Reflections of a year Gone By/e

December 31st is here! 2017 flew by. What a strange, crazy, chaotic year it was. When I look back and reflect on all that happened, my overall characterization is disappointment. I feel like I was waiting for something great to happen....and it never did. Perhaps it’s why I feel antsy and restless going into the New Year. 

Despite the sense of disappointment I feel, I’m positive that 2018 will be better. On one hand, our state of affairs can’t possibly get any worse. We have a narcissistic POTUS who has major issues, people don’t trust police, and we still haven’t put race or religion in proper perspective in the United States. On the other, God remains in control and our job is to remain faithful and trust His plan. 

I don’t set New Year’s resolutions. I make up my mind to make personal changes and I do my best to make them a reality. This year, most of my closest friends as well as myself, will hopefully celebrate 50 year’s of life. My focus for this milestone is TRUTH. I am choosing to share this one because I am expecting miraculous things to happen for those in my circle and myself. So about truth....My plan is to walk in His truth, speak the truth (in love). and live my truth.

 For me that is being honest about everything. It means that sometimes my reality is not all good. There are real low days and moments and I’m not always my best self, no matter how hard I try. It means my finances are crappy and I can’t go out for lunch/dinner/drinks. It means that despite being popular and extroverted, sometimes I feel lonely. It also means that most days are fairly good. I am beyond blessed and feel guilty about complaining. I have a place to live, food on my table, and a job that covers most of my bills. I’m healthy but feeling the effects of being almost 50-those bones creak y’all! More importantly, I have a relationship with Jesus. My faith keeps me going on the days I forget exactly how blessed I am. 

Yesterday, my Facebook status reminded my family and friend to choose themselves. You have a right to choose YOU! I’m not saying to be selfish or dismissive of others. I am encouraging you to chose yourself over toxic relationships and situations. Choose to say no or maybe, instead of getting caught up in a vicious cycle of busyness. Remember, sometimes good is the enemy of best. If you don’t protect your spirit, no one else will. Walking alone is better than walking in a crowd that is negative and drains your energy. 

No year is complete without me reviewing my circle. I make a mental note of who poured unto my life and spirit and who didn’t. Friendships work both ways. The older you get the smaller the circle gets. You may not fight with a friend but you may wake up one day and find that you simply aren’t in the same season or that your interests no longer align. No drama, just a natural parting of ways. Learn to be okay with that. I certainly have. It also makes you take a good look st yourself...do you add value or are you just there for the ride? 

Self reflection is hard for a lot of people. But living your truth will make you take a good hard look at yourself. I’m no different. I felt like I was in a rut this year. I am going to have to make some things happen for 2018. Life is short and I need to make sure that I’m “getting busy living.”  I want to make sure that my circle knows without a doubt that I love them. I want to be present for the special moments. I want to pour not drain. I want to be close to God and hear His still small voice guiding me every step of the way. That requires surrender, obedience, and a yielded heart. 

That’s my reflection. What’s yours? Are you choosing you? Are you walking in your truth? Was 2017 good to you or are you happy to see it end? What are you expecting for 2018?  My hope for you is that God will bless you abundantly. If you are lacking a relationship with Him, take time to trust Him with your everything.  His promises are true and His love never fails. I hope that at the end of 2018, you have made a difference and accomplished much. This is the time. New beginnings, new you! It’s never to late or early to make a fresh start. 

May 2018 be your best year ever! Happy New Year to you and yours! God bless your endeavors and may you prosper. Thanks for reading my blog. Take time to comment. Be strong! Be fearless! Be intentional! Most of all, walk in your truth and choose you! 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 🥂❤️🙏🏽

Your Voice Does Matter

I've been writing and rewriting this post for several weeks now. With all the allegations and admitted sexual harassment, several things have come to mind. Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely. Unfortunately, power carries a lot of weight, especially in certain industries. Hollywood is one of them. Sadly, it's an industry where people always have to seek acceptance.That makes those folks vulnerable, especially since up until very recently, women held no places of power in the industry which allowed men to prey on young aspiring stars and starlets. 

Stories are coming out right and left about sexual misconduct. It appears that it really does exist everywhere. I am extremely happy that women, and in small number, a few men are coming forward with their stories. It is a reminder that your voice matters and your story needs to be heard. Obviously, there is power in numbers. We are getting more of these stories as fear begins to take a backseat. Looking specifically at Harvey Weinstein, we can see where fear overshadowed repeated calls for help. It was widely known that he was a disgusting pig who preyed on aspiring thespians, yet his company was very powerful. I don't know why women are finally speaking their truth but let it serve as an encouragement. In most cases, your story needs and deserves to be heard. Your story/conflict/situation is probably NOT an isolated case. No matter what fear you have, speak your truth.There is unity and power in numbers. 

Let's examine another predator. Roy Moore, a candidate for US Senate, in the state of Alabama, is obnoxious, however, I'm sure he feels empowered because the POTUS is an admitted harasser and yet he has landed the highest office in the land. Moore refuses to step down despite over 30 allegations accusing him of sexual misconduct. I'm sure in his mind that if the POTUS can continue in office, he can continue to run for Governor. Another act, that causes my stomach to turn. From my perspective, it's another man who is so used to the good ole boy way of doing things that he refuses to be a decent human being and go gently into the night. How dare we want him to take two seats. I'm sure him being from Alabama doesn't help.  Again, it makes me sad that our children are held witness to such dishonorable behavior. Kevins Spacey, as much as I like him as an actor, has become a person non grata in my book because in his apology for sexual misconduct, he took the opportunity to out himself as gay. Who the hell does that? A good ole boy, that's who. Now the livelihood of hundreds of folks livelihood is in limbo because production has been stopped on House of Cards due to his indiscretions.

All of this confirms that you better be your child's first and best role model. As we can see no one is exempt from being a predator. Bill Cosby was, "America's dad" back in the 80s when his show was a huge success. I feel absolutely positive that he is guilty of mistreating and sexually abusing women, despite being extremely talented. As I type this, Russell Simmons, has stepped down. Mr. Zen himself creeped me out when he married a very young Kimora but hey, just my thoughts. Matt Lauer was terminated by NBC earlier this week for detailed acts of misconduct. You'd think $25 Million/year and a high profile would be enough. NOT! Obviously, I could go on since every day, there is at least one person outed of late but you get the idea.

So what exactly is my point? SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN. God gave each of us a voice for a reason. We need to use our voices, even when we think no one is listening. Your mess will become a message and that message can help someone else. Living in fear is not living at all. You are in bondage. We weren't meant to be in bondage, we were meant to live free and in community. America is an ever changing place and hopefully things continue to improve. Things never change or improve if you fail to add your two cents....no matter how painful or hurtful they may be. Your story matters, your testimony matters. By silencing yourself, you continue to give power to the individual who caused you harm in the first place. Speak your truth, it deserves to be heard. It may fall on deaf ears at first but keep speaking. You will touch someone. Remember...power lies in the tongue...just make sure you use it for good. 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 

What are Your Intentions?

This has been bothering me for a couple of days now....Watching the story play out about La David Johnson, a soldier slain in the line of duty on a mission that seems fraught with questions, got me thinking about why are we quick to believe that a person's intentions are less than honorable and when it would be better to take a humble step back and right the situation. 

None of us is being told the whole truth about how Sgt. Johnson ended up dead but we know that he is dead and will not be coming back to his family. We all saw his grieving widow and we know that her pain will last way into the future. We know it will be a long time before we know what was really going on in Niger and how this US soldier ended up where he was in the position he was in. 

What we do know is there is controversy surrounding a call from 45 to this widow. A congresswoman has accused the POTUS of making an insensitive remark to the widow. The widow pretty much has indicated that the POTUS said something insensitive. Here's what I think...I believe the POTUS did make the remark. I do not believe he meant it maliciously even though it was definitely not a humane remark to make. I believe the Congresswoman could've shared her concerns privately to someone and the POTUS could've made a decision to fix the situation privately. Sounds simple, doesn't it? 

Instead both have taken to airing their issues publicly and a grieving family is left hurting in the midst of the drama. It's absolutely sickening to see adults acting this way, especially ones who are running our illustrious country. At what point are people in power going to take the high road? Everything is not meant to be a political battle. We can see that 45 is NEVER going to take real responsibility for his actions nor will he ever humble himself and admit that he may have made a mistake. He could've offered up an apology to the widow and moved on but nope, he took to Twitter and belittled yet another grown woman. The Congresswoman could've have pointed out her concern and let it go. Neither choose to handle it it maturely. 

How are we going to recover from errors and misjudgments such as this? I hesitate to think of all the negative messages that are being sent to our youth. No wonder they don't have any idea about how to navigate conflict and small dramas in their lives. The people in position of power keep sending terrible messages. We are going down a horrible road when we can't address simple misunderstandings civilly and without making a public spectacle  and bringing attention to ourselves. We have to do better. People are watching and taking their cues from us. I suggest parents use this very situation as a teaching tool. We all say things we don't mean and we can often recover from them. We need to be people who CHOOSE to see the best in others--even if we don't think they deserve it. People are important and so are relationships. So I implore you to be a lil different...choose humility, air your grievances privately. The Bible says in Matthew 18, v:15-16 (NASB) "if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed." 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela
Late mss add against yogo and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two orthree witnesses every fact may be confirmed.

