caused him to have his leg amputated just weeks before his passing.  He also suffered for a long time in silence, I think to prevent us from worrying and also to avoid more doctor visits.  He also viewed this life altering and in his case fatal disease as something to privately withstand.  I’m very thankful for this group and this outlet to pour my heart out, thank you ladies!


Chapter 3
This chapter was really good for me and this entire book has me consistently deep in thought.  There was one section of this book that brought back childhood memories and one that I have personally experienced.  The section that brought back memories was:  “They brought us a dictionary and a full Encyclopedia Britannica set, which lived on a shelf in the stairwell to our apartment, its title etched in gold.”  I remember our burgundy leather bound encyclopedia set etched with gold letters that sat on the shelves between our living room and dining room in my childhood home on Reedy Branch Road.  I remember being assigned English papers and this being my main source for research.  My children never had a set of encyclopedias; they always had the internet to complete their research.  The section that I personally experienced was:  “How come you talk like a white girl.”  I too have been asked this...it’s so interesting that this has been asked by so many people that look just like me.  Why can’t people of color speak intelligently without it being stated that we are imitating white people.  Our ancestors fought for equality, and we are still fighting for equality today.  So why is it when we receive an education and use it through our day to day speech it is viewed as something bad or something to mock.  We asked for an equal education like white people and once we have received it we shouldn’t dismiss it to make others feel comfortable or to blend in with others.  People should be celebrating intelligent black people not trying to tear them down.  Thank you for listening...I’m signing off to begin chapter four!

Chapter 4

I loved how she took special care in describing her mother to us in chapter four.  “...a safe harbor of female wisdom.”  Being a mother is one of the most rewarding and hardest jobs that I ever had.  Each encounter with your child is important no matter what age they are because they are consistently looking to you to lead them and show them the way.  The section in this chapter that really made me think was when Craig tells the story about a girl he liked in the eighth grade and how one day she issued a kind of loaded invitation.  “She listened, but she didn’t absolve him from the choice at hand.  Instead, she returned him to his agony with a blithe shrug of her shoulders.  “Handle it how you think best,” she said.”  I feel as though Michelle’s mother and father were brave to give their children so much lead way to make their own choices at such a young age.  I wasn’t as brave, I always felt so protective of my children wanting to keep them safe and close for as long as I could.  I guess there is no wrong or right way, it’s just everyone doing their very best with what they’ve been taught and what feels right.  This book continues to grow on me the more I read...the more I want to read...off to chapter five.


Chapter 5

In this chapter Michelle sailed smoothly through high school; it seems as though my high school career went by just as fast as Chapter 5.  The section that stood out to me in this chapter was:  “But as I’ve said, failure is a feeling long before it’s an actual result.”  This statement is so true and the thought of failure is so powerful that it has caused myself and so many from doing so much.  We have the power to succeed and accomplish so much...that “thing” that is down inside of us...that thing that we were placed here by God to do; something goes undone because of fear of failure.  I wish that, actually I pray for all that are wallowing in self doubt right now, that we receive the courage to push past the fear and believe that we all CAN!




Are you a morning person?  I haven’t always been a morning person, however with implementing a few things in my morning routine makes me excited to get my day started!  

  1.  Pray:  I start my day with prayer, I feel that this is the most important thing to do in the morning, it’s what gets me through my day.  Whatever your beliefs may be, taking this quiet time in the morning to find inspiration is so important.

  2. Bathroom break:  Let’s be real and a little personal if you don’t mind for just a minute.  After a good night's sleep, it’s likely that we need a bathroom break, lol.

  3. Exercise.  Starting my day with a walk and then some type of 15-20 minute work out usually found on Youtube.  It may be yoga, upper body, lower body or abs...whatever day it may be.  But the important thing is to move my body.  Exercise is important for me in the morning because I will likely not get it done otherwise.

  4. Coffee time:  Okay this is the second most important thing for me, after praying.  I absolutely love coffee.  It’s a whole thing for me.  The taste and also my coffee time where I sit in a cozy place in my home and just think and enjoy my coffee.  Coffee is the essence of my comfort zone.

  5. Shower/Bath time:  Then next of course there is my shower or maybe bath time depending if I have time.  Bath time is also a whole mood for me.  I have to create a spa-like feel, it’s important...it’s what you deserve.

  6. Getting Dressed and you're all ready:  The last thing is getting dressed and then you are all ready for a successful day!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek into how I set myself up for a successful day.  Use these six simple steps and you will set yourself up for a successful day as well!  Tootles for now...


Adding wallpaper to my bookshelves is a unique way to add the right amount of style and class to your book shelves.  I like to add a unique touch while creating a cozy atmosphere in each area of my home.  While this is not done all at once but over a period of time.  This allows you to sit with the space and ponder on the perfect touch.  I'm always using Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube, and also good old fashion google to find just the right inspiration.  I purchased the book shelves from walmart.com and the wall paper from amazon.com or you could just google black and white script wall paper.  What recent DIY have you done in your home to add your very own personal touch?  Please like, comment and subscribe so that we can be on first name bases.  tootles for now...
Okay here we go Loves...a little bit about me...enjoy...

1.  What is your middle name?  Jovan "my Mom got this name from the perfume"
2.  Share your favorite subject in High School?  Math "because I knew I would always need it in life"
3.  What is your favorite drink?  coffee "who doesn't like coffee?"
4.  What is your favorite song?  Made to Love You by Gerald Levert "this is the song I danced to after the love of life made all my dreams come true, by marrying me."
5.  Have you participated in any sports?  Track & Field and Basketball "I was actually good at Track & Field; however I always tell my kids that I started on the basketball team, when I actually was always the starter for both home and away games...on the bench."
6.  What is your favorite book?  The Bible "it's why I'm still here!"
7.  What is your favorite color?  black and white "because why not and they go so well together, and I couldn't just choose one."
8.  How tall are you?  5'4" "even though my husband doesn't believe me when I tell him that this is an average height for a women."
9.  What year were you born?  1979 "so very happy I got to see the 70's even if it was as a baby."
10.  The most memorable place you've lived?  Puerto Rico "traveling the world with the love of my life and my children has been such a blessing."
11.  What is your favorite television series?  Gilmore Girls "who wouldn't choose the Gilmore's?"
12.  What is your favorite movie?  Titanic "Your so stupid Rose...best line ever."

Subscribe, Leave a comment with the answer to one of these questions about you, let's step out of our Comfort Zone together...Tootles for now...