Tica {Em}Bracing The Globe

2011-07-13T16:22:00.001-04:00

HELLO ALL new visitors and loyal friends, Just a quick reminder that this blog is no longer being updated!

Love what you have seen here so far? You can keep up with Tica´s adventures. I have transitioned to a new home, and would love to have you over. CHECK ME OUT AT WWW.GLOBETRACER.WORDPRESS.COM!!

Your friend,

Newsbreak!!

2011-06-06T20:46:00.000-04:00

Big changes in my life have caused me to neglect Tica Embracing the Globe the blog, but not the concept of what this virtual home has meant to me. It began as a distraction and grew to be a place to store memories, discipline my creative side, make some friends, and exercise my ability to put some damn good ideas down on paper. Bottom line: I´ve enjoyed every minute of connecting with my followers and especially of being allowed into special moments that make the blog-o-sphere feel like an extended family.

With that said, I am transitioning out of this domain to a place where I have the freedom to express exactly where I´m at this ripe age of 25, soon to be 26, no holds barred. If you want to take that journey with me, e-mail me: traceycalvo at gmail.com and I will definitely send you the new URL. In the meantime, I´ve got to get back to the kitchen, until the temperature is just right and I´m ready to reveal the most beautiful act of love.

I´m at a happy place...

Tica's Top 7 Love Songs (Contemporary)

2011-05-06T20:36:00.001-04:00

There's no time like the summer time to fall in love. Whether it's a season fling, or the blossoming of a long term relationship, a love song is always there to save the day. In no particular order, I've compiled a list of the most thought-provoking, wedding worthy, and lyrically enticing love tunes, by some artists that tend to fall under the radar. Contemporary refers to the song being released after 2000. If you're not familiar with any song on the list, give them a listen! Check out my favorite site for music, Grooveshark, enter the artist's names and pick the song from the list.

1. Say You'll Go- Janelle Monae
This has all the feeling a traditional ballad with some cool beats and creative lyrics. I was introduced to this song by a special person, who had the song on repeat one night, and months later I'm still repeating the best line 'And write our name in fire on each others hearts.'

2. Make You Feel My Love- Adele

You can't go wrong with a piano and a sultry soulful voice like Adele's. I first heard this song on my favorite series Parenthood (this show has the best soundtrack and writers), and immediately Googled the lyrics I heard to find the artist. Adele

3. GreatestLove- Musiq Soulchild
Mr. Soulchild composes a witty play on words in this tune, and it makes for another classic to add to his collection of romantic ballads. Many people will automatically choose 'Love' as the most appropriate 'wedding song' from his records, but because I'm highlighting those hidden gems, I chose this one instead.

All we have are letters 'til we form the words...
Starting from the lyrics 'til we found the verses
that can bridge us through
Baby we can be the greatest love song...

4. Butterflies- Michael Jackson

By no means does Mr. Jackson fall under any radar, but this is one of my favorite songs! It's mellow and cool, yet still full of lots of emotion. Maybe it's not so appropriate for a 'dedicated' song, however its medium tempo is one that you can actually groove to.

5. Chrisette Michele- Love is You
The sultry songstress tries to define love. The age old conundrum.
Is it possible there's a kiss that's so divine?
Or am I just too fool? Is it all in my mind?
Is there something chemical? A scientist might say
Well, love must be drug to make me feel this way ...

6. India.Arie- Ready for Love
You can't go wrong with India and her guitar coupled with beautiful lyrics that are undoubtedly from the heart.

7. Lauryn Hill, Bob Marley- Turn Your Lights Down Low
A non-traditional pick, but this tune packs lots of heart and history. It's the remake of Marley's original track, with Lauryn adding her heavenly vocals and a small rap verse.
Every beautiful melody of devotion every night
This potion might, this ocean might carry me
In a wave of emotion to ask you to marry me
And every word, every second, and every third
Expresses the happiness more clearly than ever heard
And when I play ‘em, every chord is a poem
Telling the Lord how grateful I am because I know him

Have any other (non-traditional) love ballads to add to this list?

Thankful Thursday: I'm Baaack!

2011-05-05T16:58:00.035-04:00

It's Thursday, what a great day to share with you guys what I'm thankful for today!

Mi Madre. My mom is a walking paradox at times. Her reactions are somewhat predictable, yet she's at times full of surprises. I recently had a freshman in college moment and got my navel pierced, and her response was "you know you can't get into salt water for 3 years?, that's why I never did it." Yet, the last time I remember my mom going in the water at the beach was when I was about 5 years old. Mother's Day is around the corner, and it's hard trying to make it special living in different states. Any thoughts and how to make mom feel special from miles away?

Writing Assignments. Whenever I'm avoiding a writing assignment, I turn to blogging. I end up being more productive than I intended.

Support. Something as simple as a word of affirmation, or a personal e-mail goes a long way. I'm making it a weekly task to reach out to people I support and ask them about a specific event they hosted, an event they attended, a blog post they wrote, or just find out what they are preoccupying their time with now-a-days.

Love. Complex in nature. At this age, I'm feeling pressure. I'm racing against an imaginary clock, and some deep-seeded desires to start a family. I'm hungering for more. Not letting fear or insecurities get in the way.

Musiq. Soulchild, that is. His new album 'MusiqintheMagiq' is in stores right now. I support consistently meaningful work from authentic artists. Musiq makes the cut! My favorite album: Aijuswanaseing.

Growing Up. I can't believe we are in the fifth month of the year already! Going through the ahhs! and ouchs! of life, I pray to God I'm learning how to better handle/cope with these situations...so the next time, I'll be better equipped.

Shows with Substance. I became hooked on the comedy/drama Parenthood (NBC) and have been watching the entire DVD Series. The show is just plain real, and it chronicles a family and the dynamics of all aspects of love and relationships. I just found out about this comedic show called The Middle, it's about The Hecks, a middle-class family (wife husband, 3 kids) and it stars the janitor from Scrubs and Patricia Heaton from Everybody Loves Raymond.

RAIN. There's been a steady stream of rain outside today. The house is abnormally dark, damp smelling. Rain makes me reflective. It makes me think about lazy days spent watching movies and ordering Chinese lo-mein. Snuggling with your children, or loved ones. Or even laying in my favorite couch reading the latest book on the list.

What are some things you're thankful for today?

Photo credit.

Rock Your Crown: Natural Hair Journey

2011-05-04T12:21:00.001-04:00

In Chris Rock's 2009 documentary entitled Good Hair, Maya Angelou was quoted as saying "Hair is a woman's glory." I instantly thought to myself, she's so deep and poetic even in normal conversation! *snaps fingers* The reason this quote stuck with me was because I immediately thought about hair being equivalent to a woman’s crown, and being the first thing someone notices, after your face (in general.) How much time, money and dedication do we as women spend washing, styling, polishing, dying, extending, cutting, and trying oh-so-many different treatments on our crowns? It gets tiring and not to mention expensive.

In 2008 (March 8^th to be exact), at the age of 23, I got off the creamy crack (most popularly known as lye perms) and decided to cut my processed hair off. A brand new start. I consulted with some books (including this one), mostly online resources to decide what would be the best thing for me to do, with my unique hair texture. After a couple of months of trying to grow some hair in (so that I wouldn’t have the shock of going super short) I decided that I wouldn’t let fear hold me back from a new start. I was ready to meet what would grow, learn how to nourish it, and be proud of it!

As the product of mixed parents, many Black women would look at my curls and say ‘Oh, please! I would love to have your hair texture!’ as if to downplay a decision that took me so many years to get to. It was a hard thing to get used to hearing because for me, my hair was relatively still hard to manage until I got a hold of the right products, and experimented with new styles. I think that’s a natural reaction since most women (me included) have the case of want-what-they-don’t-have when it comes to hair.

For the most part, going natural was the best decision I’ve ever made. It made me bold and adventurous, and also made me realize how ‘silly’ hair is. Silly to spend a perfectly good Saturday afternoon stuck in a hair salon (month after month). Silly to spend so much money stripping/straightening a perfect piece of you, altering what God gave you! Silly to believe that you won’t look good with short hair, or that natural hair isn’t for you, or that you still can’t find a healthier way to acquire some of those favorite looks! I don’t have anything against women who’d rather have their straight do’s, but only if you’ve given your own natural hair a chance! Well, what are you waiting for? Still going back and forth on that decision? Here are some more reasons why you should make the switch. Check out these beautiful looks that can be yours from Le Coil, and another great blog resource, Newly Natural, that will inspire you to make that change!

And now for my own photos:

Short cuts!

My favorite style is the short cuts that are practically ‘wash-and-wear’ because they support my ‘less-is-more’ lifestyle. I don’t like to spend too much time getting ready in the morning. The funny thing about this style is that I never realized how good it looked until it was already grown out!

Medium Pow:

The middle length was a little hard to deal with, especially before the point that the hair can be put up in a ponytail. Most of the time I spend either double-strand twisting it, then letting it loose. I also got it braided at this stage to make it a little easier to manage some of the unevenness. It required 3 P’s- planning, product, and more patience before heading out.

Long and Lovely!

This is the longest I’ve worn my natural hair, before I decided to cut it due to the amount of maintenance. Also I’ve learned that with highlight or coloring treatments, after a couple of months the colored hair gets really damaged and the color takes on a new hue. My blonde highlights ended up looking like hay after a while, and my reddish-honey blonde dye job now looks like pumpkin-hued tips. Eventually, you have to cut that out, or cover that up. The picture with my straight hair, is a natural picture, and it's about the healthiest my hair has even been at that length.

I end this story on a sad note (Don't judge me!), having opted for a texturizer last month (but not after long consideration). Texturizers are pushed on sistah’s trying to ‘loosen’ their kinks and curls. I did it to make it easier to maintain a blow-dry and try a different straight look. I’m satisfied with the way the cut came out, but have also realized I’ve sacrificed my natural curl to the point that my hair, in its natural state (after a wash) ends up looking like the driest mess anyone has ever seen. No matter how much moisture products I try, I have straight pieces and curly pieces- no uniformity. It simply does not look good curly anymore. So pretty soon, I’ll be back to the barbershop, where my male barber will take out that familiar instrument…and I’ll be starting brand new again.

So I went from this....

Yes, my ends match the wall color.
To this...

Can we spell OVERPROCESSED?!

So, what's the verdict folks?! Which one is your favorite-Short, Medium, Long, Processed? I love them all, and miss my curls!

Setting my sights on Bali: Travel in 2012

2011-03-11T16:43:00.001-05:00

Bulgari Resort, Uluwatu

I'm beginning my preliminary mental preparations to visiting the beautiful island of Bali. I don't have the money saved, I don't even know where the money is going to come from, but I'm a firm believe in the Law of Attraction- so I will be in Bali in 2012!! You heard it here first!

Why Bali, Indonesia, you ask?

Elizabeth Gilbert enticed me with her cultural observations (re the caste system, how people are named in the order they are born, etc) in Eat, Pray, Love.
I had to write about the super-expensive Bulgari Resort for Bridal Guide Magazine, and the place seems magical!
I met a couple who honeymooned there and I was secretly jealous.
Many people don't know where it is, which is a good conversation sparker.
I've haven't been to that part of the Hemisphere yet!
There is a group on Meetup.com (Travel Chicks Rock) that is planning a trip in 2012 with a group of women and I think that's a great reason to go!

Where are you setting your sights on to go in 2012? What steps are you taking to get there?

Inspiring Women: Immaculee Ilibagiza

2011-03-11T14:31:00.000-05:00

For the month of April, my book club's Member Pick is a memoir written by an incredible woman named Immaculee Ilibagiza who survived the Rwandan genocide by hiding in a secret and cramped bathroom for 91 days with 7 other women in the home of a family friend. The book is called Left to Tell : Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust because she was the only survivor from her immediate family of 6 (her parents and 3 brothers) and she believes God spared her life so that she'll be able to tell her story and teach all around the country on the power of forgiveness. Many of you have seen Hollywood's adaptation of the genocide through Don Cheadle's amazing performance in Hotel Rwanda but this book goes deeper. It's a first hand account of the evil that unfolded and a bit of the background of the history of the tensions between the tribes in Rwanda. This book is not for the weak at heart, Ilibagiza doesn't get grossly graphic but the she doesn't try to sugar-coat the daily realities of being hunted by neighbors and people that she once trusted. I learned so much from this book, about what it really means to feel abandoned and how God works in the most unexpected ways. It's also a short read (about 200 pages) and although a lot of the suspense is overshadowed by the fact that you know she survived in the end, one can't help but relate to her wanting to give up on her faith, and admire her strength and determination to keep hope in such a horrendous situation. Here's one of my favorite quotes:

I was certain that God had a greater purpose for me, and I prayed every day for Him to reveal it to me. At first I was expecting Him to show me my entire future all at once – maybe with a flash of lightening and a clap of thunder thrown in for good measure. But I came to learn that God never shows us something that we aren’t ready to understand. Instead, He lets us see what we need to see, when we need to see it. He’ll wait until our eyes and hearts are open to Him, and then when we’re ready, He will plant our feet on the path that’s best for us . . . but it’s up to us to do the walking.

How she strengthened her relationship with God through the experience is the focus on the book, but it's not heavily and overbearing. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the genocide, or looking for a good source of inspiration! Ms. Ilibagiza currently travels around the U.S. talking about faith, hope and forgiveness, check her website to see if she'll be in your neighborhood soon. If you live in NYC, she'll be in town on April 14th at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Brooklyn. Maybe I'll see you there!

Photo credit.

On Love & the B Word

2011-03-10T17:36:00.000-05:00

Love is a topic that I will never call myself an expert at. The romantic kind of connection most of us desire is akin to a flame; it can represent beauty and passion in one second, and in the blink of an eye it can be the cause of unbearable hurt and pain. Plenty of love songs have been written to try and capture both the good and the bad, the butterflies and the bitterness, all and everything that comes with being vulnerable to a person that otherwise has no connection to you. It's not something I discuss heavily on the blog not because I didn't enjoy the benefits of a committed relationship but because it's something I cherished so-- my little flame that I didn't want to boast too much about for fear of loosing it. I recently felt open enough to have a guest post share my flame with the (web) world. Well, I don't know if I lost the flame, or if I helped extinguish it but I'm facing the dreaded B Word. No, not the defamatory insult. The Break-up.

I've been consumed by the B word. I've been consumed by the shock to my world, and the crumbling I see all around me. I know I'm not the only person in the world who has gone through this, yet, there is no one formula for everyone. The ugly side of the flame is all that's visible now, there's no way to retreat the inital emotions of the how-we-met story, or the first kiss, or the first time someone blurted 'I love you'. There's only pictures, distorted memories, e-mails and all the tokens of love that are leftover. None of that is enough to change the circumstances, because I've learned that a real and final breakup is usually a beast in the making, not necessarily one bad argument. All the signs are usually there, whether we choose to see them or not.

Selfishness becomes the precedent on the road to recovery. Because how do you, as a hurt person, genuinely help another hurt person? Ultimately, whether by intention or just by the passing of time, the single mentality of 'I've got to look out for me!' enters the picture. No longer is your partner your primary or even secondary concern, because after all, once you stop e-mailing, calling, texting or even 'seeing' about them life can continue as if you never knew them at all. And because this person has no real connection to you, except what you two decided at one point you would pursue intentionally, then life goes on... And time heals the wounds of the battle you either conceded to or lost fighting.