What Makes Me Feel Better, Always

Hey, Hey, Hey! Got a minute and thought I should put something out there. We all have good days and bad and let's face it, there are those things that just always can turn your day around. For me there are several very important cures. First, prayer. Nothing like a heartfelt conversation with the Lord. No judgment and He is always there-whether you think so or not. Sometime I have to remember to be still and silent so I can receive whatever it is is He has to say to me. It can't be a one way communication. 

Music. I don't go a day without it. It is always going on my computer at work. I have uplifting play lists and ratchet ones too. No day begins without gospel music. It gets my mind and spirit right. I am not a huge fan of hip-hop but give me some old school and I can jam my day away. Jazz for relaxation, R&B anytime. I've even been known to play Broadway Hits. Don't sleep on the Hamilton tunes. 

A great Conversation. Nothing like catching up with a heart and soul level friend. You know the ones who know you well...even when you aren't saying what you're really feeling? Those are the best. Also when you and a group of girlfriends come together and the conversation flows in such a way that you know you could solve all the world problems if they just gave you all the power for a couple of weeks. Had one of those moments a couple of weeks ago. There were good side conversations taking place too. No explanation, no reservation, no hiding or adapting just real heartfelt discussion without apology or agenda. Refreshing as a brisk morning wind. 

My mom. Love her to pieces. I talk to her almost every day on my way home from work and whenever the need arises. My brother does too. I know she loves me unconditionally and worries about both of us being so far away from her. It works both ways. I can discuss most anything with her and she is terribly amused by the rants of both my brother and I with ridiculous traffic antics and drivers in our respective cities.  Sometimes, I do have to remind her to let me get a word in because she truly has the gift of gab. I get that from my momma too but I am a thoughtful listener. She's getting better. Just the sound of her voice usually makes me feel good inside. 

In no particular order, these things always get me smiling too: my children and their conversations or crazy jokes. They are hilarious, yet interesting individuals. Even better, when they cozy up to me for no reason despite being 19 and 16. The best moments of my life. I love to hear little children laugh with reckless abandon. I love getting a card in the mail....If the words and message are right for me, my tank is immediately filled. A good book. Coloring-such a childlike innocence to picking the right colors and getting the picture just the way you want it. Doing a kindness for someone else. Writing or journaling. Travel would work too but sometimes funds are scarce. 

So no matter what, there's always a positive in the negative. What does it for you? What can change your day no matter what? If you can't figure it out, take a moment and get quiet, meditate on the things that bring you joy. Ask God to show you how to find that fleeting joy in the midst of pain. Trust God and trust the process. You can always start with a gratitude list. There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. Find your joy and peace and hold fast to it! 

In Diva Love, 

Pam

HelloFresh: A Review

Apparently food delivery is currently all the rage. Never one to miss an opportunity, I quickly jumped on utilizing the code sent to me by my BFF to try HelloFresh for free. Getting started was easy, quick, and painless. You are free to choose how often you get the service delivered. I think I'm going to try once each month. Delivery occurs on the day of the week of your choice. Three menu items will be selected so if you forget, you will be receiving those items in your box. There is a window of time to select the items that will come in your box. You get about 10-12 options and one of them will cost additional money-a higher value protein usually like duck or prime rib, averaging about $5 more /person. You also get to choose to utilize the vegan, classic or family plan. With the classic choice you choose if it will be for 2 or 4 people. I chose the classic plan for 2 people.

The box arrived on a Monday. It was organized and there were two huge ice packs to keep everything cold. Our box contained ingredients for Beef noodle bowls, Pork and apple burgers, and shrimp tagliatelle. I figured this gave us a wonderful variety of items to try and would breath a little inspiration into my meal planning routine. I like that there was a separate bag for each day's meal. The recipe cards were colorful and laid out well. The only items that weren't included in the bags were staple items that you'd have in your house already, like olive oil, salt, and pepper. My extremely picky son was intrigued by the whole idea and seemed most excited to try the pork burger dish.  The items can be refrigerated for up to 7 days or should be frozen. Everything sent had great coloring and appeared to be quite fresh. There was also an update included to ensure the best quality and taste for one of the recipes. The update was based on feedback from previous customers. 

