Breathing LIFE into MY LIFE...

Let the inspiration parade begin.  These are the things that are giving me LIFE...

Roasted avacados on a bed of couscous and mixed greens.  #YUMMERS

Nothing I love more than a yellow, blue and green BIRD!  Oh and it's a high quality print too!  Printing and framing in 5...4...3...2..

This picture gives and takes LIFE!  There is a little blue jay book end!  Do you see those fabby pinwheels?  Oh!  I'm totally adding a pinwheel wall to my studio!

Door knob decor?  WHAT!  Amaze-balls!  I'm sooo doing this!

Have you been inspired lately?  Post a link to something inspiring in the comments!

COMMIT to GREATNESS

How many things are you truly committed to in your life?  Truly committed to?  I asked myself this question when I saw this photo on Pinterest (follow my boards btw). 

The first line hit me soooo damn hard!  "Commit to Success"  It almost sounds like some sort of Les Brown, motivational speaker type jargon.  In a lot of ways it is.  However, that's not the "thing" that motivated me about this photo.  What motivated me was the fact that we all make goals.  Short term goals, long term goals, and stretch goals.  We commit ourselves to accomplishing these goals.  We say "I'm going to lose 10lbs by my birthday!". We say, "Next year I'm going to pay off my credit card debt!".  Many of us accomplish those goals because we have identified the path that we must travel in order to achieve our desired outcome.

However, SUCCESS is different isn't it?  Success isn't just accomplishing one or two goals.  Success is achieving and sustaining that which we desire.  For example, you can be successful in your career.  You could be really great at project management.  So great that your projects start to come in under budget, the clients are happy and your employer is impressed.  HOWEVER...if you can't sustain that momentum, you become UNsuccessful.

My aim with this photo and this post is to illustrate to you that you have to commit yourself to the process and the implementation of success.  You can't simply write a list, check off the tasks and arrive at success.  You must continuously evaluate, assess and work towards your idea of success.  It requires COMMITMENT.  You have to commit yourself to the pursuit of success in order to be truly committed.

So, again I ask...what are you TRULY committed to in your life?

That's Not Appropriate: Good and Bad Hair

Today's Topic: Natural Gangstas

I have locs.  Some people call them dreads.  Some call them dread locs.  I like to call them locs because it is nothing dreaded about my hair!  I actually get quite offended when someone refers to my locs as braids.  I've taken a lot of care and time to cultivate these locs and I want them to be appropriately addressed.  I mean, you wouldn't call a Dr. a nurse would you?  Just sayin...  I dirgress...on to the topic of the day.

You know what's NOT APPROPRIATE?  These Natural Hair Gangstas!  Just because you choose to wear your hair natural doesn't give you the right to judge someone because she's rocking extensions, a weave, a perm or a wig!  How DARE you talk down to another woman because she chooses to style her hair differently?  That is the craziest thing I've heard since people robbing stores for weave!

I've heard the argument(s).  "Women that wear perms don't see their natural hair as beautiful." "Women that wear weaves are trying to immolate the European culture."  And you know what?  Some of that stuff is true.  HOWEVER, no matter how true it is, it doesn't ring true for ALL women that sport a perm or a weave!  Those are the kinds of sweeping generalizations that kept us divided over light skin and dark skin!

If you can walk on water...you can deepen my faith.  If not, then please take your shea butter worshiping  YouTube tutorial making, natural hair convention attending, pseudo militant, yellow root chewing behind somewhere and have all the seats in your nearest Rooms to Go!

Chiiiiile, of course I made a video about this #SlopSalad with a side of #ThousandWackness dressing!  Check it out!

You can't DIY w/o a PLAN!

Hey there blogger boos!  Did you ever see a photo and say "That's how I want my house to look!"  Well, I see those photos all the time.  I see them in the pages of Architectural Digest, I see them on the HGTV site and I ESPECIALLY see them in the pages of Better Homes and Gardens or bhg.com!

One such picture sums up how I want SEVERAL of the rooms in my house to look.  I want them to be eclectic, comfortable, bright and welcoming.  This photo inspired me and became part of my decorating plan.
Check out how it inspired me!

This is the photo without my notes.  Doesn't it scream BRIGHT, HAPPY, COMFORTABLE and ECLECTIC?!?!

Here is the photo with my notes!

I have this DRAB light hanging over my kitchen table.  It's actually, quite unique.  Instead of getting rid of it, I'm going to spray paint some parts of it to give it an upgrade.

I got suckered into the microfiber fad and I have a very square, very mocha colored microfiber couch.  Since that mocha is very neutral, I'm going to spice it up by making some interesting and colorful pillows to spice it up a bit!  Oh! I'm definitely going to add a throw.  I'm always cold!