Tica Talks!: First Vlog

2011-02-25T16:31:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! I'm back with my first Vlog! *thunderous applause* I decided to join the community Vlog of the Month Club that has a fun monthly prompt to be answered anytime of month you please. Enjoy the video, and if you decide to make one of your own, leave your link, I'll be sure to check you out! Also, check out the girl who inspired me to join!

Untitled from Tracita Linda on Vimeo.

Happy Friday,

PS- If you have any suggestions on how I can make my next vlog better- feel free to send me an e-mail!

On Love & The M Word: Guest Post

2011-02-16T00:38:00.001-05:00

27 isn't old. It isn't quite young anymore. You're not full of potential in the eyes of onlookers. You're pretty much supposed to perform, expected to, and when you fall short there are few people telling you there's still time. So when looking at love, who decides if we're still full of potential when we hit 27?

27 for a woman, in Latin culture, is pretty old when talking about marriage, and especially babies. 27 for a man, a black man, puts very little pressure on marriage from society's perspective. There aren't many models of young black couples cuddling to the flash of cameras, whose bodies glide across our psyches, and therefore, it doesn't feel like a failure to be unmarried at 27. However, I've known and been at about 5 weddings in the past three years and I'm invited to two more this year (thus far). And so, though pop culture and the media aren't shoving marriage down the throats of brown brothers like myself, I'm not surrounded by grown boys who still count women as notches on their belts.

So where do I lie in all this?

I'm somewhere between what the hell is taking so long? and why the hell should i rush it? Marriage is a great accomplishment. It's something to aspire to, but it's also a great responsibility (the word of the millennium in the adult world of Sesame Street -- that sounds creepy maybe i should rephrase it. Nope. I'm keeping it.). The divorce rate scares me. The beauty of it enthralls me. The inner workings of it baffles me, and the ride, in and of itself is nothing short of mysterious. But when you've found a woman who can seduce you with her words, invite you with her eyes, love you with her soul and challenge you with her mind, and you find her calling you, emailing you, taking pictures of you and staring at you...how do you let the fear of marriage paralyze you to inaction. You don't...

No I'm not guest blogging to propose. I'm saying, in my 27 years, it's hard to say I've met many women as amazing as the Tica...and I'm lucky, no blessed, to still have her. I'm learning to love her more everyday and it's challenging all things that I've been taught in the school of Manly Man-ness. But, in the end, it's either we'll have tried our damndest to make this thing work, or that we spent three years teaching each other what real love looks like, and that God means for beauty to be seen in the eyes of ourselves and others out in the world. That someday we'll see the soul of our mate grow more beautiful as their body ages, their eyes droop, their skin softens, their hair falls, and their curves widen. Love is timeless, fruitful, divine, ministerial. And at 27 I'm thankful for her love.

This guest post was gracefully surrendered by the boo when I asked him to write on the topic of love. A late Valentine's Day gift to my readers, half apology for my hiatus and half encouragement for me to come back with more positive vibes on TETG. Thanks so much for your support, and please stay tuned as you'll be hearing from me real soon. To read more of the boo's writing, check out his neglected but soon-to-be-resurrected blog here.
Photo credit.

Eye on Fashion: Spotlight on Yanni J.

2011-01-25T14:15:00.015-05:00

Today I'm going to be talking about something I very rarely cover on my blog: fashion. Not that I'm fashionably-disabled but I really don't spend too much time in the mornings worrying about what to put on, what goes well with what, and how I need to buy a new bag/shoes/accessory. It's just not my thing. If I had it my way, I would have a stylist on hand for big events and for shopping purposes. Fashion-forward friends love dressing me up and giving me tips but unfortunately when I need them the most, they are usually unavailable. I'm actually shocked when I meet someone who wants fashion advice from me since I believe everything I put together that looks good is accidental. Sounds funny, but it's true.

On January 18th, a friend of mine named Yannique Joseph (left) launched her website which she simply calls Yanni J. In hopes of becoming a fashion stylist, Yanni J. held her Fashion Premiere at The Griffin in the Meatpacking District. The venue screams sexy extravagance, with the centerpiece of crystal chandeliers setting the stage for NYC's most fashionable to make their grand entrance. The dreary rain didn't keep her loyal supporters away, take a look of how we celebrated in style:

Event Recap video

I also got a chance to interview Yanni after the event, so you can find out about her in her own words!

Q: When did you know for sure that your passion and your career would be in the fashion industry?

I knew that my passion and career would be in the fashion industry while I was in college. When I first entered, I had no idea of what my major would be, I was so confused! I always knew that I wanted to do something in fashion but I did not know what it would be right away. I ended up majoring in Business Entrepreneurship with hopes of one day opening my own boutique, graduated college and received a job as a clothing merchandiser and now I'm here! The steps were gradual but I knew I would eventually do something I loved.

Q: What avenues lead you to branching out on your own?

I come from a family of entrepreneurs so it's kind of in my blood! But another factor that lead me to branch out on my own was being laid off from my job as a merchandiser and just being at jobs I didn't love. I wanted a career that I would love and styling has been the only one that makes me feel at peace.

Q: What is your go-to store for affordable and stylish finds?

For affordable and stylish finds I shop VINTAGE!! Whether online or actual stores, vintage is the way to go for all things stylish and affordable. I can never go wrong when I shop in Vintage stores. I always leave with something.

Q: What are 5 things every woman must have in her closet/Why?

1. LBD (Little Black Dress): Whether you get a last minute invite to a wedding, party, etc., the little black dress is the "go to" piece. There are numerous amounts of styles, casual, sexy, dressy and black is so easy to accessorize.

2. Platform pumps or booties: In my experience of wearing tons of heels I find that platforms are the most comfortable as opposed to just a stiletto heel without a platform. The platform gives some extra support and cushion to the balls of your feet.

3. A great fitting pair of jeans: This is almost like a no brainer but some women still don't have that perfect pair of jeans yet. Jeans can be dressed up or down and they are timeless so why not have a pair that fits perfectly?

4. A clutch purse for parties/night outings: Not every woman likes them because they prefer bigger bags, but clutches are made in all different sizes and when you're going out to a party I feel a big handbag is so uncomfortable! And now there are even crossbody styles that are also great for parties so I swear by them. I own so many different styles and colors.

5. A leather jacket: Another timeless piece that will never go out of style. There are so many different ones to choose from motorcycle to aviator to classic. And they can be paired with a girly dress and heels to toughen up the look or with jeans or trousers for a more dressed down look. Everyone should own a leather both men and women alike!

Q: What is your advice for recent graduates (or even those who are still in school) who want to pursue fashion? What avenues would you suggest for them?

My advice would be to intern! And it doesn't have to be only one. Try to intern for as many different companies/positions as you can. It's a great way to gain experience and to build ties and contacts. I still keep in contact with my past internships and if I ever need assistance for anything I know I can go to them so interning is always key. You can check fashion career websites and other fashion publications for postings.

Hope you got some tips!

When Music Videos become PSA's...

2011-01-15T18:41:00.007-05:00

Today was a very chill Saturday, besides doing some much needed winter clothes shopping I spent most of it at my second home clicking back and forth between VH1 Soul and MTV Jams trying to catch up on some R&B videos. I only really enjoy watching soul videos because I can't sit through the explicit fleshly content of most rap videos, not to mention I rarely listen to any rap music anymore to know the lyrics.

Watching videos used to be my favorite past time, but now-a-days I feel a) too old for that and b) like there's always something better to be doing. But today, I indulged and came across a video called Far Away by Marsha Ambrosius. If you don't know, Marsha was the Songstress half of the neo-soul duo Floetry but now both ladies have parted ways to pursue solo careers (the 'Floacist' currently has a video with Musiq Soulchild called 'Forever'). Sad face. Floetry has delivered some classic hits like 'Say Yes' and 'It's Getting Late'...some perfect makin'-baby-mood songs. Ms. Marsha has also drastically changed since her transition from group to independent artist; she's shed some major pounds and looks like a totally different woman. So enough small talk, on to the video. It's a major PSA. Public. Service. Announcement. And I love that. I don't think you'll find anyone talking about gay-bashing and suicide on NBC for a 60-second commercial.

I love that she takes her video there. Scenes of love that I'm sure some people will cringe to see ( I admit, it's hard for me to see 2 beautiful black men kissing each other), but just because we don't agree with someone's lifestyle doesn't mean we have the right to call them names and get violent. This is a major problem in the States and it doesn't get enough exposure on the news! I like when artists use their influence for something life-changing like awareness. And Marsha Ambrosius has convinced me that she's definitely an artist to watch. Her album 'Late Nights and Early Mornings' is forthcoming.

So, check it out! Leave your feedback in the comments!

Far Away by Marsha Ambrosius

Do you think the message is tastefully revealed in this video? Should stations ban the video because two men are kissing?

Image credit.

New Year, New Look!

2011-01-09T12:14:00.004-05:00

It's 2011 and time for some changes around here! Don't you agree? If you've checked out the site today on and off, you can see that's it's going through some physical changes and I can't wait for the finished product. It's the first time that I've actually invested this amount of money into a blog that is not necessarily paying me (monetarily, anyway) and I must admit that it's a scary and bold move. Doubts like: what if my blog content doesn't match the look of the blog and what if not enough people care about this makeover? what if I did it just for me? I'd be lying to you if I said I did this makeover just for me, any creative product (ideas, words, designs) we put together we look forward to the positive feedback and reinforcement of others. Well, let me officially thank my designer (of the layout, the majority of changes) Bailey of B's Blog Boutique and Jonathan of JonCreative (who designed my super cool header), they are truly some talented and uber patient people. For my first experience, I'm almost 100% satisfied (I'm not even sure 'perfection' is even attainable, with my fickle likes and dislikes at times).

Here are some things that I'm excited about today!

1. It's 1.11.11, isn't that cool enough to celebrate?

2. The awesome come-back of the BET show The Game Season Premiere is today, and Her Journey is gathering all fans together in the City for the celebration! Nothing like socializing, eating, drinking and being merry!

3. The March/April 2011 issue of Bridal Guide Magazine will be released soon, and if you turn to page 6 of the travel supplement you'll see a little page called 'Resort Roundup' written by yours truly! (and if you don't want to buy the magazine, just e-mail me for a scanned copy).

4. I'm back on Facebook with a more purposeful approach to using the website merely for advertising and promoting. It feels better than the idle time I spent perusing through people's pictures and foolishness. Okay, pictures are still fun, but foolish stati are not.

5. New York is allegedly getting some snow tonight, quite possibly enough to call tomorrow a SNOW DAY!

6. I'm busy and I'm happy, I'm not exactly where I want to be right now, but I'm grateful for the process.

What do you guys think of the look so far?

That's all folks!

Best Posts of 2010: from Tica's Perspective

2010-12-31T11:00:00.005-05:00

Here are what I classify as my best posts this year, no matter what analytics say!

For laughs:

So apparently, everyone flocks here only to read about Elevator Etiquette.

Antonie Dodson- As if he hasn't been on TV enough.

My Pet Peeves- We all have them.

Regarding Traveling:

Florida Vacation- Visiting Mom Dukes.

Dinner in Philly- A taste of Cuba 2 hours away (warning: long post!)

Heartfelt Stuff:

The Ever Contagious Compliment - On my becoming a Godmother.

Career Limbo- Guest post on the reality of post-degree life.

25 Years on this Earth- Lessons Learned.

Baby Fever- Who hasn't had this?

Best wishes to you for the New Year! Hope you enjoyed this look back!

If you've also written about your favorite posts of 2010, leave me your link in a comment!

God's Blessings,

2010 Travels Laughs-in-Review

2010-12-29T21:31:00.016-05:00

Here's some of my favorite candid pictures from trips I took this year, in no particular order:

NASSAU, BAHAMAS:

I think this daiquiri from the famous spot, Twin Brothers II, is trying to say something to me.

The high cost for fresh breath!

Ft. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

I was fortunate enough to speak to this homeless drug-addict, looking for some alcohol late one night:

I decided to give her a makeover instead, and take her out on a cruise:
--
---
----
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She cleaned up pretty good, huh? LOL- just kidding Mom! Love ya!

All jokes aside, what I love about traveling is leaving my mark wherever I go. And knowing that place has taught me something new about traveling, no matter how close or far it is.

@ the Daq Shack

Last but not least, I like to call this one:

Baby you'll be famous
Chase you down until you love me
Papa-paparazzi

If you want to feel like a celebrity, you've got to walk the walk!

Here's to more candids and greater memories in 2011,

I'm a Reverb Reject: Updates

2010-12-29T09:56:00.009-05:00

In case you were wondering, my vacation didn't turn from one week to three. I went to LA for a week without taking my own advice of checking the weather before I left and was met with 'cool' weather (nothing as serious as New York) but basically I was unprepared. Thank God I'm a jean-freak because I was able to rotate those 3 pairs, and recycle the sweaters I had taken with me. I had a great time being around friends and family which included meeting new babies and updating people on the changes in my life back in New York. I especially got plenty of quality time with my friend Dakota, she was like the perfect host and I will not forget the Sunday (which miraculously climbed to 76 degrees) at The Grove mall, and my tell-all dinner at the Wood Ranch Barbeque and Grill.

Now I'm back to the daily New York City grind. This December has been a very hard month to blog, mostly because I've been wanting to write, but I don't want to whine. Why the whining? Many reasons but generally I've been in this funk- affected in one way or another by the following thoughts:

I'm having a hard time valuing the holidays without my grandmother (who is retired and moved back to Costa Rica).
It's cold and I want to attribute my sadness to the weather.
I've been feeling extremely lethargic. Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed until the PM.
I've been anxious about 2011 because I've got some hard decisions to make (including another move!)
I've been thinking about how to manage the direction of the content of this blog, should I make this my open online diary or should I get more professional and keep my life stories at a minimum?
My relationship will also be going through major changes next year, and I feel like I have no control over the situation.

Have you ever felt like the New Year was overwhelming before it even got here?

Maybe this is the reason why I wanted to send out some positive reverberations with this online initiative- you might recognize it #Reverb 10. I was only one of 4,000 subscribers to sign up for e-mail prompts. Now those prompts have built-up in my inbox, taunting me, like some school assignment I wasn't responsible enough to complete. Unfortunately, I could not get through the prompts this month causing me to be a Reverb Reject. Way to be positive huh? The bottom line is, I need to stop lying to myself regarding these 30-day challenges. At this point in life, I have no time to post or physically write daily. And in reality, that's okay!

I really liked some of the prompts, and hope to get to answer some of them one day, including:

December 8 – Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful. (Author: Karen Walrond)

December 10 – Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out? (Author: Susannah Conway)

December 15 – 5 Minutes. Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010. (Author: Patti Digh)

December 18 – Try. What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn’t go for it? (Author: Kaileen Elise)

December 23 – New Name Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? (Author: Becca Wilcott)

December 25 – Photo – a present to yourself Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words.

December 26 – Soul Food What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul? (Author: Elise Marie Collins)

December 27 – Ordinary Joy Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year? (Author: Brené Brown)

Cool prompts, huh? Especially the one about food! They are very time consuming, but in the end worth the reflection when you read back on it.

I might even turn it into a scrapbooking project!

How do you reflect on the past year, in a fun, easy and non-burdening way?

