My African Princess

Today was our last day of Books and Basketball. I'm going to miss those kids. :( Every time I drive my group home they raid the car stereo and tonight the "shot gun" winner played 2Face's song African Queen from her MP3 player. I thought it would be perfect for this post. Here are some pics from this past weekend. My dear Ghanaian Princess, Freda had the sweetest baby girl this fall. I call her Grandma V (she was born with beautiful black hair and three grey hairs right in the middle of her hair line). She was also named after her grandmother and we are convinced she has such an old soul (I'm thinking in heaven, her Grandma kissed her on the forehead and then sent her to Freda). She is such a quiet, calm baby it's amazing! This weekend was the African celebration of Grandma V receiving her name.

Freda and her sweet husband are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so Grandma V also had her baby blessing this Sunday. I love Freda and her cute family so very much!

Dreams & Hopes

I took a geography class a few years ago and was amazed at how little I knew about the present world around me. I was in awe at how much my heart swelled for these people and places I new so little about. As I've continued to study our global affairs, I struggle to pick a location concentration. How much I LOVE the people of South America and I am constantly AMAZED with the Asian culture. But, my heart feels like it's going to BURST when I think of my sub-Saharan Africa. There is so much more to learn and understand but as my eyes and heart continue to open, I know my deepest dreams and hopes of significantly being able to contribute to our global community, will come true one day at a time. I just need to be patient.
Madonna recently produced and wrote the documentary of the orphaned by Aids children of Malawi: I AM BECAUSE WE ARE. (Make sure to pause the music to the right but go out and watch the complete film as soon as you get a chance.)

I love how this film expresses the idea of "What hurts the one, effects the others as well." and how the most important thing is WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON. Here's a link to the films website: http://www.iambecauseweare.com/ on the top there is an icon of ways we can help the children of Malawi.

Isn't She Lovely...

The Nats played Philly yesterday and WON!!! My cute friend G, invited me to the ball park with her new little bubby and friend E. I hadn't seen G since her bubby was born. I also hadn't seen the new stadium (this is the Nats first season playing in it). So, it was a much overdue outing! As we were leaving the same saxophone player in the above pic (that I took as we were arriving) was playing the Stevie Wonder Song, Isn't She Lovely. Such a beautiful song and it always reminds me of my cute mom singing along to it as we were driving to Logan once. Every time I hear the song, I can hear her cute voice singing along. Mother ,you are simply Lovely!

The other day while taking out the trash, I found a sad little thing that needed some lovin'. I was finally able to strip and stain it this weekend. Meet my new little night stand, isn't she lovely? ;-)

Before:

and After (my favorite part is the violet glass knob I was able to find!):

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake It

Shake it!!!! Yesterday everything was turned in on time!!! This morning, as I was getting ready for work, (after realizing it wasn't Saturday morning!!!) Metro Station's Shake It song came on and the realization of another successful close of a semester hit me and you better believe I "shake"ed it up (much like the below video)!! And YES Bree, Anson and Aubs, I'm sure I had my I'm SO cool (but very oh so nerdy) dancing face on. (when you view the video, you may want to pause the tunes on the right to get the full effect)

From LYRICSMODE.COM lyrics archive

Song lyrics | Shake It lyrics

I was about to freak out yesterday as I was submitting my last online (TIMED!!!) exam and our power went out. I quickly scooped up my computer and found some wireless at the public library and every thing was A-okay. This weather has been SO random.
Remember that beautiful rain last week? Thought I would forward the below info:

Approximately 75 homes received severe damage in last week's tornado and many others received minor damage.

"Families need the following items: personal care items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, toilet paper, hair brushes, deodorant, bath soap; clothes for elementary and middle school aged children; bath and kitchen towels; and baby diapers and baby wipes. If you want to donate food, please donate non-perishable items only. If you'd like to donate money, please make your check payable to the Rappahannock United Way and write tornado on the memo line. Cash donations are also being accepted. You will be provided with a receipt. The money will go into a fund that is being set up for the victims and will be managed by the Rappahannock United Way. It will go directly to the needs of the families that were affected by the tornado."

I'm taking donations to a friend that's running items down to Stafford on Friday. Let me know if you want me to pass anything along for you.

Happy, Happy Mother's Day to all my sexy Mamies!!!

