Christa's Thanksgiving Day Rules

Thanksgiving is upon us! If you're like me, you're excited to see your family, cook and share your tastiest dish, and eat until your belly is full...twice! But there are some rules that need to be adhered to before the big day. Here are my 10 Turkey Day Rules:

Photo by banffkiosk.com

Natural Remedies vs. Prescription Drugs

It's fall! What an absolutely beautiful time of the year it is! But those of us who suffer from seasonal allergies have already begun to experience allergy, sinus, and/or asthma issues. I suffer from both asthma and allergies, which go hand in hand. Luckily, I've found remedies to subdue the symptoms. And guess where I found them?

Reflections on Year 26

Wow, I'm officially in my late twenties...which means I'm three years from 30! Yikes! But unlike so many of my friends and associates who dread getting older, I look forward to maturing. I've learned so much about myself: I'm smarter, I'm wiser, I'm bolder than I've ever been...

But still goofy! I definitely enjoy life a little more now that I know what's important: spending time with yourself and loved ones, fulfilling your dreams and experiencing new adventures! Here are some of my favorite memories from Year 26:

Fall Fashion: Date Night

                                                             Date Night

Fall Fashion 2013: Running Errands

                                                                Running Errands

Fall Fashion: Corporate Chic

                                                                   Work 

Fall Fashion: Cute & Casual

Cute & Casual

Fall Fashion: Girls Night Out

Girls Night Out 

Why Don't You Like Yourself?

Ladies, it's time for us to have another heart to heart. I'm saddened at what I see from you: how you wish you were taller, skinner, "thicker", lighter, sexier, had longer/curlier/wavier hair, bigger lips, hips, butt, breasts...the list goes on! My question to you is WHY DON'T YOU LIKE YOURSELF????

Back To School Giveaway!!

It's August, which means it's back to school time!!! I'm a huge advocate for education and helping those who sincerely need assistance purchasing new supplies so I'm giving away something very exciting for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year...

The Day after the "Not Guilty" George Zimmerman Verdict

This past weekend in Atlanta  turned out to more meaningful than I ever thought it could be. I'd been lightly following the Trayvon Martin murder trial since it began and like a lot of viewers, was anxious for the verdict.

Sneak Peek: The Day after the "Not Guilty" George Zimmerman Verdict

This past weekend in Atlanta turned out to be more meaningful than I ever thought it could be. Can anyone guess where I'm sitting (pictured below) and the significance of being at that place the day after the George Zimmerman acquittal? Stay tuned tomorrow for the answer and reflections on one of the most infamous cases in American history!!

Happy One Year Blogiversary!!!!!

My, how time flies!! On this day in 2012, I started my blog with the intentions of simply sharing my thoughts with my readers, both friends and strangers. I've experienced a lot but most importantly, I've learned quite a bit....check out the answers to some of the most frequent questions I've been asked!

Green Technology for the Modern Gardener

 Dating back to ancient times, gardening has been a timeless tradition. All green thumb enthusiasts, ranging from the big-time fruit tree and berry farmer to the retired school teacher, utilize gardening as a means of nourishment, therapy, and economical profit.

Photo courtesy of womeninbalance.org

But what options does a gardener have that is both more time and money efficient and green technology sensitive? How can he/she cultivate a garden today in unusual climate conditions due to record-breaking weather extremities which have resulted in the second coldest spring in history? 

Christa Goes Natural!

For the past two years, I've been more experimental with my hair than I've ever been in my entire 26 years. Last Thursday on May 23rd, I made the biggest decision yet...

Before my new haircut...excuse the dandruff, my scalp was overdue for a good scalp scrubbing! 

Dating Games!

So, you're dating someone new. It's exciting and fun....until you realize that you're a player in the Dating Games. Sometimes these games are played with the unselfish intent of gaining information about the person you like...but most times, they're not. And then, you are left wondering when in the H-E-Double-Sticks did you miss this announcement:  "Welcome! Welcome!! Happy Dating Games! And may the odds ever be in your favor!" What are some of these games you ask? Read on....

