DominicanBadGirl

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HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

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What can I say? I love love :)

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Show Your Appreciation Challenge

I just posted this on my Twitter, but I wanted to post it here as well.

While watching Joel Olsteen yesterday, I was inspired by the message and have decided to issue a challenge to everyone I know based on that message and the homework assignment Joel gave.

The message was ‘Show Your Appreciation’. Basically, the service was about telling those that have contributed to your success and happiness that you love and appreciate them for what they add to your life. He used our parents as one example, saying that they ‘packed our parachutes’ and prepared us to be who we are today. He also made note of the staff that work at his church that we don’t see that contribute to the success of the service and broadcast. He said that ‘Loyalty without thanks erodes’, and that’s so true. People stop being there for you if they don’t think that it means anything to you.

So, here’s the challenge:Take a minute to think of all the folks who support you/contribute to your happiness/success. Anyone from parents to friends to coworkers. ANYBODY that you know for a fact has helped you get where you are today in one way or another. Don’t think of the things they’ve done to hurt you, if any, because holding onto that blocks your blessings.

Then, once you have your list, simply reach out to them. Call, email, text, tweet, whatever method you prefer. Make it known that you love and appreciate them. Even if you think they already know, tell them again. No one out here is a mind reader. The feeling you BOTH will have once you tell them is well worth it.

Let me know if you take the challenge and how it turns out!

-T

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Why Can't Life Always Be This Eezy: Daily Motivation: Let Yourself Enjoy

eezyliving:

Let yourself be. Let yourself enjoy.

Let yourself see and participate, know and feel, listen and understand. Let yourself live the brilliant richness that shines through even the smallest details of this very time and place.

Let go of the worries, the fears, the grievances, insecurities and…

Via Why Can't Life Always Be This Eezy

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iseebigbooty:

bootyoftheday:

Zenaida Flava in a hot tub

Hot damn!!!!!

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‘Night of Noted Souls’ promo video. Me & my co-host on The Hollywood Hangout, Hollywood, will be hosting. Get tickets at http://www.nightofnotedsouls.eventbrite.com

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Once Upon A Time….

By: Me :)

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl that lived in the heart of the city. She had tons of people in her life that surrounded her with love and support. She was educated, had a great family, and was blessed all the way around. In spite of all this, she felt terribly lonely at times; doubtful of the love she was being given. Unsure as to why anyone would be drawn to someone as imperfect and flawed as she was. Uncertain of the praise she received, she would always find a way to deflect the compliments. She felt that, if she could see all of the scars and imperfections when she looked at herself, so could the rest of the world.

Then one morning, she woke up feeling as if it were the first time she had ever seen the sun. Suddenly, the whole world felt brand new. She looked at herself in the mirror and couldn’t believe what she saw. It felt as if she was looking at herself for the first time. For the first time in her life, she saw what others saw in her. All of the scars she had been wearing on the inside were no longer visible in her eyes and on her face as they had been for so long.

She closed her eyes and all of the words she had been hearing from her loved ones began ringing in her ears. And for the first tine in her life, she believed the words she was hearing. She believed she was capable of all things. She was convinced that she was deserving of the best. Not because she was entitled, but because she had EARNED it.

Now, that girl is proud to call herself a DIVA. She walks with her head held high, no longer allowing the past to weight her down. She has cleared her runway of debris and is ready to walk the clear path she has created for herself….

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Toni-ism 15: Don’t Let Basicness Infect Your Life

For those of you that are friends of mine on Twitter, you know that a while back, I tweeted my ‘Toni-isms’. Now, these are beliefs that I have on how to live life and survive somewhat unscathed. I don’t claim to be someone that has all of the answers to happiness and success, but these are things that work for me. A kind of mantra if you will. Anyways, I’m going to start putting them on my blog here to share with you guys. Now, there will be numbers, but those aren’t necessarily the numerical order that they are in in my mind. I moreso put them on there to be cute if you really wanna know lol.

We’re gonna talk about basicness today, because I seem to find myself surrounded by it on a regular basis to no fault of my own. Now, the Toni-ism is: ‘Don’t let basicness infect your life.’ When I say ‘your life’, I mean all aspects of it. When you allow basciness to infect your life, just like with any other disease (like hateration), it eats away at your defenses and makes your immunity to the bullshit go down. Thus, you find yourself thrust full force into the world of the basic, and who wants to be there? Not me said the flea!

Now, for those of you that aren’t familiar with the concept of basicness, I put Lil Duval’s definition of a basic bitch as the pic on this post. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that chicks are the only ones out here doing basic shit. And, there are different levels and degrees of basicness if you ask me. For example, a bitch that trolls the VIP/backstage area looking for a celeb is some basic shit, but it doesn’t have to be as blatant as that. I believe that basicness is more of a state of mind than just actions. Basic bitches and dudes think that the ghetto fab way they live is okay. They think that mooching off of someone continuously is the thing to fucking do. Basic people think that their way of life is the only way to live, no matter how pitiful they apear.

