Our Song

I find joy in the simplest of things, and this is one of them. Imagine two grown people singing this nursery rhyme for each other and meaning the world to each other when they do.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You never know dear how much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.

May you remember to appreciate and cherish the little things in life.

Red Sunrise

Let your eyes behold me
under her smile
naked
and pure
as I rise as if I were baptized by your love.

My eyes sparkle
in the gray light
for what's on your mind I know in my heart.

Words are unnecessary.
The silence is pure
and truly understood
even more than any word uttered.

And for a moment
I need not be
inconspicuous
but entwined in your mercies,
and entangles in your love
completely
and uncaring.

Power Soca Monarch 2010: DJ HP - Pas Mele

This guy won the power soca monarch competition. I think ought to win the Road March title as well

Maintaining the Summer Bod

By now you're probably fishing for some other exercises to add to your mix to spice things up. Here are a few with my own modifications.

T-stand Push Up
Get into plank position, with only your palms and toes on the ground. Descend into a push-up; return to start, reaching your right arm to the sky and stacking your hips, shoulder and feet. Do 10 reps alternating the T-stands.
A nice alteration to this exercise is doing it on a higher angle. I honestly cannot do push ups so what I do is assume the push up position against a sturdy desk or window sill. I do everything else as instructed.

Russian Twists
Sit holding a medicine ball (if you have one) with your knees slightly bent and upper body at a 45 degree angle. Using your core muscles, twist your upper body to the right, almost letting the ball touch the ground. Repeat to the left in a smooth motion. To make it harder. Lift your right foot off the ground when you twist to the right and vice versa. Do 20 reps. If you don't have a medicine ball, use a heavy book like an encyclopedia or dictionary.

5 Tips for Slimming Down
One! Be active all day - not just during your workout. Take the stairs, deliver the memo in person, dance during the commercial break.
Two! Opt for water instead if high calorie juices and sodas. Or if you need juice drink freshly squeezed.
Three! Make veggies take up half the space on your plate
Four! Find your motivation. Maybe wearing a pedometer inspires you to walk more. Or the competitive camaraderie of classes at the gym makes you work harder.
Five! Visualise your success - if you can "see" it you can achieve it.

Hope these tips and exercise help you maintain your great summer body!

Goal Setting

I was a member of the Caribbean Healthy Lifestyle Project, an awesome organisation that is for youth by youth. Youth empowering each other.

After having a wonderful conversation with a cherished friend of mine, I was reminded of the greatness of this organisation. Maybe I shall try to reconnect with it and do some more training. Time will tell.

One of my favourite topics from the module for CHLP was Goal Setting. I want to share with you the acronym "SMARTER" and how it helps one set goals.

S-specific: always make your goals as specific as possible.
M-measurable: set goals in a way in which you can measure progress
A-accepted: ensure that the foals you set are accepted by yourself.
R-realistic: too difficult a foal may prove unmotivating. Make it challenging but possible and achievable.
T-time framed: always set a time by which you want to achieve the foal, good intentions will always be postponed.
E-exciting: goals need to be exciting, not too easy or there will be no sense accomplishment.
R-recorded: write down your goals. It increases commitment and serves as a record.

When setting goals be careful not to:
* Set goals which are too difficult
* Procrastinate on the plan for personal improvement
* Make an unrealistic self-assessment
* Avoid the risk of failure and not trying to improve.

I hope that with this information you will start challenging yourself and setting some goals. Now, the goals you set need not be strictly academic or professionally. I've set a goal for myself on my other blog The Spotted Fashionista (link available to the left under My Blog List). Check it out and see if I followed these principles.

Just Needed To Clear My Head

He looked into my eyes and said "They don't see how much you love them Red. They just don't. You've done everything they ask you to do." And it's true. What does it take to show your parents the love you have for them? That never ending supply of love that will make you cross twice as much of hell's high waters to do half as much for them as they have done for you. Will they ever understand?

I'm not sure I can sit here this afternoon and type out my soul for any and everyone who may come across my blog or regularly check it to know exactly what I'm talking about. And I know those who know my relationships with my parents will be thinking what did they do now, but it's not even like that.

I got some disturbing information about my dad that has shaken me up. And within myself I want to try very hard to make things better in some way, form or fashion, but for the life of me I don't know how. Affection is not something I learned from him, and hence to think of reciprocating such emotion seems weird and fake to me. So what do I do to show the emotion that I do possess inside towards my dad? How do I convey the appreciation, love, admiration, respect and everything else that I feel; all the positive emotions that over weigh any negative one ever felt in my life? Do I just say the words and try to put as much conviction as possible in my voice? But how do I even know that it will be believed? It's almost like being between a rock and a hard place. This is a difficult thing for me to deal with. I just don't know what to do...

10 Attitudes of Successful Workers

1. I am in charge of my destiny.
If you spend your entire career waiting for something exciting to come to you, you will be waiting a long time. Successful professionals go out and make good things happen. So commit yourself to thinking about your career in an entirely different way. You will make it to the top, and you are in charge of making it happen.

2. Anything is possible.
Think that there is no way you will ever be at the vice-president level? Then you definitely won't. Remember: If you think you can't, you probably won't. Adopt the attitude of The Little Engine That Could -- "I think I can."