White & Mild: A Tale of NYC

2010-12-28T21:41:00.012-05:00

It's funny how a simple house chore can turn into a moment of self-reflection. After being cooped up in the house for 2 days after the awesome post-Christmas blizzard in New York, I ventured to work today and then came home and decided to shovel some sense into the mass of white slush in front of the house. I didn't come home with the intention to shovel, but I felt how mild the weather was (compared to the paralyzing winds and bitter cold of the past few days) and I picked up the shovel with no real strategy as to how I was going to break through the rough exterior of the snow. With no gloves on, I began to work the snow...and clear my thoughts.

As I focused on the task, the thoughts started rolling:

I haven't blogged in so long, my followers must think I'm not committed.
This is such a family-friendly neighborhood, I wish I knew my neighbors by name.
I wonder if anyone is thinking about me tonight.
Being alone is exactly what I need sometimes.
Uninterrupted thoughts are invaluable.
I like feeling safe where I live.
This is more productive than watching Teen Mom.
I should blog about this.

Today I learned that shoveling snow (after 9pm when walking traffic is minimal) can be therapeudic. I hadn't begun shoveling as some dreaded chore, I just had a sudden itch to do it and I didn't think twice about it. I shoveled, I thought, and I enjoyed being. I haven't just been in a while- without dwelling on what I still haven't done, what else I could be doing, how I should
stop what I'm doing to do something else. But I didn't stop. And not only did I clear my head, but I accomplished this...

I'm the path-making QUEEN! :)

On Vacation...Good News!

2010-12-05T18:19:00.004-05:00

Fellow followers: I will be away visiting family next week on the West Coast (of the US), but will continue to journal my Reverb10 prompts. I am looking forward to the time away, and the good news is that Tica {Em}bracing the Globe will be getting a facelift hopefully by the end of this month! Just in time to welcome the New Year. I'm so excited about it! Hope you're excited for me!

Reverb Days 4 & 5: Cut and Cultivate

2010-12-05T16:47:00.009-05:00

Here's the 2-for-1 weekend package. I'm finding that realistically I won't be able to post everyday, but I will try my best to indulge the questions and post ASAP!

Day 4: Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?

Okay, am I the only one stumped by this prompt? I feel like I've got to revert to my English major-ness to decipher what I've got to be writing about. So, like a true student, I went to find someone else's post to see what this means. Here's what I found: The definition of wonder is 'to be filled admiration, amazement, or awe'-- I feel I'm constantly doing that each time I travel. That's like a given right? You see new things when you travel, new experiences even when you're visiting a place you've already been. That's not my answer. I think I've cultivated (which refers to a seed planted that I've watched and tended growth) a sense of awe and excitement when I decided to start my book club- and make that a priority. This is not something I wanted to do halfway, and I found someone as dedicated to it as me (because two heads are always better than one!) Everyday I'm thinking of new books to share, ways to share my love for books with other, inviting them out to meet new people and read something they don't usually. It has really become a passion of mine, and something I look forward to every month.

Day 5: December 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

This year I've let go of the notion that friends are supposed to be around forever. I have a bad habit of getting really attached to people, and when they don't respond the way I want them to, or we get into a disagreement we don't bounce back from I get really emotional. I've been told over and over that there are some friends that are only around for certain seasons, but that doesn't necessarily make it easier to let them go. I'm learning when those things happen, God always brings me around or closer to people who I already associate with but don't intimately know. They usually turn out to be good people, and even if they are not around for 5 years, or even 2, I'm trying to stay focused on how important they are to me now. And making sure they know that too.

Reverb Day 3: This magic moment...

2010-12-05T16:06:00.008-05:00

It's crazy to be thinking about 2010 as the past year, but I love reminiscing, so today's prompt excites me:

Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

I get an adrenaline rush when I get to chance to go (especially on a plane). Anywhere, anytime of year. I can't think of any place that I will say' no!' if you ask me to go. Anytime I can pack my North Face bag, my neck pillow, blankie, and camera I'm happy.
This picture was taken this year at Harbour Island, Bahamas. This quaint little island where you need go-carts to get around boasts the world-famous Pink Sand beach (a result of the breaking up of the red shells from a tiny sea creature called 'foraminifera'). I loved the privacy on the beach, you could leave your belongings on the sand and not worry about keeping your eye on them. Most of all, the water was calm, beautiful and clean. I came to the Bahamas during a sensitive time, questioning why after a year of searching- I couldn't find an internship, why my relationship was falling apart, why overall I did not feel fulfilled by life. 4 months later, things have improved and shifted in my life but my love for travel and simply changing my environment remains constant!
I love this picture and am thankful this moment was captured. The beauty at the bottom of the hill, just like what awaits us in life sometimes, is hard to see when you're at the top of the hill- it's still hidden by all the obstacles in the way. This picture reminds me that there's still beauty to be found, even in the middle of the craziness.

Reverb Day 2: Click-Addict

2010-12-02T12:37:00.006-05:00

This whole month will be dedicated to Reflections. I challenge you to join me @ #Reverb 10, leave me your link in the comments and I'll be sure to check out your blog!

Day 2: Writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? (Author: Leo Babauta)

As I immerse myself more and more into the blogger world, I recently discovered that I'm a click-addict. Visiting my daily distractions (such as this site- written from a Black father & husband, and this one- a cartoonist and thought-provoker) and the joys of finding new wonderful sites (like this blog from a Mom trying to capture her baby's daydreams and the Hypocrite's Almanac column from the Park Slope Reader- practical advice from a columnist who won't follow it) I just can't get enough of reading about people's journey's, children, bookshelves, and relationships. Reading helps me keep in touch with trends, and see what's relevant. The problem is, I read so much and skim so quickly in short spans of time that at the end of the day I never feel I've truly absorbed anything. I feel empty.
I can't deny the fact that I sincerely enjoy reading good writing and indulging in awesome design and concepts. I love the creative freedom and how you can really brand yourself with your website. The bottom line is, I'm not going to stop reading. What I can improve is the way that I read, which is ironically, similar to the way I eat. I scoff my food down and rarely indulge in it. I know I should eat slower, but I don't. I know I should read slower, and I will try to. I'll try not to click around so much, and browse more for substance. I think with practice, this will truly contribute to my writing.

Reverb 10- Join the Challenge!

2010-12-01T12:52:00.010-05:00

And so we begin the last month of the year! December 1st means so many different things for different people- rent is due, the holiday season is officially here, countdown to final exams, Christmas lists are being compiled. No matter where you are in life, we should all understand the power in Reflection. I know, I know, 2011 is soon upon us and maybe you want to forget everything that happened in 2010 and focus on your 'Resolutions' but I believe Reflection should preface Resolving. After all, how can you really plan for the future if you haven't come to peace with the past? As we remain in the season of thanksgiving, this is the perfect time of year to think of 2010- the good, the bad and the ugly. Make a plan on how you're going to make 2011 better, list specific goals or make a vision board and indulge in the end of the year (for it will soon be gone)! That's what I plan to do as I start this challenge, and I urge you all to join me! I don't care if you're not a writer. You don't need a blog to do this! All you need is pen and paper! I promise when you read your entries back in 2011, you'll be shocked, surprised and pleased.

Reverb 10 is "an annual event and online initiative to reflect on your year and manifest what’s next. The end of the year is an opportunity to reflect on what's happened, and to send out reverberations for the year ahead. With Reverb 10, we'll do both." For more information, to sign the contract for the 31-day challenge, go here! And if you signed up, leave me a comment so I can check your site out and support, support, support!

DAY 1
December 1 One Word.
Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?
(Author: Gwen Bell)

My word to encapsulate 2010 will have to be paradigm-shifting. The one single experience that sticks out about 2010 will have to be the move from my childhood home. This change has caused me to mature in ways I've never had to before- I've had to change the way I used to spend my money, how I maneuver my expenses to have the rent when its due, how to make a place feel like home, among other things. I think as young adults we tend to think things are easier alone- but I'm also realizing how depressing it could be not having that social support or interaction I believe most people crave. My thoughts on relationships and monogamy have also been shifted this year, I'm doing my best to keep from turning into a cynic.
The word I want to encapsulate 2011 will be joy. More than being happy, which is an emotion that can change from one minute to the next, I want to experience permanent joy even in difficult situations. I pray next year comes with more clarity in terms of career moves, and fulfilling personal goals. I believe to a certain extent, I still feel limited in terms of the places I want to go and the jobs I want to pursue. Next year, I will be eligible for citizenship, which will only open more doors in terms of government jobs, and service projects I hope to pursue. I want to remain in a state of joy through stressful and trying times, part of this I know will be continuing to trust God wholeheartedly and not letting fear take over my mind.

What one word for you describes 2010, and you hope will describe 2011?

The Buzz on 'Little Bee': Book Review

2010-12-01T01:48:00.006-05:00

Little Bee by Chris Cleave is truly a gem of a read. I haven’t enjoyed the sensory and minor details of a book in a while, and Cleave’s writing style is beautiful, worth-while and memorable. I can honestly say I really and truly delayed reading the end of this book but I knew as soon as I dove into the storyline I would be sitting here writing this, trying to figure out what I can really say to give the book the praise that it’s due.

Title: Little Bee (US) or The Other Hand (UK)

Author: Chris Cleave

Gist: The basic storyline is of two female protagonists: that of a young Nigerian refugee who is locked up at a detention center in the UK and one English career woman, wife and mom. Their lives cross way before the story begins in a most unusual way, and you’ll have to pick the book up to find out how/why.

Pro’s: Fast read and thoroughly entertaining, the fact that the narrative goes back and forth between the two protagonists makes the book complex and hard to put down! I think the language and every word was chosen so tenderly, it’s these type of books that make me want to make believe I can write fiction.

Con’s: I was so involved in this book, I walked around hating some characters; things they said and did. I took the book so personally! I was on a rollercoaster of emotions, and a book filled with so much dark moments/subject matter lightened by glimpses humor may not be for everybody at all times. I can attest that there are some books you may have to put down at certain times and come back to.

Best Lines:

From Little Bee:

“I ask you right here please to agree with me that a scar is never ugly. That is what the scar makers want us to think. But you and I, we must make an agreement to deny them. We must see all scars as beauty. Okay?... Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived.”

From Sarah:

“From the spring of 2007 until the end of that long summer…my son removed his Batman costume only at bath times. I ordered a twin costume that I substituted while he splashed in the suds, so that at least I could wash the boy sweat and the grass stains out of the first. At four years old, sleep or awake, my son lived at constant readiness.”

Recommend: Yes! Out of 5 stars I give this book 3.5, only because the ending left me a little confused and pouting like a child who wants more candy. It still can’t take away from the beauty I witnessed from chapter to chapter. Do add to your Christmas list! Oh- I will warn you that this book has some graphic subject matter not suitable for those weak in spirit or heart. There is also foul language in the book.

For more information about the book, visit the author's website here.

Happy Reading!

Transparent Lagrimas (Tears)

2010-11-24T12:34:00.010-05:00

Last Thanksgiving, I cried in front of strangers.

I spent the weekend in Ft. Lauderdale with my mother, my first time being away from my Grandma's homemade goodness in New York (see picture on left). I remember thinking how relatively easy it was to travel on Thanksgiving Day and how weird it was that I could wear a short sleeve shirt and some cute jeans in the middle of November. Oh the joy of house-hopping and getting a peek into different family traditions, and to be void from the stress of hosting, cooking, cleaning, preparing, serving, and then cleaning/packing once everyone is gone with their overstuffed doggy bags.

This family's house we were invited to were East Indian, and Christian. I remember thinking, this might be weird, these people can't completely let down their guard because they are around a stranger... I never met any Indians who professed Christianity and also briefly thinking, I wonder if they curry their turkey too. It surprised me to learn that they were as traditional American family as you could get, the difference between their table and any table was probably the different complexions around the table. And maybe not every traditional American family makes it a point to invite people who don't have immediate family in town to their dinner table, and I was immediately glad that they thought it not robbery to invite my mother to break bread with them.

Then, I was riddled with negative thoughts. I transformed myself into a typical character in a Spanish novela. I'm the hired hand's daughter... we are only here out of charity. It's typical to invite your cleaning lady to Thanksgiving dinner. I looked over at my mom to my right and thought... How could she feel so comfortable here, during their intimate family time?

The reason is ...my mother doesn't let her job define her. She's been in that business for years, when she couldn't get a legal job but even now that she can.... she cleans willingly.
My mother never tries to hide what she does, even when I felt embarassed telling my friends. She cleans her clients main homes, condos and summer homes, watches their pets when they are away on vacation but she's more than that. They trust her so much that eventually she becomes their confidante and friend. They recommend her to friends, they give her more business. They allow her access to these vacation homes. They don't see her as a step below them because my mother doesn't carry herself as such. I want to have the same attitude my mother does. That no matter where I am in life, what tax bracket I'm in, that when I step into a room full of strangers I demand respect. Not because of how much money I make and what social status I have, but because of who my Heavenly Father is.

That family was lead by a man of God who asked everyone around the table to share what they are thankful for this year. Sounds cheesy, but I was about to see the true meaning of a Christian family live-and-in-effect. This family had experienced considerable loss, one death and one close-to-death experience in one year's time. No one at that table was thankful for any material thing, job, or bank account but they were simply thankful for the people that stared across delicious goodness at them while they spoke. They were thankful for LIFE. And they didn't censor themselves. If there's one thing I can't take is seeing a man cry, it literally triggers automatic response of a tight throat in me. But the grandfather, as he talked about the loss of his wife in a car accident, was crying tears of remembrance and thankfulness. By the time I was to speak I could feel myself holding back the deluge of tears that were on the brink of escaping as I thought about the true meaning of a Christian family- allowing a total stranger in your house and making them feel like home.

I opened my mouth...before the tears could reveal my humbleness and said "thank you for your transparency." God's presence should speak volumes through actions, not so much through words. There should be something different about you as a Christian, something people can't really put their hands on or describe... I strive to model that family when it's my time.

For some of us, we wait until the holidays to tell someone 'I love you' or 'I'm so proud of you' or 'I believe you will go so far...' but how about you make it a habit to be transparent with your own family? Remind your family, friends, extended family and Christian family how much they mean to you-- you can write it down, send an e-mail, dedicate a FB/Twitter status, try anything that will brighten someone's day!

Sincere and supportive bloggy family, I wish you the spirit that makes writing easy and enjoyable. May you write from innermost to speak life/encouragement/support/reinforcement to someone you may not even know by name.

Your writing does make a change. Don't stop.

Happy Thanksgiving,

For Colored Girls & Every Girl: A Movie Review

2010-11-15T13:41:00.004-05:00

Truthfully, I haven't been inspired to write in a long time. Last night I watched a movie that moved me. I didn't know what to expect when I sat down, but I'm glad I didn't write off the chance to witness this art on the big screen. Think what you might about Tyler Perry's original plays and movies, I believe this is by far his best adaptation!

I left feeling the pain and triumph of every type of woman portrayed in Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls. I experienced a range of emotions that have been rarely evoked in me in a short period of time; hope, anxiety, understanding, fear, betrayal, anger, confusion, and how to find the will to live. I loved the way the poetry from the choreodrama was intertwined and used as poignant soliloquies. I loved the way these women's lives were all intertwined and most importantly I don't want any woman to feel that because she's not 'colored' she can't see this movie. This movie speaks directly to women of color, but by no means does it mean they are the only ones who might experience some of the events that transpired in the movie. This movie can teach every girl something, but it's especially for colored girls.

I feel every mother, daughter, sister, grandmother will appreciate this movie. Make it a girl's night, but I probably wouldn't recommend it for daughters/sons under 16/17 years old (there is nudity and strong emotional content involved). Use discretion!

The soundtrack was also delightful, Four Women, originally by Nina Simone is my new favorite song! Watch it here.

Needless to say, if you haven't seen it yet, go sheck it out!

Attention All Families: Want 50 Free Shutterfly Holiday Cards?

2010-10-25T13:33:00.007-04:00

The 2010 Holiday Card promotion is up and running to any blogger who is willing to contribute a blog 'write up.' In return you'll receive 50 Free Holiday Cards. To submit, go here. The fine print: Free cards are for 5×7 folded or flat stationery cards. Offer ends December 31, 2010. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply.

Apply here.

Vision of My Father: A Memoir

2010-10-22T11:14:00.005-04:00

The most exciting time of my life was when I was seven going on eight. It was the first time that I met this man called my Father. On this day, I took a very special shower, with the berry pink soap and I didn't even forget to clean my belly button. I picked out my favorite pink sweater, with the colorful array of flowers on the neckline, and the matching headband. Once I put my pink sneakers on with the velcro and Mama finished putting on the colorful pins at the ends of my twists, I was set to go. It was cold on this winter day in February, and I was forced to wear my heavy winter coat, which reached me down to my knees. I put my red cotton hat on with the furry ball at the tip, and we were on our way.

Riding in Grandma's Subaru on the Van Wyck Expressway to JFK, I didn't know what to expect. As I made my way out of the car, Mama had a video camera. I can see myself with a shy smile and a humble wave. Maybe it was this day that began my fascination with airports; the rush, faces, ethnicities, luggage, uniformed people, screens with words and flashing lights, orange safety wear. As we made our way inside to the meeting area, I'm tugging Mama's hand. Searching through the faces of strangers, searching...searching...

I finally notice a stranger who has features like mine. Strong elongated eyebrows, wide forehead, and the most obvious, fair skin. I look back at Mama's honey brown complexion, and spot her nervous grin. She guides my arm forward, as her way of introduction. I reach for the man with the eyes who look exactly like mine.

Our meeting begins, settling down in a nearby airport delicatessen. It was at this point that my curiosity with this man began. I wondered why he spoke so soft, why he dressed with a tie, why he looked like me, but most importantly I wondered why he didn't live with me. Didn't he like me? Didn't he want to be my friend? Why did he leave Mama so lonely? I know Mama didn't want to be with Arthur, Bobby, or Carlos, but she would have rather us be a family.

He brought me chocolate triple layered cake. All my questions were then forgotten. After I finished my dessert, it was time for the stranger to go. I thought to myself "Porque?" To me, the hour felt like a second, one second in a flash of my life. Seven going on eight and I wished I could see the stranger again. Little did I know, seven more years would go by before I would see the stranger again.

Some people believe that our lives are broken into seven year intervals. Almost as if every seven years one begin a new period in life. I can't make much of my first seven years, I don't even remember much, except the first time I met my Father. It taught me a very valuable lesson, many years down the road. It taught me to Expect Nothing, Appreciate Everything.

Wordless Wednesday: Season Chameleon

2010-10-20T12:59:00.007-04:00

Two years ago, I got over the fear of cutting my hair and changing my look. To quote Ms. Chrisette Michelle, I "let go of my silly hair" and realized that although my hair is important, it only has as much power over my self-esteem and image as I give it. In the spirit of celebrating the freedom and the Sesame Street 'I love my hair' frenzy that has been buzzing all week...my Wordless Wednesday today is celebrating the boldness and fearlessness I want all women and girls to have when it comes to changing up their look.

From a hair don't....

(Don't ask me why the stylist let me leave the salon like this!)

To a newly discovered eyelash treatment that I hope to indulge in more often.

Eyelash Extensions! These things are E-spensive! But they make such a difference! Don't you agree?

If you want to participate in WW, link up at New York Chica's spot.

What's the boldest thing you've ever done? What's a hair treatment you had to try and was totally surprised by the results?

Post-it Note Tuesday: Why I haven't been blogging

2010-10-19T09:36:00.019-04:00

Wish me the best in settling in,

Friday Funnies: Hide Your Kids, Hide Your Wife!

2010-10-15T11:08:00.005-04:00

One can always depend on You tube to offer up a laugh on a Friday morning. Here's the latest coming straight-up out the country!! Watch them in order...

And the remix...!!! Yes, it gets funnier!

Looks like someone is an instant celebrity! You know you want to friend him on Facebook! lol

Disclaimer: In no way am I making light of an attempted rape, but only the manner in which Dodson threatens.

Share your laugh with someone today,

Wordless Wednesday: I Got You

2010-10-13T12:36:00.004-04:00

I want this to relive this moment again...

This photo was taken on 8-8-09 in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

If you're participating, link up over at New York Chica's spot.

Happy midweek!

First Guest Blog: New School v Old School (Book Convo)

2010-10-01T15:47:00.007-04:00

I'm proud to feature co-founder of the book club I'd Rather Be Reading, Miss Anika, as my first guest blogger. In this post she talks about her love for virtual books, a phenomenom that you may or may not care for, but even if you don't you might change your mind after reading this.

Pssssssttttt.....pssstttttt.....I have a secret to tell you...come closer...closer.....CLOSER........I'm having an affair with my KINDLE!

They (one day I must figure out who this illustrious "they" are) say that admitting something is the first step to recovery. So here, in the huge blogosphere, I am admitting---I am absolutely addicted to my Kindle (shout out to GOS for hookin' me up). From the fabulous screen, to the true to life print, to the luxurious covers, to the loads (and I do mean LOADS) of books, magazines, blogs, and newspapers that can be downloaded onto this device, there is nothing not to like.

I love books, I love browsing in Barnes & Nobles, I love the rush I get when I walk into Borders and see all the new releases and classics laid out for me to peruse at my leisure. I was happy - my books and I had a system going - I buy them, they transport me to a new world. We were surviving. Then my world got rocked when I saw this nifty little invention...could it be true? Oh pleaaseeeeee say it was true! I could actually download hundreds of books to one place and carry them with me?! At the same time?! Without breaking my back and arms due to the weight?! My world was alive with the possibilities. I would no longer have to pick which of my books to take with me on vacation - I could just take Kindie(yes she has a name and no I am not ashamed!) I could avoid having to carry a highlighter to mark up my books - I could do it on Kindie(smudge and wobbly line free). No more dog eared pages--my Kindie could mark that for me as well. Ohh the joy. Those long lines at Barnes & Nobles, Borders and Strand?? GONE! With Amazon's "Buy Now with 1-click" I was in buyers heaven! With the click of my mouse, my books were delivered to my hands.

The Kindle has done wonders for my reading life. The way I shuffle through my I-pod, I can switch books with a click (or 2) of my Kindie buttons. I have never one day disliked my Kindie....Except for the fact that I haven't picked up a "traditional" book in months. I must admit, I have a faint longing for the smell of a new book, the crisp scent. I miss the actual feel and weight of a new book in my hand. The sense of excitement I get as I realize my bookmark is getting closer to the back flap! Bookmarks - who knew how much I'd miss picking out bookmarks, which are essentially an extension of myself. Sometimes they are funny, sometimes they are purely functional -as is my metro card bookmark; most times they are clearly who I am at the moment. I couldn't figure out this feeling - I missed my books and my books missed me. I would come home and gently lay down Kindie so as to avoid any harm (although she was protected by an insanely overpriced jacket). I would hear whispers all around me "Read me; open me; here I am; come away with me"..my shelves were drooping with sadness---or the weight of books, I never really figured it out. What I do know is that Kindie had extinguished my relationship with my old school loves.

So as I approach my 1 year anniversary with Kindie I have a few pointers for all of you considering the Kindle 2, 3G, or even that little thing called a Nook:

1: Get it - it will bring joy to your life.

2: Protect it - it is easily damaged.

3: Control it - don't go "1-click" happy; the books are still pricey and $9.99 or $12.99 adds up QUICKLY!

4: Ration it - create a healthy balance between your Kindle, Nook and your old loves. While it is great to have several books at your fingertips, there is something to be said for the process of searching for a book, going to a bookstore or library, getting the book and settling down on a rainy October evening and going on a dog-eared, highlighted, crumb ridden journey with your book.

5: Love it - Kindie has her downfalls but she also has her good features. To create anything sustainable, we need to change with the times and Amazon's Kindle and all the other e-readers have done just that. Reading has evolved and many of the drawbacks of old have been erased with the new features. Embrace our culture of instantaneous gratification.After all is said and done, Kindie has created a new level of respect in me for my treasured books. I have realized how much I adore my print books as well as how much I adore my E-Books. So as I head over to my KA meeting (Kindle's Anonymous) a quote pops into my head and I realize that any way I look at it - BOOKS are ME and I am BOOKS and I will get them and read them "By Any Means Necessary"-Malcolm X

-Anika P.

What do you guys think, are you more comfortable with books or e-readers?

Dear 100th Follower,

2010-09-28T15:59:00.003-04:00

It's great to be you today! You are a modern-day case of being at the right place, at the right time. In celebration of following me, I have something special in store (a secret giveaway!). If you believe yourself to be the 100th- make sure to leave a comment on this post! Don't miss out!

Best,

Post-It Note Tuesday: I Met a Blogger Celebrity!

2010-09-28T10:22:00.021-04:00

Join me, as I participate in another Post-it Note Tuesday!

I loved being a demo, JJ Eyelashes proved to be real professionals, and Miss Ericka schooled me on the whole process! An educated consumer is the best consumer, indeed!

(from left to right... Miss Journey, Alexis Tirado, Ericka from JJ Eyelashes, and Tica!) Can my smile be any bigger?

If you want to follow the woman who put this Soiree together, so you don't miss the next one, check out Desi's blog here!

It's 3 days closer to Friday!,

Where are you going to be TONIGHT?!

2010-09-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

If you're in the NYC area, and are not at this Soiree, you're missing out!!

Make it A Girls Movie Night for November!

2010-09-24T12:04:00.009-04:00

I just heard about Tyler Perry's new movie coming out in November 2010, his adaptation of the choreopoem by Ntozake Shange "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf." Has anyone read this book, seen the play, looking forward to the movie? I have only heard about the play briefly, but am looking forward to finding out what it's about! It features Kerry Washington, Janet Jackson and Whoopi Goldberg.

See trailer below here.

Relaxing Weekends,

Book Club Review: Eat, Pray, LovED It!

2010-09-23T10:53:00.007-04:00

I'd Rather Be Reading Book Club is having it's second monthly discussion this weekend and I can't wait!!

Here's my review of our September book pick, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. For more discussions, or to join the club virtually or physically (if you're in the NYC area), check out our blog.

SPOILER ALERT: You might not want to read past the excerpts if you plan on reading the book.

I am so sad to report that I've gotten to the end of the journey with Liz and Eat, Pray, Love. I didn't want the traveling to end! The book is hands-down on my Top 5 list of books I've read this year. In a nutshell, the book is about a divorced 30-something year old woman on a spiritual journey to renew herself by seeking pleasure in Italy, devotion in India and balance in Bali. I wasn't hooked from page one, per se, but when I really got into it (around bead 30) it was a story I could not put down. Gilbert, as Mr. Jackson mentioned to me in conversation, has an exceptional command of the English language and her writing as down-right enviable, she has her humorous moments, and brilliant metaphors. I can't really say enough about how I enjoyed this book. Gilbert's memoir has a perfect blend of informational details without reading too textbooky (new word), shares personal ideas without seeming too pushy and her growth process flows so naturally through her writing. After reading this book, I am inspired to meditate and have quiet time daily, to "practice discipline" when I'm eating instead of wolfing my food in two breaths, and to never have regrets about love.

Here are some teaser excerpts in case you need more reasons to pick up the book:

Italy- "Today, I was sitting on a park bench when a tiny old woman in a black dress came over, roosted down beside and started bossing me around about something. I shook my head, muted and confused. I apologized, saying in a very nice Italian "I'm sorry, but I don't speak Italian," and she looked like she would've smacked me with a wooden spoon, if she'd had one."

India- "Like most humanoids, I am burdened with what the Buddhists call the "monkey mind"-- the thoughts that swing from limb to limb, stopping only to scratch themselves, spit and howl. From the distant past to the unknowable future, my mind swings wildly through time, touching on dozens of ideas a minute, unharnessed and undisciplined....You are after all, what you think. Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions."

Bali (Indonesia)- "...this is how I ended up participating in the blessing of a baby who had reached the age of six months, and who was now ready to touch the earth for the first time. The Balinese don't let their children touch the ground for the first six months of life, because newborn babies are considered to be gods sent straight from heaven, and you wouldn't let a god crawl around on the floor with all the toenail clippings and cigarette butts. So Balinese babies are carried for the first six months, revered as minor deities."

I can't even say which country was my favorite, in the end I learned to appreciate that it was all a process- and you couldn't have Bali without India, and India without Italy...and so I appreciate all 3 parts just the same. I was full (in my belly), after Liz's four months in Italy. I did find it kind of hard getting through India with all the internal conflict she was trying to sort. Bali was the most fun in terms of the characters she encountered (and I loved all the insider info on the culture). I was oh-so-very-anxious to see how the house situation with Wayan was going to work out. I'm glad Liz handled that. I don't know how inclined I feel to read the sequel Committed, which chronicles her life after with new lover Felipe. I think I still want some time to savor all the new things I've learned after eating, praying and loving... something I want to joyously indulge in daily.

RIP Ponytail: Drastic Measures

2010-09-16T12:42:00.018-04:00

Happy Tuesday lovely folks!

Today I'm participating in Post-it-Note Tuesday, with its new host, That One Mom!

From spending all day together....

to breaking up in a matter of minutes:

I found my new match, aren't you guys loving it?

Leave me a comment, YAY or NAY?

Happy Thankful Thursday: Costa Rica is 189 years old! (a day late)

2010-09-14T14:36:00.019-04:00

I wish I could be more patriotic. Like, go in my closet and pull out some traditional garb and start dancing before you could even remember the Spanish word 'Baila!' Or show you my grandmother's prized memorabilia of mini-replica houses, the idolized ox cart and hand-painted toucan-shaped napkin holders stashed away from clumsy fingers in the china cabinet. But inside, my house probably looks no different than yours. I'm not part of any social clubs where ticos of any age, unite. I live in one of the most populated and popular cities in America, where culinary delights abound, and have not found ONE sole restaurant that bases its dishes on comida tica.

So what's a transplant to do on el dia de Independencia? My Google search offered no solution. No parade, no festival, nowhere to congregate in this big old lonely City. Four countries share independence day with Costa Rica-- El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras but we haven't gotten any official parade marching down any avenues in NYC. What about my family? Well, everyone is pretty much an adult-- very Americanized and very distant from Costa Rican traditions. No fireworks there.

Living in the States my whole educational life has alerted me that nationally, I'm a minority. I've met one guy in HS who was Costa Rican, and to this day I come across people who've never met a Costa Rican and always thought it was an island (I know it sounds like Puerto Rico, but no, no relation).

I've spent my whole life never acknowledging the day. But I desperately want to! So maybe I won't go as far taking a day off work, or taking a 2 hour lunch to siesta, but I still want to connect somehow! Maybe, just maybe, I'll be the one to start the tradition. Dinner party with traditional tico food at my house!(*woot woot*) We'll see how next year goes...

