February Hair Progress!

#26 Grow my hair for the next 6 months (no cuts only trimming my ends)

Well my hair is still growing, but there hasn't been a drastic difference since my last picture. At this angle it actually makes my hair look shorter than what it is. I can promise you that I haven't cut it. Hopefully there will be a more noticeable difference in March!

Still Paying It Forward!

I was able to help out someone near and dear to me. I realized this person had a need and God placed it in my spirit to be of help to them. This person didn't ask for my help and didn't even want to accept what it was I was offering them. I was still was of help because this wasn't about me nor was it about fulfilling a task on this list.

When God puts you in a position to be able to bless others, don't take it for granted and don't hesitate to do what he's calling you to do. Be obedient and keep in mind it is by the grace of God that we have the things that we do. You never know how close you are to being in someone else's shoes. Therefore, you shouldn't turn the other cheek nor judge the situation a person's in. Think about it, if it was you would you want someone to do the same?

A little thought to leave you with:

So now it's your turn!

#1 On The List Is Crossed Off!

1. Pay it forward by doing something nice for someone I don’t know    

               

I debated if I should go into details about how I accomplished this task on my list. I decided that I would share this not as an update on my list, but as inspiration. I hope that this will inspire others to pay it forward and help someone in any way that you can. I realize that this is something that shouldn't be a task on my list, but a way of life. We all are blessed with different talents, gifts, means, triumphs, and other attributes that can be beneficial in the lives of others.

I was at the grocery store and I noticed a woman in the aisle. She caught  my attention because she cut me off  with her shopping cart. At first I wanted to be instantly angry, but then something else caught my attention that completely took my mind off the fact that she cut me off. I looked down and noticed her shoes. Her shoes were reminiscent of those that had been worn for years and quite often. 

I noticed that one of her shoes appeared to have a hole on the side. I don't know if these were the only shoes she owned or if she had been doing some type of work and these were her work shoes. What I do know is the feeling I got once I noticed her shoes stayed with me. As I proceeded to continue doing my shopping the feeling I had weighed heavy on me. As I was making my way to go check out I saw this woman again at the end of another aisle.

I made my way to the aisle she was in and waited for the right moment to approach her. I politely walked up to her and told her, "It has been put on my heart to bless you." I took her hand and placed money in it. She thanked me and said she had been praying about some things and felt like God was blessing her. I never got her name and she didn't get mine. I don't know how much of an affect that my gift to her will have, but I do know it felt good to be able to bless someone.

Maybe God was using me to do his work in reference to whatever she was seeking him for. Maybe God was testing my obedience. Whatever the reason maybe it's still a reason why I crossed paths with this woman. We all are afforded different things and if you can use those things to be helpful and bless others, then why not! I'm happy I had the opportunity to do this and I pray that it's not the last time I'll be able to pay it forward.

Hair Progress for January

#26 Grow my hair for the next 6 months (no cuts only trimming my ends)

Since this is one of those tasks that will be documented up until my birthday, I've decided each month around the 18th (or slightly after) I will post a picture documenting my progress. So here's my first picture and progress for the month of January:

#18 On The List Is Crossed Off!

18. Do something unexpected for my grandmother Shirley


One of the reason's I wanted to do something unexpected for my grandmother Shirley is because I realize that I don't have the relationship that I should have with her. We all tend to have people in our lives whether it's a family member or friend, that for whatever reason(s) we don't make that big of a deal to nurture the relationship. I realized that I wanted to change that. Out of the four grandparents I had, excluding two of my step-grandparents, I only have two of them that are alive and in my life. I don't want to take that for granted anymore. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. I want to spend what time that I have left with my grandparents enjoying them and showing how much I love and appreciate them.


 Today, my grandmother Shirley and I spent went to lunch. I picked her up and took her to this really nice Japanese bistro & steakhouse. We had a wonderful chef that entertained us with his cooking talents, jokes, and ability to play the drums. It was a nice experience for her and we got to spend some much needed quality time together. Being able to do something small to show my appreciation for her felt good. Although I'm going to cross this off my list, this will be an ongoing thing because it's the beginning of working on the relationship I have with her. 


So granny in case you get to read this I hope you know how much I truly love and appreciate you. I know that we reside in different states, so although I might now get to see you as much as I would like, I'm going to make a point to stay in touch and visit as much as I can. Even when I can't be there I want you to know how much I love you and hope from this day on I'm capable of doing that. I love you dearly!

The Countdown Has Begun!!!!!

Today is January 18, 2012 and I am exactly 6 months away from turning 30! My countdown clock has begun ticking and I am on my way to fulfilling my list! 

"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work."  -Oprah Winfrey

"Drum Roll Please".......Here's the List!

1. Pay it forward by doing something nice for someone I don’t know                                 
2. Make a habit of volunteering more                                                              
3. Have a day of pampering w/ an overnight stay in a suite at the MGM Grand                   
4. Vacation somewhere I’ve never been                                                                            
5. Get in shape (Goal: wear a bikini comfortably and happily)                                
6. Have a small intimate 30^th birthday celebration                                                   
7. Find ways to continually enhance my spiritual life/growth                                           
8. Do something extremely special for my mom for her birthday                              
9. Find & make at least 3 new recipes                                                                    
10. Create my own cupcake recipe                                                                                   
11. Cook a five course meal                                                                                               
12. Pay off one of my student loans                                                                                    
13. Be wiser with my finances and start with an emergency/rainy day fund                           
14. Make over my bedroom                                                                                                
15. Become more health conscious (the foods I eat, working out, taking vitamins, etc.)        
16. Go to Taste of Chicago this year (It’s July 11^th-15^th, 2012)                                           
17. Finally complete a scrapbook                                                                                     
18. Do something unexpected for my grandmother Shirley                                         
19. Get out more (spend every Friday doing something outside of my house)            
20. Be my own boo (treat myself to something I would expect my significant other to treat me to) 
21. Go to a movie alone                                                                                          
22. Do a 30 before 30 photo shoot (30 pics of me!)                                                 
23. Learn how to sew                                                                                                    
24. Do a painting                                                                                                 
25. Do something to show my appreciation for my close family & friends                            
26. Grow my hair for the next 6 months (no cuts only trimming my ends)                         
27. Learn how to make my own body butter & scrub                                               
28. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily & stop drinking pop (soda)                              
29. Get organized (my closet, important documents, dresser drawers, etc.)   
30. Go on a picnic and/or camping