So, I am SO far behind in research and writing & thought… hmm… perfect time to give the blog some flava flav and add a post. ;-) Yup, I believe I am procrastinating yet again…
M and I went to one of the Washington, DC’s 48 HFP screenings this week (http://www.48hourfilm.com/dc/). One of our friends had a film that was going to debut. I went a few years ago and have been SO wanting to be a part of it. M mentioned something about another friend wanting to get a team together and I’m thinking if I could get Rich in on this, we may just create the #1 film in 48 hours next year!!! ;-) That day after working a little late, I ran to give rides for tutoring. The kids I tutor are SO full of life. I LOVE being around them. I always leave feeling rejuvenated. This particular day, the car consisted of a little brother, his older sister and her friends. Again, so fun to be around but that day the older sis and little bro were fighting so much. The older sis was SO upset that her little brother was tagging along (he didn’t have any homework that night & she felt there was no reason for him to go and of course he was just SO annoying) and the little brother was SO upset that his sis didn’t want him to come (he said he’d promise to sit quiet and read a book & really didn’t want to stay at home without her). Of course, her friends were taking her side which just made him more upset. There was so much yelling and the regrettable “I wish I had a different sister” and “Well, I wish I had a different brother” were shouted. I wasn’t staying to tutor (to make the screening with M) and was trying my hardest to calm them down before I dropped them off. Nothing I said made a difference. I ended up getting a little emotional telling them how much I missed my siblings and they should just be grateful they are able to see each others faces. Well, the emotion hit them OR they were just feeling really awkward and ended up quieting down. I was then bombarded with questions on why I was so far away from fam. They were so concerned. Sooo cute! As I drove away I realized the little munchkins gave me a headache and driving my car didn’t seem so difficult after all. Oh boy, then I started to recall all the car fights I must have had with my siblings and started feeling SO bad for my parents. Oh, I love you Mom and Dad! Rich and Bree (I don’t ever remember fighting with my little Aubs and Anson) I love you guys SO much and am SO sorry for anytime I shouted (or thought) the regrettable “I wish I was the only child”. I miss your faces SO much!


-I hadn’t had dinner that night (or time to do my hair as you can see) so before the screening M let me grab some sushi quick. After the screening it was raining like CRAZY!!!! We parked a few LONG blocks from the theatre and got SO wet. The drive home was pretty intense too with all the rain. I kept thinking, how beautiful the rain was. I found out in the morning there was a tornado a few hours south of us that night. Yikes!

and
Happy, Happy Mother's Day to all my sexy Mamies!!!!

Eat, Drink and be GORGEOUS!

Before I begin, I'm feeling there needs to be a preface that is coming to my mind:

The "Cover Girl" episode from Sex and the City when Charlotte secretly turns to self-help books for advice. (She's in the Barnes and Noble looking for the book "Starting Over, Yet again." as she enters the "Self Help" section along with dramatic, terrifying music, there are some pitiful looking characters sitting on the ground, reading and crying. As she reaches for her book, one of the sad looking characters tells her through tears, "Oh, that one really helped me". Charlotte immediately puts the book down and starts looking lost as she asks "Travel? Travel?" as to be looking for the "Travel" section.)

Hee, Hee, Too funny!!!!

Anyways!!! ;-) One of my co-workers/new fun friend, who is chuckfull of prettiness, L has opened my eyes to a new outlook on health. L is super cute and sassy and reminds me so much of my Mandy May. Such cheerleaders for healthy living and not for the reason to be hard on ourselves so we look good but for the reason to be good to ourselves so our inside feels good too. "Eat, Drink and be Gorgeous." is a book that L is reading and suggested to me. I borrowed it for a hot little sec and fell in love with it! (I'm thinking I may need to get to the Barnes and purchase it for myself. Or maybe, I'll pull a Charlotte and end up purchasing it on-line.) ;-)

Esther Blum the author/nutritionist of the book really has such a fun perspective. The idea that "you can eat and drink what you love and still look and feel gorgeous." I also love her upbeat attitude and perspective of loving who you are and treating yourself like a princess.

Okay, I had to do a little promo! ;-) On that note, I also added a tune from my girl MJ, "So, I like what I see when I'm looking at me when I'm walkin' pass the mirror!" Just love me some Mary J. Blige!

I was able to take a break from workin' & livin' it up in the Library until closing time (urg, only two more weeks left!) and drove up to NY and Jersey last weekend. I spent a hot little second in NY (thank you Tim for being such a great host to us & next time, we will be staying longer for sure!) and the rest of the time with my Calls in Jersey! Richie's show opened last weekend. He really is SO amazing and SO honest as he performs. I love it! His wife (and my sis) Chrislynn is also SO amazing, I don't know how either of them do it. I've been thinking a lot of my incredible parents too and what they were able to do and are still doing. Oh, and my amazing ancestors. Goodness, I really don't think I have any room to complain about being tired or stressed. Good to know I come from such a good breed though. ;-) I wish I would have taken some cuter pics to share... Next time I'll do better! But here are a few randoms from the trip:

-Katie and I cracking each other up in Tim's super cute loft/guest room! We had quite the funny experience urgently looking for gas in a sketchy, sketchy neighborhood and when all was said and done, we had a better appreciation for our precious lives!! ;-)

-My cute, cute, nephew lil' Richie, taking a break from moving to hang out on his deck.

-We took one of the crazy "jug handles" in Jersey and ran into this little family. If you look hard you'll see the 4 babies!! You would think we were visiting a pond and not making a turn on a busy road.