I love that refinished bench at the foot of the bed!  I'm going to upgrade these two telephone tables and make them just as fab with the right shade of green paint and some fun and flirty wall paper to cover their tops.  Oh and I'm decoupaging away for the tops of the tables.

Instead of buying expensive curtain rods, I'm going to buy and paint some dowels and finials to suit my purposes.  Throw those up there with some easy sew curtains and my kitchen and living room will have well dress windows (which we all know are windows to the soul...and the room).

Stick around as I showcase my work!  They'll be plenty of tutorials too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Why don't you SPEAK? Rose Redd Realness #2

Topic: SAY HELLO! BE CORDIAL!

Hello dear readers!  I've covered this topic on this blog before.  However, since my relaunch, I thought it prudent to revisit this topic.  Start using your MANNERS and be cordial towards people!  Say HELLO and GOODBYE!  I can't tell you how many people I encounter during the course of the week that don't acknowledge you until they need something or until they're absolutely forced to!

Is it going to kill you, dampen your spirit or diminish your glow if you are pleasant toward people?  Don't allow whatever you're going through to stop you from letting other HUMANS know that you see them and that you care enough to acknowledge their presence! 

You know who the WORST people are for this kind of behavior?  Black women!  I love us and I'm glad to be one of us but, A LOT of us do not behave in a cordial manner when we're outside of our comfort zone.  We walk around with this permanent scowl on our faces WONDERING why people pigeon hole us into only a couple of categories.  Well....that's why!  A smile never hurt anyone!  It may help you honestly.

Now, don't twist your mouth to the side and roll your eyes!  Women in general do this. BUT...the sistas have the attitude game on LOCK!  Don't believe me?  Just watch...the chicks at the mall next time you go!

Truthfully, being cordial and "speaking" to people may open doors for you that would have never opened previously.  You may touch a life, give someone hope or deepen their faith in mankind.  Or hell..you may just make someone smile in return.  

The whole point is, use the Golden Rule and DON'T be a Jerky McJerkface!

NOW...I did a video about this.  Couldn't upload it to this post.  Got frustrated. Drank a Coke and got over it. Soooo...copy this link and paste it into your Address Bar and check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJlbJnc-KAI

Make sure you SUBSCRIBE and hit the gear button on the bottom right of the YouTube video and change the quality to 1080.  I filmed this video with the LAST MAC make-up on and I want you to see all that! LOL!

Let 'em Eat: Pizza Boys

Hello lovelies!  This weekend, I wanted to do something a little festive for the Washington men.  I wanted to make pizza but, we have a portion control issue.  So, I made "pan pizzas".  Now, I could have just called them "pan pizzas" but, that's absolutely like...zero fun. So...introducing...PIZZA BOYS!

I'm back. Forever. Rose Redd Said...All NEW!

Has been a lifestyle blog that chronicles the life, times and musings of Rochelle.

It's still that.  It's so much more though.  I want you to first, go visit all of my social media platforms to keep up with me.  That means hit those polygon side bar items over there ----->

Now, let me explain what all of these features are.  

Stating whether or not things are appropriate is one of my favorite things to do!  #Appropriate #NotAppropriate I'm going to cover etiquette  manners and goodness knows what else.  I'm simply going to state "That's appropriate" or "That is not appropriate".  For instance, if you invite my child to a party at Show Biz or whatever it's called, and I have to buy him his own tokens...That is not appropriate.  You see? 

If you browse through the annals of this blog you will most certainly chance upon a rant or two.  I rather enjoy expressing myself via a good old fashioned rant.  Well, this feature is all about that.  Whatever the case may be, it's going to be my reality...and my take on it.  For instance:  I'm all for opening our borders to those who wish to come to America to build a better life for themselves.  Nothing wrong with that.  BUT...what I do have a problem with is you calling yourself Linda, when your name is Bina Patel and I can't understand ANYTHING that you're saying!  Why on EARTH would you take a job speaking to American people about returns at Office Max if you can't speak English correctly!  Hot damn!

Some of these rants and "Realness" will be via video.  So, hop on over to the YouTube channel and subscribe in advance.  Shout out to my friend, NeShanta of www.styleisshe.com for giving me this name of this feature!

I have a house with empty walls.  It' void of decoration but, full of love.  It just so happens that I enjoy a good D.I.Y. (Do it Yourself) project.  So, this feature is going to cover me making D.I.Y. projects for not only your home but, for holidays and other occasions as well.

This feature is all about me sharing my love of cooking for my family.  I'm a pescatarian so, a lot of the dishes that I make will have a pescatarian spin on them but, don't let that turn you off!  There is still plenty of goodness to share!

So, that's it you all!  I appreciate you stopping by and checking me out as I reinvent this space once again.  I hope that you all stay with me on this journey.  It's going to be one hell of a ride damn it!