Sunrise Photoshoot

Photography has always been a fun hobby of mine but for the past year and a half, it's grown into a passion. For me, it's not only a great way to capture moments that you'll never have again but it's become another outlet of therapy. Sometimes when I'm feeling sad or stressed, I'll grab my Nikon and go exploring. This morning, at the crack of dawn, I got together with some fellow photographers for my first sunrise photoshoot. It was chilly and too early to be out of bed on a Saturday morning but I'm glad I dismissed all of the excuses I made for myself. If you want to perfect your craft, you have to do three things: 1) Commit to your craft  2) Surround yourself with people who are already where you want to be and 3) Practice Practice PRACTICE!!!! Check out some of my favorite pictures from my shoot :-)

So You Say You've Moved On...

Ladies and Gentlemen, this isn't going to be a pretty blog post about relationships. There will be no sugarcoating. What I'm about to share with you comes from a place of tough love and some past failures and experiences, both personal and impersonal. Sometimes you need to hear the truth from people who have experienced what you're going through...I hope you're ready.

My Spring Bucket List!

Although spring isn't my favorite season, it's a close second; It's the rejuventation of the Earth. It's also one of the most picturesque out of the four seasons. I love the colors that Spring brings but what I'm most excited about are the activities that one is able to enjoy when the weather is warmer. I've complied a bucket list of things that I want to experience during this beautiful season. Check it out!

What Lies Beneath...

What's Beauty? Is it the way her body's shaped? Or the way she's dressed? But if the whole world was blind, how many people would you impress?

Getting to know someone is like the peeling of an onion. The first layer is the outside. What do we first notice about a person? Their appearance: their smile, style of dress, etc. As we spend more time with that person, we're allowed to see deeper layers: their mannerisms, how they treat strangers and those that they know and love. And as more time passes, we see what that person thinks about him/herself.

Do they love themselves? Do they have a good heart? Do they surround themselves in positivity? These are questions that you should be asking of yourself concerning the company that you keep. But, sometimes we don't because we're fascinated with the physical/materialistic attributes that a person has.

What if the world was blind to your physical attributes? Fellas, how much time would you save because you didn't have to beef up at the gym? Ladies, think about how much of a second skin our leggings wouldn't have to be in order to break the necks of whomever you want to attract. Friends, think on how we would realize who to truly call our real friends based on behavior and actions. Think about how much more time we'd have to focus on getting to know someone's mind and heart and how much better off we'd be if we were emotionally, mentally and spiritually captivated to a person...

Wake up people! What lies beneath is what’s most important and is what a person will carry with them until death. Qualities like honesty, a wonderful sense of humor, intelligence, an optimistic view on life, empathy, loyalty, love, etc. These are things that can’t be washed down the drain like a woman’s makeup. They aren’t things that can erode as the paint of a prized car. And they certainly aren’t things that can be seen with the naked eye, but felt with the heart. Yes, it's cliche to say and redundant to hear but the older we get, the more we realize what our elders have been telling us since birth is the truth: True beauty lies within.

Thanks for reading! Peace :-D

Know When to Walk Away

Have you ever felt like you needed to explain something again? To help someone by giving your expertise...again? And all to no avail, because you both know that he/she won't listen and will do whatever it is that they want to anyway? Or have you ever felt the need to repeat yourself just one more time, because you know that person doesn't "remember" what you said? Well, being the giving person that I am, I have the perfect illustration of what you need to do:

Meeting the GREAT Savion Glover

I'm so excited to share this post! I had the honor and privilege of meeting one of the greatest tap dancers in the world. But, I almost missed my chance. Read more to find out my less than conventional mission to meet Savion Glover:

Get Your Life: January Edition

It's a brand new year, so one would hope to think that people would be full of aspirations to better their lives...yeah well, I was incorrect. See what these people have been up to: