I just know that the Lord has something great for me. I mean, of course, he has wonderful things in store for all his children, but there's something special...really special that he's going to do with my life. I have NO idea what it is and that's what scares me because it feels like all my doors are closing. But, I'm not letting that stop me. I'm in strength training so that I'll be able to kick the doors down and go where I need to go. I realize that my success won't come easy and that it's going to take me knocking some doors down to at least have a life. But, the Lord will reveal to me what it is he wants me to do. There's something special. A higher place that he'll take me. And it's not in the next life. He's going to do it for me in this life. I just know it. I believe it. I can't see it, but I can feel it. He's going to put me on a platform for the entire world to see. It sounds crazy, but it's gonna happen.

Weekend Treat:Top Model Teaches Lessons

Now, I usually take the weekends off when it comes to blogging but I'm feeling it right now. Why stop the flow when I'm feeling it. Besides, it's my blog aka I can do what I want! Usually, I use the laptop at my father's desk because my laptop's wireless is jacked for some reason. However, today I'm using my dad's girlfriend's laptop and she has wireless so I get to be a couch potato (or is it potatoe?) and watch a Top Model Marathon in my pjs on a Sunday!

So, after a Sabbath hike with a friend and her godchildren (yeah, plural=groan), I drove home in a storm and entered an empty house. I slowly but surely sunk into a weird loneliness. It was weird because I was excited for my sisters to leave (they're gone for 10 days!!!!) but now I was feeling oddly lonely. I had planned to go see a movie but the storm forced me to stay in. I was hungry, but not hungry for anything in the fridge aka not really hungry for real. I tried to watch tv but nothing was on and I couldn't go to sleep. It was a horrible night and idle time is not good for a happy Danielle at all. I started to think about how my career plans failed miserably and started beating up on myself for not reaching the short-term goals I set out for myself. I linked up on Facebook with a lot of classmates from high school and was immediately envious of the amazing careers alot of them had started. Some were married with kids and were working on MBAs. Some were working for Congress, diff. sectors of the government, diff. DC museums, and more. I eventually went to bed but woke up feeling less than confident, remembering the night I had before. I woke up too late to go running and I didn't even feel like being involved in a devotion so I turned on Top Model (lol). This may seem weird but in actuality, I feel that Top Model is [i'm currently watching it] is serving as my devotion. The girl who wins this season was my favorite girl out of them all and it's almost prophetic. She's Black. She's Dark-skinned. Her name is Danielle! She's so confident and uses her past struggles and hardships to propel her into a place where she uses them as ammunition for her inevitable success as the winner of ANTM. She's so positive, likeable, and consistent. Then there's the girl named Gina. Gina shows her insecurity, uses her hater [Jade] as the reason she's not doing well, and is just downright embarrassing to watch. She's ends up going home after being taped in the most undesirable light. She's slow, annoying, and hopeless. I'm ready for her to go home. I'm tired of hearing her talk about freezing up, and "i know I can do it"..."i'm trying my best"..."there's problems in the house I'm living in"...BOOOOOO!!!!! No more complaining. Suck it up. Count the blessings. Turn the negatives into positives! Yes, we all get knocked down but we can't stay down! I can appreciate and admire the success of others but there's no excuse for quitting or feeling less than next to them. Their skin color (alot of them were white), socio-economic status, and prestigious college alma maters shouldn't reverse my will to try and not only try but succeed.

I got this. I'm going to be great! I'm going to win!!!or as Danielle (on ANTM) would say "I'm fitna win!" Win what? The game called life! What's even better? The game is much more fun when there's more than one winner, in fact...literally everyone can win! So, I got my Nikes on and I'm gonna "just do it!" lol!

Disclaimer: Please indulge me in my corniness! I'm having fun! :P

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...Oh well! I'm not the fairest of them all.