3. No task is too small to do well.
You never know when you are going to be noticed. That is one reason to take pride in your work -- all of it. One public relations executive in Chicago said that her first task in the PR department of a ballet company was reorganizing the supply closet. She tackled the project with gusto and was immediately noticed for her hard work and attention to detail. Remember this the next time you feel like slacking because you are working on a menial task.

4. Everyone is a potential key contact.
While you do need to be aggressive in the workplace, you can also go far by being nice to those around you. Do you think it's unimportant to establish a good rapport with your boss's secretary? Well, just try getting your meeting squeezed onto the schedule when you really need it. Be courteous to those around you -- you never know when your past contacts will play a role in your future.

5. I was made to do this job... and the one above me.
If you spend your days feeling like you are not cut out to do the work you are responsible for, your performance will suffer. Your job may not be the perfect fit, but successful workers act like they are in their dream job, no matter where they are.

6. It's not just what I know, but who I know.
Successful workers understand the importance of networking, both in and out of the office. You need to proactively establish professional contacts. Invite a colleague out to lunch. Go to the after-work happy hour. Join your professional association. Do your part to establish a networking path for your future.

7. What else can I do?
Since you are in charge of your destiny, it's your job to look for ways to improve your professional self. Volunteer to take on an extra project. Learn a new skill that will make you more marketable. Stay late to help your co-workers. Successful workers don't just complete the job and sign out -- they look for additional ways to make their mark.

8. Failure will help pave the way to my success.
While it seems like some people never experience setbacks, the truth is everyone fails from time to time. The difference between successful and unsuccessful people is how they deal with failure. Those who find success are the ones who learn from mistakes and move on.

9. I am my own biggest fan.
Have you been waiting for someone in the office to recognize your talents and efforts? Maybe it's time you start tooting your own horn. Step up and talk about your accomplishments and what you have done for the company. Successful workers know how to point out their achievements without sounding boastful.

10. My opportunity monitor is never turned off.
Yes, there will be days when you will want to just be happy with the status quo. But remember that successful workers are always on the lookout for opportunities to improve. Keep your eyes, ears and your mind open to new opportunities -- you never know when you will discover the one that will change the course of your career!

Safe Sex

Once again, articles from the ESSENCE Magazine have opened my eyes and I'd like to share the information with you in the hopes that you'll share it and it keeps spreading.



Five Common Condon Errors:

1. Using It Repeatedly: Change them after every sex act. [This was news to me] You can't switch from oral sex to penile-vaginal sex using the same condom as it increases the potential for breakage.

2. Putting It On Late: Pregnancy and disease can occur easily with the amount of semen released during pre-ejaculation.

3. Doubling Up: Common mistake done by many. The belief is that it's extra protection, when in fact the friction between two condoms often leads to rupturing. And this applies not only for two male condoms, but a male and a female or even two females.

4. Missing Headroom: Space must be left at the tip to catch semen.

5. Leaving It On After Sex: Semen is more prone to seeping out of the condom once the penis is soft.



COMMON "SAFE SEX" MISTAKES

Some things people believe are part of a safe sex regime...but aren't.

Oral Sex. It's true you won't get pregnant but you can become infected with HIV and other STIs if you don't use a condom. That's what flavoured condoms were made for if I'm not mistaken.

Withdrawal Method. It is the least effective method of birth control and does not protect against STIs.

Anal Sex. It can be more dangerous than vaginal sex without a condom since abrasions are more common due to no natural lubrication.


To conclude, a few thoughts of my own. Whether you're a man or woman, don't take any chances. Use a condom, be faithful, get tested together (and if you're in relationship, I believe that you get tested together and regularly...once a year, every 6 months, whenever). Take control of your life and your health. Be firm and stick to your principles. Afterall, you only have one life to live.

Surprises

There's just something amazing about a surprise. I really love and appreciate surprises. It might be the fact that I didn't have to hint at or blatantly say something for it to be done, or the fact that someone cared enough to think of someting I'd like and do it just for me. Surprises make you feel special, wanted, loved, cared about...and who doesn't want that?

And for the record, not all surprises are grande in gesture. Personally, some of the best surprises are the simple ones. Surprise me with a flower, a poem, a simple note saying "Have a good day today" or "I Love You" or "Thought of you today". Or you can offer to do something for me when I least expect it. Those are the types of surprises I love the most.

Inspirational Message with the touch of Chocolate

These days chocolate is being lauded for many newly discovered benefits. Dermatologists have found that applying chocolate topically renews and moisturises the skin, making us look younger and more beautiful. Scientists are excitedly studying chocoalte's ingredient theobromine as a promising cough surpressant that seems to work better than traditional elixirs, without any of the side effets. Perhaps most striking is the discovery that dark chocolate is packed with flavenoids, an antioxidant that protects against cardiovascular disease.

Of Course, chocolate lovers have always sworn by chocolate's other benefits to the heart. Women especially turn to chocolate regularly for comfort and consolation. Whether it's the rich, sweet tast or some chemical that influences our emotions, chocolate makes us feel better when we're sad or hurting.

All of us can be like chocolate. We can't moisturise a friend's skin or stop her cough, but we can soothe her heart. We can be a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a word of comfort. We don't have to have all the answers. All it takes is a heart that cares and firm commitment to stay, even when we'd rather run the other way.

Funny thing about being there for someone at her time of greatest need: when we comfort and bless another, we invariably feel blessed and encouraged ourselves. Won't you be chocolate to someone who needs consolation today?


Taken from Hugs for Chocolate Lovers