As of last night, we tried every meal in our box. We loved all three of them. My only complaint is that for the shrimp tagliatelle recipe, there was no salad or bread to accompany the dish. The pork burger had sweet potato fries and a salad, and the beef noodle bowl contained veggies in addition to the pasta and beef. All of the items were fresh and plentiful. Nutrition information is also included. In some instance, HelloFresh does send more than the recipe calls for. None of the meals were labor intensive and all were able to be prepared within 20-50 minutes with minimal pots/dishes used. 

Would I do it again? Absolutely. Once you make the recipe, you see that you could go to the local grocery store and prepare the meals but then you have to do the shopping. Trust me, there will be that one item that you'd never remember to buy, nor would you have it on hand. For about $60/week, HelloFresh can do all the work for you. It would work for me as I average about 3 meals a week that I prepare and there are no leftovers-which my family isn't very fond of anyway. If you need inspiration, it's a good way to go. As I perused the various week's choices, I saw a good mixture of poultry, pork, and beef dishes to select from. There were Thai, Mexican, and Mediterranean inspired selections as well. So the choices are excellent and should satisfy the basic eater and the foodie too. Check out the pictures that I've included. If you are interested, please feel free to use the code to try the service at a discounted price: https://share.hellofresh.com/x/kj3j.  I doubt you'll be disappointed. Happy eating!

In Diva Love,

Pamela

Wordless Wednesday-September 20, 2017

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 💜💯👑

Wordless Wednesday-September 6, 2017

In Diva Love,

Pamela 🤔❤️💯👑

Wordless Wednesday-August 30, 2017

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 💜👑💯❤️

Wordless Wednesday-August 23, 2017

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑💜

Wordless Wednesday-August 16, 2017

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 💜❤️👑

Wordless Wednesday-August 9, 2017

In Diva Love,

Pamela ❤️❤️👑👑

Wordless Wednesday-August 2, 2017

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 💯❤️👑

Wordless Wednesday-July 19, 2017

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 💜❤️👑

Wordless Wednesday- July 12, 2017

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 👑💯👑

Wordless Wednesday-July 5, 2017

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 👑❤️

Wordless Wednesday-June 28, 2017

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑

Wordless Wednesday-June 21, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑💯❤️

My Favorite Foods

I have been blogging  for a while now. As I review the various posts, I realize that I share my thoughts but not much about myself. I am a foodie. My friends are foodies too. We love good food and we really enjoy a great eating experience. Most of my closest friends can cook and throw a party together with the best of them. So in this post, I thought I'd share my favorite things to eat. Most of my favorite foods evoke fond and special memories for me.

Macaroni and Cheese has to be my favorite thing to eat.  It was one of  the two things that I begged Nanno, my grandmother, to make. It was also the one thing everyone wanted her to make and now it is one of the things people want me to make. It took a few tries for me to get mine like hers but I have perfected her recipe. It's baked, cheesy, and buttery. It's comforting and delicious.  The first bite always puts a smile on my face.

Peach Cobbler is next.  Nanno didn't exactly teach me how to make hers but my version is not too bad and as far as taste, I nailed it. My crust can still use a bit of work. Gotta get the right amount of nutmeg to make it perfect.  Comfort food at its best.

Crab cakes....Maryland style. The right amount of Old Bay is essential. Very little filler. Please use lump or jumbo lump crab meat.  This was the best discovery I made when I became a Maryland transplant, When I moved to Albany, Georgia, I even had them shipped to me because I missed them so much.

Lobster and shrimp. Can you tell that I love seafood? Steamed, fried, broiled, in pasta dishes or salads.  One way to my heart......a good seafood meal.

I like red meat. Give me a well seasoned steak, cooked medium. preferably a rib eye,  I also like prime rib prepared the same way.  A decent cheeseburger cooked medium also hits the spot. SN: Mustard belongs on hot dogs, not on burgers.

Bread.....comfort at its best.  I love love love homemade yeast rolls.  I love Red  Lobster's cheddar Bay biscuits, not quite as good as the biscuits my grandmother made at least once a week when my grandfather and she were both living. Light fluffy and buttery.

Ice cream. Not soft serve. Bleh! I get an ice cream cake from Baskin-Robbins every year for my birthday. Real cake with real Ice cream. You can see this years pictured below. My favorite flavors are Jamocha Almond Fudge and Gold Medal Ribbon. My aunt Dorothy can be blamed for this one. Jamocha Almond Fudge is her favorite and my brother, Gerald's.

 

Potatoes. Here's how I like them....Boardwalk french fries..mashed..baked and loaded.  In a soup, or buried in cheese. Can't forget potato salad. You know we judge a cook by their preparation of  potato salad. I also like sweet potatoes...not only do they taste good but they are good  for you. If I crave a salty snack...Utz potato chips win the prize.

Chicken....Fried hard and seasoned well. I love a good wing too.

Then there are the random items like German Chocolate Cake, gumbo, broccoli, bacon, ham, catfish, and ribs. Lemon Heads, Twizzlers, Twix, and Snickers win for candy. Nectarines and cherries are my favorite fruits. A corned beef sandwich...from Cleveland only.

There you have it...A glimpse into my foodie life.  What foods do you enjoy? Do those foods evoke good memories of folks you love? Comment and let me know your favs. Till next time..Ciao!

In Diva Love,

Pam

Wordless Wednesday-June 14, 2017

 In Diva Love, 

Pamela 👑💯

Wordless Wednesday-May 17, 2017

 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 👑

Wordless Wednesday-May 10, 2017

 

In Protective Love,

Pamela 👑🙏🏽💯

Wordless Wednesday-May 3, 2017

 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela ❤️💯👑

Wordless Wednesday-April 26, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 💯👑

Wordless Wednesday-April 19, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑❤️

Eyebrows On Fleek

Initially, I envisioned throwing a fantastic divorce party once my divorce was final. Well given the long amount of time that it took for that to happen, I was just happy for it to be over and done. I must also  admit, it seems that celebrating the demise of a marriage is a tad wrong even if you are happy. After a very unnecessary fight, you still need a reward for your victory. So instead of a divorce party, I chose to do something for me--with the ex's money of course. 😇    

My eyebrows were nearly non-existent due to a habit I have of plucking them while reading or being bored. I was sick and tired of drawing them in. Even though I know our eyebrows aren't twins, some days were good ones and others....well were not so great. So, I gave myself the gift of microblading. Microblading is  a semi-permanent cosmetic tattooing treatment that fills in sparse or nonexistent eyebrows.  The technique uses a handheld tool with needles to apply pigments that simulate additional hairs.  The most popular technique is the PhiBrow technique.  Their tools and pigments are produced in accordance with the highest standards. You have one microblading session and you return 4-6 weeks later for a touch-up as you will lose some pigmentation.

After consulting with several local aestheticians, I settled on the one I felt was most knowledgeable about the process. I hate people touching my face. Lyly was my choice. Her shop was neat and clean. She explained the entire process, had me sign some paper work, and got started. Lyly was very meticulous and measured multiple times and marked so that the placement was natural and symmetrical according to the shape of my face. She then carefully drew out the shape and size according to my request. I wanted natural brows with a natural arch. She gave me two colors to choose from.  After about two hours, Lyly superseded my expectations. She was attentive and concerned about my level of comfort every step of the way. 

The pain level was tolerable.  It feels like a bunch of paper cuts. Then a strong numbing agent is applied and the remainder of the process is relatively pain free. The strokes are drawn in the direction of your brows' natural growth pattern to achieve a realistic look.  Some think it looks a little dark initially but the coloring does lose its intensity after a week or so.  It takes 28 days to fully heal and then the area is ready for a touch-up.  For the initial week, Lyly gave me a beeswax substance to seal and moisturize the area. For the remaining time, an A&D ointment was provided. She was adamant about follow-up care. Once the microblading was complete I had very little puffiness and no irritation, despite some bleeding during the process-who knew I shouldn't have had that morning cup of coffee. The touch-up appointment was  much shorter as no drawing or measuring was required. There were areas that had lightened noticeably and those were the areas Lyly concentrated on during the touch-up session. I am including a picture from my first session and from my touch-up session. 

To say that I am very pleased would be an understatement.  I wrote Lyly a glowing Yelp review and would recommend her without hesitation.  If you aren't in the DMV area, do your homework. Microblading is an excellent choice if you are wasting precious morning time on your brows. My brows are now on fleek--in a very natural looking way.  It wasn't a party but it was an awesome gift of love to myself and just in time for the summer.  Did I mention that I have found contact lenses that I can wear that don't make it look as if I've been doing world class drugs after 3 days wear? I call it winning.  Here's to new freedoms and a life of freedom and happiness. Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear your comments or thoughts. Till next time. ciao.

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑💜

Thoughtful Thursday-April 13, 2017

Happy Holy Week!

 

May the Resurrected King live in your heart forever!