Last weekend, I traveled to Richmond, VA to speak as Miss Oakwood for a girls' etiquette program commencement ceremony. It was great to spend time with close friends and meet new people at the event. I was the key note speaker and public speaking can be a little stressful for me but I'm learning to overcome that (thanks, God!). At the beginning of the program, a poem was read entitled "Beauty Tips" by Audrey Hepburn. Now, Audrey Hepburn represents beauty, class and elegance all wrapped up into one. She's such a beautiful woman and I plan on reading her biography this summer after I finish reading "Dreams of My father" by Obama (which really is a great read!). As the tips were read, alot of them seemed so self-explanatory and obvious until one hit me like a ton of bricks. "People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody."....WHAT?

For those who know me, they know that I have a habit of dismissing people from my life who I feel have the potential to induce great stress upon me. I have a low tolerance for people that are ignorant and downright rude. A great debate stirs within as to whether or not the person is valuable enough to my life to keep them around. As time goes on, more and more people are telling me that it's not a good thing to do. I guess I just don't understand why! Why should I entertain people who are rude, disrespectful, careless, and unforgivable? I can see how this train of thought could potentially put a fork in any type of love life, but frankily I don't care. I'd rather be miserable and alone than miserable with someone I handpicked to be with me. I'd kick myself in the face...if I could. I feel like keeping someone in your life who consistently inflicts stress and demands that you carry their emotional baggage is ridiculous. Why live like that?...and I don't even wanna here "because it's the Christian thing to do." To me, that's bogus. I don't see how I can agree with that. Maybe I need someone to sit down and explain it to me or maybe I need to grow up a little more to understand.

But, here's the poem. You can read it and see if it inflicts a thought process within that will force you to take a look at who you are and habits that either need to be picked up or left behind. Ciao!

For attractive lips, Speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, Seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, Share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, Walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a Woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows.
And the beauty of a woman, with passing years only grows!

Feeling kinda green...

When people feel sick, they say they feel kinda green, right?...well, who cares?

Since this is the "whenever-I-feel-like-it" blog of Danielle LaTouche, I had to write today and say that I'm not feeling well today and therefore don't feel like writing. I don't really care much about a profession right now. My stomach hurts. I should've gone to Coldstone instead of Rita's. I like Rita's but I wasn't in the mood for it. Now, I'm mad I spent the money for Rita's when I didn't really want it and therefore couldn't really appreciate it...

I hate weave with a passion. It's not that it doesn't look pretty when done right. It's just that I live with two girls who, in years past, have insisted on wearing it. That's no problem. But, there's a problem when I step out the shower and there's weave stuck to my toes or when I try to wash my hands, there's weave stuck to the hand soap or when I go to brush my teeth and there's weave woven in my toothbrush...

I'm recuperating from three days of motherhood. I took care of my play big sister's kids. I swear taking care of little ones are the BEST birth control. Don't get me wrong; they're absolutely wonderful and I'd do it again. It's just alot of work. I was happy to spend time with them and I've grown to love them even more. But what's larger than my love is my respect for mothers everywhere who take care of children. That job is serious and it's soooo time consuming. They need to have two mother's days a year. One day should be set aside where they can receive accolades from kids and husbands. The other day should be set aside for a mini get-away. Mothers would stay in the state but they would receive pampering at a plush spa. Transportation, food, massages, mud wraps, etc., Following that, each women would be sent a check in the mail for a$250 gift certificate to whatever store they choose. But the only stipulation would be that whatever they got, it would be ONLY for them i.e. dresses, shoes, ipods, whatever. For women with supportive husbands: the government would pay for all of this. And for all those trifling absentee baby-daddies that don't help out: the day would be on them. If they don't send the money on time, jail time would be served. Maybe that's too idealistic or too harsh on them...ha! please....

Hmm, maybe I did feel like writing.

Be The Change You Want To See

I'm taking Ghandi's words and applying them to my life...literally. "Be the change you want to see." There is so much about myself that is wonderful! I'm not bragging but I acknowledge that God made me and he did a wonderful job! :) ...I didn't believe that a few wks ago. I swore I came from an egg and questioned who God was. But that's another blog for another day.

