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Tony Roma's

   ... just some food for thought

                                                                                                                                                                    

I attended a luncheon today at Tony Roma's in Bayside Queens, NY. I truly enjoyed it, and found myself in good company. The patio area is divine, and makes for a great dining experience. I must keep this spot in mind for future hang-out dates.

Today's outing, reminded me of the importance of getting together with friends and family to shoot the breeze every now and again. Life is so short, and you can't afford to take any of these precious moments for granted. If you have beautiful people in your life that request your attention, then you are truly blessed. Hey... even invite those that you at times have difficulty with. You may find that all that was needed was a little consideration and understanding.

Lately, I read somewhere that people on a whole just want one simple thing... to be accepted.

Some find this to be degrading. The ego storms in and tells us that we don't need to be accepted by anyone!  

Also, we look at the need to feel accepted as an insecurity or inadequacy, and this couldn't be farther from the truth.

True meaning of acceptance....

• the act of taking or receiving something offered.

• favorable reception; approval; favor.

Wow... Could it all be so simple? Are we all that same little boy or girl that walked into the birthday party searching for a friendly face. Maybe somebody offers you the best that they have to offer, and it is constantly disregarded.

To add to this: I must say....often acceptance is used as a weapon. We all hear of the cases where being shut out caused someone to take drastic measures, and although some of us may require a bit more acceptance than others, I do believe it is a common denominator in all of us. We all share the desire to feel needed, thought of, and at the end of the day.........YEP .... accepted.

Crave Items..

                                                                                       

                                          Espresso/ Cappuccino/ Latte Maker

     

Loving this coffee maker. 

My mouth waters when I think of all the tasty treats I could make with this lovely device. I love a warm drink, and this would definitely make my winter quite comfy. 

The price tag on this particular sweetheart, is a little too
steep for my blood, but I'm sure if I looked around a bit, I  would be able to find one that could accommodate my clutch bag. To see for yourself stop by here.

              

Drape Dot Belted Coat                                                

                                                                                                                                                                      

Simply gorgeous....

I believe I can make this! Let's hope I can  complete this by November.
This chic number can be found here

                                                                                                                                                                         Truffle Salt / Fusion Sea Salt                               

                                                                                                                                                                             

Truffle Salt seems to be all the rave at the moment. It is a sea salt, with an exotic mushroom aroma and flavor. I am also excited about the Fusion Salts here.  Due to it being sea salt, and infused with creative additions, it seems like something that needs to be apart of my life. (In moderation of course)
Isn't that wine fusion below... too cute!

Vintage Merlot

Tropical Coconut

Lime Fresco

White Truffle

Plenty more here.

Cheers...

..........................................

Today made another month that I am smoke-free. I couldn't be more proud of myself. Funny, I don't know how much longer I will continue to post on this issue. It seems for now I need to keep reminding myself of the days, weeks, and months as they go by. Nothing about it is simple... it is one of the biggest challenges I've ever tackled.

With this accomplishment I have proven to myself that all things are possible. After years of attempted quits, it seemed almost unachievable. I began to wonder if it was to big of a monster to slay, but here I am!

So... here's to a future of deep clean breaths of fresh air. Here to never leaving to go outside of a car, building or party to smoke. Oh... and here's to not smelling like Puff the Magic Dragon ;p

Cheers...!

.........................................

Drink Info...

Beauty is as......

You ever get into a funk about getting older? I must admit I sometimes do. I miss my flat stomach that fit perfectly in everything I wore, flexible joints that could dance until 4 am. Oh .....and how bout that baby bottom skin! Well... to my defense, it really doesn't help when you live in the most vain country in the world. A country where the obsession of staying young, fit and looking better than the next person is more important than health care, and the ozone layer. Aside from the look of things.... I truly miss my fearlessness. Not giving a {bleep} and being non-apologetic for it. Yes...yes... with age comes responsibility, and the learning of how to become less self absorbed, but the freedom of not being consumed with what others think and living your life for you...PRICELESS!

            MY AGE AND BEYOND 

         Sanna Lathan 38              Stacey Dash 44              Demi Moore  47           Victoria Rowell 51    

           Kenya Moore 38             Gwen Stafani 40             Angela Bassett 50           Tina Turner 71     
              

On a more positive note.... I realize that the meat and potatoes of it is, perception. A favorite word of mine lately.... Perception of who you are... what growing older means to you. .... how you see yourself. I know looking well means a great deal to me. I find that to be realistic! "Being your best is the best compliment you could give yourself"....yeah ... I like that!  Oh ... what about... "Being your best.... is the best compliment you will ever get!  Beauty is a beautiful thing. We just have to understand that it should also exist on the inside. Nothing like a person that shines from within.