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑🙏🏽🎈

Wordless Wednesday-April 12, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑💯❤️

25 Facts About Me....

It's been a while since I've really said anything specific about myself. You get my thoughts and opinions all the time so here's a little something different.Some things you may know because you pay attention, hopefully others will surprise you.

1. I love the Lord and I am a Christian. Without a relationship with Christ, I'd be a huge mess. I am not perfect but my Savior is.

2. I am an extrovert with some introvert tendencies. I love people interaction but I am more than comfortable  being alone. My thoughts and quiet do not scare me.

3. I tend to do the right thing even when I don't  want to. Trust me, I am not a pushover. Right is right and wrong is wrong. God will work it all out in the end.

4.  I love a nice journal. Writing is therapy whether it's shared or not.

5.  My discernment skills are on point. I will peep BS in a heartbeat.

6.  I hate reality TV. There is enough ratchet behavior in the world without television glorifying it.

7.  I am very transparent. Thus, I have very few fake and guarded people in my inner circle.

8. I love to read.  I used to force myself to read any book that I began. Now, If  I am not engaged within the first 50 pages, I'm not wasting my time. There are way too many books out  there to be stuck reading one that doesn't draw me in.

9.  Seafood is the best.....lobster, shrimp, crab legs and scallops....YUM!

10.  My hair has been natural since September 2007 but I absolutely hate doing hair. Thank goodness for protective styles...done  by others. 

11.  Watches and sunglasses are my favorite accessories to buy. I also have a thing for buying make-up.

12.  My preference is white wine and  I like my liquor clear too. Vodka anyone? 

13.  I have several pet peeves but one of the biggest pet peeves is when people initiate plans/activities with you and cancel at the last minute.

14. My definition of fine men can be summed up with Morris Chestnut and Idris Elba.

15.  I miss having a dog. Beagles are my favorite. I  see a pooch in my relocated future.

16. My sports teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Indians and Duke Blue Devils. Honorable mentions go to the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Panthers. No hateration necessary!

17.  I despise putting away laundry and dishes, and I also dislike dusting.

18.  While I love fast cars, I hate  driving.

19.  Friendship  is a serious matter. My girls are ride or die.  I cherish them dearly and most of them are closer  than family. They are the real deal and they make me a better person.

20.  Traveling fills my tank. I love seeing other places and how the people live and of course, this foodie enjoys trying new foods along with relaxing. Puerto Rico is on the agenda for this year.On the travel list,  in no particular order: Aruba, South Africa, Greece, Italy, Thailand, Vancouver, and Hawaii to name a few.

21.Online dating has 0 appeal to me but I sure would like to date some one's son soon. (Deep sigh)

22.  I don't find it cute when children lack manners or are disrespectful. 

23.  Writing is therapy--that's how MissReadDiva was birthed. Coming in 2nd would be music and third would be coloring.

24. Current goals: Less debt, less procrastination, more living life to the fullest-on my own terms.

25.  I love me--perfectly imperfect, occasionally petty, always God-loving and God-fearing individual who is always observing and growing daily. 

I hope you learned something new. Please feel free to comment or ask a question. Peace!

In Diva Love,

Pamela

Wordless Wednesday-April 5, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑👑❤️❤️

Wordless Wednesday-March 29, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 💯❤️👑

What Am I Here For?

Years ago, Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, was extremely popular. It challenged its audience to figure out what their purpose was for existing and to get busy making it happen. Today people still ultimately wonder what is their sole purpose in life and how do they fulfill their destiny. As my small group met last night, this topic came up in light of why we as Christians exist. Of course, the conversation got deep and people talked about their lavish purposes for their existence. I pondered the question and I came to a slightly different conclusion this time. Yes, we are all here for a purpose. We all have a job or role to fulfill. We cannot all be world renown for the great works that we have done, or will do.

What if each day our purpose is different? Perhaps we can only touch one life a day. In other words, your mission may not be far-reaching; it may be to be taken in bits and pieces. You have a station in life and it may be closer than you envision. Your impact may be your immediate family, friends, and neighbors as well as your workplace and the local stores and restaurants that you frequent. No, you may not be destined to become the face of world philanthropist but you may be destined to touch the woman in the grocery line ahead of you with a kind word or the $2 dollars that she is short so she doesn’t have to have the cashier void the last item in her cart.

Think about that. If your random acts of kindness are not self-serving and you positively touch at least one person a day, imagine the impact that you will have on furthering God’s Kingdom and reflecting the love of Christ. Your purpose is to be Jesus at that moment. Translation: meet the person's need at that moment, expecting nothing in return. There is no value that can be placed on an act of kindness-for the receiver as well as the giver. The concept is rather simple but in today's reality, it doesn't always happen.

Fast moving technology and social media have made some of us totally oblivious to the plight of others. We have become selfish and narcissistic, worried far too much about how others perceive our lifestyles and painting false realities to get as many "likes" as possible. In the end, will that matter? Will that allow the loved ones at your funeral to have something substantive to say or celebrate?  Our purpose, if we believe biblical principles, is never about self. It's supposed to be about serving with humility and loving others. Each day, we are given a blank page to write our story. How we fill that page reflects what's in our hearts and our purpose for being.

It's never too late, as long as you're alive, to be purposeful about your purpose. Don't wait to look for an opportunity to positively impact one person each day. Now is the time, kindness is contagious. Your purpose is to love without expectation. How that destiny is fulfilled may be different each day, but those divine appointments are your purpose and no one can do whatever it is you were appointed to do for that day. Blessings will come, Don't make it deeper than it needs to be. Your purpose begins with you, right in your corner of your world.

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela

Wordless Wednesday-March 22, 2017

 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela ❤️💯😘

Tuesday Thought-March 21, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑❤️🙏🏽

Wordless Wednesday-March 8, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑❤️

Wordless Wednesday-March1, 2017

 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 💯👑

Wordless Wednesday-February 22, 2017

 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 👑💯❤️

Wordless Wednesday-February 15, 2017

 

In Diva Love, 

Pam 🙌🏽👑💯❤️

Who Am I?-2nd Post

Last night I was speaking to a friend and all throughout the conversation, she kept reminding me who we are as African American mothers, daughters, friends, and workers. It made me realize that it was time to evaluate who I am at this moment. Whenever I write one of these posts, it will be incomplete because we as women wear so many hats. Several posts won't even begin to capture the complete essence of who we are on our best day, let alone our worst. 

I explained to her that while I am transparent, I had held back so much for the past three years in order to protect someone who is far from innocent in shaping the person that I am today. That person doesn't hold any power in my life but they are petty so, as usual I chose to be the bigger person. In making that choice, I didn't have the freedom to express myself completely or freely so my public writing had to take a backseat. 

Today, I am no longer bound or beholden to that limitation. Hopefully it will translate into me writing more here in this outlet, instead of privately in my ever-growing journal collection. With all that being said, I just realized that I am writing this very fitting post on the anniversary of the day my ex-husband asked for a divorce three years ago. 

So who am I today? I am a happily divorced woman who still loves love. I am a mother of two children who make me laugh and scream all in a matter of minutes. I would give my life for both of them. I can't wait to see how they utilize their powers for good and impact the world at large. I am a daughter. My mother is a supportive, emotionally strong woman and even when she doesn't let me get a word in edgewise, I know she loves me unconditionally and would help me in any way she can. I am a sister. I love my siblings wholly and uniquely. We never asked to be blended but we have forged relationships that will stand the test of time. I am a Christian. I love the Lord with my everything. Please don't translate that as I am perfect. I still curse. I still think bad things, I still make mistakes. I serve a perfect Savior, I am not perfect. I am a beautifully flawed woman who wants to be a blessing to others and do better daily. This means I will more than likely choose to be the bigger person even when I don't want to. A couple days ago, my mom reminded me that my grandmother would always say you have to do what's right in your heart even when others don't. Yeah-I am living proof of that especially as these past three years have transpired. I don't say that to pat myself on the back either. It was hard, but I am who I am and I usually do the right thing, even when it hurts. 

On this day three years ago, my world shifted. There was uncertainty in every arena of my existence. Today, I am a survivor.  Oh, I always knew I was strong and resilient but there was hurt, pain, and doubt trying to steal my joy.  I am here to encourage you that on what can seemingly be the worst day of your life, there is a God and there is hope. The days ahead may be dark  and you may not know exactly how you are going to make it. Don't ever give up. I prayed a lot. I took time to sit with the changes. I didn't make any rush decisions, although there was certainly pressure to do so.  Not only was my confidence in the strength and character that I always had, boosted, God provided so many rams in the bush that I had to stop worrying and doubting and continue to be a positive example of His love and character. Tough times show you exactly who you are. You have to be true to yourself because you really don't know who is watching and what impact you will have on them. Go out an figure out who you are. Are you using your powers for good? Be a blessing, no matter what your circumstances. I sure hope that can be said of me. 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela

Wordless Wednesday-February 1, 2017

 

In Diva ❤️,

Pamela 👑👑

Wordless Wednesday-January 25, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑❤️💯

Wordless Wednesday-January 18, 2017

 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 💯👑❤️

Black Girl Magic-No Longer Hidden

If any year has taken Black Girl Magic to an all-time high, that year is definitely 2016. Not only were there beautiful Black girls in the White House but Black girls made significant strides in every arena from politics to Olympic sports and of course entertainment. Our FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, pushed for education of children everywhere but specifically for African American girls in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) arena. Isn’t it fitting that a film, highlighting the accomplishments of three African American women who were critical to NASA and astronaut John Glenn’s successful launch to the moon, would finally be told?

