Saluting my best friend: Stephanie George

Today is National Best Friend's Day and I want to take this time to recognize my best friend and sister, Stephanie George. There is no one in this world who knows me like she does. We are inseparable and my life would truly have been less bright without her. Just today we had one of those honest conversations that I know made us just a little bit closer, if that's even possible. LOL! I like when we can discuss stuff that doesn't feel too good and still smile in the end.

Next month, she will be marrying her other best friend, Will, and we will no longer be "The George Girls." *bbm sad face* However, the bond that we share is thick and nothing can penetrate it. Just gotta get used to pulling back a bit and I've been practicing that lately. LOL! This is the part of the story where new families begin and other pieces of the puzzle form. Looking forward to this new chapter and will treasure all the happy moments of the past.

So on National Best Friend's Day I honor my twin sister, my heart, my reason for living....Stephanie George! Love you like a fat kid loves cake ;-)

Happy Birthday Prince, my love!!!!

My Baby!!

Happy Birthday to my one and only Prince Rogers Nelson! Love me some him. If you know me well enough, you know that he holds a special place in my heart. Today, he gets special recognition and I've been playing his music all day. Here is my favorite Prince song of all time:

Let's Celebrate my 100th posting!!!!

Yesterday was my 100th blog posting! Wow!! 100 postings. 100 ramblings of Phyllis. 100 expressions of thoughts that spin through this single woman's head. Wow!! I have to say that I am so proud of me and how far I have come. I went from only being known as Sweet P and sharing my blog with a couple people to displaying pics of myself, using my real name, broadcasting my blog on Facebook and opening up to the world about stuff that I've never expressed out loud to anyone. That's growth!!

As we begin the half-year mark, I thought it was a good time to check in with my goals for 2011 and see how I have been doing. Like I told you I have a list of 11 things that I want to accomplish by the end of 2011. So far I have:

1. Had a romantic date. It was with Ike, but it still counts LOL!
2. Asked someone out on a date. Again with Ike, but counting it. I hope to ask someone else out soon though ;-)
3. Worn make-up!! That's major for me. I've never been one to do more than lip gloss and that I just started a couple years ago. Now when I go out sometimes I do eyeshadow, mascara, and lip gloss. YAY me!
4. Worn a mini dress!!! Now this was one of the hardest for me. I hate my knees. Don't ask. LOL! They just are not cute. This year I wanted to step out and show a little leg. (See picture) It took me all day to get the nerve to do it, but when I went out I felt pretty good. Looking at the picture makes my stomach turn, but I'm so proud that I got out of my comfort zone.

Well 4 goals down and 7 more to go! I'm feeling good. Even my sis keeps asking me, "Who are you?" HA!

*Sweet P*

Happy 85th Birthday Marilyn!!!!

June 1, 1926 - August 5, 1962

I'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday and acknowledge a woman who has helped shape me into who I am today. She's given me the strength to be the best me I can be regardless of what other people think. Her no nonsense attitude and love for herself was admirable. She died too soon at the young age of 36, but LIVED a full life. She is my #1 person dead or alive that I wish I could meet.

Happy 85th Birthday Marilyn Monroe!

Here are some of my favorite Marilyn quotes:

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." 

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

"I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love."

"If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything."

"If you're gonna be two-faced at least make one of them pretty."

"When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them."

"The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space."

"It's better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone."

"Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world."

"Ever notice how 'What the hell' is always the right answer?"

"We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets." 

And my all-time favorite quote...

"This life is what you make it. Not matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And babe, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about."

So funny because at this very moment in my life, I'm living the lesson she taught me in that last quote. Love you Marilyn and the world misses your presence. 

*Sweet P*

Friday Foolishness :-D

I am soooooo ready to leave work today. (1) It's Friday!!! (2) It's Friday!!! (3) It's FRIDAY!!! (4) I don't want to be here. (5) I don't like people here. (6) It's freaking Friday, and (7) I get to hang out with my homegirl enjoying good food, company and laughs with a good friend. We plan to practice some flirting this evening, so this should be interesting...OH SNAP! Just got word that we can leave an hour early. Oh happy day! Anyway, please watch this foolishness below. It gave me a gut busting laugh for the day.

Have a fantabulous holiday weekend and be safe!

Today I'm *Styles P*

"She's pretty for a dark skin girl."

I can't count how many times I've heard, "You're pretty for a dark skin girl." People don't get how stupid that sounds. Then they look at you like something is wrong with you when you don't say thank you. Why can't I just be pretty? What does the color of my skin have to do with it? Growing up I HATED the skin I was in. I wanted to have lighter skin (and it didn't help that I was also the darkest in my family). I wished my hair was longer and straighter. I wished my nose wasn't so wide and my lips were smaller. I envied the lighter skin girls in my classes. Seemed that all the boys wanted them to be their girlfriends and I was just that really cool girl to hang out with. I even had one guy tell me that he really liked me, which was weird because I was a dark skin girl. HUH? But back then, I didn't get that they were just ignorant. I just thought something was wrong with me. It also, didn't help that the only man that was in my life would make comments like, "Why are you spending all that time in the mirror. There's nothing you can do with that face." Remember, what I said about parents....some things stay with you FOREVER!

The clips from this documentary are very moving. I could relate to these women on so many levels. Happy that today I love the skin I'm in, but wish I didn't have those moments in my past when I hated it so much. Sad part is that it wasn't the media or society that caused my internal struggle, but my own people. The one girl on here who said that she used to wake up and wish she was lighter and wash her face hoping the color would change, thinking "it was dirt and tried to clean it off but it wouldn't come off." My heart aches for her.