These ladies are some of my examples of what ...being your best where you are is all about.

ciao 4 now...

Therapy....

                

I know... I've been MIA for some time now. Mainly because I haven't been that inspired to blog. I have my ups and downs, and my Libra scale is finally balancing itself out. If I didn't know any better ... I would probably be popping pills, convinced by some quack that I'm Bipolar. Nah... I'm o.k ... I'm fine. Just trying to cope in this "Beautiful Disaster" called life. The daily challenge of not being forced.... like a peg into something that won't ever accommodate me. 

I am being harshly reminded that I have grown. Some of the things... people.. and mindsets that once entertained me ..now bore me and quite frankly irritate me. I wasn't prepared for what that would do in my life. I now realize.. being in certain places in your life set you apart. You must quickly adjust to being content with your decisions and embark upon many endeavors alone.

Having to say goodbye... in some cases. Or see you at another place and time to others .....just ain't easy... but necessary. It's all a part of the process.

Reminders.....

                                                                                                                                                                    

• Always do what feels good.

• Don't question what my heart tells me

• Be in the moment

• Challenge yourself constantly

Ital...Is Vital!

Photos by: LOFTINSIGNIA

Yesterday for dinner... I made Ital Stew Peas. It is a great vegetarian dish, that gives you fullness and wonderful flavor. After adding ingredients, season to taste with herbs, spices and or sea salt.

Ingredients:

                        3 carrots                       

1-2 cups of red beans

2-3 medium size potatoes

1-2 bay leaf

1 small onion

1 can coconut milk

Thyme

Allspice

Blood! Hilarious...

Blood, It's Not Funny - Watch more amazing videos here

I love how concerned and passionate this kid is about his baby brother!

Inspiration...

There are so many photos of years gone. Sometimes I spent hours on the floor or bed, surrounded by hundreds of pictures. Usually, this brings me peace and inspiration. Other times it makes me sad, looking down at faces, places and times that no longer exist...

                

      [left] Adeline Frazier [top center] Pecolia Evans                                               William Frazier,  Adeline Frazier
        [right]Lucinda Davis [middle] Delorise Faison

My grandma [P.Evans] tells me I remind her of her mother [A.Frazier]. This is due to our love of cooking/designing/organizing/crafting etc. Funny, I never met her... she passed before I was born, but I feel her guiding me through life. I often say she is just as busy as an angel.... as she was here on earth.

As a young woman .... she left her two little ones with her mother to find work in NYC, she set out with a plan ... to buy property and pay for her kids education. I love the story grandma tells of Adeline working for a family,  their children wore clothes out of the top fashion magazines. In the evenings and days off from work, she would sit at her sewing machine until the wee hours of the morning creating replicas of those designs to send home to her little boy and girl.  

Every summer, Adeline and her friends would go Upstate NY and pick Concord Grapes in the open country side. They would bring them back to Brooklyn, and make delicious wine for the winter season. Preserves, jams and honeys were all make and given freely to friends and family. There were "Fish Fry Fridays" and Sundays after church spent at Adeline's. Good times!

                                                                                  

                       Beatrice Hodges[Aunt Bea]                                   Pecolia Evans [Grandma]

Now Aunt Bea... my fathers aunt,  happen to be my grandma's best friend from childhood. They all lived in the same little town in South Carolina. So the families were very close knit. By the time grandma became a young women, married and had my mother, she moved to Brooklyn, NY and was off to live in the newly bought apartment building. Guess who soon followed.... Aunt Bea and her husband. Years later mom, dad and I would joined in.

Adeline was gone by now, but as a family they kept tradition alive. By the time I came along... aside from being a daddy's girl, I hung out a lot at Aunt Bea's. We would (silently)sip tea from our special fine china set with extended pinkies, and eat sandwiches with cloth handkerchiefs in our laps. I would fall asleep watching as she worked long hours completing big sewing jobs for clients.

Whenever I look at these photos,  I am reminded of the legacy.  I realize that I now stand [top center] in my grandmothers place. My grandmother at the age of ninety-three now resembles her grandmother. I am now a cross between my Grandma and Aunt Bea. I have big dreams and aspirations... I have a passion for living and loving. Giving and creating.

So... I will stay reminded by the memory of Adeline and Aunt Bea to stay passionate about any and everything I do. I will continue to live up to and hold up their legacy out of respect and love. Passion is in my blood, and I owe it all to you ladies.