Oh, and just in case you needed any more reasons why you should visit Costa Rica at least ONCE in your life (although, I know you won't want to limit yourself to that after you go). Here's my top 3 reasons:

You got the best of all worlds there- 2 coasts of beach; if you don't like the Pacific, head on over to the east for the Carribean Sea!, mountains, volcanoes, national parks, rainforests and if you don't need to see all that- just stay on a resort.
People who look like me and you, and them too (and they're friendly too!). In comparison to many Central American countries, CR does not have an incredible amount of indigenous indians, but they do live there! There's people with descendants from Spain, Jamaica, China, you name it! A lot of your travel experience is based on how you're treated by the natives, so if you think this is a minor detail, think again!
Because I said so! Would I steer you wrong?

Happy Thursday!

Food Photo credit.

PS- Enjoy my poem about...you guessed it... mi tierra!

Jet the Blues Away

2010-09-07T10:42:00.004-04:00

For those of you who can't let go of summer just yet, JetBlue announced some travel deals this morning for the explorer in you. The Summer's End sale is over September 9th at 11:59 PM EDT and it offers great one-way sales for travel from NYC to lots of Caribbean destinations as well as local hot-spots. These nonstop fares are valid for travel Sept. 14th-Dec 15th. The Thanksgiving and Columbus Day holidays are blacked out.

One-way sample fares from NYC (JFK) include:

To Washington, DC…. $39
To Charlotte, NC…. $64
To Kingston, Jamaica…. $99
To Barbados, Bridgetown…. $119
To Cancun, Mexico…. $139
To Las Vegas, NV…. $149
To Portland, OR…. $159

And if you have more time on your hands to travel, you might consider shelling out $499 for the All You Can Jet priviledge. This pass allows travel between Tuesday, September 7 and Wednesday October 6, 2010 to any destination in JetBlue’s route network, national and international. Each flight must be booked 3 days in advance.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead, you know you want to book!

Friday Funnies: What I'm Thinking? Chicken!

2010-09-03T15:02:00.007-04:00

Dear Fried Chicken,

Why do you smell so good once cooked but have to be so dangerous to cook and leave my clothes smelling so ... yicky? I have to put on a special laundry-prone outfit just to fry you, but I can't cover my arms, legs or other fragile areas because having the heat on that high has the kitchen feeling like a real-life oven. Standing about 1 foot away while trying to see if the inside is done... And yet the trade off always seems worth it... (you know I love you guys b/c I look a hot mess in this pic!)
MMmm...

And the best part of it all, is that I'm not the only one who feels this way about chicken...check out homeboy's video!

What's the worst part about cooking one of your favorite foods?

Happy holiday weekends!

NYC Blogger Event: Soiree anyone?

2010-09-02T15:30:00.008-04:00

I actually don't even know exactly what soiree means, but it sounds fun! Sounds like people mixing, being totally social and not hiding behind their witty titles and weekly memes. If you're a serious blogger in NYC (and I use that term loosely!), here's where you need to be after work on Monday September 27th! Mark your Calendars, iphones, Crackberry's, Outlook, or whatever else you use! Don't forget to stock up on business cards before then! Who knows? This might be your big break!

About the hosts:

DesireeFrieson.com

Desi's Random Thought's is a collection of Desiree Frieson's random musings on all topics social media, television, film, music, books and much more. The main focus of this up and coming online resource is to educate social media beginners on digital marketing best practices and provide solutions to basic online marketing/branding challenges.

HerJourneyMag.com

Her Journey is an online presence dually dedicated to travel and women’s empowerment. It is within our mission to expand the reader’s traveling horizon by sharing glimpses of extraordinary travel experiences while also equipping her with tools necessary to discover and fulfill her life’s purpose. What makes us different is that we not only cater to those who love to travel but we also reach out to those who are not yet fully convinced of the benefits of traveling. It is our mission to open their eyes to what the world has to offer.

RedRoverStyle.com

RedRoverStyle.com is an online lifestyle and charity magazine that exists to bring people together to dialogue, inspire, and network with the rover community. Red Rover Style is an insider’s guide to new and emerging talent while sharing tips on beauty, fashion, NYC hotspots, travel, food, entertainment, current events and more! Red Rover Style also features individuals who inspire others by helping those in need, and is channel for people to learn about different charities and learn about philanthropic events.

Official evite here.

Yours,

"Cuz I'ma LayyyDee!" (Like Sheneneh)

2010-08-27T14:37:00.027-04:00

This is truly a girly post. I'm in the process of stepping up my shoe game and decided to gauge where I stand now by getting the opinions of fashionably fabulous followers like you! Yes, I know you'd rather look at bags for yourself online and shop for the fall season ahead of time but how about you help those in need, do your community service for the week? :)

It's real simple. Below is my current shoe standing, please vote YAY or NAY in the comments section, to answer whether or not I should keep the shoes in my collection, or get rid of them (remember to list the shoe number).
I also have a special treat, seeing and responding to the need to definitely get rid of some shoes that I've bought used and never wore and that are simply just taking up space. For those bargain-hunting not ashamed of second-hand shoes women there are some for-sale items at the bottom (don't just scroll straight there!). If you're interested, send me an e-mail. First come, first serve! We can do payments through Paypal and I'll get them shipped out to you right away!

So...here's a peek into my shoe closet!

NUMERO 1

Maker: Aerosoles

These are my ultimate go-to summer sandals! They don't match with everything I wear, but that hasn't kept me from wearing these out shoes much that the straps at the top are already missing the piece that holds them in place. If you don't know anything about Aerosoles, they make absolutely comfortable shoes. I wouldn't get rid of these if you paid me!

NUMERO 2
Maker: Shoes for Lovely People

These are probably the funkiest shoes I own.
They are a cool royal blue color, and I love those corset-looking straps in the back. It has the feel of a boot and they are richly suede. The only thing is I'm not sure how to pull these off with a skirt...

NUMERO 3

Maker: J CREW

I haven't technically worn these shoes outside yet, but they seem like the perfect fall high-boot. They are kind of a tight fit, so tight actually, that I don't think I can wear them with socks. But I just couldn't pass them up when I found them at my favorite second-hand store, Beacon's Closet in Park Slope, Brooklyn!

NUMERO 4
Maker: Nine West

Until recently, I did not know that every girl owned a simple black heel. I found these at Marshall's, and they were so comfortable (I know because I walked around the store with them) that I had to add them to the cart. I like how they have the part patent-leather, part stretchy material. I own a heel just like this in white, except it's not half and half, it's just a leather shoe.

NUMERO 5

Maker: ??

These shoes have been swallowed by the closet, and I don't remember who the maker is. I bought them for New Year's and have worn them 1 other time since then. The heel is not made for comfort but I really like the plum color (since it was something other than black) and the platform shoes I'm really digging recently. Here's what I wore them with...

I needed a shoe high enough to keep that dress from dragging on the floor! But I'm afraid I won't be able to wear these shoes unless I'm riding in a car the night I'm using them.

NUMERO 6! I'm getting these in the mail soon...are they cool or what?!

A fellow blogger was selling them online for $20, could I pass up an opportunity to make my closet funkier? No. I tried not to pay too much attention to that taunting heel, however I don't come across jaguar print everyday and so... I can't wait to try them on!

The rest of my shoe collection includes two black more intricate shoes, which just add to my theme of black shoes. I hope to venture out to include silver and gold shoes next, and eventually more colors to lighten up and expand the color palettes. Any shoe store/style suggestions of relatively comfortable brands are much appreciated!

And now for the SALES! Please note, all the shoes below are used and are being sold AS IS! Sorry, no refunds! If you want more details than the captions or pictures can tell you, feel free to e-mail me.

FOR SALE:

Maker: BCBG Girls
Size: 6/36
Price: $20/ $5 for shipping. Total $25.
Condition: Some folds in the front (from natural wear) that are flattened out when you put the shoe on, no significant black scratches/marks along the back and sides.
Remarks: The front is very narrow- not for wide feet at all. Worth the price, these shoes have more years left in them! Perfect color for Easter!

Maker: Steven by Steve Madden
Size: 7M
Price: $30/ $5 for shipping. Total $35!!
Condition: I bought these used and have never worn them outside of the house. These patent-leather candy red babes have genuine leather upper and leather outsole. There is only one black mark on these shoes, it's on the back and hard to see it because the shoe color covers it up well.
Remarks: The heel is way too high for me, I found that the slope of the shoe was too much for an amateur. But if you're into the Mary Jane style, these sweet-color babies have your name all over them! Who can pass up candy-apple red?

And last but not least, the almighty slingback! (please excuse the dusty rusty car!)

Maker: Guess
Size: 6M
Price: $20 and $5 for shipping. Total $25.
Condition: Bought new and worn 1 time outside. These shoes are all leather, don't pass them up!!
Remarks: The shoe was simply too small for me and I didn't want to admit it at the store. Like the BCBG shoes, the front of this show is very narrow. Not made for wide feet.

Well, that's all folks! Hope you enjoyed perusing through my closet! Can't wait to hear your feedback!

Photo credit: Maura Reid-Johnson
Shoe model: Yours truly!

A family that dances together, stays together...

2010-08-19T09:50:00.008-04:00

My, my, my...it's been a while since I've posted a Thankful Thursday (feel free to participate by clicking on the button!). Thursday's are usually the busiest days of the work week- deadlines galore in the writing world and lots of paperwork to file away [that's my life!] but the upside is that it usually goes by fast! Today I just wanted to recognize how thankful I am for FAMILY! None of us can choose them like we choose friends, and although everyone can claim some dysfunctional members or habits-- there is still nothing like the love, support, and encouragement from family. Whether far or near, today I'm thankful for those I share blood with. Thank God for my beautiful ohana! (The one thing I learned from watching Lilo & Stitch!)

On a recent trip to Virginia, we spent a weekend with my cousins and had a hilarious time playing the Just Dance video game from Wii with some family friends. For your enjoyment pleasure, here is just one highlight (b/c Blogger video sux!) This is what teenage boys do when they think no-one is looking! lol

PS- The game is really as fun as it looks, and you can get your workout in as well!

Fun weekends!

I'm Loving...

2010-08-17T11:18:00.013-04:00

Things that I'm loving today...

Summer (my scrumptious God-daughter) is 8 months today!

My new favorite medical drama! HawthoRNe!

The prospect of getting on a plane!

Jeopardy College Tournament Week this week (almost as exciting as Teen Week)!

I finished a new book, my first medical drama (fiction) called Six-Liter Club (review coming soon!) I highly recommend it to those who like watching those dramas on TV- it's about a woman who becomes the first African-American woman head of surgery in 1984.

The countdown to getting on a plane!

The packing for the prospect of getting on a plane!

What are you loving this week?

God's Blessings,

Mental Break: Pull Over for An Award

2010-08-16T15:57:00.011-04:00

If you charged me with low participation this month on Tica Tatteteller, I wouldn't deny it. But do believe me that there are great things coming in September. I've been getting the makeover design itch recently and have decided to mature Tica Tattleteller a bit (in my head, it hasn't actually translated onto the web yet). Not only will I feature a new face soon, but also a new blog title. I'm perusing the brain to entrap a cute baby niche. Something that is more focused than what I've got going on now, for the benefit of you and me! I can't even wait to see what I come up with.

August has become my unofficial vacation from blogging and has proved to be a busy month. A friend of mine and I are launching a young adult book club this month. One that meets once a month physically and virtually all month long. Trying to get busy young folk to get together without offering free food is hard! (half kidding) If you're ever sitting in front of your desk, in front of your classroom, or behind the wheel thinking to yourself, "I'd Rather Be Reading" then feel free to come pay us a visit and become a virtual member. Our book club pick for September is Eat, Pray, Love so for anyone who's seen the movie this past weekend, you can go share your thoughts over at the blog. There goes one thing off my 30 before 30 list. I've got some other adventures planned this month that I promise to share with you guys when the time is right.

In the meantime, I'm delighted to share that I've gotten my second award:

I've been awarded by Ms. Baby Plan who is a young married sistah trying to conceive, you can learn more about her journey here. Thanks so much for this award! There goes point one of the requirements to accepting this award- linking it back to the person who gave it to you!

Here are the rest:

Share 7 things about yourself.

I feel like being funny today, so I'm posting real random things that might freak you out. Talk about honesty. Number one- I always punch in 2:55 on the clock no matter what I'm microwaving. Number two- I sometimes feel like I should have chosen another career path because I wonder about some people's sex lives. I have internal conversations about details. Number three- I only floss when I see the floss which is not often on my junky dresser. Number four- I love to pack, and hate...you guessed it, doing laundry (did you guess it?) Number five- I don't think you've gotten this far on the list so if you're still reading, congrats, you don't have A.D.D.! Number six- I have self-diagnosed A.D.D because I just performed 3 other tasks while trying to finish this post. Number seven- I think babies are fascinating.

The third point (stay with me, the first was to link the person who gave it to you, the second, list 7 things about yourself) is to Pass the award to 7 fellow bloggers that inspire you.

Krystal @ One Day at A Time. The title says it all. I'm learning what it means to be present and stop living in the future or the past.
Jenn @ Starving, Insatiable. She's a cool girl trying to find her way in the world.
Mr. Jackson @ Prose of An Urban Nomad. He's a man and he writes well. Great combo.
Tell Me Something Good. Good girlfriend chat. Ladies, if you haven't heard something good today, head on over!
Brown Girl- Book Speak. When I need to find great book titles I haven't come across yet, there is always something interesting here.
The Williams Family. A wife who is soon beginning transitioning life as a Stay-at-Home mom. Boldness!
The Big Show At UD. Another black man who writes. He's also a satirist.

I gather this is not the most manliest award! But its an award none the less, so take that compliment graciously!

The last requirement is that I inform everyone who's won the award! Done by way of comments! Hope everyone enjoyed their Monday!

Five Question Friday- August Already?

2010-08-06T10:10:00.014-04:00

Good Day lovely people, today I'm in the mood to participate in Five Question Friday. Short and sweet culmination of the week as I celebrate August (yikes!) I hope everyone enjoys their weekend and if you're visiting from a blog hop feel free to introduce yourself in a comment and I'll be sure to return the favor.

1. Are you a neat sleeper or a messy sleeper?

I don't know what a "neat" sleeper looks like, but I don't sleep on one end of the bed and wake up in a different one so I would say I'm pretty decent. My hair is the only thing that really suffers at night, I hate tying it down.

2. Fill in the blank. I wish I was more ________________.

Disciplined when it comes to writing (let's focus on one area at a time). If I choose to pursue this career professionally, I have to make deadlines my best friend. There will be times when I have to write, even when I don't feel like it. I just feel like at that point, all the joy is gone.

3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?

How "finding your purpose" in life is a journey. How graduating from college does not automatically mean your degree translates into an instruction manual for how to fulfill your passion and be sustained from it. The same way that "success" is like an endless ladder- you go from one tier to the next- but still you never become satisfied with the level you reach. Will there be a time where I'm sure that I'm supposed to be doing something and that thing alone will be satisfying for years to come?

4. What was the best thing you ever found at a garage sale/flea market?

It would be a picture frame that is currently up in my room, maybe you guys can help me with the name of the flower because I have no idea. I just love how it matches my accent wall and it exudes the relaxing feel I was going for- in the midst of my mess. (you could kind of see it in this pic- where I'm playing "Superwoman" with Summer- the green side is the accent wall). The frame cost $40 and supposedly it came all the way from Colombia!

