It’s the start of a beautiful week and when I come home from work I like to kick back in the backyard for a little while. The doggies love to play, Vinny can catch a thrown stick until he’s tired. The week can get busy so my home is my castle. It so good to enjoy my hubby and my doggies and do things around the house.
JT and Gio in the backyard
This outfit is simple and some days I like it that way.
JTwisdom in the backyard
We have to enjoy everyday because there’s so much to be thankful for. Sometimes I feel like the week goes so fast and I have to just stop and take a look at the flowers, kick the leaves in the air and try to catch them. Have some fun! My doggies know how to play!
I celebrated my 12 year wedding anniversary on September 11th. That is when my husband and I walked down the aisle to start our life together. Each year to celebrate our anniversary, we pack up one of our Jeeps and head out on the highway for an exciting road trip. It’s been a tradition with us since 2005. In previous years, we have traveled to North Carolina to see the Biltmore, drove up Pike Peaks in Colorado and explored the Native American sites in New Mexico. This year’s trip was a little different for us. My hubby wanted to surprise me and would not tell me where we were going until we got close to our destination. We left early Friday morning and started driving.
After about four hours on the road, we stopped and had a great Italian lunch in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
Hubby at Vincenzo's Restaurant
We drive to our hotel and checked-in. I had never been to Louisville before, but it seems like a cool place. I think of great Bluegrass music and the Kentucky Derby horses. I still did not have an idea why we were in Louisville. My hubby said that we had to dress up for the evening’s event. I wore my maxi dress which doesn’t wrinkle and a tailored black blazer because it was a little cool.
JTwisdom getting ready
I said to myself, “we probably will be going to a nice restaurant, how sweet!” So we decided to take a nice stroll since he said where we were going was not that far. We walked about a block in a half and came up on the KFC Yum! Center. Okay I am really wondering what’s going on now.
KFC Yum! Center
My hubby had on some awesome boots. He was getting compliments on the cool look of the boots.
Hubby wearing some awesome cowboy boots
Before we got into the center, my hubby was sweating from sheer excitement. I was like, “Honey do you need to take off your coat?” He said, “So you know why we are here?” Still not sure, I noticed that people were dressed nicely so it looks like it might be a concert. He said we are here to see Sade! I was like way cool, awesome. We saw the concert in Missouri back in July. I said that we would love to see it again. I had no idea that we would get the chance to see it again. Seeing Sade in concert is a treat.
John Legend opened the show. His hour-long show was packed with piano playing, slow dancing and singing his hit songs, including Ordinary People and Green Light.
John Legend
Sade was awesome. When I say Sade, I mean the singer and the band. They both gel together like the song, “Nothing can come between us.”
Sade in Louisville, KY
Sade in Louisville, KY
My hubby surprised me big time and I love it when he does those sweet romantic things. Marriage is not a cake walk. It takes work and most of all we have to communicate with each other. I know that when I need him, he is there and vice versa and I find that so important and special. My husband is a cool guy and my best friend.
Happy Anniversary honey!
This post is linked with Not Dead Yet Style blog Visible Monday’s
Confidence comes from within and projects outwardly in a very positive way. Clothing and accessories can also make us feel good too. I wear this dress often by itself or with a jacket or vest. I will make it casual with boots or I will add some patent clogs to spice it up a bit. I wore this dress to church service and it’s so breathable.I tried my hair a little different using twist outs and it worked really well. I will definitely including this as one of my hair styles I do on my hair. I do not get chemicals in my hair anymore and I love the extra body and the thickness that my hair has after two years of no relaxers.
Leopard bible cover and Miss Tina caged handbag
I feel very confident when I wear this dress and purse. The color red evokes power and good vibes. The Miss Tina shoulder caged bag designed by Miss Tina Knowles (Beyonce and Solanges mother) when she was designing for HSN. This purse is an attention-grabber. I bought this purse in 2008 and still get questions asked about it often.
Miss Tina Caged bag
Miss Tina Caged purse
I love turquoise jewelry so I had to highlight my necklace.
Turquoise necklace
And also the earthiness of my bracelet and ring.
I am loving bright colors on my skin tone because it makes my face look so much more youthful.
So many times, if we don’t watch ourselves, it is so easy to get caught up in what we should be doing often thinking that maybe our lives would be more fulfilled or different. Does this sound familiar? We have to live our best life now. You know we only have one life so we have to make the best of it.
