Really...It's Almost Mid-June???

I cannot believe another month has passed me by. I am five weeks away from completing my Associates Degree in Human Services Management!!! Yay me! Although I intend to carry on with my educational pursuit, I am so looking forward to a couple of months off. I remain committed to further developing my blog, among many other endeavors. Time has not been my best friend. 

I am currently taking an Intro to Art class in which I am sooo in love. I was always aware of  my love for all things creative, but I had no idea how much I would enjoy studying early and modern works of art through drawings and paintings. I am most excited about the upcoming week where we will explore photography. I have a new found love and appreciation for capturing moments in time as I go about my daily activities. 

Here are a couple of my favorite pieces I encountered prior to participating in the course (along with my personally photographed random shots). 

Study of Human Proportion: The Vitruvian Man - by Leonard da Vinci
This pen and art drawing captures formal elements of motion. Movemenet can be conveyed through simple use of line.

Sugar Shack - by Ernie Barnes
I remembered seeing this painting on one of my favorite American sitcoms, "Good Times" which aired during the mid-late 1970's.

Hitting the Pavement - Photography by C'eclectic

A piece of paradise located right in my neck of the woods...Photography by C'eclectic

Peace, love, & blessings...

Still Here...

Hey world!!! I knew my journey was very ambitious, but I was out of my mind to think I could keep running on E! The stories I can tell about my overall life experiences working full time as I pursue my education and dreams will make for a best seller one day. All the in between stuff along the way is reminiscent of stories written in novels turned made for Lifetime television shows and movies. As mentioned in my bio, everything including the blog is a work in progress. So bear with me please. The best is yet to come.

I just completed a Cultural Diversity course. It was a personal and social eye opening experience. While I love fashion, interior design, and all things artistic, I am equally passionate about education and the varied social issues that exist in such a multicultural society. Enough about that though. I just wanted to check in. I have so many interesting pics to post from past and recent outings.

I have to develop a personal relationship with father time. As of now, he is not too favorable of me or my life plans to dream, believe, and achieve. 

I have two more classes to complete and I will be all done with my current program. I am extremely excited about the one course: Intro to World Art. It will also cover photography. Yippie...

Stay tuned!!!

Peace, love, & blessings...

Balance

Yesterday’s notice to family and friends: 

"Just when I found myself slipping/falling, God brought balance back into my life.

Literally…I was about to be laid out on my back on a sheet of ice."

I amuse myself, and others think I am rather funny. During all of my adventures, I do know thou shall not quit her day job in pursuit of a career in comedy. Anywho, the concept of balance in life brings me to this:

What I Missed vs. What I Thought I Missed 



Skylar Leather Pointy Toe Flats by ANN TAYLOR

 

Normally, my size is unavailable when there is sale on items that I love at first sight. At last, the only size available was not a Size 6. It was my size: Size 9! I decided I would wait until I got home from work to place my order. Well what do you know? SOLD OUT!



viv FLAT by Tory Burch

These beauties are available. One size 9 remains!  I can either Add to BAG or Add to WISH LIST, but I cannot proceed to CHECK OUT.

After missing out on my shoes from ANN TAYLOR on Wednesday, I received yet another email in my overloaded inbox. All I could make out from my phone was, “CASEY, RSVP for Tonight’s Event With…”. I assumed I was cordially invited to attend a friends and family online sale event. Wrong! After getting caught up on all of my social media forums, I noticed on Instagram that there was an OWN THE ROOM event in session, hosted by ANN TAYLOR and marie claire. I was excited and frustrated all in a flash. I did what comes natural (and might I add, one of the things I do best) – research. I discovered that the event was held in Chicago. I live among cold winds with the anticipation of more snow coming my way; however, I am not in or near Chicago. Silly me... 

OWN THE ROOM

Obviously, I did not miss the event…just my shoes. I am ecstatic that I received the email. Maybe I can work with my local stores to encourage a future event in my area.  

The pic that led me to believe I missed it! Better luck next time in a city near me...



Suggested pieces that will help command attention in the workplace. I prefer the left. What do you think? Post comments below.

Find your balance in life! If all else fails, find a great pair of shoes or an attention grabbing outfit.  

Peace, love, & blessings...

Quote of the Day

Honoring Black History Month

"Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage." ~ Maya Angelou

Photo retrieved from mayaangelou.com 

From a philosophical perspective, virtues are associated with habit and moral character. According to Aristotle, there are two types: moral and intellectual. Socrates associated virtues with justice, piety, and courage. 

Culture greatly influences individual perceptions of what it means to be morally virtuous. 

Additionally, habit and moral character is driven by impulses and self desires. It takes great courage to exercise that which is perceived as a naturally given right, while intellectually choosing to practice behavior deemed socially just for the common good of all people.

Peace, love, blessings...

Quote of the Day

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear." ~ Rosa Parks

Someone very special shared this with me today.

Peace, love, & blessings...

Happy New Year

This year I partially removed my fears concerning the dangers of exposing myself to the world of social media. I actually became more attached to my smart phone, and developed an addiction to browsing the various social media forums. This became a tool to research the different avenues that lead to successful entrepreneurialship while keeping myself distracted from my daily stresses. During my venture, I came across a number of blogs which I immediately felt a connection. Quite a few had no activity for a year or so. Over the past months, I noticed a couple that I started following had no activity for two to three months. Since I am new to the scene, I definitely did not want that to happen to me since I need to gage a regular audience and gain followers. So here I am after two months; saddened by the fact that I have not been able to write daily and that my time is consumed by my day job and school.

No better time like New Year's Eve to get back on track. I have the ability to juggle many things. I must remain focused. The negative aspects of the world can be quite distracting. I am the greatest motivator for others, and most often my own motivator. So on this day, I am reminded that even after you have achieved your goals and successes, you must consistently live life in pursuit of happiness. 

Live each day to the fullest and do not wait for a new year to set goals. Design your plan for happiness the moment an idea takes hold of you. 

Peace, love, & blessings to whomever is listening...

Brain Power

School is kicking my butt! No need in making an effort to eloquently state that simple fact. Someone recently said that we all have the exact same 24 hours to get things done in life. My question is: “Do we all have the same commitments and obligations each day?” I also argue: “Do our jobs or careers present the same demands and stresses?” It has become an ongoing struggle to muster up the required brain power and energy to transition between a full day of work and school. My days have lasted for 20 hours over the past couple of weeks. I need my beauty sleep and physical rejuvenation! Some days I wish I was a bear, so I could hibernate.

One of the positive outcomes from the deteriorating state of the economy is the fact that various political debates have become a sounding board for education. The importance or necessity for pursing higher education is broadly emphasized. The alternative route to college is to pursue a trade or certification in a rapidly growing field. When I was growing up, it was instilled in me that you must attain independence by immediately joining the workforce upon completion of high school. This was not such a bad concept. I just wish there was more outward emphasis or awareness that college was only within the grasps of families who were financially well off.

Fortunately, this concept is actively drilled into the minds of children (adults as well) from all spectrums of life. Limited access to stable employment, the absence of viable jobs, and an extended pause in upward mobility are the biggest drivers for the national emphasis on education. It is well beyond time to spread awareness among all communities. I do not care where anyone comes from, we are all equally worthy and entitled to a share of the American Dream. Let us not continue to be a nation divided by egregious elitists who greedily lock doors, and hide the keys to success. We all have the right to the pursuit of happiness.

Check out Education Nation to learn more about the necessity for engaging children, parents, educators, policymakers, and influential leaders in the movement to improve the US educational system.

Peace, love, & blessings...