5. If you could have any meal brought to you right now, what would it be?

There's always a food question in here, hmm... since I recently had my crab craving fulfilled by this awesome place we stumbled upon in Woodbridge, VA (shout-out to the Electric Palm Waterfront Restaurant) I would probably say some fresh fruit and Red Snapper that I've had back home in Costa Rica!

Yes, this was 2 pds of crab legs and guess how much they cost... $26!! In Red Lobster for this price you'd get some anorexic legs and some scrawny sides...ugh!
Yes, I am in fishy-finger heaven.

Happy Weekends!

Real Talk: What I've Learned...

2010-08-02T15:01:00.009-04:00

"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you." -- Frederick Buechner, Telling the Truth

Barely a month into this 25 year-old experience and God is already stretching me. Today I'm inspired to talk about the things I've learned/am learning from people around me.

What I've Learned:

From my father- I'm a mental escapist-- bound by circumstance. The first time I met my father was in an airport, and when I was a child, he just as good as lived there. The airport represented destinations but it also represented running from real life- which for him meant his fatherly duties. Today, I work to travel. It's my anti-drug against the monotony of life. It's also my prescription for hard times. Has someone ever pissed you off enough to want to leave? Not just walk around the block or drive around to cool off, but to find your preferred mode of transportation and leave town? Not that it's a resolution to the problem, but in the very least, moving from one element to the next changes your perspective.

from my mother- Make the best of what you got until you're in the position to do better. Comfort and Home should be synonymous. My mother put up with detestable/hair-pulling living situations until she was able to make her own home. I desire to make a home in the way she has- filled with strict cleaning rituals to clear the mind, no clutter to mirror a junk-free life, so that when people walk in your home your front door is the entrance to a wholesome hug.

from my grandmother- Unconditional service to others should be a joy we seek to indulge everyday. No matter how small or how big the service might seem to us. Selflessness means devotion to someone else's feelings, thoughts and priorities. Have you ever cared for someone so, where you anticipated their needs and went out of your way to do something nice? Most mothers experience selflessness upon the birth of their first child. Sometimes siblings are raised with the instinctual eye and heart. Don't serve expecting a return. Even if you don't get a "thank you" or a "perk" will you still do it?

from God- I will never comprehend the concept behind grace, and I guess I'm not meant to.
How does God know when we are about to do wrong, let us do it, then believe us when
we say we didn't mean it?...and then watch us in this cycle over and over again?

from friends- Friendship is relative. What I may consider a friend you may consider family, what you consider a friend I may consider an associate, and so on. I'm learning to accept that not all my friends serve the same purpose, and that I cannot walk around with a list of all attributes every friend has to fulfill- it's unrealistic and I'm setting myself up to be dissapointed. Oh but what beauty, when both parties are indeed on the same page, and friendship thrives.

from those who have loved me (romantically): There are no guarantees in life. We, as humans, have only but so much control. God is the only constant. He's not fickle and wayward, as we.

from those who have hurt me: Pain is not preferable, but it is only temporary and in some instances, necessary.

All this to say that we grow every day. Even if it's not substantial in your eyes, and you can't measure it with a ruler, a cup or a "rough estimate"--we still grow. Whether it be in a field full of fertile neighbors/crops, or out of a concrete sidewalk were water is scarce and survival is a play-by-play challenge...real talk, growth is inevitable.

Tuesday Teaser: Watercolored Pearls

2010-07-20T09:14:00.004-04:00

This weekly theme is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. If you're currently reading a book and have it nearby, play along with us! Then go back and link up on her page to find other great books!

Here's the simple rules:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mine is from a Christian fiction novel called Watercolored Pearls, the 3rd installment of the story of Serena Jasper, written by Stacy Hawkins Adams.

"Aaron may not have remembered living with Serena and Micah from six weeks old until just after his first birthday, but his affection for the couple remained tender. He had been the first baby Serena had nurtured and bonded with, during a period she had believed she would never bear children of her own."

I don't have too much reading experience with Christian fiction but what I do like about Mrs. Adams is that she's not drama-focused and her stories are not so far fetched that you can't relate to them. I've been ministered to by her books and entertained by her stories, the love and faithfulness of Christ is weaved all throughout beautifully. If you're interested in her books, start with Speak to My Heart.

Enjoy!

I'd Rather Be Reading...

2010-07-17T20:01:00.006-04:00

To tackle the first thing on my 30 Before 30 List, I've already begun the process of starting a real-life book club with a friend. Oooohhh....how exciting. Hosting is so much fun.

Here's the blog that'll chronicle important info for the members. You wanna know the name of the book club? It's called....
....
..............
...................
.............................. I'D RATHER BE READING!!! Clever, huh? It's being patented so get your own!! lol

If you're in the NYC area and want to hook up with some cool, fly, informed, intellectual and certified 20 and 30-somethings, leave me a comment. If you're available to meet once a month in any of the 5 boroughs and have been looking for the perfect book club where YOU actually have a voice then let's talk. When I verify you're not an internet weirdo, I'll send you an invite!!

Can't wait to get this show on the road! YEHAW!!

Friday Funnies: Elevator Etiquette

2010-07-15T16:19:00.014-04:00

If you work in a tall shiny office building like I do, the elevator can be your best friend or your worst enemy. The importance of an elevator is sometimes overlooked and overshadowed by the
foolish acts people engage in while waiting, boarding and standing in an elevator. Even if riding on an elevator is not part of your daily routine, consider this short mode of transportation as serious and important as riding the train, in a car or on a bus. SAFETY MEASURES and COURTESY is still expected, but I'm assured we are all not cognizant of the rules.

I was inspired to write this post by a certain suit-clad man who decided the doors don't close fast enough by themselves and so he would FORCE THEM to close faster by pushing them together. I stood there in shock, hoping the elevator wouldn't malfunction by his interference. Oh, what a microwave environment we live in. Please don't fall victim to these practical elevator no-no's.

If you're on the outside...

Running late? Not our fault! Have patience. The elevator is not making you that less late. When the doors open, stand to the side and WAIT until EVERYONE comes out before you go rushing on.

If you're a gentleman, let the women on first. This is because if there's any creepy crawlers or unseen dangers, she'll know how to handle them better.

Do not interfere with the doors closing. In other words, keep your hands, feet and other objects out of the doorway. Let the person ON the elevator decide if you should get on their ride. Do not take it upon yourself to invite yourself. If you do, don't be surprised if you get the stink eye.

If you don't fit, wait for the next one. This is not Tetris. Do not try to maneuver yourself to fit in some contorted way. You're causing everyone to feel anxious and uncomfortable.

Once inside...

If there's an attendant working inside, don't brag about what fun day you've had or will have that is more exciting than being inside an elevator all day. That's just rude. Your small talk is not brightening their day...

Turn your ipod down or off and get off your cell phone. We don't
want to hear Lil' Jon screaming that early in the morning, or the latest drama you're instigatin'...

If someone is having a conversation, don't blatantly eavesdrop. Even if it's juicy, just look disinterested and impatient.

If someone is standing too close to the button panel, don't reach your hand in front of them. Simply say "excuse me" or ask them to press your floor.

If you're exiting...

Don't linger or hide in the nook. Be prepared to get off the elevator as soon as you reach your floor.

Wait for the people in front of you to get off first. Sounds like common knowledge, but you'll be surprised...

When you're on a crowded elevator, don't stroll off. No one likes to be on an elevator longer than they should. Grab your bags and keep the conversation moving!

And if you want to have fun on the elevator just make sure it's harmless...try some of these tips from a man who's spent most of his life working in elevators:

"Hold the door open at ground level longer than necessary. When the other passengers glare at you, tell them the lift is refueling."
"When someone presses a floor number, give them a strange look and say, "So. YOU'RE the one."
"If people are looking grim, suggest a group hug."
"Whenever a guy in a dark suit gets on board, hum the James Bond theme."
"When any male and female enter, especially if they don't know each other, sing the Wedding March."
When someone leaves the elevator, say, "Goodbye, darling. I'll never forget you."

What is your elevator pet peeve?

Photo credit.

Happy Friday, hope this brightened your day!

PS- Check the 30 Before 30! It's finally up!

My Birthday in Pictures & Giveaway Winner!

2010-07-09T12:22:00.025-04:00

WHEW! What a weekend! This year was definitely a celebration to remember. I thank God for blessing me with another year of life. Each day I wake up with brand new mercies and grace, with provisions and in the right state of mind. I'm surrounded by great people who deposit in my life daily and I have family that may be spread far and wide, but still reach out to show me they care. I'm especially thankful this year for the boo, who went all out, making sure the day went smoothly and catering to my every whim!!
Enjoy the pics- it took me long enough to make the slideshow!!

Looked fun right? It was an amazing day & night... Now on to the Giveaway... Here's a recap of the Laila Rowe Giveaway Rules. There was only one person who followed both guidelines for an official entry.

<{TO ENTER}>

Be(come) a follower of my blog.
Leave ONE comment on this post telling me one of the most memorable posts you've read of mine and/or how you try to incorporate the "Pura Vida" perspective into your life (The hint to what the expression means can be found by following the phrase to the webpage- Open the Anniversary Issue-Look for pg 20 and happy hunting!).

I'm proud to announce the winner of the Laila Rowe scarf is LAM B AROUND! I loved her enthusiasm, and I'm so glad she won! LA please e-mail me at traceycalvo@gmail.com with your mailing address so I can send out your prize! Also, please forgive me for not posting my 30 Before 30 yet, I mis-placed my list and haven't had a chance to sit down and recall what I'd written!

PS- I'm officially a Godmommy!!

Five Question Friday

2010-07-09T09:17:00.006-04:00

I'm participating in Five Question Friday today, from Mama M's page. Head on over there to see what it's all about and link up!

1. What is one food you could eat everyday?
Costa Ricans call them patacones but the rest of the world knows them better as tostones. I had this lunch almost everyday at the University's cafeteria with a side of fried queso blanco while I studied in Guayaquil, Ecuador!! MMMmm!! They are made from green plantains, if you're interested in the recipe-- go here. They go perfect with eggs in the morning, or a quick lunch snack!

2. Are you working in the career you thought you would be when you were 18?
I don't really remember what I thought I'd be doing at 18, I think I wanted to go into social work but someone told me there's no money in that-- only stress and gray hairs. So I changed my mind.

3. What is something that you wish you would have done when you were younger and you didn't?

I wish I was exposed to the arts more- playing an instrument, dance, swimming any extra-curricular activity.

4. What color are your kitchen walls?

Beige- I believe. It's much better than what it used to be, we used to have wallpaper with red bricks all over it. I remember how greased up it used to get, and the corners would crease from all the wear my Grandma threw down in the kitchen.

5. Do you remember what your very first favorite song was?

Probably some Disney movie song. My mom was a big fan of buying me sing-along tapes.... I know songs to this day to soundtracks of The Lion King and the Little Mermaid that no one knows! I learned lots of new words that way, actually! *singing*
[in Scar's voice]
I know that your powers of retention
Are as wet as a warthog's backside
But thick as you are, pay attention
My words are a matter of pride
It's clear from your vacant expressions
The lights are not all on upstairs
But we're talking kings and successions
Even you can't be caught unaware!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Thankful Thursday: God's Seen Me Through...

2010-07-08T14:34:00.010-04:00

I've been quiet all week. For no reason at all except I hate "filler" posts. I really like being inspired by moments, moods, and other writers and I feel like my dear bloggie friends appreciate that.

This Saturday I'll be celebrating my 25th birthday {I know right!}. I don't have anything extravagant planned. I won't be going to no club, poppin' no bottles, or gettin' drunk because that's not my style. What is my style is buying a couple of bottles of Riesling from Trader Joe's and sitting in my backyard with sweeet company- in flesh form or in book form. I'm wrestling through Eleven Minutes (the middle is just dragging on and with no action in sight) and The Shack will be continued when I get a copy back from the library. The summer time begs for quick and not-so-thought-provoking reads. Eleven Minutes is full of so much romantic ideologies, one has to be in the right mind to get through it. The Shack is also full of a lot of emotion, and while I'm trying
to rationalize a lot of events and symbolism in the book-- the beauty in this read is that it's faith in action. They are both beautifully written, hands-down. I hope to have reviews up for at least one of them soon.

This Thursday, July 8th- I'm thankful to be seeing another year of life. I can't measure how much I've grown even from a year ago. All I can say is God has surely seen me through.

Some worthy mentionables:

Celebrating 2 years and 4 months with the boo (above is the boo's JR!)
My first vacation with the boo and my mother- we all survived in one piece!
5 months blogging about Travel with Centric TV!
Upcoming 2 year celebration of Her Journey Magazine!
Learning how to deal with rejection, how to bounce back and keep pressing forward
Learning how to let certain relationships go
Learning from others what it means to be selfless

The fact that I'm so eager to write down future goals and enthusiastic about completing them has led me to this "30 before 30" list that will be published on July 10th (see page above). I've noticed what a difference it makes to write the vision... concrete motivation to see it through.

I also want to share this comic, which spoke to me today...and maybe it'll bless you too. More of Alex's works can be found here. Stick around on Saturday for my own bucket list and the {obvious} announcement of the First Giveaway winner.

God's Blessings,

PS- If you'd like to be part of Thankful Thursday, see the button on the right hand side for Greg's site.

First Giveaway: Laila Rowe Anyone?

2010-07-01T09:00:00.004-04:00

Firstly, let me say that I'm not the biggest fan of giveaways. When there's an exhaustive list of ways to JUST enter- I get lazy and say... "it's a random pick anyway!" or "what are the chances I'll win?" On the other hand, it's kind of inspiring to see how far people go for free stuff! I guess I've never wanted any of the prizes that bad!

I've tried to make this as painless as possible. Oh, I'm going to test you and make you sweat (ok we're all adults here) but this will be more of an academic test, with a spunk of fun (whaddaya expect? I'm an English major!).
And for the record, Tica is sponsoring this giveaway, because I'm getting sooo attached to my followers. You're welcome very much!

REAP THIS! Here's the sweeet prize. A LAILA ROWE 100% cotton knitted white scarf embedded with small wooden-like squares on both ends. The scarf is about 6 ft long.

Perfect for the summer, this light and fashionable accessory can blah blah blah blah. I'm not an infomercial. You know what to do with a scarf!!

<{TO ENTER}>

Be(come) a follower of my blog.

Leave ONE comment on this post telling me one of the most memorable posts you've read of mine and/or how you try to incorporate the "Pura Vida" perspective into your life (The hint to what the expression means can be found by following the phrase to the webpage- Open the Anniversary Issue-Look for pg 20 and happy hunting!).

<{FOR EXTRA ENTRIES}>

(worth 1 extra entry each)

Follow me @TracitaLinda.
I don't tweet, but it's nice to know if I ever feel the itching to do so-- someone's listening.

Be(come) a follower of my second love child- the most interactive young woman's travel & personal development blog- Her Journey.

Comment on any of my Centric TV posts (see Clips page).

Tweet about the giveaway, and post your tweet link.

*{WEEKEND HOMEWORK}*

(worth 2 entries each)

Blog about this giveaway and post your blog post link.

Invite a friend and have them follow (this you'll have to report to my e-mail with the name of said friend, once they start following).