Took me a while to get here, for so many reasons, but I'm totally-head over heels-completely IN LOVE WITH PHYLLIS!!! She is beautiful because of her spirit that shines through in her smile and the gift of love that she sends out into the universe. I cry now for the little girl who didn't know this. Who was so lost for so long. Who didn't know she was worthy and deserved to be treated as such. Today when I look in the mirror I see ME, flaws and all, and I love every single part of what makes Phyllis phenomenal.

*Sweet P*

"My aim in life is never to be skinny," but I want to be healthy!

LOVE Adele!

Well I've been battling with this weight thing for some time. Exercise is just not fun to me. Eating cookies and brownies while drinking a coke and watching a movie on my sofa....that's what I call fun. However, I know it's not healthy. As I've gotten older my clothes fit differently and I get tired easily doing tasks that never bothered me before. Laziness is the reason I've sat around gaining weight and it's a disease I'm getting rid of today. The back and forth is over. I am making a conscious effort to be a healthier woman. Not to fit in an outfit or look good in pictures at my sister's wedding, but just so I can live a longer, richly fulfilled life.

OK so the first step is to hold myself accountable for my actions. Laila Ali is working on losing her baby weight and has challenged her fans to lose weight with her. She is using a tool called MyFitnessPal. You can enter you weight and track your accomplishments with the daily calculators. For any of you who are struggling to stay motivated, it may be something you might want to check out. We can add each other as friends and you can feel free to yell at me for no doing any exercising all week. I'm really competitive so seeing these numbers has me ready to reach my goal. I'm going to have a little counter on the side of my blog, so you can see my progress.

The only way this will work is if I am honest, so I promise to stay true to this process...So pouring my first glass of water now. They say I'm supposed to do 8 of these a day...prayer needed!

*Sweet P*

I'm the Magnificent...Say what, say what!!!

"I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross used to be my theme song, but I have replaced it with this song right here. Love, love love it! I imagine myself walking down the street while the song plays for all to hear. It's so true! How many times I've gone out and bruthas notice, but don't say a word or they do, but have no follow thru. It's a shame, shame, shame! You missin out on me....Love it!! And EVE, kills it. I know I'm messing her words all up, but this is what I rap while dancing in the car:

Ah yo, I’m the magnificent with the sensational style, YES!
Check the head-to-toe & don’t forget to smile. Bless!
If you was smart, you’d try to snatch it up.
Moving like a snail, when you gon’ catch up?
You on it cuz I’m all dat
Because you’re just a clown, now!
Ain’t worthy of the queen, probably, bow down!
Really bow out. How does that sound?
Had a chance in the past. Fall back now!
I mean way back. The light disappeared.
I see thru all of you when it’s so clear!
And I’m so good. How you so whack?
How you let this get away? You gon’ regret that!
Shawty so live from the 2-1-5. And you was too late...
Now I’m sayin bye bye!

....And it’s a SHAME!!!!! HAHA! And that face that Jill makes in the end....I do it all the time ;-)

*Sweet P*

My Public Service Announcement to Parents

I have one request of every parent in the world. I don't care if you are a biological parent, adoptive parent, single parent, step-parent, play parent, divorced parent, or someone who acts as a parent or mentor in a child's life. All I ask is that you show that young person the love and attention that they crave. I don't care about how bad your day is, how little time you have, all the stuff on your to-do lists that needs to be done....none of that matters. That bad is gonna pass, but how you treat your child on that day will stay with them forever. Children don't understand about everything that you have going on in your life. All they care about is that you love them and express your love for them with a smile, a hug, a "Have a nice day," an "I'm so happy to see you," etc.

See my childhood wasn't all that great. This weekend I got to thinking what a difference it would have made to hear I love you or I appreciate you or I'm so happy you are my daughter or you are pretty from BOTH parents. When a parent shows indifference or anger towards their child it leaves a mark. It saddens me that right now I cannot think of one endearing movement that I shared with my father. I think if he showed me more affection when I was younger, I would be a different person today. Actually, I know that to be a fact. It took me a long time to heal from my past. Each day brings me closer to the point of being somewhat whole, but memories from my childhood will forever leave me somewhat broken.

How can you be broken and happy at the same time? See, I've grown to understand that how I was treated is not who I am. I also had the love of my mother that helped shape me into a strong woman. My mother was always there. Her love for me and my sister is undying and unconditional. Thank God I had that growing up. I cry now for those children who don't feel valued by either parent. I don't care how many times they act like they are okay or how big their smile is...they are dealing with a pain that could manifest into something so evil.

So I implore you spend more quality-time with your children. When your child comes to you with a book to read or a picture that they drew, stop everything that you are doing and listen. When you pick up your child from school, greet them with a hug and a kiss. Ask them how their day was and listen. At dinner, cut off the television and eat at the dinner table. Create an atmosphere of family-time and listen to what is going on in the life of your child. It's the little things that you leave people with that matter. Not money or fancy clothes. My favorite part of my childhood was my mother reading to me at night. She's the reason why I was reading before everyone else in kindergarten and the reason why I love to read and write. Imagine if at the end of her day she went to her room and just watched television....

*Sweet P*

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair....

These past few weeks have been BLAH!!! Like Langston Hughes says in his poem, "Mother to Son,"

Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.

I have literally, as someone said on "Survivor," been "carried by God." If it wasn't one thing it was another. I have to say my time off prepared be for the storm. I was rested and knew exactly what to do to ride it out.

But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.

The enemy was busy in the lives of my family and friends. They were dealing with issues that were beyond their control and their pain hurt me. I believed God to do a good thing, but it would be in His time. All I had to do was think back on so many things that He had brought be from in the past....His body of evidence in my life proved that HE would prevail. It's like he was telling me....

So [P], don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --

And today, I smile for real. Cheesing...He made what seemed impossible, possible and I give Him all the praise. Shaken, but never stirred. ..

For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

*Sweet P*