Hidden Figures chronicles the stories of Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine G. Johnson, and Mary Jackson, names that were most likely relegated to “Little Known Black History Facts” until just a few short months ago. After a 22 million dollar opening, on a nationally weather challenged weekend, I suspect they will soon be household names uttered with pride. Based on a book written by the daughter of a NASA research scientist who worked with the women, the story highlights their friendship along with the challenges each faced working with the backdrop of the Jim Crow South in a racist and sexist environment. Despite the odds stacked against them, the women played a critical role in America’s first successful moon launch, piloted by astronaut John Glenn.

Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson, and Janelle Monae, poignantly play the women and are supported by a cast that includes Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, and Mahershala Ali. Spencer plays Vaughn, leading and nurturing the Colored Pool of mathematicians, without the title of supervisor. She teaches herself to program the then innovative IBM computers, and by movie’s end finally is named NASA’s first African American supervisor. Henson, plays Johnson, in a role so much more demure and low-key than her over the top Cookie Lyons portrayal in “Empire”, I wanted to stand up and cheer for that alone. Johnson, is the trusted number cruncher who was an integral part of John Glenn’s flight team. Not only was she eventually allowed to attend NASA briefings, she actually calculated the equations that led to Glenn’s successful launch and landing in his quest to orbit the earth. Mary Jackson, played by Janelle Monae, had to legally petition the court to allow her to take university courses at a segregated high school in the evenings. Jackson goes on to become NASA’s first African American female engineer.

Given how long it has taken for the three women to receive any accolades, I think this is a film they would be proud of. It appropriately highlights the joys of their personal lives and friendships versus their more intense and often daunting work environment. As a viewer, I relished those scenes away from NASA so I can only imagine how they cherished them. Tender moments with their children, families, and each other, coupled with church attendance and functions probably sustained them for the work week ahead. At work, they endured racist and sexist acts that were characteristic of the times. As part of the Colored Pool, their work assignments changed regularly. Johnson had no Colored restroom to utilize and could be found running from building to building with stacks of work in hand, on a daily basis, in any weather to find one. At this point she had proven that she was brighter than most of the men in the room, yet they didn’t even want her to pour coffee from the same pot. You can feel the emotion and passion Jackson has as she makes her case to go to a segregated school during the height of Woolworth sit-ins and demonstrations.

This film is a must see. The film makes math (and physics) look pretty cool. Not only does it reinforce Black Girl Magic but it is a story of female empowerment that will resonate with any girl. Yet, the film is not just for girls, it’s for everyone. The characters are relatable and you will cry over their pain, celebrate their joys and cheer their victories. The relationship between the women is warm and humorous. You will welcome those moments because you want them to succeed despite the oppressive roadblocks that are thrown in their way. You will walk away from the movie with new knowledge of the past but you will also walk away wondering how many more of these stories exist and when exactly will they be told.

In Diva Love,

Pamela

Wordless Wednesday-January 11, 2017

 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 👑❤️

Persistence begets Success

Happy New Year! 2017 is a week old. Any resolutions? Any highs? Any lows? No matter whether you make resolutions or not, the New Year makes you reflect on the past and reset your course for the future. I have goals and dreams but I don't make resolutions. I do usually choose a word to focus on for the year. My word for 2017 is persistence.

I'm going to persistently pursue being a better version of  my best self. I'm going to persistently pursue those things that give me life and that I feel passionate about. I'm going to persistently pursue becoming debt free and more retirement ready. I'm going to persistently pursue seeking/meeting a balancemate. There you have it! My year, my way! Well, sort of...we plan one thing, God has other ideas. I will always remain open and available to His leading. He's already charted the course, my responsibility is to trust Him. There are 358 days left in the year...get busy living your life, your way. I am cheering for you to achieve whatever dreams or goals that you have for yourself. Go forth! Be great! 

 

In Diva Love, 

Pamela 👑🙏🏽

Wordless Wednesday-January 4, 2017

Happy New Year! 

In Diva Love,

Pamela 👑❤️