Although God specifically took the time out to create me, I have to take care of what he created. He blessed me with health and he blessed me with life. I've decided to make lifestyle changes that will enhance my life in the long run. I've looked at the patterns of successful people (in my eyes) and what they've done that worked for them. I've compiled all the components I believe will work for me and have created a lifestyle program. It doesn't quite have a name yet. Hopefully, I'll come up with one soon. But the point of the program is to become stronger in every aspect of my life not just physical. I learned from a friend that it is truly mind over matter in alot of situations. You can decide whether or not you will be successful in a certain task. Right now, it's 8:42 and I'm struggling to stay awake but I've got to train myself to be disciplined and stay focused. I woke up at 4:15 this morning and read 4 chapters of the Bible. Then at 5am, I did a great run with my sister around the surrounding neighborhoods. It felt so wonderful to be out there. My mind felt clear and I felt like I could conquer the world (I think those were the endorphins kicking in). I came back, showered and had breakfast and from then on, started my day. I went to bed at 10:30 pm the night before so I figure that if I continue this routine, I may have to go to bed earlier so that I'm not so tired in the day. I really want to stay away from naps. But, the point of this blog is to say I'm focused. I talk about how I want things to change. It's time to start making some moves. Don't allow life to pass by and continue on the same path of wishing something had been done about one project or taking that course, learning that instrument, losing that weight, paying off that loan, etc. etc. Make steps toward the goal. Rome wasn't built in a day. It takes time before a person will see results in something they've put time into. It takes time before a change can come.

Ultimately, I know where my help comes from and I know that He can help me be the change that I want to see in myself ;)

Forever 21:cheap whore of the fashion industry

Well, I finally finished unpacking, repacking, unloading, rearranging, organizing, and cleaning the spot in the house that is now all mine. And according to a certain "smartypants", I need to update my blog. So here I am :)

In order to deal with the frustration of life not going the way I wanted, I did what any girl would do. I went shopping. I can't keep this up because I need to keep some sort of financial cushion, ya dig? But, I had a lot of fun. I went to the mall and ventured into territory I hadn't visited in quite some time: there's no Forever 21 in Huntsville and I hadn't left Huntsville until a week ago. To my dismay, everything I tried on looked horrible. It either looked incredibly cheap or extremely generic. I feel like Forever 21 has taken the art of fashion and watered and cheapened it down so much that anyone can look like the women from SATC, which may be good news to some. But, then every other girl that passes is totting the big diva glasses, which are pretty cute, but then these horrible miniskirt/lowcut beaded top(hoochie) combos that are convincingly "fabulous" to High School Musical-esque consumers. I know some would be surprised to hear me say this mainly because I literally was in F21 every other day. I would try on the clothes and it literally became another god. Scary! I've changed and I'm happy about that. There is a certain something special about seeing a really well-put together outfit ( and effortless!). And it doesn't even have to be pricey! The clothes could be taken from K-mart and matched with something from Nordstroms or the thrift store and look completely amazing. But people are either lazy or clueless but still want to pull off something that says "I am a fashion guru!" No the heck you're not! You went to Forever 21 and bought something that was pretty much pre-picked for you. Where's the creativity? Where's the fun in it?

So I've decided to be plain jane.

I bought a few polos, some flip flops, 2 pairs of shades and called it a day. I'd rather look like I'm about to play golf than be associated with such fashion nonsense! I sound shallow, don't I? I'm literally laughing at what I'm saying because I really do believe it! lol.

Please note:

Forever 21 has nice merchandise. Just try not to make it painfully obvious that your "flyness" is a generic brand that comes in sizes S,M, and L.

Relocating sux.

Since I'm in this by myself, it's taking me more than just two days to relocate, move in, set up shop, and what have you. I'm exhausted and probably won't begin writing again until hopefully Friday. In the meantime, GO OBAMA!!!!!