My Pastor said something in one of his teachings that has stuck with me. He said,” how can you go forward if you are looking back.” So I did a little experiment. I turned my head to look back and I couldn’t look foward for anything. I had to change some things in my life. That analogy is brilliant because that is what is hindering so many people. It seems simple and it can be if you are willing to not look back.
Self-pity and self-doubt are so easy to get into and hard to get out of. That’s why self-examination is important. We can stop from going down the path of discouragement and self-degradation. I am growing everyday. If I get side tracked I have to resist it. Resisting those feelings steers me toward my goals. Negativity brings me down. It is no need for me to feed into those bad vibes.
If you are feeling negative or down in the dumps try these suggestions:
1. Think about something good the minute that the negative thought comes into your mind. I have to say that this has works for me every time.
2. Listen to some good praise and worship music. Israel Houghton’s cd Power of One is such an uplifter that you will be on your feet dancing.
3. Reading the bible and pray. If that negative feeling comes on I will start resisting the enemy and read out loud my scriptures of encouragement. My favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”NIV
4. Write down your short and long-term goals you have been dreaming about and believing by faith you will achieve. Figure out what words that you have been speaking out of your mouth that has been hindering you from success.
This is not a fashion post and may sound deep but I would like for you to start thinking about what goals you have achieved and what goals you would like to accomplish in the future.
I have to keep telling myself that God made only one me so, there is no need to compare. It’s time to focus.
Hope that all of the Mothers are having a great day. This is for the women who have physically given birth to a child and those who have not.
A mother can be someone who gives you good sound advice or good words of wisdom. So whether you are a favorite Aunt, a sister or a good friend those motherly qualities are in you.
Jt's Mother Graduating from High School, before heading to San Francisco
My mother went to be with the Lord in 1994 but her words of wisdom are with me each and everyday. I thank God for my mother and my grandmother. My childhood was not perfect, but what childhood is perfect. Nevertheless my childhood was a good one, and I thank my mother for instilling in me those values and seeds of wisdom. I cherish them.
My mother taught me to strive for the best and to never compare myself to other people. She would say, “God made only one of you baby; and he broke the mold after that so there’s no need to compare.” So every time I think that the grass is greener on the other side, I think of her saying that to me.
Mother’s Day use to be tough and it’s still not easy for me because I miss my mother, my grandmother and my daddy.
However, now I realize that I have so much to be thankful for. Even though I miss them I know that they would want me to strive for the best in life and carry on. So on this Sunday, May 9th, 2011.
This Easter weekend was quite eventful. Friday night as my husband and I prepared to have dinner, the tornado warning sirens sounded. The warning said that everyone should seek shelter immediately. We do not have a basement so my hubby, myself and my two doggies went to our utility room which is the safest room in the house. The utility room has no windows and does not have any outside walls. For the next hour, we waited and prayed for the storm to stop. We prayed and God tells us to put him in remembrance of his word so we commanded the winds and rain to cease and cause no damage In Jesus Name. We prayed and released our guardian angels to protect us and everyone from any harm. We thought the storm was over because the winds and rains had diminished. But the sirens sounded a second time, and within a few minutes later, a third time, declaring more tornado warnings for our area. We continued praying and interceding for everyone’s safety. Twenty minutes had passed when we heard the strong winds blowing with the rain and hail. This was the time the tornado touched down in several locations in Saint Louis County, including the airport.
Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, only a few miles from our house, suffered significant damage when the EF-3 tornado hit the terminal with sustained winds up to 165mph. This airport security video captured the tornado as it rustled through the terminal. This video shows how forcefully the wind hit the airport terminal.
The media report 2,700 homes and buildings throughout the Saint Louis area received significant damage. The National Weather Service has declared this to be the worst tornado to come through Saint Louis since 1967. In spite of the destruction, no lives were lost. Some people may call it being lucky, but I call it divine intervention. St. Louis Post Dispatch has pictures of the extent of the damage of the horrific tornado.
On our way to church this Sunday I took a couple of pictures on my phone of the Bellfontaine Neighbors area which was one of the areas that the tornado went through. It was so strange to drive down the street and we could see no damage at all. Then suddenly, we saw trees ripped apart, power lines down and roofs damaged. The whole path of the damage was only about three blocks wide. We have a friend who lives in the area who lost power during the storm. She did not get the power back on until early Sunday morning. There are still some homes without power so I pray they get there power on soon.
Bellfontaine Neighbors area
Bellfontaine Neighbors area
This was a horrible storm and tornado which we will soon not forget. Our home was not affected by the storm. Thank God no lives were lost. Please continue to pray for the people whose homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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