Winners will be chosen from the submitted comments and followers @ RANDOM.org. The winner will be contacted by e-mail and posted on the blog. If I do not hear from the winner within 3 days, a second winner will be chosen using the same method. Many will enter, but only ONE will win! (I've always wanted to say that).

GIVEAWAY WILL CLOSE ON MY BIRTHDAY- JULY 10th @ 11:59 PM EST.

Best wishes,

PS- I am also standing in solidarity for Baby Cohen (God rest his soul) and his family today. I just read about his mom's story here. Please send your prayers up for comfort, strength and peace wherever you might be.

Transparent Tuesday-Diagnosis: Baby Fever

2010-06-29T13:48:00.000-04:00

This is the second installment of Transparent Tuesday, my first post can be found here. My original vision for this theme was to share one of my personal fears and how I'm learning to deal with that fear but today I'm not going to share a fear, I'm just sharing.

I've been a little hesitant to post regarding this topic. I would like to believe a lot of my relatives that are sprawled out all over the country read my little humble blog as a way of being in the know of this little Tica's life. I'm a little paranoid that one of my relatives will conveniently misread information and dial my poor little Mama down South and say... "did you hear?"....so you guys can understand why I will have annoying disclaimers throughout this whole post. One can't be too sure with this habit most of us have to skim read, speed read and pick up keywords. So, please accept my apology ahead of time. I just need to take a moment to stand and be honest with myself. It's a little scary but...here it goes.

I've got baby fever.

DISCLAIMER: Tica is not pregnant.

It's about time I'm honest with myself. Something is really going on when I blog-stalk mommy bloggers, and live vicariously through women TTC- which I learned recently means Trying to Conceive. 65% of the blogs on my Blogger Dashboard are Veteran Mommas-New Mommies (like her)- Mami's to be (like her and her)- and some make a really good living with all the sponsors, online traffic and pregnancy-related websites they can feature their skills. I can't really remember when all of this started, probably within the last year. I've had a lot of friends around me get pregnant, it kind of makes me feel left out. Mostly, I blame my hormones. They seem to have a mind of their own now-a-days, prematurely steering me toward the path of maternity. My body is telling me I should have a baby right now, but unfortunately my current situation states all systems are a NO! (FYI: I'm an unmarried, home-cooked-meal-from-Grandma eating, public-transportation taking, still-haven't-landed-my-dream-job-and-not-even-sure-my-dream-job-is-my-dream-career, impulsive, penny-pinching to save for vacations 24 year old!)

DISCLAIMER: Tica no esta embarazada.

But really, the #1 and only reason why I can't even ponder about TTC is because I'm not married and that means I shouldn't be engaging in behavior that would allow me to be with child. This is very important to me, I believe God has ordained marriage, and all the blessings that ensue if you follow His divine order! I won't have it any other way!

You might be saying to yourself, you have my solution "just marry this boo you constantly talk about?" HA! It's sad but sometimes it seems being married is harder than having a baby (gasp). I don't know if I'm ready for marriage, not 100% sure when I'll catch the "marriage fever" although I'm suspicious that I've been bit by the bug in the past, but one thing I do know: Without a stable career where I see myself moving up I don't think I can contribute substantially to a marriage. Yup, it's partly an issue of money.

DISCLAIMER: Tica is not with child.

More symptoms:

Last month, I ran to see the Babies movie (cute, but could have Netflixed it). Then a couple of weeks later, the boo and I saw Mother and Child.
I'm constantly buying baby/children's books to "save" for the future. I'm afraid that next it'll be clothes, and maternity related paraphernalia.

I'm not sure what these symptoms mean, if they are even significant at all (and if you think they are totally normal, stop chuckling!). All I know is that, like the body temperature, these feelings fluctuate. There are times when I'm constantly looking at young couples and inconspicuously try to peak into their Maclaren strollers. I'm tickled by bi-racial couples and sometimes imagine what kind of characteristics (both physical and personality-wise) my own will have. So much to think about, so much to pray about, so much to write about (cha-ching!)

In deeper examination, I've also discovered that I want a baby "in theory."

This basically means that I like the "idea" of a baby, but really I'm not mature enough to really understand what that means at this time. I think lots of women fall into that sometimes, all the cute outfits, smiles of recognition and compliments can blind you sometimes. The real dark side (the stress, lack of sleep, disagreements between parents) of parenthood is what goes on behind closed doors, you know, after you say "Good night" and go on your merry way.

DISCLAIMER: BELLY+ TICA= HECK NO.

So what's a girl to do? What's my prescription?

Here are my self-prescribed solutions:

Trust God. Plan for tomorrow but live in today! This principle has been speaking to me for a couple of weeks. It was reiterated at our Young Adult Conference this past weekend. Matthew 6:34 states "Do not be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrows too. Live one day at at time." I think we are all culprits of living in the future. If you're a kid you want to "grow up," when you're in college you want to graduate and get a "real job," when you're single you want to be married, when you're married you want to be single (hehe, half kidding). But being present/being in the present is an art sometimes. Even if you're not exactly where you want to be, you can still find ways to make the most out of today. Don't take your blessings or current position for granted!

Focus my maternal-energies to family & friends (immediate and extended). I can start by pouring my love into this little pudgy marshmallow named Summer who I will officially be Godmother to come July 11th!

Have you ever gone through this, wanting to have a baby before the time was right? How did you self-medicate?

PS- Did I mention I'm not carrying?

My First Blog Award: About Time!

2010-06-27T23:52:00.017-04:00

To put it plainly, blogging consistently ain't no joke. It's a job that doesn't involve a direct deposit at the end of the week (for most of us) so the reward or compensation is different. That also means the motivation is internal. Everyone blogs for different reasons, whether they be self-serving or people-serving or a mixture of the two. We can all admit that sometimes it's taxing, especially when you're wondering if anyone out there is reading/learning/growing/changing or appreciating your expense of brain cells, time and loyalty. It's hard when you don't get many comments to measure these insecurities. And then the Blog Awards is born (cue 20th Century Fox music) a virtual pat on the back, an intellectual compliment and future motivation.

I titled this post- About Time! because that's my honest first response. I guess that automatically makes me ineligible for the "Humble Writer" Award but I've been blogging for almost 6 months now and counting down the days until I can run home and say... "Look Mommy!" Ironically, there's dual meaning in my title... This blogging thing is about time! If you're a new blogger, don't get discouraged by the number of followers or lack of comments, post to your heart's content and know that the more time you spend blog-hopping, spreading virtual hugs and compliments the more you'll get out of blogging. You'll find yourself meeting great people, sharing journeys and making your experience much more worth it.

Like my past favorite character, Stuart, from MAD TV, here's my first "Look what I can do" moment....

Aww... WATCH OUT NOW! I'm going places...

The rule for this award is to write down where you see yourself in 10 years: At age 34, I see myself married, with at least one mini-me and kidnapping my then 9 year old (gasp) goddaughter for the summer time!

Special thanks to NYC Island Gal for this honor. Check out her blog, the musings of a "NYC girl with an island heart." Her content is honest, fun and she hosts great giveaways!
She also hosts a Friday Follow where you can make great bloggy friends!

I'm passing this award on to:

Desiree @ Desi's Random Thoughts
Ms Understood @ On this Journey...
Delilah @ theDelilAhShow

Ladies please copy and paste the code (above), state 3 things you see yourself doing in 10 years, and pass the award on to whoever you think is worthy!

Tica's Summer Guide: FREE Concerts NYC

2010-06-21T10:34:00.017-04:00

The one thing all of us New Yorkers take for granted is the overwhelming amount of free concerts, plays, screenings and festivals the summer brings. With a little research and some patience (or by just following some amazing blogs that do all the work for you!), you can be in the know, enjoying the cultural diversity and warm weather in the Big Apple!

Since I'm spending most of my summer in NYC, here are just some artists I hope to be checking out (in other words, you should too!):

WHO: Esperanza Spalding among other jazz artists. I was introduced to this American songstress and bassist through Pandora. At 25 years old, she masters the perfect blend of soul and spunk!

WHEN: Wed, June 23rd @ 7pm! (tomorrow!)

WHERE: Central Park's Ma instage for Summer Stage.

WHO: Chrisette Michele is so fierce with her new cut and although I haven't heard her latest album, Epiphany, in its entirety I hope she will do some classic songs from her first album!

WHEN: Mon, July 25th.

WHERE: Wingate Field for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series in BK.

WHO: Raphael Saadiq, former member of Tony Toni Tone! has been solo for awhile now. I've always loved his voice and his retro sense of style.

WHEN: Wed, July 17th

WHERE: Central Park fo r Summer Stage.

WHO: ALICIA KEYS and MARY J. BLIGE, respectively. I really just want to see how Ms. Keys looks pregnant!

WHEN: Friday, June 25th and July 2nd @ 6AM!

WHERE: Summer Stage- Rumsey Playfield for Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series.

And NOW... (*drum roll*) the concert I'm really looking forward to, although it's not free:

WHO: Corinne Bailey Rae

WHEN: Sun, Aug. 8th

WHERE: The Beach @ Governor's Island. Tickets can be purchased here.

Happy Listening!

What am I up to?

2010-06-16T11:15:00.003-04:00

I'm guest blogging over at Jill's Life After College Blog today- It's her 3rd installment of the "What have you been up to?" Series. Sheck it out! Leave your two cents! Gracias!

Unsuspecting Read: Young Adult Fiction

2010-06-14T15:44:00.014-04:00

For some reason, everytime I'm around books in the public library or books for sale- the lovely $1 racks at Strand or any New York Public Library in the City I'm always led to the Young Adult/Children's Section. Besides having some infatuation for buying these harmless resources waay ahead of time for my future kids, I'm really distracted by all the colors, fun cover graphics, odd-book sizes, and crazy titles I see now-a-days.

I'm attracted to young adult fiction because I'm still in touch with that very sensitive part of my life, and can relate to writing from that perspective. I try to look for books that I wouldn't be too embarrased to parade on buses and trains during my morning and evening commute. You know, nothing that's entitled "TTYL8R ALLIGATOR" or "Diary of A Wimpy Kid" although I have to admit, I would soooo read the latter if I wasn't that ashamed of checking it out of the library (I love books that have actual "handwriting" and letters embedded in the print). I guess adult books don't usually have the same appeal visually, or creatively. They focus more on the content, when arguably the front cover and title are what draw readers first.

During my last visit at Strand, I found the perfect book (see picture below). The cover didn't attract me as much as the size of the book, which is the handy-dandy size of my outstretched hand. Cute enough to fit right in my bag. When I turned the book, it had this excerpt "When I stared at the mirror and tried to recognize the girl without eyebrows, eyelashes, and bangs as myself and failed, I knew something had gone horribly wrong." Interesting enough, no?

Marni, written by Marni Bates, is a real life story written in fiction form (in other words, it doesn't read like a formal autobiography) of a young girl who responds to mounting stress at home and school by pulling out her hair. Not in the figurative form but the compulsive form. She begins just before entering High School and by the time anyone notices her missing eyebrows, eyelashes and patches of missing bangs and hairs-- she admits her problem to her mother, and they both discover the medical term for this form of addiction known as trichotillomania (or "trich" for short).

What I like most about the book is that it doesn't solely revolve around Marni's trich. Although it's supposed to be the "selling point" of the book, Marni (who writes in first person) doesn't characterize herself as a victim. She writes in a light-hearted spirit about her eccentricities, her family relationships and delicate middle school and H.S. situations. There were plenty of literal LOL moments for me in this book, and ironically, her family takes 2 vacations to Costa Rica.

The author penned this book at 19 years of age, which in it of itself is a noteworthy detail. The book is the third installment of a "Louder than Words" series which is described as a "powerfully penned series of true-life stories by teen girls." The other 2 books, Chelsey and Emily can be found on the Louder Than Words Books website.

Here's a sneak peek inside:

"Looking back, I can make a pretty good guess as to why I pretended I couldn't read. It wasn't because I didn't want my dad to think of me as intelligent. I wanted him to love me. I lied because I knew that intellect wasn't the way to his heart. After all, he didn't like my sister Shayna, and she read voraciously as well. Since he wasn't impressed with that, I thought maybe illiteracy would do the trick. I didn't realize at the time it was a desperate ploy for attention... So, I stuttered and bumbled through picture books I could have read upside down with one eye closed and felt rewarded with his attention. My dayd had no idea I was acting, which is no compliment to his intelligence as I have always been a lousy liar."

Marni is available on Amazon or the Louder than Words Books website. She even blogs here, a refreshing read I suggest you check her out!

What does Summer Time mean for you?

2010-06-10T23:16:00.011-04:00

This summer, I'm a little sad without the prospect of a major trip. By major I mean a getaway longer than 3 or 4 days. Last year I spent 8 days driving around Costa Rica in a little Toyota Yaris with the best pilot/company a girl can ask for. This year, things are different. I took a vacation in April and will most likely wait until after September to take a second week off and use one of my lovely Future Flight Credits with Spirit Airlines (btw, did you hear their pilots are on strike?). It'll be an interesting task packing a carry-on with clothes that will still fit underneath the seat in front of me to avoid being charged. But it doesn't take away from the joys of traveling for me!

Summer, in the past, has meant different things for me. Some years, it meant summer school (short, scrutinous and sweet). Other years it meant quiet and short days at the office. But one thing has remained constant- the sweetest topping/reward in the summer has been time away from the city. So to make up for this I'll probably be taking short road trips on 3 day weekends and any other random weekends where I'm craving to drive on the open road. Driving, at times, is therapeutic. I just have to figure out the cheapest way to maneuver these desires, to rent cars, to include my dearest and nearest and to re-up my energy and spirits so as to keep on pushing when it's time to come back home.

For those of you spending summer in the NYC, check out Vanity Fair's annual Summer Guide-- equipped with recommended Dining, Outside events, and Bars.

What do you look forward to the most in the summer?

Here's a little journal excerpt of the Urban Nomad's regarding his best vacation yet!

"The Best place I went this year was Costa Rica. Specifically El Verde Mar. It wasn't the best in accommodations, meaning I wasn't jumping for joy at the amenities or the aesthetics of the place, but it represented the First place of my adult life that I was going strictly for the goal of vacation and relaxation. Tracey did a great job planning the trip, for where we would stay and we worked together to get there, but getting there was a huge victory for us, and namely for me. Driving in a place that was new meant that I was out of my element/comfort zone and the resulting feeling was pure excitement. I'm proud to have been able to go to such a beautiful country to kick off my adult life of exploring and learning new places."

Post-It NoteLess Tuesday: Summer, Summer, Summer Time!

2010-06-08T09:28:00.011-04:00

Dear Summer,

I am so excited about today that I'm not even bothering with the Post-It Notes. Last week we had a blast! We had a strategy to combat your separation anxiety and although you instantaneously felt when your mother left-- you cried in short spurts until eventually you calmed yourself down and cried no more. You felt safe.

I felt like you were interested in getting to know us. You enjoyed Tio's singing as seen in Exhibit A:

And you appreciated how we let you hold "the rock" all night (aka the remote):

Although you were a little sick and the room was super-humid, you were such a trooper. You enjoyed watching Wonder Pets and almost everything on Nick Jr! Can you promise to remain like a warm bright day and keep the rainy clouds away? If so, we would keep you forever!
Can't wait until later!

GO TRACEY... YOU'RE OFFICIAL!

2010-06-05T09:00:00.003-04:00

I interrupt your regularly-scheduled weekends to report I officially made the CONTRIBUTOR'S LIST for CENTRIC TV's CULTURE LIST BLOG!! Check this lifestyle blog out for all the latest news, gossip, travel tips, fashion trends as it pertains to Black culture.

Check out my profile here! You can even leave me a comment using your Facebook profile. Can't wait to read what you have to say!

Also, while you're there, check out my latest article on ECUADOR entitled BOOK IT// NO LIMITS.

Let the Celebration Begin!!

Pura Vida,

So you Want to See a Great Movie this Weekend?

2010-06-04T10:05:00.016-04:00

Every now and again, I like to rub my little pennies together and fork up the big bucks to be suspended in reality for 2 hours. Recently, I saw online advertisements for this movie called "Mother and Child" with the cast collage including interesting shots of couples in bed, having dinner, and living everyday life. I said to myself, "hmm... I like to lay in bed and I like to eat, this looks interesting." I also noticed Kerry Washington and Naomi Watts in the mix, both women who I believe pick great roles and are pretty frickin' awesome actresses. Upon initial research, I found out that this movie was not wide-release. It took me a little while to find a theatre in Manhattan that was playing it, but all the research was worth it! [FYI- it's playing at the Quad Cinema on West 13th Street.] I suspect this movie is classified as independent although it's released by Sony Pictures and directed by Colombian Rodrigo Garcia. I don't really know what makes the difference between Hollywood and indy films, but I'm assuming it has to do with the amount of money the executive (producers, directors) invest in it.

So what's the big hoopla about, you ask? Maybe you're a man and you're like this movie seems pretty estrogen-driven, mother and child, aww...how touching. Maybe you're a woman who's a mother, and you think Lifetime offers enough drama-filled family-related story lines for your weekend. What's different about this story is that it touches EVERYBODY! I thought the boo would probably be bored mid-way through the movie but actually we were both anxious with knots in our stomachs at the edges of our seats. The only difference was at the end of the movie, I was on the verge of tears. I don't consider myself an emotional person, but this movie really takes the cake for working some common emotion/longing we all share-- forgiveness and family.

At the center of this story is adoption. The gist is basically that there's 3 women with 3 distinct adoption stories. The first woman, Annette Bening, plays an older woman who's haunted by her decision to give up her child for adoption. The second woman, Kerry Washington, wants to adopt. Naomi Watts' character was given up for adoption. These women have all been shaped by their experiences and their personalities are mirrors of their realities.

What I appreciated most about the film is that it's not a judgment on adoption. The ease in which these stories are told, the excellent screen shots, and the note-worthy lines in this movie are all great reasons to check it out. But the #1 reason why you should check it out is because I SAID SO! Really, I don't blog and put an APPROVAL stamp on too many things. But this movie definitely gets an "A" from me. If you have ever considered adopting, were adopted yourself or are just intrigued by the process, then I would definitely recommend you seek this movie out. If you do, I'd love to hear your feedback.

PS- Also, newcomer Shareeka Epps is in this film. She always gets to play the hard-core character but her flavor in the movie makes it fun. I loved her in Law & Order: SVU and another independent film with Ryan Gosling called "Half Nelson."

Guest Bloggin': Real Book Reviews

2010-06-02T10:16:00.006-04:00

I've been invited for tea & muffins over at Desi's Random Thoughts. I decided to stick around and since she saw I wasn't going away-- she gave me some work. I'll be doing thorough book reviews of what I'm reading at least once a month. It's a nice departure of my Shortest Book Reviews Ever, especially if you're interested in more about a book than 5-6 stickies can tell ya!

Here's my first review, hear my views on No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. Head on over and leave me a comment!

Post-It Note Tuesday: A MidSummer's Night SCREAM

2010-06-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Here's my follow-up note to Summer, after the first night her parents left us (me and the Godfather aka Urban Nomad) with her for 2 hours. Let's just call that night... INITIATION (insert dramatic sound effect here).

Stick around for next week of the Godparent Chronicles, see if we have finally gotten approval from Baby Summer!

Post-It Note Tuesday: Notes to Summer

2010-05-25T11:49:00.013-04:00

Post-it Note Tuesday is a cool, quick way to post in your ever-witty and intellectual matter. We are all looking for Random, Funny, or Interesting quick facts every now and again. To participate check out Supah Mommy's blog (click on sticky above) and read the directions.

Join me for the next four weeks as I embark on the Godmotherhood journey. Yup, I'll be writing sticky notes to Summer who's all but five months old. I'll be making these observations from a unique perspective. You know, that Tica perspective you've all grown to know and love!

Check me out!

The Ever-Contagious Compliment

2010-05-19T16:54:00.013-04:00

There are certain compliments in life that come in small boxes of gratitude, while others are tear-jerking pats on the back. For example, that guy on the street that compliments your legs. Although you roll your eyes and keep walking, inside you're secretly glad you stayed up late to shave your wolverine hair. Or maybe your mom/dad gets up in front of a crowd and talks about how much she admires how you've grown up and the decisions you've made in life. You could be asked to be part of a bridal party in a friend's wedding, you could be asked to make a speech/toast at a special event, or you could be asked to pray over the Thanksgiving dinner. Whatever act fills your love tank, there's nothing like a compliment from someone you love and respect.

Recently, I was asked (for the first time ever) to be a Godmother. (Cue angelic harps and bare-bottomed cupids). I won't lie, I had a hormonal moment and l broke down for like 4 seconds. I think that's a great honor to bestow upon someone. Although some people loosely throw the word "Godmother" around-- I take the job seriously. I was never born or baptized with an official "Godmother" but Lord knows I've inherit some along this Christian walk. When I researched (my fave past-time now-a-days) what the "real" functions of a Godparents are the best I could come up with was:

1. someone who sponsors a child at their baptism (in Catholicism this includes paying for some of the child's garb for the special day)

2. someone who serves as the child's spiritual guide and is bound to the parents by compadrazgo (literally, co-parenthood)

Co-parenthood may or may insinuate legal responsibilities, those wishes are usually expressed by the parents. But traditionally, (God forbid) anything happens to the parents the Godparents are usually not first in line for custody when there are other next-of-kin involved.

Personally, Godparentism to me means having such a personal relationship with the child that they feel comfortable enough to come to you for things that maybe they can't talk to their parents about. Aww... (Cue after-school special music). As ideal as this might be, I just hope to be a reliable and present help in this little sponge's life, influence her in the things I believe make an extraordinary child (bi-lingualism and sign language!) and maybe, just maybe I'll have a lasting effect in her life. What a great responsibility and compliment, her parents won't be dissapointed.

So, back to the Ever-Contagious Compliment. This simply means that a compliment can live for a while. You compliment someone, they compliment someone else and just like that, you've made the world a happier place. There's power in the simple act of saying "I love your hair" or "those shoes are great!" and make it even personal by complimenting someone who's in your inner circle- telling your mom you miss her cooking (double bonus for you) or complimenting your special someone on a specific act they do really well. It doesn't take much to do it. So you have to take your iPod off, make eye-contact and smile while you say it... BIG DEAL! Socialize outside of Facebook for a change, and if this is a big issue for you try doing it to your co-workers or people you don't necessarily fratenize with on a personal level.

The bottom line is Compliments are contagious! An automatic self-esteem booster! Don't we all need those sometimes?

My question to you now is... If you are a Godparent, how would you rate yourself right now? Awesome, Just Okay or Needs Improvement? What can you do to change that?
Also, can you make a resolution to give someone of the same-sex a compliment today?

Thankful Thursday: One Step at A Time

2010-05-13T09:44:00.008-04:00

This week I'm thankful for my internship with CENTRIC TV. Im into my 3rd month now and I'm simply thankful to say I got some 'sponsibility! (Tommy Pickle voice) I'm one of those people who thrives off of deadlines and sometimes I need to beat my lazy side into action. I've gotten so much confidence through this internship, I'm glad to have been chosen to share the travel wisdom/experience I've acquired at these 24 years of age.

Never before have I been so immersed in everything travel related-- I've invested in some magazines from Barnes and Noble (including Verge & Wander Lust) for ideas, am cutting and photocopying stories to add to my "resource" binder and truly feel like once I start consistently nurturing a "travel" mindset, it will become easier to write posts.

The greatest reward for me is having an idea, putting a couple of hours into the post and then seeing a similar topic printed somewhere else. It's like... "Yea I 'm on the same page with another writer!" The thing about travel and destinations is that although there may be trends for travel to specific areas at a certain time-- any location is fair game to write about and you don't have to worry about being redundant b/c your point of view is always unique. You can have 2 people writing about the same place and have totally different stories! The bottom line is things get recycled all the time, and the difference between the writing always remain the voice and perspective.

Even though I'm not on the coast of Amalfi writing about how different the "air" is there...I know this is a process. And I hope that whatever process you're going through to land your "dream job" you savor each step of the way.

Won't you please read and COMMENT on my latest post: Bolt Bus vs Megabus Challenge. Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Happy Thankful Thursday- If you'd like to join the weekly trend grab the button on the left-hand side and simply post what you're thankful for each week!

Photo courtesy of this site.

Post-It Note Tuesday: Shortest Book Review Ever

2010-05-11T20:08:00.016-04:00

Due to my being recent inundation with books, this week I'm back with another SBRE (Shortest Book Review Ever). You can also check out my review for Water for Elephants. I do this because I think reading (for leisure) should be promoted on the "to do" lists of us self-proclaimed "busy folks" and because I LOOOVE my short-attention span followers!

Also, check out the HBO adaptation of the book, featuring Jill Scott as Precious Ramotswe, for more info click here.

Thankful Thursday: Send a Lil' Prayer

2010-05-06T09:38:00.008-04:00

Today is National Prayer Day and if you're a believer like me, it's a time to examine your own prayer life and how consistent and transparent (and non-mechanical) you are in your conversations with God. All the time we hear about the power of prayer, but I believe a few number of us really experience that for ourselves. We want to experience the power, but sometimes when our prayers are not answered in our time, or something happens to totally contradict our prayers-- we feel robbed and as if praying is a waste of time. I'm not a prayer expert, but at one point in my life, I did feel a strong call for intecessory prayer. It seems to me, though, that collectively we all feel like we can do better in this area.

Yesterday, I decided to enjoy some fresh air at Union Square Park (which ended up being carcinogen-laced air but that's for a different post). I sat on an overly-crowded bench reading my Jones magazine (review to come soon!) and was approached by a young man. I put my semi-annoyed/low-tolerance/uninterested face on when I saw what seemed to be a plastic cup and cardboard sign in his hands. As a New Yorker, it's funny how we instantenously "size up" a person based on what we see and assume, sometimes inaccurately. I waited for his catch phrase- the question where a donation would be requested- but to my surprise, there was none. Finally, he asked me if I had a relationship with Christ and I answered, "yes." So, he was there to witness-- okay I got it. But he didn't leave after I answered yes. He then proceeded to ask me if he could still pray with me, asked me if I had any specific request. Wow! This was the first time I had seen evangelism in this way, and after he prayed for me, I prayed for him and his brave service to God. God sent a brother in Christ, to remind me about the power of prayer and to encourage me. What a great prelude to today...

Here are a couple of things I want to share with you about prayer:

Make intimate prayer a priority. God sees you and will reward your efforts. Your prayer life is not for display to get pat on the back from the pastor or praise from anyone else in a leadership position. I learned that when we are in church, or in a space of corporate prayer it can be very intimidating to pray out loud because you think you should "sound like" someone else or be eloquently verbose. God honors your sincerity and your prayer language is your own, not for anyone else to judge.

Prayer can immediately change your attitude and mood. I found that I can be angry or in the middle of an uncomfortable situation and if I pray about it myself, or have someone else pray with me about the situation, I feel much different afterwards. No one can stay upset through sincere prayer, even in the midst of expressing frustration to God, we are also reminded that with God's help we can possess peace and wisdom to overcome those dilemmas.

You can pray anywhere and at any time. Prayer is not a posture. You can "look" like you're praying and not be sincere. A prayer can be a written word, song, or dance. Don't think of prayer as legalistic position- knees bent, bowed head, folded hands. Think of it as a conversation with a God who cares for you, and looks forward to hearing from you daily.

Don't be afraid to pray with a friend, family member or stranger. Stop believing that you're not worthy of praying with someone, or that you won't know how to say- Let the Holy Spirit lead you! I know that sometimes prayer is personal, but there is also power in two or more being gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20). We are notorious for saying "I'll pray for you" but when was the last time you said to someone (and meant it) "I'll pray with you, just call on me"?

And so with that... do you mind if we pray together?

This Thankful Thursday, I thank God for his son Jesus, who tore the veil so that we can have a direct connection to the Father. No longer do we have to sacrifice burnt offerings, and have the high priest go before the Throne of Glory to atone for our sins. But through your son Jesus, we have direct access, and we are greatful that you care enough to want to hear from us personally. This communion is known as prayer and I pray that today, on National Prayer Day we have a different perspective on how we should value that opportunity to share our concerns, joys, fears and pleasures with you. We thank you for being a Father who's concerned about His children. Allow us to prioritize prayer-- Let it not be merely a habit before bed or before food, let it be conscious effort to let you "in" on all aspects of our lives.

I ask that you forgive us for our sins, any wrong we may have committed against your Word. We pray that you correct us in those areas that seems to get the best of us over and over again. We know we serve a living God, who lives in each and every one of us. We thank you for loving humanity so much, that you created us for your pleasure. We worship you today, and we thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Let us not take your Holy Spirit for granted, our own personal comforter, omni-present and all-knowing. David writes in Psalm 139:7- Where can I go from your Spirit? or where can I flee from your presence? You know all and see all, so help us to be vulnerable enough to commune with you, as often as we commune with our natural mothers, fathers, siblings and friends. Thank you God for all that you've done in our lives thus far, and I pray that for everyone readings these words, Lord, that you meet them at the point of their need. I pray that they continue to be strengthened in their walk with you, that they are in a Bible-based church that's maturing them and challenging them to be a Spirit-filled follower of Jesus. We can't do it without you Lord, thank you for listening to our prayer.

In Jesus' Matchless Name I pray,

AMEN!

Post-it Note Tuesday: Shortest Book Review Ever

2010-05-04T11:32:00.014-04:00

Vote for My Friend!

2010-05-03T09:39:00.008-04:00

This week I have an appeal to make. A friend of mines from Community College named Barbara is currently getting her Master's in Health Administration (in France) and is applying for this awesome contest hosted by this French newspaper named France-Soir. If she wins, she'll travel for 80 days "around the world" stopping in places such as: Russia, Mongolia, Japan, Australia, Idonesia, China, Vietnam, Brazil, Mexico, Tanzania, Chile, Namibia and Madagascar, just to name a few. Yes, an opportunity to travel for 2 full months, all-expenses paid!

Here is the official page for the contest.I admire Barbara for even applying at all, how many contents like these have we come across but never believe we'll ever win so we don't apply at all? How many people do we discourage from applying to these opportunities b/c we think their chances are slim? Life is about taking risks sometimes, and even if she's not chosen for this contest, she'll be better prepared the next time something like this rolls around...

To vote (it will take 5 minutes!) for Barbara please click the banner below, and when the website comes up click on the big red banner that reads "VOTEZ POUR CE CANDIDAT J-16". And you're done! Thanks so much you guys!