TalulaZoeApple

"You Would Make A Wonderful Mother"

At a Starbucks with a few ladies and the conversation gathered around the subject of children. I mentioned to the ladies that I had always wanted to adopt a child even as a really young girl. Two of the more mature ladies say, "Oh you would make a wonderful mother." I have NO idea why but I almost choked up a little.

Craziness!

It is especially crazy seeing that the other woman present had previously said to me, "You just don't like children."  lol

Truth is - I love children. I would love to have a houseful as long as I am in a happy marriage and financially set. 

What I absolutely do not love is the idea of pushing a baby out of my va-jay-jay! lol Whose idea was that? I guess that is the best method of delivery and women have been doing it for millenia but um. . .

I actually dreamed once several years back that I was at a dining room table introducing someone to my four children. They all had black shiny, curly hair. 

Most of my dreams have been coming true so time will tell. But the timing is God's. I will submit to that. 

Until then I will enjoy my freedom. 

Smile, It Is Your Birthday

My sister woke me up with a phone call at 6:16 AM singing, "Its ya birthdya, it's ya birthday!" lol In my family we have an unofficial contest about who is the first to wish someone a happy birthday. So suffice it say, this year she has won.

In typical my-life fashion, the buildup to this day was drama filled. For 3 days last week, every time I looked at the clock the time showed 1:17. Like seriously. 

Then 2 nights before, I lost my file at work and had to redo an entire exercise that set me a full day behind all of my fellow trainees. 

Last night, some neighbor was blasting Indian rock. Yes, like rock music with a flair of India. 

I kept my cool. I was determined not to let the devil steal my joy because that is what he is - a thief.

A girl at work gave me a neat idea. Instead of going out and spending money on a birthday celebration day, treat myself to dance lessons. I may do acting classes or something equally fun! 

Happy, Happy, joy, joy! My joy belongs to me - a gift from God. I was extra joyous when I found out at the end of the day that on my next paycheck to expect a RAISE!!!

HALLELUJAH! Happy Birthday to me!

I Gave Up Cable, Now What?

Guys I have cut the proverbial cord - the cable cord. Saving money all over the place, which feels good. Have a whole lot of free time and less mental clutter. The challenge? Harnessing all this new found energy into something productive. 

I ain't gonna lie *no Fifty Tyson* I had some withdrawals. This past Sunday was the debut of the new Real Housewives of Atlanta. YET, I did not bow, I did not bend. I held my ground and surprise, my bank account is pleased. 

I cannot believe how much time I wasted on my reality shows. All of the time I could have spent working on my book. 

Yeah, remember that?

My mind is clearer. I abhor drama in my own personal life yet I had opted to allow other people's drama into my home for entertainment's sake. Surely real life has more to offer. In 2012, I am going to find out. 

SN: I have rediscovered PBS. They need the viewership, right? Ah, Charlie Rose, how I have missed thee!

Freeing myself of cable is the gift that keeps on giving. 

It Is A New Year

I am so glad that it is here!

Happy New Year readers. I really do appreciate you. 

I have a set of new beginnings - a new job, a new place, a new hairdo. lol I am going to get my hair straightened and my ends clipped. Not to worry, this is a temporary do. I will be natural come Monday morning. 

I am loving my new place. I am like 4 miles away from my work. The place is spacious and less than what I was paying before. With gas saved from the nonexistent commute, my budget is fat! lol

I love it so much I think I just may splurge a little and decorate. 

The end of 2011 was about reorganization and planning. 2012 is about carrying that plan out.

I feel so excited when I read that friends are starting business and ventures. The people that I grew up with are living their dreams. So am I!

2012 is for the dream fulfillers. No excuses and no setbacks. I name and claim that one. 

Merry New Year and Happy Christmas

All of you Eddie Murphy fans will get the joke. lol

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I know I did even without the exchange of gifts.

I hung out with the family in Chicago, visited friends, played games and chillaxed. Even took family photos. Rare occasion that all the siblings are together.

SN: I saw a picture of me, sisters and cousin at the Isley Brothers concert and said out loud, "Dang, I was FLLYYYYYY!" lol

2012 eat well, work out, lose weight. No excuses.

I feel very blessed. I seriously think presents should be exchanged after Christmas and the focus kept on Christ. I mean, I went to church on Christmas day. Just like old times.

This particular visit did make me really homesick when I made it back. It has also made me more determined not to let my time in Texas be a waste of time.

2012 is my year of dream fulfillment. More details to come.

How was your Christmas folks?

RHOA's Deshawn Snow Has Lost More Than A Cheating Husband

Deshawn Snow was on Season 1 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta AND she was my favorite. She also lent credibility to the show seeing that she was actually married at the time.

Snow was not on any subsequent seasons. My opinion - she did not have enough drama.

Snow appeared to be happily married, mother, church-goer and philanthropist. She did more than drink wine, cuss and fight. Too positive a depiction of a sista for Bravo or too boring for reality TV?

Who knows. She has since lost a cheating husband and a few pounds, too. Take a looksee:

 

US Magazine

Braxton Family Values - Poor Toni

I love reality TV. These are my confessions. *Cue Usher* My show du jour is Braxton Family Values.

I love how it displays the complexities of the sisterly dynamic in families. I have several sisters, and believe you me, I understand. Sometimes family does not see the evolution of you as an individual, as a woman and as an adult. To them, I am little sister. That, my friend, can complicate things.

I totally get Toni Braxton's point in this clip.

 

Background: Tamar (Toni's little sister) is married to Vince (Toni's manager). Vince also manages other groups including Lady Gaga. Well, we all know Lady Gaga is doing well but Toni's career has suffered missteps. Toni is tired of mixing family and business. Toni decides to disclose her feelings during a dinner and fireworks follow.

What do you guys think about family and business mixing?

I Bought A Wig and Named It Carmen

I am a natural girl. I AM a natural girl. I AM A NATURAL GIRL. . .but I have a confession to make. On Saturday night, I wore a wig out to an event. I am talking a big, bouncy curly Beyonce-esque wig.

I LOVED IT. lol

Granted it was a pretty benign event. Not a real opportunity to whip my hair back and forth but I did get a wobble, wobble in.

Before the big wig event, I took my wig on a trial run. I wore it to work on Friday. I got some pretty good feedback and boost of confidence.

 It is a little peculiar how changing one aspect of your appearance can affect the totality of your look. I swear that hair took fifteen pounds off.

My new hair is a keeper. The hair gave me a pass to be a newer me.  In return,  I named it Carmen.

 

I Really Cannot Stand!

I really cannot stand when I visit my favorite blogs and there has not been any updates in like FOREVER! Do you guys feel that way about me. lol  *hangs head and walks away*

I really need some exciting things to occur in my life that are blog worthy. Sure I could make a great list of things that did NOT happen to me. Like, I did not get abducted by aliens but where would that get us.

*Random*

Kelly Rowland covered Marie Claire UK.

*Back to regularly scheduled programming*

I am going home for Christmas. Which is good news cause this cold is giving me the winter blues. Hoping for good weather and safe travels.

I am still loving the new gig though.

Need to find a pretty dress for a jazz social this weekend. I want something sparkly.

That pretty much sums up my week. I know my life is soooooo exciting right now. lol Hey but I am grateful to be alive *smiles*

Great Expectations Parte Deux

I love my blog.

It gives me the ability to peer back into my life to the date and time and really SEE how God works things out for me.

Peep this, on 11/08/10 I wrote a post entitled Great Expectations. In said post, I stated what I expected from God and what I think God expects from me - faithfulness. God is ever faithful, I am the one who continuously falls short. Well in this post I also ask God for a new job with great benefits and 1 year nearly to the DAY, I started a new job with GREAT benefits.

*In my Joey Lawrence voice* Whoa!

Ugh! Deja vu all over again!

Here I am with a list of desires from God and my second week in a row not being faithful - in worship, in giving.

Thank God for Jesus - His grace is sufficient for someone imperfect like me.

What I expect from God is His continued grace and mercy for me and my family, an amazing husband prefaced by a serendipitous encounter (*insider*), great friends, and my family together with me again. I want my business and book to be a great success bigger than my wildest dreams. After all, I am ready!

Now that is a whopper of a list but God created the universe surely he can handle my little world.

P.S. I am really excited now.

Thanks to all of my blog readers, even when you dont comment. I know you are there.