I could really go on and on about my definition, but I’ll leave it to you to define it for yourself. Basically (no pun intended), basic to me is anything less than productive. If you’re a nigga living at home over hte age of 30 and think that’s cute, you’re a basic ass nigga to me. Get up, get out and do something! Now, this total lack of motivation and desire for more in life is exactly why I tell myself to not let the basicness of others infect my life. People like that tend to pull you totally off track. Either they want you to support them in their basicness, or try to infect you with it. Any way you slice it, you gotta keep the basic out of your space as much as you can. Of course, when the basic person is a loved one or family, it’s a little more difficult to exorcise them from your life and spirit. I feel like this: If me being in your presence makes me feel dumber or less than what I felt when I’m away from you, I’m gonna have to kiss you goodbye. It’s not because I think I’m better than you, but because my own sanity and joy are more important to me. You can call me a bitch or mean or bougie if you wanna, but I have a child to raise, and if I’m not mentally and emotionally at peace, he won’t be either.

I feel that the key to preventing yourself from being infected by the basic is to stand your ground. You have to know what it is that you are willing to accept and tolerate from people off top. If you know you don’t wanna have ot break up a fight at the club when you go out with someone, leave their ass at home! It’s called prevention, people. I know many don’t use that term, so I’ll be doing a blog on that topic shortly. (Maybe today who knows? LOL) To keep shit away from you, you have to do whatever you can to stay away from it. When it’s your family that’s hitting you with the basic shit, you have to decide if they’re worth the feelings you have once they’re gone. If ANYONE in your life makes you feel uncomfortable in your own skin for ANY reason, you gotta pull back. I know it’s hard when it’s your family, but you have to take care of yourself too. It’s too much damn work to be everything for everybody all the time. At some point, you have to put your priorities and livelihood first.

At the end of the day, no one is perfect, but at some point you have to draw the line as to how much imperfection you can take. I know people that I love dearly but just can’t be around them because I can’t deal with the bullshit they do. Doesn’t mean I love them any less than anyone else that resides in my heart, but I just can’t allow myself to be sucked into their basic world. I just can’t do it. I know that there are things about me that may drive the next person insane, so this whole thing isn’t to try to slam anyone that’s not ‘like me’ per say. I just refuse to allow someone’s mentality and lack of whatever to bring me down. If I’m a bitch for that, so be it. Like I always say, ‘I’m not a bitch. I just play one in your life.’ Take that one any way you choose to.

Well, gang, I’m out! Drop me a comment and let me know what YOUR ‘-ism’ or mantra is.

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The Art of Prevention

The Art of Prevention is something we all learned about from our parents growing up but they didn’t call it that. It was more like, ‘If you knew you were gonna get in trouble, why did you do it in the first place’?. THAT is what happens when you don’t practice prevention. Basically, The Art of Prevention is thinking about the outcome before you do something. I know this seems like something that’s pretty simple and is commonsense, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 29 years on this planet is that common sense isn’t something everyone has. That’s why I’m writing this blog. Hopefully it will turn the lights on in someone’s head.

The Art of Prevention is something that will come naturally as you practice it more, just like with any other lifestyle choice. Let’s create a scenario: Let’s say that you have a homegirl/boy that you know for a fact is gonna get too wasted and more than likely get escorted out of a club if they go with you. Now, what do you do? Do you go out with them anyways and just make sure you got bail money or do you stay home? I’ll admit that, for many years, my choice would have been the first one. I have a friend that I love dearly, but she’s a hot damn mess and is always starting some drama when we go out anywhere. The right thing to do for me is now to just not go out with her crazy ass anymore because I’m not trying to be Big Bertha’s bitch you feel me? THAT is the Art of Prevention. I know she’s gonna have me taking my earrings off and shit if I go out with her, so I now stay home or go out elsewhere. It doesn’t mean I love her any less, because I love her to death to be honest. But, I have to do what’s best for me and my family, which means staying my ass home sometimes lol.

Here’s another scenario: You have a co-worker who is just plain reckless out of their mouth when they speak to you, whether it’s in person or via email. What do you do? Do you go over to their office/cubical and beat the shit outta them on general principle? As much fun as that would be, we all know you can’t just go around beating the shit outta people just because they piss you off and were never taught how to talk to people. Instead, you go to your supervisor and let them know that this bitch got one more time (well, maybe not in those words per say lol) or you’re gonna snap. Your boss may find a way to keep your contact with them limited, or end it all together. THAT’s prevention. You’re taking the responsible steps to keep yourself from killing a mofo.

I could give you a zillion options and scenarios, but I think you guys get the idea. To sum it up, The Art of Prevention can save you from unsavory and undesired experiences. All you have to do is take the five seconds to think before you act. I’m not saying it’s the answer to all of your problems, but if used correctly it can totally help you. Just don’t use it as a crutch to be afraid to do something. Think and weigh your possibilities in every situation. Sometimes, the thing that seems the best solution isn’t always necessarily so.

Untill next time, my loves, remember that if you don’t protect yourself from the fuckery, who else will?